Prestwick Carr; 25th February

Prestwick Carr was on the agenda for birding today, situated a ten minute drive west of Cramlington and a stones throw from Newcastle Airport, its an area of rough grassland, country lanes and scattered plantations of scrub. 

I parked up at the eastern entrance of the bumpy road, and walked westward along the lane. The hedges were full of songbird activity, particularly around the feeding stations which have been put up. 

In one of the fields to the south I spotted a bird perched on the very highest branch of a hawthorn bush, looking very shrike like. I believe it was a Great Grey Shrike, but because it was so far away and I didn't have my telescope I wouldn't want to assume it incase it wasn't.

Around the platform a mixed flock of Reed Bunting & Yellowhammer flew through the hedge lines and picked at the seed below the feeders whilst North of Mayfair Cottage a pair of Buzzards were calling and soaring overhead.

Male Chaffinch

A complete species list of the birds I seen on my jaunt around Prestwick Carr can be found below.

• Kestrel
• Buzzard
• Reed Bunting
• Yellowhammer
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Coal Tit
• Willow Tit
• Robin 
• Dunnock
• Chaffinch
• Goldcrest
• Blackbird
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Wren
• Teal
• Lapwing
• + 2 Roe Deer

Little Bit Of Bread....No Cheese !

...Wallington to Weardale

The beautiful woodland of Wallington Hall 

Saturday was a busy day for me, I had alot of miles to cover and not a great deal of time to do so. At 5:15pm I was due at St Johns Chapel in weardale (1 hour 1/2 from home in Tynemouth) for the AONB Wild Watch Final Gathering with the Wild Watch Team, Phil Gates (@SeymourDaily) and TV personality and childhood hero Nick Baker (@bugboybaker).

So I was running on limited time and fancied going up to Wallington for a chance to relax and work on my photography skills.
I parked my car on the field, which was doubling up as a car park, I don't have a habit of parking in fields! I then got my gear and headed to the entrance, renewed my National Trust membership and dove straight in.
Wallington was busy.....really busy, but the crowd thinned as I entered the woodland. It looked stunning, all those different shades of autumn being highlighted in the early afternoon sun. Auburn, gold and brown.

Once I reached the hide, I was informed it was more quiet than normal. Though I didn't see any Red Squirrels (grrrr) I did have astonishing views of Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Pheasant, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Marsh Tit.

Despite spending only about an hour in the hide I loved every moment.

Below are some of my personal favourite photographs which I took. I will be posting a more extensive collection in an album on my facebook page, Nature North East.

...and for those who made it this far, a GIF of the Great Spotted Woodpecker!

Finally.....I Get To Handle What I Observe

As an employee of Durham Wildlife Trust, the job does come with quite a few perks.  A few weeks back I had the chance to observe the bird ringers who frequently do their ringing at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve. I had the opportunity to handle a Great Tit (no jokes please I've heard them all).

I also had the chance to get amazing views of a moulting Long Tailed Tit and my first Marsh Tit of the year, a bird which is sadly under serious decline, but is doing very well at Rainton Meadows. 

Although brief, this was an amazing experience and I definitely have the bird ringing bug! Anyone taking on an apprentice?? ;) 

Below I've posted a few pictures, enjoy.