We were once again at the patch this morning, with a juvenile Glaucous Gull at Chevington being new for the year. Other additions were Kingfisher, Bar-tailed Godwit and Skylark.
Druridge Pools was busy with ducks again, and the recent hybrid wigeon was showing well. A smart bird. There were also quite a few waders today including 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 30+ Dunlin.
On the way back we stopped at Woodhorn where 7 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with the Greylags included the bird with the black neck ring '1V9'. I've attached its history below from geese.org...
Eurasian White-fronted Geese - including its ringing history
I mentioned to my dad as we were leaving home today that I'd like to find a Pec Sand in the area as there had been quite a few reports from other counties recently, although didn't actually have very much hope...
Our first stop was Hauxley where a few hours produced a good count of at least 108 Black-tailed Godwits, as well as 2 Ruff, a Common Sandpiper and a Knot among the more usual waders. The Estuary at Amble held 77 Black-tailed Godwits which included a lot more adults than at Hauxley, so it is possible that there are some very large numbers in the area. One was colour-ringed, and a Kingfisher and 6 Goosanders gave good views, while the injured Whooper Swan was visible towards Warkworth.
Next we headed to Druridge Pools and were pleased to see our first juvenile Curlew Sandpiper of the year when we arrived, as well as a Greenshank, 5 Ruff and 30+ Dunlin. We walked around to the south facing hide and gave it about twenty minutes. We were just getting ready to move on when I decided to have a last scan of the far edge looking back towards the screen.
I noticed a bird feeding alongside a Redshank which I thought looked interesting - it was slightly larger than a Dunlin with quite a pot-bellied look and I thought I could see a sharply defined dark chest - although the views were very distant, which combined with the heat haze to make confirming it impossible. I headed back down the path to view from the NE corner but there was no sign.
On reaching the screen again I set the scope and started scanning the Dunlin and was pleased to see a really smart juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper feeding among them. I then realised the bird stood next to it was another Pec Sand! The first time I've seen more than one together, and a very welcome set of bonus points for Patchwork Challenge!
Cresswell was quieter with 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets and a Yellow Wagtail.
Pectoral Sandpipers - video should be viewed in HD at 720p/1080p
Curlew Sandpiper - video should be viewed in HD at 720p/1080p
We fancied a change of scene today so decided to head up north to Stag Rocks and Bamburgh for a day of birding in that area. Budle Bay was quiet with only a Merlin in the dunes at the back and a Little Egret fishing in the main channel, so we headed up to Ross Sands for a bit of a walk. A number of Long-tailed Ducks and a couple of Slavonian Grebes were visible towards Holy Island.
Fenham Flats produced around 15 Pintail and the usual good numbers of Pale-bellied Brent Geese. There were really good numbers of seabirds off Stag Rocks especially the 75+ Long-tailed Ducks which were mostly made up of stunning adult drakes. Other birds off here included 9 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Great Northern Divers, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers while 76 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks.
With an hour of daylight left we decided to call in at Chevington on the way home. Despite no sign of the Bittern was still really nice selection. The Hen Harrier gave a couple of really close fly pasts, while a Kingfisher sat in the reeds, 4 Water Rails were running about in the reeds and 2 Woodcock flew over in the last of the light, providing me with probably my last patch year tick of 2016...
Headed straight to Chevington this morning for another go at the Shore Larks, and at first it seemed we were in for another dip, as the birds flew off minutes before we got there. However, we needn't have worried as within forty minutes the seven Shore Larks had reappeared at the burn mouth. They showed well throughout the morning and we're still around when we returned in the evening. Great birds as ever, and my first flock in Northumberland! 2 Great Crested Grebes were also offshore.
While watching the Larks my dad mentioned that quite a lot of pipits were flying around the sea pool, so we wandered over, and he managed to pick up a Water Pipit among the 20+ Meadow Pipits. All the birds then flew towards the south pool. 7 Whooper Swans also flew over along with 3 Long-tailed Ducks.
Next we went to Druridge Pools where I picked up a Water Pipit from the screen. It was joined by another and they gave great views for a while, before a Hen Harrier flew across the fields flushing all the birds. Cresswell was quiet with 2 Little Egrets, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Kingfisher the best on offer.
Shore Larks - second photo only included to show all seven together!
Water Pipits at Druridge Pools - the last two photos show the two different birds.
Hen Harrier - still haven't managed a decent photo of this bird!
We were visiting relatives in Teesside yesterday afternoon so decided to call in at Hartlepool Headland and Saltholme on the way down. As soon as we arrived at Hartlepool the extremely smart first-winter male Eastern Black Redstart was showing well in the memorial gardens, and at one point it approached to within a few metres of us on the grass at the Heugh. We were also able to watch 7 Whooper Swans fly over the sea and into the Tees Bay. Saltholme provided a Long-tailed Duck, Long-eared Owl and a probable fly-over Water Pipit.
