Whos keeping an eye on me....

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Wildbird Wednesday: a tribute to treeface

Special thanks to Springmans inspiration and now to Stewart for carrying the baton with WBW
Well done guys!

Here is my first entry to the new format 

a tribute to the tree face decoration in my garden and some of the birds that dare stare back at it!

Wren


Siskin - female


Nuthatch


Greater Spotted Woodpecker


Great Tit


Monday 16 July 2012

New species for my UK life list

Black Necked Grebe:

Not a particularly difficult species to find, but this one has been hanging around the fringes of my UK list for a few years ..... on more than a few occasions I had reminded myself that "I must pop over to Warrington" well I never did, until Sunday, when I decided it was about time.

Once I had parked up it took me less than a minute to locate them, 5 adults and 3 juveniles. Unfortunatly the light was either non existant or way too harsh, and with the birds being distant in the large expanse of water this was about the best image I was going to get.

Juvenile Black Necked Grebe
(at Houghton Green Flash 15th July 2012)


the adults are a very smart bird .....

so they will have to wait for another day to get onto my website
Still a great hours birding seeing a lovely species for the first time, and of course the thrill of upping the list by one more

Friday 13 July 2012

Fridays Fence - a post to #41

Continuing my feel for the moorland fence, this one is situated at Derybshire Bridge close to the iconic Cat & Fiddle public house - see info on this place here
this iconic moorland inn.
It is looking out towards the Goyt Valley.
Notice the old Drystone wall situated along side parts of the fence

Monday 9 July 2012

Woodpecker Holes

This post is just an excuse to get some juvenile Woodpeckers images on here, or maybe its because Larry (......The Birders report) asked for better access to the Green Woodpecker image or maybe its because I am so looking forward to my family Holiday in Turkey where we see the Syrian Woodpeckers in great numbers..... whichever the reason is please enjoy the next few images.

please click on one of the images to reveal all the detail within the pixels

Green Woodpecker

This fella is very close to home and on a very good friends private land.

One of its parents was close by in the same tree and made sure we got no closer. I am not sure if it did but this juvenile looks like its ready to fledge.



Crimson Crested Woodpecker

This bird was around 100yrds from out base at Hato Pinero (NW Venezuela).
Both parents were in the vicinity and the female was actually on the next tree pecking for grubs, again this bird looks fairly close to fledging.


and its mum (holes of a different type.... in keeping with the post title!)


Syrian Woodpecker

These are abundant around our apartment when we visit Turkey each summer.
This chap isnt daft, its trying to get back in...... out of the blistering heat.




Saturday 7 July 2012

Fridays Fence

A little rickety in the exposed Threeshire heads area of the peak district
  note the small waterfall in the middle distance




Tuesday 3 July 2012

Gronant Dunes and the Little Tern Colony


The sand dunes is a protected site and the only surviving largely unmodified dunes along the North Wales coastline. Deemed a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), it still serves a valuable function as a natural sea defence.

During the winter, more than 100,000 waders and 20,000 water fowl make it their home and it supports Wales' only remaining colony of breeding little terns.

They spend the winter at sea off the West African coast feeding on fish. Each Spring, they migrate to this same beach near Prestatyn to nest and lay their eggs on the shingle.

The colony is wardened day and night by volunteers with the RSPB.

This is an easy 90 minute trip for me as my father lives only a few minutes away at an old mining village forthe old Point of Ayr colliery..

Welcome to Gronant Dunes






 Home of the Little Terns....
A welcoming mosaic



and of course the area is home to various other birds and wildlife




the Little Tern Colony is under 24hr watch to protect the groung nesting birds eggs and young from both human interference - usualy roaming dogs but sometimes preditors such as Foxes and Raptors
The scenery looking out towards Talacre




The board walk offers protection to the delicate dune system and the marsh land within it, while still allowing access in the winter months 


Sea bird veiwing platform


and the view from it


and of course here lies the very important Little Tern Colony

the nesting ground is barriered off just before the birds return to the UK in early June






The Colony holds around 200 breeding pairs



and like most Terns they are fast - however the extra complication of trying to get good images are they are extremely small and fast....



taking time out on the beach






the reason for their return year after year is the good supply of sand eels


Ringed Plover on the shingle




I didnt manage to see the Natterjack as its a mostly nocturnal creature


but did manage to see Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Little Egret, Stonechat, Sedge Warbler, Mute Swan and Family parties od Skylarks