Trip To The Far Side

Donna Nook - 11.12.19

After the trips to the Farne Isles in July seeing Atlantic Grey Seals at some distance a trip over to Donna Nook on the east coast viewing seals at close quarters was on the "bucket list" during the brief end of year breeding season. The weather over the last week or so has been pretty grim but tomorrow for one day only the forecast is looking pretty good so not wanting to miss out we decide to go for it.

Never having visited Donna Nook previously I really didn't know what to expect other than a few images I've seen online. After a two hour drive and parking up in basically a large field flanked on one side by a sea embankment I asked for directions, I'm told the seals are just on the other side of the embankment, sounds good not having to hump loads of gear around. A short walk and I mean a short walk over the embankment....boom !...the sight isn't quite what I had expected with literally hundreds of seals laying out over the mud flats even right up to the grass embankment no more than half a meter away, an unbelievable sight.

Resisting the urge getting the camera out I'm happy to just view the the action of one of the UK's most successful seal breeding colonies to-date, males fighting each other, females chasing off other females that have strayed into their territory, young pups being sent packing attempting to suckle the wrong cow, it's a fantastic sight, even better the sun's out shining too !

The camera's now brought out into action trying to pick animals on slightly elevated ground giving a nice clear background. Now normally by the end of the day I would have racked up approach 2K of images but some days it's good just immerse yourself and experience the sight and sounds.

Probably three weeks late in the season for the best of the action so I've marked the diary for a return trip,...see you next year.

Atlantic Grey Seal

Park Parrots

Country Park - 5.12.19

Ring-necked or Rose-Necked Parakeets normally a resident in sub-Saharan African countries with feral populations now widespread and increasing across Europe, quite common in London parks but not so much in Northern England. In Greater Manchester I'm aware of two locations where these noisy colourful parakeets in are residence one being only a short travel distance so always on the look out for information current sightings.

At this time of year the parakeets seem to be constantly on the move looking for food occasionally even turning up on garden feeders. I've never previously tempted try for images but my interest all changed after seeing images of the birds visiting a possible nest hole thinking why not give it a go for some images.

Work in progress...

Ring-neck Parakeet