Northern Delights, whey man it's canny!!

Well it's Saturday 8th November, and it only seems like a few days since I signed off and said see you in three weeks. So I'm back. And so as I listen to the fireworks going off around me, just a brief photo-summation of some of the highlights of the last 3 weeks. Well actually only a record of my week and a bit "up't north. Don't suppose you wish to know about the other stuff, Christmas Shopping, laying a carpet, DIY and the likes..... click on an image to enlarge if the mood takes you.

Lets kick off with this holly tree. Those of you with a keen eye will notice this is a) quite big and b) covered in berries. It's in my parents garden and believe it or not, 3 years ago it was cut down to about half of it's size. Every year it crops berries and every Christmas time my parents give away tons of the stuff for friends.

Speaking of my parents garden, they have inherited a partial leucistic Carrion Crow. It arrived a few weeks back and semi-tame, coming to the feeders and so on. I tried to get closer to it and bring it to me, but it wasn't that keen, who can blame it. But whilst watching the crow, this juv Grey Wagtail flew into the garden, presumably it was passing through to a more suitable area.

While up at Boldon, a visit to Boldon Flats NR produced a single Whooper Swan (which a guy at Rainton Meadows didn't bother looking at thinking it was a Mute - timely lesson in never assume, as assume make as ass out of u and me), also 10 Bean Geese amongst the Greylags) Over at the coast, huge numbers of Eider and Gannet flying north, which I phoned in for the Autumnwatch team on the Farnes 90 miles north but the weather prevented any filming.

Although the weather up there was generally more depressing than my jokes, on the bright days, it was "reet canny". And where better to be on a sunny autumnal day, the Lake District.

These two above are sort on near the Eden Valley, near Kirkoswald, but if you look closely at the hills, actually the Pennines, they snow covered. So didn't drive that way.

Ullswater on the left looking super, and because my mother was had been naughty (these 75 year olds are a handfull I tell you!!), made her get the bus home, mind you not a bad view from the bus stop.

Ullswater again from Glenridding side, and the parentals by my new car purchased 2 days before, I think my father wanted to pinch it!!

Sun setting over the hills near Dockwray, which is where my mother was evacuated in 1940, to this very farm, sadly no one at home but at least we found it...... can you believe it, in those days she walked 3 miles over that hill to school in wooden clogs and back again, come snow or rain. Children would get counselling these days for that.

Just a view of Durham Cathedral, as I went to a service there and well it was wonderful. Sadly for this photo, the light was dull and dark so apologies for the white sky. Did meant to photoshop it, but well you know how it is.....

Coming back from Durham, stopped at Rainton Meadows NR, part of the Durham Wildlife Trust Portfolio. by now, it being 2pm, it was almost dark, so this is all I took, a photo of Joe's Pond, the original reserve, started in the 1950's from a Coal Board subsidence pond. Couple of Snipe, some Lapwing and Teal and that was about it of note.

Holy Island - or Lindisfarne if you prefer.

I was sitting watching the rain fall while having breakfast and thought, well there's nothing for it, the weather won't break so just go to Holy Island, pack an overnight bag and just go whatever the weather. So I did and by the time I got to Belford, the sun was out and at Holy Island, not a cloud in the sky. I've been coming here since 6 months old, and it never ever disappoints. Last Tuesday, as I joined the causeway, this flock of what I thought were Brent Geese were flying over the car just long enough for a photo, however while I stood there I thought hang on these are surely Pink Feet as they're flying in a classic V and the noise was deafening. Double checking the photo later, although not exactly clear, they are. A great start to an even better day.

From the vantage point here, I had Bar-Tail Godwit, Grey Plover, Curlew, Redshank, Eider, Oystercatcher, Red Brested Merganser, Brent Geese, to name a few, as well as Grey Seals patrolling the water and hauling out onto some of the far sand bars. Later in the day walking along the Lonnen, I spied 3 Waxwing in a hawthorn. Camera out, they were off before a record shot and flew over 3 "twitchers" with all the gear. I walked up the them and said how long have the Waxwings been here? Not one of my better opening lines as they'be been standing there for half an hour and hadn't seen them, having come to the Island because their pagers had gone off to say they were here. Then they complained I'd not called them out. I felt like pointing out welfare of the birds come first, and maybe if they'd been looking at the berry covered trees behind them it may have been better than across a field. Another classic "assume" as one of the Trio said we saw those bushes were full of birds but thought they'd just be sparrows and Redwing. Never mind eh.

