Northumberland 12-17th October 2014

Autumn holidays are always a risk weather wise, strong winds can develop and rain can become a complete nuisance especially after such a good summer.

 

For the last few years we have visited either North East Scotland or Northumberland at this time and have some successful trips and found the weather not too inhospitable.

 

This year we were based near Belford, a delightful rural area with the coast close and plenty of wildlife reserves close at hand too.

 

After rather a tedious journey northwards we were looking forward to a good day on Sunday, we headed to Holy Island just a few miles north of our base, lo and behold the sun shone!

 

First sighting of the day...delightful and beautiful golden plover

 

 

Occasionally huge flocks would take to the sky presenting us with a shimmering golden mass...

 

 

I had to be pretty quick on the shutter as a curlew flew past...

 

 

Redshank were often seen...

 

Dunlin gathered in decent numbers...

 

and a few bar tailed godwits were spotted in amongst the other birds...

 

 

A lovely robin sang joyously in tree on the shoreline...

 

Huge flocks of geese were inbound, these are mainly brent geese..

 

 

Starlings are often seen and they can be delightful subjects to photograph...

 

Further round the island where it was quieter we spotted a red throated diver, they are very tough to get close to and this was the best shot I managed...

 

Wandering in the dunes we had the unexpected sight of a roe deer peeping at us!

 

On Monday we visited Hauxley Nature Reserve, various hides and ponds offer a wide range of sighting possibilities.

 

We found a pair of resting gadwall ducks...

 

A pair of bar headed geese...

 

and a small group of pink footed geese...

 

Plenty of little grebes were in evidence but a combination of light and distance restricted me to one successful shot...

 

Wandering down to the beach we found curlew

 

Turnstone

 

and much to our surprise a gorgeous female wheatear as the sun finally appeared...

 

We arrived back at the car park just in time to see a red squirrel on a feed box...

 

Tuesday and we cross the border into Scotland to visit St Abb's Head reserve, we were greeted by stunning scenery!

 

and then a sighting of dolphins out at sea, splendid!

 

Gannets flew by

 

A lovely male eider duck..

 

In the coastal scrub tiny goldcrests zipped around...

 

A better shot of a single gannet

 

Heading back to the car we noticed a couple of brown hare in the newly cropped fields

 

On Wednesday we drove to Beadnell to meet up with friends Ann and Roger Hiley and the two golden retrievers Harry and Dylan. Friends from our hill walking days Ann and Roger run the very successful and popular http://www.loweswatercam.co.uk/

 

We drove to Druridge and enjoyed a wander on the beach to let the dogs expend some energy.

 

In the surf edge sanderlings scuttled up and down in their usual comical fashion.

 

Druridge also has a country park with a large lake which proved to be a suitable distance to walk around.

 

Cormorants were plentiful...

 

Plenty of tufted ducks too!

 

Later in the day we drove to Low Newton for another beach wander to build up our appetites!

 

An oystercatcher..

 

Dunstanburgh Castle

 

Suitably attired, Roger, Josie, Ann and Harry and Dylan.

 

 

Thanks to all for a superb and enjoyable day.

 

Thursday and we found ourselves in Spittal, next to Berwick upon Tweed, and more coastal watching.

 

Disappointing light proved frustrating as a kestrel came close...

 

A male stonechat showed nicely...

 

A grey seal reciprocated our curiosity!

 

Another wheatear...

 

We even got more dolphin sightings but much further out this time and too far for my camera, another great day though.

 

Our last day and we returned to Holy Island... but first we had a two hour walk near our cottage to allow the causeway to open after the tide receded.

 

Hopes were high as we spotted a stonechat.

 

 

After that it was just a walk, enjoyable in the sunshine though!

 

Lindisfarne Castle...

 

 

and Bamburgh Castle through the sea mist...

 

We seemed to be in all the right places at all the wrong times as people we bumped into reported good sightings while we saw little, or maybe our eyes were getting tired after a busy week!

 

We returned to the car park to head back and get packed, entering said car park we spotted Ann and Roger and were able to enjoy a brew together and another good chat.

 

A lapwing flew in while we chatted...

 

Time to pack and head home after a super week for weather and sightings.

 

Many thanks to all who view, don't forget if you add a comment that they come to me first for moderation.

1st October to date, some new exciting sites!

Having time to explore wildlife sites that have been on the "to do" list for quite a while will be fun, as the trees turn their beautiful golden and russet autumn colours it does not take too much effort to set off out.

One that has been on our list for a long time is Old Moor, Dearne Valley RSPB reserve. Situated near Barnsley it meant a navigation around the urban conurbations to the south and east of us, map simulations suggested around a two hour journey whichever route we chose on a weekday, no fun for a fifty mile car ride but we chose a day when the weather was good and set off.

The expected two hours was accurate and that eased the frustration of sitting in traffic for what seemed a long time, we located the reserve easily and settled into our first hide for the day.

Pretty soon we had a good binocular view of a green woodpecker flying towards us, it flew to a nearby tree where canopy cast a shadow so deep the colours of this spectacular bird all but disappeared...

Working round the hides where the lagoons are more visible our first was of fleeing waders, not good!

Happily the birds soon settled, many were the delightful golden plover...

You may spot some green plovers, better known as peewits or lapwings, in amongst the other birds. One of the lapwings presented a wonderful reflection shot opportunity...

Before lunch we took a quick look in the garden hide, there were plenty of small birds to be seen on the feeders, I prefer to take my photographs in a natural setting wherever possible and I decided to wait for further opportunities.

We had a visit from a lovely magpie displaying quite a wide spectrum of the colours that can be seen from the iridescent feathering...

Not too many dragonflies are still flying, the common darter is among those few...

Time for lunch, in the afternoon we did another round of the various hides plus some that had been closed for reed cutting in the morning.

A shoveller duck paddled not too far away...

Then a bonus as a lovely kingfisher flew in at a reasonable distance for my lens...

Black headed gulls hovered nearby...

The kingfisher flew by again...

Before circling round and settling in some distant reeds...

A few days later and we are on the outskirts of Leeds, Yeadon Tarn is small but well worth a visit if only for the great crested grebes...

And a few miles away an opportunity to photograph one of our iconic birds of prey, red kite were virtually extinct until a re-introduction scheme a few years ago. One of the schemes took place at Harewood House near Leeds, if you study the favoured habitat of the kites and drive around the area they are not too hard to find. Gorgeous birds and the colours to be seen as they glide around with the sun highlighting their feathers is just stunning...

 Another Wharfedale outing by the river as the weather is untrustful, a short walk as the promised rain kept away for a short time...

A dipper displaying the white inner eyelids that protect its eyes while it takes its underwater wanders in search of food.

Walking through the woods a robin sings its sweet melody...

A family of wood mice inhabit the walls of a welcome shelter, they continue to defy my attempts at a sharp and clear picture. Such is the darkness of the shelter shutter speeds of above 1/25th of a second are not often achievable...

At some times of the year nuthatches are very visible, apart from feeder shots at this time of year sightings tend to be more long distance, treasured nonetheless...

The afore mentioned golden leaves of autumn are starting to appear....

As autumn progresses I hope to monitor the changes in the trees and bushes, together with the arrival of some favourite and characterful birds that are already starting to appear.

The love of wildlife and the great world of being out in the fresh air continues to grow...

Many thanks to all who read, please don't forget that if you do comment they come to me first for moderation.