Patching

Had another trip to the patch this afternoon hoping to catch up with a Bittern, while we were unsuccessful with this it was still a nice afternoon's birding...

Chevington had a very similar selection to last weekend with the north pool holding the Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes still, the pair of Scaup and female Common Scoter were also still present along with a Water Rail and 6 Red-breasted Merganser. The female Marsh Harrier was once again over the south pool with an adult Mediterranean Gull over and a Barn Owl again.

A further 5 Red-breasted Merganser were at Druridge Bay Country Park along with a drake Goosander. The goose flock was the highlight at Druridge Pools. It held 10 European White-fronted Geese (including five first-winters), a first-winter Greenland White-fronted Goose and a Barnacle Goose among the 400+ Pink-feet. 15 Whooper Swans were also visible in the distance.

From 2012 on Teesside - a first-winter Greenland White-fronted Goose (front) with Eurasian White-fronts.