But lets not forget the common birds, is this House Sparrow above not just beautiful? Mind you he was trying to pinch my carrot cake. Also on the Island were Lapland Bunting (apparently!!) and Snow Bunting, which I eventually saw but only from 400 miles away, so could have been sweet wrappers in the wind.

So as the weather was just perfect, I booked myself into the Rose Villa B&B, I'd recommend it, top breakfast, and as the sun set, went for a walk. Above the Castle from the Harbour, and "Shields" or upturned boats used as sheds. Not many left now, but used to be common.

Spiders web in sunshine and of course Eiders (must be British ones, the male is waddling 10 feet behind the female)

Just glorious over to Ross Links and Bamburgh Castle, and with the sea like a mill pond, the sun setting over St Cuthberts Island provided gorgeous reflections.

However I inherited this ES Spaniel, which came up to me, growled, waged it's tail and then proceeded to wade through the water, destroying the mirror like effect..... so I decided to catch his deed on camera. Finally back at the B&B a House Martin flew around for a couple of minutes, very late, and I'd be surprised if it survives it's migration, this late.

Finally, the next day, following a few too many whiskys in The Ship in the evening, and that recommended full English breakfast, another walk along the Lonnen. Sadly the weather was quite frankly awful. But nothing ventured. No sign of the Waxwings today, but a large number of Fieldfare and Redwing, plus 5 maybe 6 Goldcrest.

Anyway I was watching a Reed Bunting when this Short Eared Owl shot past. Someone had said yesterday all 5 species of Owl were on being regularly seen on the Island at the moment which I find astonishing, but one cant beat a shortie, not least as it's daylight (11am to be precise). Cracking views for 15 minutes before hypothermia got the better of me. Sadly though again, as the light was so bad, these were about the best photos. Later flying over the sea, Common Scooter, a Chiffchaff at the Lough, handfull of Stonechats and that was about all really.

But I don't really mind, just being on the Island as the day-trippers leave, and the sea cuts it off from the mainland, is just fabulous. The double whisky chasers helped too.....

Owls tomorrow and that's yer lot for 3 weeks

Just a brief snippet of stuff today.

Firstly, via the blog I thought it may be worth publicising this Afternoon Play, Friday 17th October on Radio 4, The Owls. Why am I advertising the afternoon play? well because it has been produced from the BBC's Natural History Unit.

A fictional story written and narrated by Paul Evans and based on an island legend about a brother and sister who were bound by a wish sworn on a barn owl feather, which in turn became a curse that proved fatal. Recorded on location in Scotland.

Go on, have a listen, I'd be interested in any feedback.

And then again, I'll not be here to read feedback for three weeks. Yes, the Boy Border is finally off to have his Summer Hols. Those of you of sharp mind and quick wit, will notice that summer has passed and we're heading into Winter. Let that not deter me venturing off with my bucket and spade into the gathering darkness.

And so until November 10th (unless I get access to the Internet while away), I shall leave you with this quality photo of Bristol's Eagle Owl, now known as Eddie.

I know it's amazing isn't it, it's all my own work!!!

Phalarope the Grey

Blimey 2 posting in a single weekend, what has come over me? But this Sundays effort is a special one. Hearing earlier in the week that a Grey (or Red in some guides) Phalarope (139 for the year) was having a bit of a subjoin at Cheddar Reservoir, I popped down there early this morning to see if it was still entertaining the crowds from the shire.

