Friday 23 November 2012

The show continues!

 I hadn't planned on having a walk around the Leas mound area today on this local outing. But having pulled up in the car to check the gulls etc. on the Leas near here I spotted a couple of local lads with camera's having a leisurely stroll in this area, so thought why not, if nowt else the dog will have had a good run.
Glad I did!...Informed of two Short-eared Owls by G.Sless. and his companion when we met up for a natter here. These 2 birds had been seen earlier inter-acting but both had gone to ground since this view.

 And then whilst rattling one of the birds began hunting again, quartering the same areas and landing on the same watch-out points/post as the Owl I seen on my last visit did(Sunday gone).....More than likely the same bird I would say due to this behaviour, and its acquired local area hunting skills knowledge.

 Eventually (when Mr Scott and his good lady visited) the 2 birds put up together briefly at distance inter-acting...Fantasic viewing!
 The Shields Pier gate was locked again when we tried to have walkies along here earlier today. But Scuzz's magic shone for the first time today whilst enjoying the banter here earlier. In the years of wandering here Ive never seen a Red-throated Diver actually feeding on its capture.
 Shag just by the Groyne, not that many around here on this visit.
And this Purple Sandpiper feeding on the rocks here,great posers just love these birds.

Sunday 18 November 2012

On ya bike mate...

 Being a Internet "dick-head" at times sure does pay off especially when these are seen on the door-step and posted on Face book by a local Shields lad...Nice one G.Sless!  Got my arse onto the Leas later today(with little legs) and enjoyed a fantastic views of this bird hunting around the mound area.
 The killing gear on show
 Coming at ya...
 Rested up and thinking about the next area to quarter.
 Finally after many hunting dives the shortie lifted with a kill as the light faded. (vole...). What a pleasure to watch a Short-eared Owl hunting here again on this stretch of our coastline... Up to 4 have been seen around here this week by none Internet users...( reliable sources).
 And aye.. I was right! the better half wanted to see the Bee-eater so joined the massive around the suburban area a couple of weeks back....Cracking views away from the streets and houses at times, when the bird settled in a near by tree!
 And....a few weeks back I ventured to Whitburn looking for wader action around the high tide mark. Plenty of action but short lived by ignorant folks wandering around here.

Saturday 3 November 2012

The Seaburn stunner

 A mundane shopping spree in Wilkinsons down Shields today was rudely interrupted(thankfully!) when news of this Bee-eater reached my mobile whilst here. "Just GO" was the better halves words when I let on what the phone conversations were regrading, "no pet, lets finish the shopping first" my reply....(itching to get away). Twenty minutes or so later, the bins and camera were parked in the car and the better half dropped at home.


 After eventually finding the street in suburban Seaburn where the belter was hanging out, I joined the 20-30 aerial watchers assembled here at this time. What the locals must have thought is different matter, but a few of them pulled up and asked what all the fuss was about and were quite taken back once they sighted this colourful visitor to their neighbourhood.

The bird made the most of a nest of wasps in one of houses here and regularly returned to the same vantage point over looking this food source.


Needless to say this was a fantastic encounter just over the ST border and even sweeter as its a first for myself also. I bet Ive got to get the better half onto this bird tomorrow if its still around...