Fairburn Ings

A couple of weeks ago, while the snow and ice was still with us we enjoyed a trip out to Fairburn Ings RSPB.  On the lakeside margins reedheads stood out against the frozen water, with tiny bursts of hedgerow colour provided by these Rosehips.

Not the best pic, but worthy of inclusion, this here is a Long Eared Owl. We saw a few of them at Fairburn last year, but this year we only managed the one sighting.

A group of 20 Cormorants settled on a pylon.

A parliament of owls

Our second trip to Fairburn Ings to catch a glimpse of the Long Eared Owl was even more successful than anticipated. We spotted 5 Long Eared Owls, they've been seen regularly at Fairburn throughout the winter. What a treat... I hereby declare that the 6th - 13th February be known as 'Owl Week' to celebrate sightings of 6 owls in the space of a week starting with the Little Owl in Eccup. So far this year Ive seen seven owls, including the Barn Owl at Cresswell (North East coast) in January, which is probably more than Ive seen.

Whilst trying to locate the owls, a Grey Heron flew overhead. We also saw a Water Rail, Mute Swans with sygnets, Tufted Ducks & a large flock of Canada Geese feeding in a field at the far side of the lake.

At the feeders near the Fairbun Ings Centre we spotted Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Long Tail Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbird, Blue Tits, Chaffinch.