Crisp and frosty

Took advantage of the nice cold clear weather over the last couple of days to walk to Big Waters. Despite the cold, the pond is almost ice free and covered in wildfowl, including 2 drake Pintail and 4 Goldeneye. The feeding station continues to attract Willow Tit plus the usual suspects. On approach to the reserve this morning 2 fine Roe deer.

200 x digital zoom action

Golden Plover alc 4% vol

A trip up to the Dyke Neuk on a very wet Monday night, to listen to the wife and friends play folk music, gave me a chance to drink a large amounts of  rather good real ale. One of the ale's on offer was Allendale Golden Plover, so to go with it some digiscoped shots from 10 years ago, as I have no pics with the new camera yet.

pale

a little hoppy

not cloudy

place glass here

enjoy with friends 

STOP THE SLAUGHTER

You will see the link to Sedgedunum warbler on the right of my page in the blog list, watch the horrific video and sign the petition.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality.
Open your eyes, Look up to the skies and see,
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy,
Because I'm easy come, easy go, Little high, little low,
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me.

I could not resist using this title so here are some more Bohemian Waxwings, the group shot was digiscoped 10 years ago. The rest are from Blaydon last week.

I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me..........

Pied Oxpecker on sheep

Walked around Big Waters with the posse and it was quiet, we did see some Magpies cleaning up the sheep's ears. A Redshank flew over the pond which held lots of Wigoen, some Gadwall, and a few Mallard. Teal fed on the far side with some Moorhen, and 2 Grey Heron were seen.

Magpie  Oxpecking  sort of

Rook

Gadwall

Grey Heron

Blaydon Aces

After seeing a couple of flocks of Waxwing flying over Big Waters ,but not hanging round and searching Prestwick carr for some, I went down to Blaydon today. After a tip off from Howden John I checked the area near the Black Bull, between the road and the railway, a group of about 30 was my reward.

More good news yesterday 2 live Roebuck at Big waters, lets hope they avoid the fate of the voodoo victim.

voodoo altar found at big waters

 This morning AJJ took me to see his latest find, a Roebuck head 20 foot up a tree. Some sadist had tied it up there after decapitating it, I only hope it was found dead and not killed for 'sport'. On the pond a record count of over 300 Wigeon but little else. An afternoon walk to Ponteland and a reliable Little Owl  site did not disappoint.

An offering to the gods ?

The view from below

A devil worshiper pays homage

Wigeon

Little Owl

Before and after

Today I helped the lads put some new tables up in the feeding station at Big Waters, it was a pissy wet morning but that did not stop us. About 25 Waxwings flew over and there were lots of Teal, wigeon, Mallard and Gadwall on the pond.

Before

After

Notice the deliberate misted lens effect on the after shot.

50x Zoom action

A morning walk around Big Waters with the lads and the new camera was done in bright sunshine to start with, then a mist came down but was soon burned off. The photo's below were taken at 50x magnification except the cormorant one, all just hand held point and shoot style. I am pleased with the new camera, but yet to try it in low light conditions.

Black Headed Gull

Mallard

Redpoll

Blackbird

Cormorants in the mist

A new arrival

wide angle( 24mm)

A sight for sore eyes

50x zoom (1200mm)

the new baby

Delivered at 3.15pm yesterday with a 50x optical zoom and at 2kg when packed a healthy weight.I should get out and about soon to try it out 

On reflection

 You have probably noticed that I can't stop prattling on about California, I've been back two weeks now and I'm still wowed by the place. The lack of littering scum was an unexpected bonus, clean rubbish free roadsides make you realise that tossers of litter should be dealt with severely here. The huge and impressive national parks, real ales and wildlife made it an unforgettable  trip.

American Avocet

Great Egret

Yosemite

Mono lake

Ruddy Duck

Western Grebe

I am sitting in the house waiting for a new camera to arrive but this the last California blog you will be pleased to know.