East Chevington

Lesser Redpoll...East Chevington

View of the Cheviot hills from Druridge Bay country park

Up early and a good walk along the beach at East Chevington and a walk around Ladyburn lake at Druridge Bay CP and back to East Chevington via the back of the North pool through the Alders. Here there was a flock of at least 18 Lesser Redpolls which included many colourful males. 

A good variety of wildfowl on East Chevington included many fine Goldeneye and there was also a Red necked Grebe on the North pool. Ladyburn lake also held a variety of wildfowl but a wind surfer was making many birds take to the air. The highlight here were 3 Long tailed ducks but only a single Pochard could be found.

Wallington

Morning walk around Wallington Hall this morning. Still a good place for Red Squirrels and pleasant woodland walks along the river Wansbeck. Also a good place for fungi and plants, some of the wintering flowers in the walled garden were in flower such as Winter Aconite, Snowdrop and Green Hellebore. Yesterday I was at Amble harbour looking at the Gulls; nothing exciting but 52 Cormorants on the old staithes were noteworthy.

Stobswood and Widdrington Moor Lake

Remains of Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) berries...Stobswood

Meadow Puffball (Vascellum pratense)...Stobswood

A good romp around Stobswood and Widdrington tip this morning. The above were all I photographed today but plenty of birds around. A couple of nice Buzzards at Stobswood and a small flock of Bullfinch behind the old pit heap. At Widdrington Moor lake there was a flock of nearly a hundred Wigeon and Mallard, smaller numbers of Teal and 2 Red Breasted Merganser. The Linnet and Chaffinch flock are still on the southern shore. 

New Years Walk

Variable Oysterling (Crepidotus variabilis)...Borough Woods Morpeth

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)...Mitford

Widdrington Tip

Twenty Plume Moth

A nice walk this morning along the river Wansbeck before the weather turned. Many woodland birds around including several Marsh Tits. Lots of fungi still around. The other day I had a good walk around Widdrington moor lake and Widdrington tip. The Snipe here appear to have been replaced with Woodcock as the trees are growing and encroaching the open damp areas at the old tip. Three Buzzards and a Peregrine here and a large Linnet and Chaffinch flock. On the lake just a large selection of common wildfowl but worth keeping a close eye on this fine stretch of water. The Twenty Plume Moth took up residence in my house over Christmas. 

Nothing ambitious for 2014 other than continuing to record all wildlife around the patches of Stobswood and Widdrington, the banks of the Wansbeck and Harwood forest as well as trips to other parts of the county.