Eclipse & Garganey

Yesterday morning we were back on patch where there were a few migrants about. Perhaps the most obvious were the Pink-footed Geese with a flock of 500+ on the north pool at Chevington, which they shared with a Garganey, Black-tailed Godwit and Pintail.

3 Redwings flew over and a Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared to fly 'in off'. Along with a Treecreeper these were additions to the PWC year list.

A very early start this morning resulted in an impressive show from the lunar eclipse, with completely clear skies.

PWC 15
Species: 165
Points: 220

163. Great Spotted Woodpecker
164. Treecreeper
165. Redwing 

Composite image of the lunar eclipse

Garganey record shot

Patch birding...

The highlight of this morning's search around the patch was a very brief view of a Yellow-browed Warbler first found by my Dad in the plantation by the entrance of Druridge Pools. It seemed to be hanging around with a group of Goldcrests and disappeared almost as soon as we got onto it. A Greenshank also at Druridge Pools, with another at Chevington along with a Pintail and 6 Bar-headed Geese.

At Cresswell there was a Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, Little Egret and Kingfisher, and the first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn were flying over.

PWC 15
Species: 162
Points: 217

162. Yellow-browed Warbler

Cresswell

A quick trip to Cresswell this afternoon where there was a nice selection of birds behind the hide including a Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatchers and Chiffchaffs.

Firecrest

Yellow-browed Warbler

Young Stoat at Hadston yesterday

Patch Red-foot!!

A nice surprise on my patch recently was the first-summer male Red-footed Falcon which turned up at Hemscott Hill. We managed great views of it this evening for about 15 minutes before it drifted off north, much better than we got in Lincolnshire! Record shots only unfortunately as we were looking directly into the sun this evening...

Also, on Sunday a brief seawatch off Hadston produced Sooty Shearwater and Great Skua for the patch year list.

PWC 15
Species: 160
Points: 213

Double seawatch...

Two seawatches at Newbiggin today...

The first was quite quiet over the three hours we were there. The highlight wasn't even a seabird!

9 Manx Shearwater
104 Wigeon
118 Teal
14 Common Scoter
5 Pintail
2 Great Skua
1 Shoveler
18 Brent Goose

3 Roseate Tern

1 Osprey - flew south. Not quite what we were expecting this morning, and (embarrassingly!) only my second in the county.
1 Merlin - 'in off'

Back again this evening from 14:50 to 19:15...

1 Great Shearwater - flew north at 18:50. Not nearly as close as last year's bird, but more prolonged views allowed us to appreciate the bird a bit more before it was all over. Great scope views in good light made it an awesome experience!
26 Sooty Shearwater
43 Manx Shearwater
6 Arctic Skua
2 Great Skua
9 Wigeon
5 Teal
2 Tufted Duck
3 Common Scoter
2 Grey Plover
1 Whimbrel
2 Brent Goose

Osprey record shot

Brent Geese

Bee-eaters & American Wigeon

A good day's birding to end my summer holiday with...

First to Lower Gelt Quarry in Cumbria where the Bee-eaters have bred this year. The two adults were on show most of the time we were there, only flying off when the weather closed in or the local Buzzards scared them off. They looked great through the scope! We also managed a very brief view of a young bird's head in the nest hole.

On the way back we stopped at Grindon Lough. The eclipse drake American Wigeon was on the south bank with a good number of Eurasian Wigeon. Not a plumage we see very often so it was quite an educational bird.

Bee-eaters

American Wigeon