29 December 2014: Red Squirrel and snow in Co Durham.

Monday January 29 and check out day from the cottage for the return journey home. However, as there was still some snow on the ground from the previous day's snowfall, we decided to see if the Red Squirrels would come out to play. In all we saw at least 3 different individulas

Nosey Blue Tit

Red Squirrel in a splash of sunlight

27 December 2014: Red Squirrel in Co Durham

While having a week back up North for Christmas with my father, our son and his new wife, we stayed at a holiday cottage near the the Derwent Reservoir in County Durham. Just along the road was a small colony of Red Squirrels.
A Robin - well it was just after Christmas.

The first and only Red Squirrel to show today.

Great Tit

Red Squirrel

Great Tit checking where the camera had gone.

Great Tit, they are obviously so used to humans that they just flutter past your ears an then check out what you are up to.

Red Squirrel again

Never seen so many Coal Tits in one place

Great Tit

Coal Tit

A quick 10 minute trip up the road took me to moorland and some Red Grouse - could have done with some sunshine, but I'm happy enough.

15 December 2014: Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owls

I spent the early part of the day with a friend at Great Barrington, searching for the Ring Tailed Hen Harrier that has appeared again this year - presumably thatwould make the bird female if it is the same one as last year.
On route to Barrington, I passed this Buzzard, nicely perched in a tree as I turned down towards Sherborne.

 As usuaul, at Sherborne Meadows I spotted the Kingfisher- a long way off and this is a heavy crop. However, it is so distant it is unperturbed by people watching and its activities can be watched for quite some time as it moves around the pool.

On arrival at Great Barrington, the first bird is one of the regular Kestrel there.

 Lots of Yellowhammer loitering in the hedgerow

 At lomg last we got one quite high fly ny!

 As time moved on and the Harrier di not reappear, we moved on to Hawling to catch the Short Eraed Owls - a total of 4 showed today.

 The regular Kestrel is no longer appreciated by the newer residents

 As a few of the Owls went down for a while, the Kestrel returned in search of its own supper.