Friday 27 February 2015

The Dales

I had a drive over the Dales today. I started in the Durham Dales then onto Weardale and finally Teesdale. Some canny birds about including Black Grouse, I saw at least a dozen in various places but as you will be able to tell not within camera distance, Golden Plover and loads of Red Grouse. Managed to catch up with the Red Squirrels but they were always distant, pity. A couple of fighting male Pheasant was a bonus.

Red Squirrel


Male Red Grouse

Female Red Grouse

It is a Black Grouse (honest, it was the best I could get)

Golden Plover


Grey Partridge

I'm hiding so you can't seem me

Fighting cocks
 

Thursday 26 February 2015

One Hundred Up But Nothing Special

Went in search of Red Squirrels this afternoon but the only red I found was on the heads of a Pheasant and Redpoll (the Redpoll was always hidden by twigs) and on a Robin.

Pheasant


I could not get a decent shot of this Redpoll

Robin
 

Tuesday 24 February 2015

More Of The Same

Far Pastures yet again and yet again not much there. Kingfisher was distant. Two groups of Roe Deer passed on the left hand bank. Mallard, Teal, Coot and Moorhen were on the pond and the usual birds were in the carpark. Still it passed a couple of hours.


Roe Deer Buck with its horns still in velvet.

A young Buck

Female Roe Deer

Blue Tit


I'm watching you

Willow Tit

Nuthatch

Great Tit

Chaffinch with what looks to me like a broken lower beak, anyone any thoughts?

Mallard

Duck a la sleep.

Spring is in the air.
 

Friday 20 February 2015

New Lens

A couple of hours at Far Pastures again today trying out my new AF-S 300mm f4 PF ED VR lens on the more common birds, I just wish the light had been a bit better. A Sparrowhawk was in the bushes near the pond as was a Kingfisher.

Mallard (300mm)

Blue Tit (300mm)

Great Tit (300mm)

Blackbird (300mm)

Sparrowhawk



Kingfisher

 

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Northumberland & Gateshead

Just a few shots from my day out yesterday around Northumberland & Gateshead.


A couple of Bar Headed Geese flying with the Greylags. I didn’t see them until the picture was on the computer.

Curlew

Curlew

Mallard

Mallard

Pair of Stonechats

Female Stonechat

Yellowhammer

This Greylag was right above my head

Grey Plover

Grey Plover with Bar-Tailed Godwit

Teal

Kingfisher