That time of year again

Great birds.

Holy Island

A pilgramage all birders should try!

more close ups

Still working through my images from the north east.

Easy Target

This young Song Thrush had flown into my kitchen window and whilst it seemed to be unhurt, it took a few minutes to recover giving me enough time for some easy shots through the window.

Willington or Extremadura ?

The barley field at Wood Lane became a purple patch on Saturday following a brief encounter with a female Montagu's Harrier. Whilst hoping the bird might still be around, Steve manages to hear a Quail calling - the first I've heard here in fifteen years of listening and hoping ! In evening sun the place it as it's best with an increase this year in farmland birds such as Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. What next ? Roller

Fish Sarnie

Gave these birds more time this year as for some reason I have neglected them before.

Roseate Terns @ Coquet

Breeding success continues at Coquet island's Roseate Tern colony using the innovative design of nest box and it is hoped that 100 breeding pairs will soon be recorded on the island. A good news story for a rare seabird.

Little Breeders

Improved breeding perceived from my last visit in May 2008. Kittiwakes especially where they have seemed to have poor breeding success in recent seasons. Let's hope wet and windy conditions in the coming weeks don't spoil things.

Angel of the North

Taste of the Farnes

My fourth trip to the Farne Islands and I never tire of trying to photograph Puffin. They are lightening fast and the majority far too fast for me and my camera however, the occassional image can give pleasing results. This year there seems to be an ample supply of sandeels and the challenge for the incoming Puffin is to hit the burrow in one shot otherwise risk getting beaten up and mugged by the lazy Black-headed Gulls, or worse, the Black-backed brutes.

Stroke of Luck

Sometimes you get a bit of luck, today being no exception. I was due to join the local RSPB group on their long weekend visit to the Farnes and Northumberland today and since this little beauty turned up on Monday, I had been hoping it would hang around for me to catch up with en-route. This it did, the bird disappearing before mid-day and then seen for a short period in the evening and then again the following morning. The gathered throng around the bowling green in Olive Street, Hartlepool grew to epic proportions early in the week where scenes of panic, joy, wall-climbing and commerardary have probably not been seen in Hartlepool since war-time! The first White-throated Robin to grace the UK was in 1983 on the Isle of Man, the second in 1990 on Skokholm island, this being the 3rd and 1st mainland twitchable bird.

A Swift Drink

To photograph Swifts in Willington, I find it best to go to the village pub. This year the birds seemed to turn up late but on the plus side, there does seem to be more than there were last year and they're visiting their regular nests in the roof eaves.

Photographing them has always been challenging - a bit like trying to nail aliens in a PS3 game where I fail miserably and give up leaving the kids to trump my high score with ease. To track them in flight, I need them to be far enough away which then reduces IQ when I crop but when they are really close, my reactions are much too slow. I could blame my camera of course to strengthen my business case to fund a 7D ? Worth a try.

And the beer didn't improve my reactions or the image quality either although it was quite nice. I think I need more practice!