Swallow

Swallow at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough on 24th May 2007

A Birding week

Sedge Warbler At Minsmere

Avocet at Minsmere

Barnacle Geese at Minsmere

Greylag Geese at Minsmere

Purple Heron at Minsmere

The week started well with a visit to Tichwell to see Little Gull, little Tern and ,eventually, Temmink's Stint. Next location was Lakenheath where after four visits in three years we obtained superb views of two Golden Orioles along with a tremendous number of displaying Hobbies,around twenty in number, however we did dip on the Cranes which were keeping a low profile due to the high winds. An early morning visit to Over Fen on the 20th May also resulted in disappoinment as the short staying Semi-palmated Sandpiper had flown overnight. My disappointment was short lived since a visit to Minsmere was successful in witnessing two Purple Herons on the ground and in flight; also my first Turtle Dove of the year

Hoopoe

Hoopoe greedily feeding this wet day on the playing fields at Grange Paddocks, Bishop's Stortford, Herts---10th May 2007

A Trip to County Durham and Northumberland

The main purpose of this short visit to the North of England was to witness the Black Grouse lek at Langdon Beck and to visit the Farne Islands. The most impressive part of the two separate leks, each containing about 16 male Black Grouse, was the far reaching'bubbling' sound emanating from the birds which could be heard as soon as the car door was opened. The surrounding moors contained many nesting Curlews, Lapwings, Redshanks and Red Grouse; many with chicks. Before moving on to Seahouses, our base for the Farne Islands, we spent a good half day at Turnstall Reservoir in Weardale which is surrouded by ancient Oak and Beech forest. Our target birds were Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher anf Redstart all of which were eventually heard and seen.

Teesdale Moor

Lapwing

Lapwing Chick

Lapwing with Chick

Turnstall Reservoir

Pied Flycatcher

Tawny Owl

Mallard

The Farne Islands

Shag

Shag

Shag

Shag

Shag

Shag

Shag

Shag

A five and a half hour trip was made to the Farne Islands on 2nd May 2007 stopping at Staple Island for 2h and Inner Farne for 2h. The weather was bright and the sea calm which heralded for a good day. We were not disappointed. Fantastic sights of Feeding Puffins, Cormorants, Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones, Shags, Guillemots , Kittewakes, Razorbills, Gannets and Eiders. A few Pock Pipits, Wheatears, Artic Terns and Sandwich Terns were also in evidence.

Razorbills

Razorbills nesting on the Farne Islands on 2nd May 2007

Guillemots on the Farne Islands

'Bridled' variety

'Non- Bridled' variety

Guillemots on Staple Island including close ups to illustrate the 'bridled' and 'non-bridled' varieties--2nd May 2007

Ringed Plover

An unexpected find on the Farne Islands on 2nd May 2007

Male Eiders

Eiders in the harbour at Seahouses and on Inner Farne on 2nd May 2007

Herring gulls

A few pairs of Herring Gulls on Inner Farne near to a small gathering of Sandwich Terns and 5 pairs of Artic Terns. The Roseate Terns have not arrived yet.

Rock Pipit at Seahouses

A Rock Pipit on the Harbour Wall at Seahouses before our trip to the Farne Islands on 2nd May 2007

Kittiwakes on the Farne Islands

A photographic visit to both Inner Farne and Staple Island on 2nd May 2007

Puffins on the Farne Islands

These photogenic birds do seem to pose on command!