It's snowtime!

Had a quick walk along Cod Beck in Thirsk today after the snowfall yesterday and this morning. Sun shining and cold, crisp air. Good views of a Treecreeper and two chances with a Kingfisher. Missed the photo op fiddling with the manual settings in gloves to sort the white balance in the snow. Hear that Santa will be bringing some Lowepro ones, so hopefully no repeats come the new year... Fleeting glimpses of Greenfinches to be had too, plus one Robin.

Usual suspects around from the stone bridge to the footbridge: Mallard, Moorhen, Pigeon, Jackdaw, Tree Sparrow, Wren, Black-headed Gull and Blackbird.

Plenty of Starlings and Pigeons in the town centre, roosting on the Christmas decorations.

Lake Gormire and Thirsk Park

Another trip around Gormire with family in tow. Today's highlight, apart from the sunshine obviously, was a female Great Spotted Woodpecker foraging in some fallen timber by the water's edge near the path up Thirlby Bank. Few butterflies about: a wose for wear Peacock and several Large Whites. Considering the sunshine a bit of a poor show really!

A little wander along Cod Beck through Thirsk park at lunchtime, with the camera today. I hoped to see either the Nuthatch or Wagtails again, but didn't. Pleased though to watch several Treecreepers and lots of sparrows and finches catching insects in flight. Picked out an unusual looking duck too... Few Orange-tips around in the undergrowth.

Little family outing to Monk Park Farm yesterday with the usual geese, swans, ducks etc. about the lake.

Now all I need is for the birds to pose for the camera... This might take a while.

Parklife and Nettle Dale

Had a little wander through Thirsk park with my daughter in her buggy and managed to spot Nuthatch picking food out of the grooves on a rather stately, old tree. I enjoyed watching two Grey Wagtails feeding over Cod Beck and landing occasionally on the pebbles by the banks. Also spied a Bullfinch and other finches, tits, sparrows and ducks. Found a Moorhen nest in a tree about two foot above the water as well.

Enjoyed a trip up to Nettle Dale, between Scawton and Old Byland. Nearly ran over a Red-Legged Partridge just outside of Scawton. What a start... Enjoyed watching a Brown Hare bounding up the dale and saw it again on my return to the car. Good to see a pair of Grey Wagtails feeding by the beck and fish ponds too.

Hassacarr LNR

Had a productive lunchtime trip to Hassacarr LNR, Dunnington (near York) yesterday and managed to hear my first Cuckoo of the year. Unfortunately, work beckoned and I had no time to find it... Happy and surprised to have a Noctule Bat circle over my head a few moments before. One of the few British species likely to be seen during the day. The main reserve pond is now bordered by the annual show of Yellow Iris adding a striking flash of colour to the place. Plenty of Large White butterflies, but little else to report from such a brief visit.

WWT Washington & news from Northumberland

Had a visit from my brother and his family at the weekend. He was pleased to report a Red Kite around Hartford Hall, Northumberland had been circling overhead midweek. It appears to have come back and is now landing in trees nearby.

Good trip up to WWT Washington on Friday, despite the weather being a pleasure only for the ducks. Enjoyed seeing 1 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Heron and a number of Common Terns, Swallows and Martins feeeding. Enjoyed close up views of a Grey Wagtail after being disappointed to spook one at Lake Gormire the previous weekend when I fell in the rain!