On the lower slopes of Coniston Old Man on Saturday spotted Ring Ouzel, Wheatear and a flock of Fieldfare all within the space of about half an hour.
On the lower slopes of Coniston Old Man on Saturday spotted Ring Ouzel, Wheatear and a flock of Fieldfare all within the space of about half an hour.
Another new one for me today - Blackcaps by the Wharfe in Otley. Lovely song. Anyone seen willow warblers yet, reports of them at Swinsty reservoir?
Black vulture plus Eleanor's falcon. Mallorca specialities. Also house sparrow and swift
Poacher turned game-keeper
A pair of Redpoll on the garden feeder. We were confused at first, assuming they were dowdy Goldfinches. Had a quick look on 'net and 'lo Redpoll!
I M Povey New Marske Harriers
http://manwithoutashed.blogspot.com
I've been lucky with regular merlin sightings in the Bryn Alyn area recently.
A pair of Mandarins on the Goyt in the centre of New Mills.
More than one swallow in the Wharfe valley - does that make it summer.
Couple of days ago i watched an otter and her cub (kit or pup!) in the shallows about 20ft away, little one was very inquisitive of me but eventually mum took it off - only whilst mum dived under (river clear and only a few foot deep) the cub seemed too fat and bouyant to swim underwater - so followed at a doggy paddle on the surface. Pretty.
I didn't see Eleanora's falcon, but did see quite a few black vultures. Also little and cattle egret, night heron, purple heron, Cetti's warbler (I'm told), red-crested pochard, marsh harriers, booted eagle, and my favourite of the week - purple gallinule.
And yeah, lots of swifts. I was telling my kids this is what Bingley used to be like when I was a kid - listening to about 15 swifts chase each other above the town. The numbers seem to have dropped in the UK these days.
Also, some writhing big fish in the marshes - mullet perhaps?? and a small swimming snake.
I'm just back today and doesn't 12 degrees feel cold after getting used to 25.