What have you seen

Purple Sandpiper, Bullfinches, Grey Wagtail, Knott, Oyster Catchers, Heron and the usual crew down on the lower 'estuary' of the River Esk. Unfortunately my new bins and cameras all packed ready for Costa Rica.

We had a most unusual visitor to our back garden this morning. There was a Snipe wandering around on the snow on the patio at the back of our house, which settled down using the garage wall as a shelter. Did try for a photo through our bedroom window but distance and the falling snow was against getting a decent one.

What a lovely surprise that must have been NTH.

I have been wandering up and down the Sharpness canal for a number of visits trying to spot the Great Norther Diver without any success. However as the weather turned sour today I headed back towards the car and came across a couple of Great Crested Grebe diving for a morsel or two. They did nor seem bothered by my presence so grabbed a couple of pics.

Whilst waiting for BT engineer to fix broadband,I sat watching garden birds and noticed this Chaffinch with the same ailment as Greenfinchs, cruddy feet.

Hi GL. Is this the disease that has reduced the Greenfinch numbers over the last few years?

Still trying to find the Great Northern Diver but still no show. At least I am getting some exercise and fresh air.

Swung by Aust Warth on the way home in hope of some Short Eared Owls and turned up just in time to see an owl quartering the warth.

First 2 pics show the owl finding the target. Pic 3 as the owl swoops down. Pic 4 The owl make for a safe perch to devour the vole. Pic 5 shows a Kestrel with an eye on the owl's meal pestering for several minutes up to the highest I have seen an owl fly. Kept his/hermeal though.

Whilst looking for GND, I noticed a CL on a farm alongside the Sharpness canal at Purton. Could not see what the field was like though.

BM.....you jammy begger!

I would love to have pictures as good as those....oh to see SEO's like this.

I think this is same disease?

Great pics Blue.  There are a couple of SEO and a rough legged buzzard at Haddiscoe Island currently.  Haven't seen any at Oulton Marshes so far this year

Thanks GL

Knowing where they hunt helps, but to have them this close is very lucky. It took many visits before it payed off.

Thanks OP

If anyone is nearby, they can be seen most afternoons from about 3.00 pm alongside the road at Aust Warth. This is the closest to the road that they have hunted.

Great pictures, BM, thanks for posting them.