Winter, you've had enough, move on!

Almost mid March and it seems like we are stuck at Valentines Day.

Yesterday I met up with John at Boulmer early doors. That was clearly a mistake, as we just couldn't get motivated. It was dull, breezy and cold in a flat, dull, grey landscape, lit up by 43 blue plastic pheasant feeders across an otherwise barren landscape. No, it was time to move on.

A quick cross country dash to Alnwick Homebase car park, one vehicle was left and we headed off to recce a few sites for when spring really does arrive.

Inspired by last week's disused railway line, our first stop was Rugely just a mile or two west of Alnwick town. There was still some snow lying here and it was even windier than on the coast but we were here now, so we had to make the best of it.

A short walk along the line looked promising for better weather, though it was quiet today. A Treecreeper or two, a pair of Roe Deer and some Badger tracks in the snow were all of note. There might be some plants and insects here later in the year.

Rugely Footbridge

 

Treecreeper

Next stop was an overly optimistic 5 minutes at our known Adder site before heading west to Debdon where at least we might get some shelter in Primrose wood for a walk. On route our first 2 Lesser black backed Gulls of the year in a moorland sheep field, always a good early site for them.

A loop walk through the wood and back by the moor had us scanning for raptors after a Rough legged Buzzard was reported not too far away yesterday. We didnt have such luck, and all that entered the notebook was 2 Ravens, 3 Crossbills, 10+ Siskin ( that prompted some chat about six smart Siskins sat singing in a Sitka Spruce, yep it was that quiet), 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

A pair of Crossbills high up a larch. They should have a nest by now somewhere.

Debdon Moor.

Its always a nice walk here, but it was only slightly marred by the landowner doing his very best to chop down birch woods, finishing the vegetation clearances done so efficiently by a load of sheep! One day we will find somewhere, where people are trying to improve the biodiversity rather than just doing all they can to kill everything. 

On the right, before and on the left, after. 

A flock of storms...

These storms are beginning to irritate now. We've had roll call of  Arwen, Barra, Corrie, Malik, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin since 26th November. I knew when we had those two weeks of  fine, calm, weather in January that we would pay for it. This last week we have had three of these storms and it looks set to be windy for the forseeable.

As a result, I haven't been too far birding and the last two Sundays have been written off due to the weather. Roll on spring!

Around the village this last 10 days or so birding has been done while dog walking with a few things into the notebook.

The back field flash still has a tiny puddle of a marsh that held 4 Snipe the other day and 6 Skylarks flew N, the first signs of viz mig this year.

 On Friday I was pleased to see a Water Rail in the village burn, my first this winter. It paused briefly before scuttling off upstream at a pace. Yesterday, it had a near miss as I drove along the lane when it flew very low right infront of the car into the hedge across the road. Luckily I make a point of driving slowly here as there are always Blackbirds or Roe Deer popping out.

A large flock of 90 - 100 Chaffinches are feeding in the Rectory paddock but there are no Bramblings with them, yet. If the flock holds until April it should attract a few on return migration. Also here 9 Redwings but no Fieldfares. In the wood, Treecreepers are vocal, while Sparrowhawk and Buzzard have been seen each week. 

Not much there to set the ornithological world alight, but there is always something to look at. Maybe this northerly off  'Franklin' will give the chance of a white winged gull or even better, its namesake in coming days?

Redwing.

Treecreeper

 

Keep it Real...

Another home working week of fine cold days at least meant I could get a walk in at lunchtime with Peggy.

The video, if it works, above was taken on yesterdays lunchtime walk where it shows the bay beside our village and Cullernose point at the back. The sea is coming off a stiff northerly breeze making for some nice rollers coming in. At night they were banging at the base of the cliffs making a huge thunderous noise.

Without enough time to have a seawatch yesterday I fancied that today might have some birds re-orientating back north . Its never very good in mid winter but there can be a few birds moving with a chance of Little Auk or maybe a white winged gull for those prepared to get frozen., so I clocked off mid morning for an hour and sat out on the point. So much for possibilities. There were no birds. This is not quite literally, but there were very very few birds at all though I managed a single Gannet and 4 Kittiwakes that were new for the year, but there wasn't even a sniff of an auk or a diver. No worries, they will come.

Around the village lane and pond field another few new additions made every days walk worthwhile. Apart from Shoveler, Gadwall and Treecreeper, 2 Woodcock did a dusk flight out from the woods across the lane to the coast fields to feed.

A site record count of 7, yes 7 Gadwall along with 3 drake Shoveler were good.

   

So that's not too bad. Before the months end I might still have another  8 or 9 good possibilities with the likes of Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting still to be located. 

With my expectations being kept to an ultra realistic level, its good to appreciate the very common birds we take for granted. Hopefully I will get to draw a few more of those too over the year and not just the big arrivals....  

Signs...

I wasn't out for very long on Sunday but I still managed to fit in a walk from home, a short way inland to a small wood I have never been to before and back via the Hall.

It is still very quiet on the bird front, with the most visible being 4 or more Treecreepers in various spots on the route. A Jay showed well and a Tawny Owl in full hoot in the middle of the day were the only other things of note.

Less visible, as usual, were the mammalian residents of the patch, but all it takes is a keen eye ( or not so keen for that matter) and signs of recent activity can be found. I was like Davey Crockett without the 'coon skin hat!
Five species of mammal were noted but only one seen -

Field Vole - Chewed grass runs visible after the snow has thawed.
Mole - Hills everywhere, despite the attentions of the catcher. Oh, his metal detector and spade has gone...
Brown Hare - A well worn run in our back field.
Roe Deer - Droppings and tracks, but a doe and with her yearling were seen too.
Badger - An active set. I didnt go for a look last year but I will this year.
Fox? - only a possible. They are shot out in this area, and I still havent seen one in the last two years, but some scat on a molehill looked suitable. I'll keep an eye open for this one...

Treecreeper.

Field Vole runs in chewed grass.

Well used Brown Hare run.

Snowdrops

Roe Doe and yearling.