From my swivel chair: most of February!

I don't suppose anyone would expect a great deal to be happening in the north-east at this time of year - and what there has been I have largely managed to catch up with. Bramblings and snow buntings, although seen before new year, have continued to prove elusive. Here are my year ticks for February. Current total 144

This has not been an especially good period for photographs, but here's a few images including some of the 'big twitch' at High Shincliffe. It was a Sunday so hopefully no-one who should have been at work will get into bother for being spotted below!!

iphone photos - as is this one of the myrtle warbler. This sets new standards in my 'cuckoo type photo' record as in this case the bird is invisible. However it is just to the left of the circular brown dot [which is half a coconut] which I have obligingly surrounded with a large grey zero!!!



Also included are some pictures from Fairburn Ings RSPB taken on February 2nd, and of a redhead smew taken on 7th February at North Cave. The greenfinch, against the background of purple alder catkins, almost looks canary yellow!

Bullfinch

Greenfinch

Here's the smew: a little distant but clearly recognisable, I hope. Smew

Smew

Finally, on the return trip from the north-east on Sunday, a kestrel was hovering over the A19 in late afternoon sunshine. I pulled into a lay-by, grabbed the camera and took these...

Kestrel

Kestrel Kestrel

Valentine's Day

The weather continues to be not particularly pleasant but we are lucky we are not enduring what is happening down south. Today I got out to Hornsea for the morning fully aware things would not last long into the afternoon weather-wise. Rain set in just after 1pm and the wind strengthened considerably and I headed home. Hornsea Mere produced a female velvet scoter, a few scaup [males and females], large numbers of goldeneye including a small flock of males but no sign of the red-crested pochard. I popped down to Barmston to look for the Kumlien's gull but again no sign. Sanderlings on the beach and a few little gulls just off shore. Little gulls were the first of the year.

February 16th - back to High Shincliffe

I decided to begin a day in the north-east with another look at the myrtle warbler. This proved a good idea as I got some sort of photos this time. Nothing stunning mind you but a souvenir of this special bird.

The first photo just shows the yellow rump on an otherwise hopeless image. Still, the others are a little better...

Yellow-rumped or myrtle warbler

Yellow-rumped or myrtle warbler

The final photo just shows [for those with a keen eye!] a little yellow on the flank.

I headed for Greatham Creek yet again. From the bridge I saw a cormorant thrashing around in the water. Unsure what was going on, I raised my lens.

Cormorant Cormorant

The morning light as you walk east to Seal Sands can be challenging but it has its rewards. A pair of bar-tailed godwits seemed unconcerned by my presence as I passed them.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Bar-tailed Godwits

A curlew flew upstream; photographed against the black mud of the far bank, the end result was quite satisfying.

Curlew Curlew

Curlew

As I passed the pools on Greenabella a greenshank flew off noisily.

Greenshank

Further on a merganser flew past, the velvet scoter and then black-throated diver were spotted and, eventually, on the walk back I had the company of a friendly long-tailed duck. And here they all are, in that order too!

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoter Black-throated Diver Long-tailed Duck Long-tailed Duck

By the time I reached the A170 road bridge, the duck was passing underneath having swum all the way upstream from before the bailey bridges at Seal Sands. I said goodbye...

Long-tailed Duck

My final encounter was with a tame old crow just before the car park.

Crow

February 18th: Barry's surprise!

We began at Greatham Creek and eventually saw most of what we hoped to see except the spotshank and greenshank. As we set off a crow watched us warily until I spoke to it. That made him fly off! I wondered if it was the same bird that I saw on my last visit. Must be getting used to me!

Crow

On the way down the creek, looking into the sun, a pair of red-breasted mergansers were coming up the channel.

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Some seals were going back towards the sea.

Seal

We saw the whimbrel and the velvet scoter along with red and black-throated divers. On our way back a redshank was bobbing his head excitedly. Pity it's not a video!

Redshank

A comfort break at Saltholme was followed by a spell in Phil Stead hide while Barry was in the shop. Redpolls and goldfinches obliged.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Lesser Redpoll Lesser Redpoll

A reed bunting was singing in the car park as we left.

Reed Bunting

I promised Barry a bittern. Little did he realise I was planning to go to the Great Goodbye at Shildon NRM and find a blue bittern of the A4 'Streak' variety. The museum was packed with thousands of people so photos were tricky. Just as I don't love bird feeder pics, I prefer to keep people out of things like train photos. That was going to be impossible...

NRM Shildon A4s

...unless I tried something a bit more imaginative.

NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s NRM Shildon A4s

Inside was a rather motley collection of exhibits including this magnificent 4-2-2 Stirling with its 8 foot 1 inch driving wheels.

Stirling Single Shildon   

We called at Nosterfield on the way home and picked up my first ruff of the year. Since then there have been a few shorter trips to Fairburn for smew and to Poppleton to see the barn owls.

More to follow? Let's hope so!

144 UK 2014