Yet more rain...

Yep more rain, drizzle and generally crap weather this week. Despite the weather it hasn’t been dull here.

Here comes the rain, sleet and hail....again!

It’s been a week for birds of prey with sightings of Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Ringtail and Merlin.

Other highlights came on Thu with a flyby of 14 male Black grouse at the southern edge of the reserve and a flock of 22 Bullfinch on the slopes of Geltsdale Middle.

A walk down to the Tarn flushed 14 Snipe from a recently flooded field (peak winter count so far). Nothing too special to been seen on the Tarn but good numbers of all the common ducks, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard and Pochard. The Whoopers seem to have moved on and a Little Grebe is now showing well by the screen.

A visit to the plantations in search of Woodcock proved unsuccessful but revealed a nice mix of Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tits, a Treecreeper and 2 Jays.

Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been great for photogrophising but heres a dull photo and some sketches.

Black Grouse.. can you tell..

 

Away for the next couple of days, heading east for some end of season Farne’s festivities. Facing the joys of public transport on a Sunday when you live in the middle of nowhere is a treat! (3 mile walk to the train station at 7am).