Birding Northumberland

Stonechat

Black Tailed Godwit

Snipe

Common Tern

Oystercatcher

Spoonbill

Little Gull

Linnet

Garganey

Gadwall

You just have to go birding in Northumberland, the above pictures were taken during a weeks birding on the Northumberland Coast in which I visited the following reserves:

Farne Islands, Coquet Island, Hauxley Nature Reserve, East Chevington, Cresswell Pond, Druridge Pools, Monk House Pond, Newton Links and Long Nanny NT Reserve (seasonal).

Rosette Tern

A trip around RSPB Coquet Island for the rare Rosette Tern produced the pictures above. A very misty dull day still gave me a glimse of this rare tern and another tick to my list.

Farne Islands Part 5 - The Shag

The Shag - To see this bird at close range really shows you the shiny green plumage you never see when the bird is either flying past or fishing from a far on the sea in winter. Much smaller than the Cormarant the shag shows elegance and grace as they sit on their nests high on top of the stacks.

Farne Islands Part 4 - The Eider

Whilst waiting for the boat to take me across to the Farne Islands I filled in my time taking pictures of these Eider Ducks in Seahouses Harbour. I was pleased to see the different plumages the Eiders where showing, and it was great to see some families of this beautiful sea duck.

Farne Islands Part 5 - The Shag - coming soon!

Kingfisher

Kingfisher - Found a pair of nesting kingfishers at a disclosed site. The male would take its turn with incubating the eggs when the female went off for a feed which I found interesting. The light conditions were very poor, hence the quality of the images.

Farne Islands Part 3 - The Sandwich Tern

The Sandwich Tern - Quite a large nesting colony of Sandwich Terns on Inner Farne, not as aggresive as the Arctic Tern colony, but very noisy and busy bringing back sand eels for their young. The largest tern out of the 5 species that frequent our shores through the summer.

Farne Islands Part 4 - The Eider coming soon!

Farne Islands Part 2 - The Puffin

The Puffin - I just love this bird (who does'nt?) so had to submit lots of pics just to show the splender and the different postures this bird can hold. Also known as the "Sea Parrot" the Puffin spends most of its life out at sea and only comes inland to breed. I love to see this bird at Bempton Cliffs but to get up close and personal you have to visit the Farnes.

Part 3 coming soon - The Sandwich Tern

Farne Islands Part 1 - The Arctic Tern

A trip up to Northumberland and across to the Farne Islands. This is one of many parts of my photographic journal on the Farne's. As soon as you step off the boat on to Inner Farne you are greeted by the very territorial Arctic Tern, up close this bird is beautiful and elegant even if it is trying to ward you away from a nesting partner.

Part 2 coming soon - The Puffin

Danby Beacon

Golden Plover

Curlew

Red Grouse

Lapwing Fledglings

Roe Deer

Rabbit

Whinchat

This Whinchat was feeding on the Moorland in Bransdale. A warm sunny afternoon also produced: Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Snipe, Golden Plover, Curlew, Lapwing, Kestrel and Red Grouse.

RSPB Puffin Cruise 1

Puffins

Gannets

Guillemots

RSPB Bempton Cliffs & Flamborough Head

Fulmar

Razorbill

Shag

Kittiwake

The seabird cruise around Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire. Fantastic views of seabirds on the water and flying between their feeding grounds and their nesting sites on the cliffs. Unfortunately a very misty, dull and cold evening, but still not bad views of the nesting seabirds at RSPB Bempton Cliffs Reserve and looking forward very much to my next trip in July.

Spotted Flycatcher

Several Spotted Flycatchers busy catching insects along the river in Troutsdale. Another migrant, and very pleasant to see this bird quite close up. Light conditions very up and down its never easy photographing birdlife in a woodland or forest, hence the arrangement of different exposed shots.