Early morning mist didn't bode well for seeing this small wader, but it was picturesque enough as the sun tried to break through the mist. Anyhow I was faffing about with my digi-kit, trying to photograph some Black Headed Gulls, when this chap arrived at my left, mug of tea in hand and said,

"If you're looking for that rare bird, it's just outside the Yacht Club-House next to that boat. There are two chaps down there photographing it"

And so it was and so they were - blooming huge photo lenses, so I tried to hide my Heath Robinson digi-kit behind my rucksack and just did the best I could. And what a cracking little bird, didn't seem at all bothered by the small crowd watching it with more mugs of tea from the club house, not even when a dog splashed through. Or where they watching us twitchers thinking, what are they upto? Shut up BR, just let the photos do the talking (click to enlarge)

This is my digi-kit. slightly mad to set up but it'll do for lill' ole me. Follow the telescope to the waters edge and that pale bird is the Phalarope.

And what I saw through the lens.

this one refuses to rotate!!!

I like these two photos, as they show how small this Wader is against pied wagtails

But lets not forget in all the excitement, Cheddar is a nationally important overwintering site for Coot, 3-4,000 regularly come here. So to end this blog, birding and looking after wildlife is not just about the rare things, but also the common place....

........I wonder how many other birders who have come to Cheddar just to see the Grey Phalarope, even noticed the Coots?

A Folly for Wildlife

Before I mention on the blog this morning's visit to Folly Farm, more wildlife folly. Below suspect 1, Collard Dove. Biggish bird, on a small bird feeder. The antics of the three Collard Doves on this feeder, yes dear reader there have been 3 doves on at one sitting....! has to be seen to be believed. Collard Doves are the Paris Hilton of the wildlife world in my view, nice to look at but lacking a certain mental ability. I'll keep quiet for their sake that yesterday I spied a Sparrowhawk over our gardens!

And so to this morning. I was kindly asked to attend the Avon Wildlife Trust's Folly Farm Media Group today. So at 11am I presented myself all spick and span as the new boy on the block, hair slicked back, shoes polished, pencil sharpened, that sort of thing. And what a wonderful place Folly Farm is. Click here for the website.

Without going into too much detail as to why we were there, we were basically there to brainstorm the notion "how do we promote this facility", using the group members wildlife media backgrounds and contacts; the fact of the matter is I've known about this place for years, had never visited, and so the very fact I'd never visited confirmed in my mind that, it needs promoting more. As we said, if the converted are unaware of it's existence, then the unconverted will be completely oblivious.

So in a small way, I'm promoting it on my blog. Not that anyone reads this rambling stuff. But keep an eye out in the future as I have offered to go there for a few days soon and look at "interpretation". Just get a feel of the place, why people come to visit, be there as a point of contact when they arrive and to advise. I'll look forward to that and will report back on the blog if I survive.

After our tour of the facilities with the Centre Manager we had a couple of hours "blue sky thinking" over coffee and cakes. Once the session ended I had decided to have a wander myself up to the view point, known as Roundhill, which not only looks over the 250 acre nature reserve, but out across the Chew Valley. This whole area was once Somerset, but in the 1970's became Avon and then in the 1990's became North Somerset. All very odd. But as we all said in the session it is less than 10 miles from the centre of Bristol and one could be in the middle of rural Wessex.

The walk up to Roundhill is a bit of a climb, through open woodland and then into this glorious dappled shade path, helped today by the fabulous weather.

Eventually the path heads off towards open fields and a viewpoint. Just through a stile was this lovely view across rolling countryside.

But then at the top of the hill, the view. Not quite in the same league as I've been used to over recent years in Dorset, but I have to say on a day like this it was just lovely to look out over Chew Valley Lake. I had to remind myself this wasn't summer, but mid October. Just me, some sheep and a warm breeze. Perfect autumn weather.

And made up for me not being at the Alwinton Show in Northumberland today. As I write this blog at 6pm, I can imagine the show field there emptying and the autumn sun setting over the hills. I may be in Wessex, but the heart is always up't in the Coquet Valley.

And now, a quick wash and polish before the pub. Champion pet.

Bristol's wildlife

Just a snippet blog today, as there is an article in today's Guardian by Stephen Moss about a resident Eagle Owl in Bristol.

