Whilst in Northumberland, I went for a Sunday morning walk in Hune Park, which is part of the Northumberland Estate on the edge of Alnwick. The park consists of woods and farmland in the valley of the River Aln.
It is entered through a large gateway and I had been told to watch out for Hawfinchs in the trees around the gate, but none were to be seen. I have since found out that there is a much better chance during the winter when they tend to congregate in that area.
Moving on through the woods I encounter the first of many Pheasants I will either see or hear during my walk.
Along the river a surprising sighting is an Oystercatcher. But there is no sign of a Dipper which is reported from here.Common Woodland birds abound and I am serenaded by Wrens and Great Tits as I make my way through the attractive countryside. A Sparrowhawk circles overhead and both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush give good views.
There is not yet much evidence of summer migrants with single Barn Swallow; Blackcap and Willow Warbler seen during the walk
The highlight though was the Stoat which ran across the road, stopped to look at me and then made off as I reached for the camera.
Stoat
Photo by Mark Kilner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/markkilner/)
Common Pheasant [sp] (Phasianus colchicus)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk [sp] (Accipiter nisus)
Eurasian Oystercatcher [sp] (Haematopus ostralegus)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
European Herring Gull [sp] (Larus argentatus)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove [sp] (Streptopelia decaocto)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Coal Tit [sp] (Periparus ater)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Barn Swallow [sp] (Hirundo rustica)
Willow Warbler [sp] (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Eurasian Blackcap [sp] (Sylvia atricapilla)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush [sp] (Turdus philomelos)
Mistle Thrush [sp] (Turdus viscivorus)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow [sp] (Passer domesticus)
Common Chaffinch [sp] (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)
Small Tortoiseshell [sp] (Aglais urticae)
