It hasn’t been a classic year for Geese this winter with mild weather across Europe resulting in no great influx, the usual winter flocks have been around but rarer geese have been few locally.
A couple of White-fronts have turned up as spring begins to start in Northumberland and we’re still in residence when I was out for an explore. As is often the case small numbers of geese are often less wary as a large flock and when I walked past the gate where you can see into the field they were feeding in they were only about 30 metres away and just stood there before carrying on.
This is the eastern sub-species that gets called either Eastern or Russian White-fronted Goose. It differs from the western race most obviously with the pink bill whereas the western has an orange one.
Tags: Anser albifrons Anser Goose Geese Greater White-fronted Goose White-fronted Goose canon Sigma Nature Birds Wildlife Northumberland Canon EOS R7 Sigma 150-600 Sport East Chevington
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The waters of the Ouseburn that run through the middle of Newcastle upon Tyne are heavily polluted, the smell can be quite intense at times, especially given it is alongside a popular walk through Jesmond Dene.
Its amazing how wildlife can adapt though, with several pairs of Grey Wagtail living along it and affording good views regularly.
The light is tricky and it took a high ISO but managed to catching this one stacking his claim on a territory as Spring starts to get going.
Tags: Motacilla cinerea Motacilla Grey Wagtail Wagtail Bird Birds Northumberland Jesmond Dene Newcastle upon Tyne Canon Sigma Canon EOS R7 Sigma 150-600 Sport
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(European) Common Frog - Rana temporaria
Given its slow progress through the woods thought I'd make the most of being able to get a Frog's eye view.
Tags: Common Frog Rana temporaria European Common Frog Amphibian Canon Sigma Canon 7d Mark II Sigma 105 Macro Havannah Three Hills Havannah Nature Reserve Macro Nature Northumberland
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A species that I see every year spring tends to be the best time to see the adults as they emerge from hibernation and head towards water.
Its a species I've never got particularly good photographs of and in the middle of the woods quite some distance from the ponds at my regular site, Havannah Three Hills in Northumberland, was not where I was expecting to come across one. Thankfully my reactions are still quick enough as I nearly stood on it !
Tags: Rana temporaria Rana Frog Common Frog European Common Frog Amphibian Wildlife Havannah Three Hills Northumberland Macro Canon Sigma Sigma 105 Macro Canon 7d Mark II
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My first butterfly of 2024 was not quite as expected!
Speckled Wood is one of our first on the wing in the spring but over winters either as a caterpillar or as a pupae. I found this under a stone overhang in a sheltered spot. The first time I’ve actually found a pupating Butterfly.
This species wasn’t common in Northumberland until relatively recently, the recolonisation has been rapid now and with multiple generations every year it’s now one of the ones I see most often.
Tags: Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Butterfly Lepidoptera Macro Canon Sigma Canon 7d Mark II Sigma 105 Macro Bothal Northumberland
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