Cold Top Hill

We visited Top Hill Low NR last Sunaday and and had a good day despite the bitter cold.

Most of the lagoons and marsh areas were frozen and there was little to see but on the 'D' and 'O' resevoirs there was a lot of birds including a good number of Goldeneye.

As an early 2009 outing there was plenty to add to our year list.

One highlight was a female Bullfinch just off the car park which showed for reasonable pictures. However, I remain seeking classic Bullfinch picture. The pictures were in dull light so from top to bottom range from ISO 800 to 1250 to 1600. Hence the last two have been processed through Neat Images software to filter out some noise.

Redwings

Went looking for the Barn Owls again this afternoon for the third day running (see last two postings). Maybe the shooting group of 40 or so up the road kept them in.

We did see a flock of I would say over 100 Redwing in the division hedge between some fields, a fair way off so only a distant record shot possible. There did not seem to be any Fieldfare with them at all, earlier we saw a good number of Fieldfare on the edge of Dalby Forest.

Also strangely came across the body of this poor Herring Gull on a track at the back of Ayton, I think it maybe the same bird I saw stood alone in a field two days before. Quite an unusual sight to see the body like this, it was as if it was probing in the grass.

Rook

Back to see the Barn Owls locally today and not disappointed with one bird quartering the fields and then going down into the ditch again (see previous post).

A second bird was further up the lane, yep in the ditch and kept it's distance ahead of me. I should have managed some decent shots but didn't.

Earlier we went to Bridlington South Beach and I quite like the Rook shots, sat on the boat yard fence and quite approachable.

New Years Day Birding

I have started a year list for the first time of birds we see this year. I have no idea if we will reach 60 birds or 100 or more. It will be a benchmark for future years but as we do not pursue rarities across the country will we soon get stuck?

A good day's touring the lanes in the car, no Great Grey Shrike in Wykeham Forest but after a few every day species we had Bullfinch, and then Barn Owl quickly followed by Kestrel and Common Buzzard. Oh, and a Stoat then ran across the road and disappeared in a ditch, the second Stoat of the day.

The highlight was the Barn Owl, we had terrific views from the car of a bird in a tree, it then flew off down the lane and wee later followed. I pulled the car up at the side of a ditch and entirely by luck the same Owl was at the side of the car looking closely at us 10' away. No chance for photographs but what a view!

Coal Tits

As detailed below I finally caught up with Coal Tits in good light and in the open. I took lots and lots of pictures and the results of some are pleasing.

Even in decent light some pictures under the canopy of the trees are dark and difficult, not enough light or too much but in the open the light was good and even for good shots.

Yes, I was slightly cheating the bird feeders are just out of shot.

I had a great hour taking pictures, the birds ate every single sunflower heart (I left some more seed for them).

I hope you like the results.

Merry Christmas to all visitors to my blog.

Fieldfare

Yesterday was a beautiful day here and I was able to get out for the first time in some while.

I have always wanted to get good shots of Coal Tits and never been successful until yesterday. They never stop still long enough for me, the light has never been right etc. Anyway I was very fortunate yesterday as there was a good number of birds at the High Moor Feeding Station in Wykeham Forest, I was on my own and so I was able to spend a good time photographing them and they will be the subject of my next posting.

On Saturday we had seen a good couple of hundred Fieldfare at the back of Snainton just up the road, looked for them Sunday no where to be seen. I was tempted to go back yesterday but I spent so long with the Coal Tits that I thought I had better return home before Sue & Len arrived for Christmas.

How lucky to see a flock of birds in the pasture in front of Bedale Grange Farm, I pulled up on the grass verge and moved over to the passenger seat to view a good number of Fieldfare. They were a bit distant but as good as I have managed to date with my camera lens. They are a favourite bird of mine and I hope to get closer still to them soon. I managed about twenty shots before they flew off to the far side of the pasture.

9 Birds, a Butterfly, Hedgehog and Demoiselle - 2009 Calendar

I have produced a calendar of pictures which have all been taken in the last 12 months.

Featured birds include Turnstone, Red Kite, Crossbill, Greylag, Tree Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren, Jackdaw and Greenfinch. Along with a Hedgehog, Small Copper Butterfly and a Banded Demoiselle.

The Calendars are on 170g glossy paper and have a wire binding and D shaped hanger with a card backing.

Not for profit I am selling the Calendars at cost plus £1 shared between Scarborough Field Naturalist Society and the PDSA. Calendars are £4.50 each (plus £1.00 postage and packing where necessary - uk only).

If you are interested please email me on randall3294@randall3294.freeserve.co.uk and I will send you a payment address. I promise to mail as soon as I have received the print run.