We were informed of this a week or so, and this lunchtime I'm planning to have a shufty at the little fellah, before he eats any small animals or children. Didn't mention this before as trying to keep the location quiet, but it's now on the public domain. Actually this posting makes me think, Bristol is a fab City for wildlife, maybe a topic for a future posting, bubbling away in embryonic form.

Funnily enough bumped into Stephen at lunchtime, and he mentioned a Grey Phalarope is on Cheddar Reservoir, so that's this weekends birding sorted then. As a postscript, I have now seen the puffball on the ledge, Top bird !! And many thanks for Mr C for taking me to see it.

A Tern around Lyme

This blogging malarkey is a funny old business. I've just finished decorating the bedroom in preparation for an M&S bed and Tempura mattress to be delivered next week. So there was me at 1pm today heading for Dunelm shopping emporium in Weston super Mud to look at bed-linen and rugs. I'd got half way there when a feeling of nausea, depression and fatigue took over me, I just couldn't face it, shopping on a Sunday, yeuck. So turning the car around, a sudden change of plan and by 2.30 I was here..........

........ go on guess where? No, no idea?..... well have a look at this, the clue is in the famous Cliff, the bird and the sea............

Yep my favourite haunt, Lyme Regis. And today because of the dreadful weather forecast of rain and pestilence, it was empty, and there wasn't any rain either. So as I was at the seaside, what did Border do next? A £1.80 double scoop Purbeck ice-cream (scoop each of mint choc chip and Dorset honey - lush!)

So I sat on the Cobb, with my gelato and watched the birds. Bit of an offshore wind blowing today so the gulls were having a frolic and play about in the sky. Always a pleasure watching them, seemed to come a bit close at times though, I hope they weren't after my ice cream!

I feel loathe to show these 2 pictures after the last posting of that stunning Kingfisher, but I am, no matter how bad they are, as they were there so at least a record shot. Never let it be said that Border shirks his responsibility of posting dreadful photographs on his blog for his publics amusement. This Oystercatcher above flew in and wobbled about the rocks, while this rock pipit seemed interested in what was behind a bench. Probably after my ice cream as well, as he seems to be sidling up to me in a furtive fashion.

And then just when I was considering getting some fudge as a pudding after the ice cream mains, this fellah-me-lad flopped down onto Cobb right in front of me. A juvenile Common Tern. Presumably it was a bit exhausted as it just sat there and allowed me to get to about 20 feet away, before it flew off, round in a circle and landed behind me (the second image).

Of course never having been a boy scout, unprepared I didn't have my bins with me, so couldn't get a good look, but it seemed fine, just resting. Behind it I could see a woman walking towards me. So camera poised, I waited and waited and waited for the take off a flight shot........ next stop Africa.

Finally a few mood shots of surfers on the sea. Lyme Bay is not exactly Bondai Beach, but it was providing some terrific sport for the mad devils who were braving the sub optimal sea temperatures today.

By the way the surfer is on the wave mid ground left, in the one above (I was being pretentious and arty with the camera settings)

Crikey mother, what on earth is this poised in the stream? Well dear reader it's a bird. Or more correctly a sculpture of a bird, no idea what other than a bird of prey and one of many installations around Lyme this week for the Lyme Arts Fest.

I just hope it keeps it's talons off my ice cream................!!!!!!

Stunning Kingfisher Photo....

Sadly dear blogger I am unable to take responsibility, or credit or anything for this fabulous photo of a kingfisher.

Ian Llewellyn is an emerging Wildlife cameraman photographer based here in Bristol. This morning amongst the deluge of work e-mails was this absolutely stunning photo Ian has recently taken. I asked him if I could share it with the bloggers out there, he was more than happy.

It's hoped that he will soon have a book published about this remarkable bird, I was asked to add a piece on my first Kingfisher encounter. Once it is I'm sure Ian will allow me to publicise its publication on the blog.

In the meantime, just sit back and admire this photo. I've left it fairly large, so it's worth a click to enlarge the photo to see the detail.