Seconds and thirds...

An unexpected opportunity to see the Baikal Teal again - initially at East Chevington - matching the Hornsea viewing for distant views, then slightly better a day later on the Budge fields at Druridge...

Recents...

A little relaxing in Portugal...

A little relaxing... in Newbiggin

A morning visit to Hornsea...

An afternoon visit to Saltholme...

Then back in Northumberland...

Feather Diaries

Images form the last few weeks...

In addition to this, I've also started posing some random images on Instagram - bright.birds

so...

Pink-footed Goose, Killingworth

Barn Owl, Widdrington

Kestrel, Widdrington

Waxwing, Cramlington

Red Grouse, Allendale

Great Crested Grebe, Killingworth

Great Crested Grebe, Killingworth

Waxwing, Benton

Waxwing, Benton

Short-eared Owl, Northumberland

Thug Life

Impressive immature Glaucous Gull at North Shields on 13th March ...

(Click images for better viewing).

Shorts

Late afternoon observations of a static Short-eared Owl... a tad too distant really, perhaps as a result of the noisy "togger" crew.

Morning and evening ventures

Sunday morning, 03 February 2019 was spent in the north of the county - half a rivers width south of Scotland.

A very snowy journey north, then immediately after Wooler - no snow!

Target was the wintering Common Crane - and my arrival was timed well, with the bird feeding in the narrow roadside field.

The previous evening was spent more local, and after 5 owls (three short-eared and two barn) it was time to defrost. The first barn came as a bit of a surprise, as it flew right up to me as it hunted in the demising afternoon light...  (ISO 1600, not quite in focus)

Resuming

All of a sudden, 2018 ends and the first month of 2019 is almost over... some highlights and some images...

Snow Bunting, St Mary's Promenade December 2018. A chance to try an alternative camera body - 5D mark IV. Full frame, so some magnification lost ... but pleasing detail. 

Little Owl

Black Redstart

Glaucous Gull, Norfolk

January was busy with a good variety of species picked up in Northumberland... highlights including Firecrest, four species of Owl, Smew, Marsh Tit, Black Redstart, Snow Bunting, Chiffchaff and local Little Egrets. The final weekend was spent in Norfolk - a great place to boost the earliest and an abundance of good quality species. Highlights included Bewick's swan, Red-necked Grebe, Cattle/Great Egret, 11 species of BOP (inc Owl sp number 5, Hen Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard), Water Pipits, Dartford Warbler, Brambling, Hawfinch and Arctic Redpoll

Rough-legged Buzzard... distant...