Sun, Sea & Suspicious Holiday Makers

Suspicious being the perfect word because when your chilling out poolside with a pair of binocs it  doesn't look good no matter how you try and dress it up.

"Erm I'm a bird watcher...."(whack!) 

You always get the feeling that fellow sun seekers think your quite simply perving on the nearest Czech or Cypriot hotty, and for the majority of the time that was not the case...

....What? Don't judge me, you can't tell me you've never took a cheeky glance whilst hiding behind those shady sunglasses. How dare you....

Ermm where were we ....oh yeah Cyprus, that little island in the Med, well it was home to myself and the boss(the other half) for the past two weeks.

We were in Cyprus because one of my best mates was getting married over there, and we doubled this up as as both a chance to celebrate the wedding with friends and as a holiday as a couple. This in turn resulted in a holiday which was not birding focused, I digress much drinking and sunbathing ensued. I did however, indulge when I could. Taking myself off on little walks around the local area or just keeping a watchful eye around the pool and beach, Binocs at the ready should I need to take visual aim. 

Home for the 2 weeks was the Cyprotel Maris near Paphos 

The poolside and around the hotel complex was home to handful of regular species of bird. A handful of Collared Dove zipped backwards and forwards, stopping now and again to drink the pool water. Multiple small flocks of House Sparrow were an ever present sight, due to the major decline of these in England, there cheeps and chirps were a joy to hear. Long gone are the days I hear them on mass in local hedgerows. A real shame.  Feral Pigeon adorned the rooftops of the hotel and a lone Kestrel would do the rounds and zip through daily, generally at the same time. The hotel and Cyprus in general was abundant with many a murder of Hooded Crow, a lifer bird for me, believe it or not.

Now despite them being pretty much a Carrion Crow with a grey feathered Gilet on, I was rather excited at their presence.

Hooded Crow

We did have a couple species of reptilian keeping us company, the Sling Tailed Agama being the more predominant. Though it goes by several names including; Slagama, Star Lizard, Hardim, Stellion & Painted Dragon.

I prefer Sling Tailed Agama, makes it sound more prehistoric.

Sling Tailed Agama

Keeping a watchful eye

After a few days we transitioned from lounging around the pool to lounging around the beach and sea, a stones throw from the pool.....equally as lazy really, blast my fit and active intentions! I will defend myself however, I did hit the hotel gym on numerous occasions.

So we spent time relaxing under the burning sun on the beach and it was at this moment the game changed For it was in a small man made bay by the beach that the kingfisher was king. Day in day out he spent hours in this small bay fishing, surrounded by holiday makers. A brilliant view, at one point I took a swim into the water of the bay and got with 6 feet of him. He just stared back, not phased at all. Amazing!

'Kingy Bay'

A five minute walk South West took you to a small headland of rock, scrub and rocky shore. There were 4 Crested Lark feeding and singing here, as well as a lone Wheatear.  I stumbled upon an Ocellated Skink whilst lifting a piece of tattered carpet, a near threatened species.

Crested Lark

Northern Wheatear

This pretty much sums up the extent of my wildlife and bird watching in Cyprus, lets not forget I was on holiday after all. ;)
Keep an eye on the blog, the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page over the coming weeks and months for more regular updates about what I've been up to in the North East......

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.

Prehistoric Close Up

This alien beauty is a female Southern Hawker (Aeshna Cyanea), I watched it Ovipositing whilst working at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, County Durham.

Ghost of Cramlington

So after a day primarily spent watching documentaries about space I decided I needed some outdoor time. I contained my outdoor cravings until mid evening, because tonight I was hunting!

Hunting for a bird that comes out pretty darn late in the day. I had heard of a local site getting frequent visits from a Barn Owl. The word Owl alone would have done it for me, but this was a Barnie. The last of the British species I've yet to see in 2014.

I had visited the site earlier in the week but too no avail, tonight I was hopeful......conditions were stunningly perfect.

There were plenty of butterflies and dragonflies about, the usual Kestrel was seen flying and hunting over the fields. The wetland didn't feature anything out of the ordinary, a few of the commoner species of gull and a couple Moorhen feeding on the reeds. They were actually using there feet to climb onto the reeds. Sedge & Grasshopper Warbler were heard calling briefly, Goldfinch flew about and the sky featured House Martins & Swallows feeding before going to roost.

One of the many female Common darters flying about tonight

Then I seen it......a white shape to my left, evidently not a gull! I got my binoculars on it, and behold 'twas a Barn Owl!! I quickly rang 'Liverbirder', who was about 1/4 mile away and informed him of the Owl.

The Barnie put on a brief show for us but soon vanished, and shortly after so did 'Liverbirder'. 

I hung around hoping for another performance, slowly retreating back abit more after each scope scan. 

Then suddenly it was back and this time it flew right past me, giving me a cheeky glimpse when it did so!

It perched on a fence post about 100ft away, I crept about 30ft away and enjoyed this amazing birds company before making a gentle retreat back to the car. I didn't want to push my luck and cause the bird any stress, and as I walked away it just stayed relaxed on the post. To be honest it seemed quite comfortable with my presence.

Here.... There....Everywhere!

Marsh Thistle & Hover Fly, Edmondsley Wood

Common Toad, Bufo Bufo. Found whilst working on site

Female Common Darter, West Hartford

Seawatching off Tynemouth Pier with one of my younger brothers

Musk Thistle, Tunstall Hills

Bee Orchid, Washington

Narrow Bordered 5-Spot Burnet Moth

Small Tortoiseshell, Copt Hill

The past few weeks in pictures

Not so much of a blog today, more of a photo journal of the past week or so. For some reason blogger uploads the pics in a lower resolution unfortunately. 

....One flew over the Arcot Lane

I hadn't planned on doing any birding today, until I received a text...'Cuckoo at Arcot' !!

This I had to see!

Within 20 mins of getting there I had it in my scope!

A life tick for me, and a surprisingly large falcon shaped bird! Rather impressive!

I managed to get a few pics but he was a fidgety thing! 

....Arcot just continues too impress! 

Birder?...yes. Twitcher? ...perhaps.

Tonight I was reminded via text (courtesy of Liverbirder) that the Woodchat Shrike was still showing between Cresswell and Druridge Pools.

Seeing as I was already at Arcot Pond(Lesser Whitethroat seen there), I thought I should go and see this rarity. A lifer tick, shame the bird was quite distant. I also seen a Yellow Wagtail, another tick! That's three ticks today!

....But tonight's trip to see it and last weeks Whitley Bay Wryneck vigil make me wonder ......am I a twitcher?

I'm definitely a birder, but a twitcher? Maybe I am !

Once again .....Cramlington delivers!

Its been a little while since I've put a blog up, but in all honesty I've been either busy or tired. Usually both!

Got plenty year and even life ticks since my last blog.

Today the weather seemed pretty mild, slight breeze in the air and quite warm so I thought 'where could I go and spend a few hours birding'. Prestwick Carr got my vote. A Virgin site for me as a birder and from what I've heard a hit or miss site. 

Today was most definitely a miss, perhaps it was because I'd convinced myself I would see owls! Not so!

But all was not lost, I did get Buzzard, Kestrel, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Lapwing & 2 Roe Deer.

I decided as I was passing, I would drop into an undisclosed cramlington site.

As soon as I got out the car I seen it!! Jackpot!!!! Incredible views of a hunting Short Eared Owl.

It hung about for about 50 minutes. 

Safe to say I left with a huge grin on my face, not my first shortie of the year but by god my best views by a country mile!