10th February ff
A brace of grouse
Wednesday this last week [10/2] took me up past the Stang forest onto the icy hairpin when even Tiggy slithered a little.
Once clear of the forest I soon saw red grouse.
Red Grouse
Red Grouse
I then dropped down towards Langthwaite stopping above Shaw Farm to see if any Yorkshire black grouse were about. A few males could be seen up against the stone wall but very distant.
Black Grouse
Having at least seen some of both grouse species very easily I decided to head on north to Langdon Beck in County Durham. I drove around a little including a diversion to Cow Green reservoir. Nice views but no black grouse there.
Cow Green Reservoir
A second scan of the fields around Langdon Beck produced the goods. Not exactly frame filling but in my experience better than usual.
Black Grouse
Black Grouse
I tried Ettersgill where I had seen black grouse and grey partridge before but drew a blank. A mistle thrush was on an old barn roof.
Mistle Thrush
Crossing over to St. John's Chapel I met more wintry conditions and a few more red grouse.
Red Grouse
Red Grouse
I then headed for Hartlepooland in particular for Greatham Creek, planning to walk out in search of greenshank and whimbrel. A long walk in the cold conditions but I found the whimbrel in the scope and tried to creep up on it. It spotted me and flew but I was ready!
Whimbrel
Whimbrel
A few grey plover were on the pools...
Grey Plover
Grey Plover
...as were a few mergansers...
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
...and a single curlew.
Curlew
Later I dropped in to Jackson's Landing just to see if the glaucous gull was around. I think it's got used to cars driving up to it!
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
After a while it flew out onto the water.
Glaucous Gull
Another trip on the 12th to Old Moor produced very little - no bearded tits - but a great spotted woodpecker did appear for me: first of the year. Here's a couple of photos from that day.
Peregrine
Great Crested Grebe
A day out with Sheila to Saltholme and Greatham Creek on 13th February where we did see greenshank and looked for water pipit at Dorman's but, as usual, no luck.