To the Land of the Prince Bishops

Monday 30th March

I drove north to Cleasby to find Cleasby Gravel Pit. After walking off in entirely the wrong direction a villager put me on the right track. Gravel pit? It's huge, really huge. No sign of a garganey but it could have easily been out of view. I decided to get on with the main business of the day.

Heading for Stanhope and the general area where the white tailed eagle has been sighted. En route info came that it was near Bollihope. I had already planned to drive round the Bollihope circle and so I was particularly pleased to come across half a dozen Teesmouth birders I know well by sight. They were welcoming, explained that the bird had just disappeared over the ridge and then, within a minute of my arrival, I was looking through someone else's scope at the bird perched on the skyline.

I got the camera ready hoping it would fly a little nearer. It never came especially close but I managed a few flight shots - record shots but still a great spectacle.

White-tailed Eagle White-tailed Eagle White-tailed Eagle White-tailed Eagle

Now what? I headed for Langdon Beck but called first at Ettersgill as I have twice met lone black grouse there. Not today, but fieldfares were gathering.

Fieldfare Fieldfare

The redwings looked very pale in their spring finery but were a little too far away for a decent image. Redwing

I moved on to Langdon Beck where I soon spotted a few black grouse.

Black Grouse Black Grouse

Lunch at Saltholme in Phil Stead hide. A few black-tailed godwits were in residence.

Black-tailed Godwits

Wednesday 1st April

A late start brought me eventually to Tophill Low after meeting Barry at North Cave. We photographed grass snakes.

Grass Snake Grass Snake Grass Snake

On the way home I stopped when I saw a barn owl ahead. It circled over the road...

Barn Owl

...and landed in a field nearby...

Barn Owl

.

..which brought a hare to my notice!

Hare

Friday 3rd April

A mixed bag kind of day. Garganey at Leventhorpe Pond. Lots of sand martins on the canal at Woodlesford Lock.

Saturday 4th April

Fairburn Ings, Lin Dike end. Cetti's warbler seen! Also: one swallow dropped in for a quick drink and continued east.

180 UK 2015