A lowland Raven

Out early this morning walking towards Beacon Hill. Walking down Whinney Lane past Lough house I thought I heard the 'cronk' of a Raven. At the bottom of the lane and looking over Heronsclose Burn over damp rough ground which has recently been planted up with trees I noticed a large black bird on a fence post. Through the binoculars it was clearly a Raven and it called a couple of times as it flew over the rough ground towards Gorfenletch. This is only my second lowland sighting of Raven the last being at Littlehoughton quarry a few years ago on my way back from Stewart's house at Howick. I have seen them a few miles from here at Rothley, Ewesley and Lordenshaw. I walked back by Benridge moor and took the footpath back by the pond at Lough house. The hedgerow here was full of Tree Sparrows and a single Marsh Tit. There was at least 20 Red legged partridges along the field edge. The Raven was solitary in behaviour ignoring the numerous flocks of Carrion crows, Rooks and Jackdaws feeding among Gulls in flooded fields nearby.
Later this afternoon we had a family walk around Druridge Bay Country Park. The sunshine brought out lots of dog walkers and I was rewarded with Woodcock flushed by dogs at Radcliffe plantation on the North side of the lake and a few seconds later a Long eared Owl flew out of the wood and flew briefly parallel with the trees before swiftly disappearing back into the wood. No camera with me today; the above pic was taken by my son with his i pad at DBCP

Above the clouds

A couple of weeks ago we climbed Simonside. It was murky and grey, very cold, and cloudy. Lots of Red Grouse but once we reached the top the clouds were below us. Top pic is a different aspect of the Cheviot hills and the one below is looking over Harwood forest...note the amount of clearance at the Rothbury end.

Moss Oysterling (Arrhenia acerosa) growing on the rotten floor of my garden shed. 

Cropped shot of Green hellebore (Helleborus viridis) on opposite bank of River Font near Mitford

Velvet Shank (Flammulina) near Highford bridge, Morpeth

A walk along the river Wansbeck between Morpeth and Mitford yesterday morning was productive in terms of fungi and birds. Three Goosanders upstream from the stepping stones and up to 20 Bramblings feeding on the steep ground on Beech mast at Atheys dene. Among other birds here were Marsh tit and at least 11 Great Tits together and Jay. Velvet Shank fungi appears abundant in and around the woods this winter.

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.

Late autumn colours

Stepping stones, Morpeth

Red Campion and Ivy at Ulgham

River of leaves...River Lyne at Ulgham

Old Alder at Ulgham host to the fungi Alder Bracket (Inonotus radiatus)

Fox and Cubs still in flower at Deuchar park, Morpeth