Great Grey Shrike has eluded me on several occasions recently and so one that had been faithful to an area of Cannock Chase seemed to be a good bet this morning. It was a stunning morning, bright sunshine but gale force winds were blowing across the cleared fell area and it was two & a half hours later before I managed to locate the bird squatting on the tip of a pine tree stump. The bird was far to distant for any photography but nevertheless a smart individual. There were also numerous Brambling in the area, feeding on the […]
Well 2012 has really kicked off with a bang! A day birding in the NE at Hartlepool and the surrounding area certainly got us some good birds. At Hartlepool Fish Quay an obliging brute of a 1st winter Glaucous Gull put on a great show. Also in the harbour – Black & Red-throated Diver; Guillemot; Red Breasted Merganser and several adult Kittiwake. Off the Hartlepool Headland a female Velvet Scoter; a Red-necked Grebe; a small party of roosting Purple Sandpiper; Eider and Common Scoter. At Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park a stunning drake Ring-necked Duck and at Seaton Carew a […]