This morning it was back to the patch, and we stayed for the whole time at Chevington north pool. The number of wildfowl was once again impressive, including lots of Goldeneye, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 8 Pintail and an incredible 20 Scaup! My dad spotted a ringtail Hen Harrier flying south through the dunes, a Kingfisher flew along the east edge and 16 Black-tailed Godwits flew over south. I then heard an almost sparrrow like "shreep!" come from above us and looked up to see a long-tailed, long-winged, sandy coloured bird flying north. Somehow ADMc managed to get the bird in his scope and confirm it was a large pipit. A Richard's Pipit!! Just my second in Northumberland and a very welcome self found tick.
We drove home via Ashington, where there were 6 Waxwings by the police station and c.25 more flying over North Seaton Cemetery before disappearing into the nearby housing estate.
PWC 2016 Species: 165 Points: 230
Eastern Black Redstart
Long-tailed Ducks and Scaup
Tufted Ducks, Goldeneye, Pochard and at least five Scaup
With yesterday's Pallid Harrier at Holy Island that was our first port of call this morning. There was no sign of our target although a showy Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Half Moon Slack was good compensation. A Yellow-browed Warbler was also here. Other birds on the island included 4 Whinchats, a Redstart, 3 Chiffchaff and a Wheatear.
From Holy Island we headed straight to Whittle Dene Reservoir where we had more success with the Franklin's Gullas it was picked up in a field at the south end. The bird lingered for about an hour, giving some good scope views although the light and heat haze ruined any photos. 2 Greenshanks were also around the lakes along with a Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and several Grey Wagtails.
Recently me and my Dad had a trip down to Norfolk, stopping on the way and way back at RSPB Frampton Marsh on the way down and way back and spending a day at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. The weather was poor on all four days yet we still had a great time and saw some good birds...
The highlight of our first stop at Frampton was a brief but good view of my first Turtle Dove for five years. Other birds included a Corn Bunting singing from a fence, 3 Little Gulls, 6 Egyptian Geese, 10+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Mediterranean Gull while wader highlights were 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel and 15+ Grey Plover.
On day two we tried Burnham Overy Dunes for migrants and the best we could find were 2 Spotted Flycatchers. However we did see our first Bittern and Cuckoo of the trip and our only Hobby. A Greenshank was the best we could find at Cley while Holkham produced at least one Green Woodpecker. A Little Gull and Cuckoo were at RSPB Titchwell.
Our third day was the most productive with the first good bird being a pair of Stone Curlew showing well at Weeting Heath. At RSPB Lakenheath Fen a pair of Cranes were giving great views from the Joist Fen Viewpoint providing me with my best ever views of the species. Some of the other many highlights from the reserve included 2 self-found Spoonbills flying north, great views of 2+ Bitterns, lots of Cuckoos all over the place, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tits, Kingfisher and plenty of Marsh Harriers (8 alone in one scan).
On the way home Flitcham Farm produced a Little Owl and at Frampton Marsh a drake Garganey and a Cuckoo were the best birds.
In the end we saw a total of 112 species over four days with Avocets and Little Egrets all over the place and Red Kites seen on several occasions.
Finally after 8 years trying I managed a good view of a Water Pipit at Chevington this morning. It was present on the small flash at the south end early this morning. The bird was very mobile, often flying off to the pool at the burn mouth or flying towards the south end of the coal road. A Kingfisher put in a brief appearance flying from the burn mouth towards the south pool.
The Slavonian Grebe was present on the north pool and 3 Pintail were on the Budge Fields. At Cresswell Pond the first-winter Long-billed Dowitcher remained on the west shore along with a Knot.
The strong northerly winds lured us to the coast at Newbiggin for a few hours this morning (08:35-11:35). Despite it being freezing cold and wind the occasional blizzard there was a great variety of birds including good numbers of Little Auks, a late Sandwich Tern and my best ever seawatching count of 23 Long-tailed Ducks...
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.
Last weekend we saw the adult Caspian Gull 'PKCS' again in Amble Harbour. It didn't show nearly as well as last year.
We weren't expecting much when we set off this morning. The water levels were looking good at Hauxley with the Ponteland Hide producing a Greenshank, Kingfisher & 3 Common Sandpipers. After having missed Hobby on a number of occasions in the county I was very pleased to pick one up over the north pool at Chevington. It gradually flew closer and passed overhead heading south-west. A long awaited addition to the county list! 2 Ruff and a Little Gull were also at Chevington.
When we eventually tore ourselves away from the cricket on the radio at Druridge Pools, the number of butterflies on the wing was impressive. The 12 species on view were:
Painted Lady
Large Skipper
Small Skipper
Large White
Small White
Small Copper
Dark Green Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Small Heath
Red Admiral
Common Blue
Meadow Brown
10 Ruff and 2 Little Egret were on the Budge Fields. 2 Peregrine flew over. A further 8 Little Egrets were at Cresswell (including colour-ringed bird 'T' 'F') along with a couple of Black-tailed Godwits.
Our last stop was Bothal Pond. We were stood at the south end when my Dad picked a wader up on the north side. I thought it looked like an adult Pectoral Sandpiper but because of the distance and heat haze neither of us were completely sure. We rushed up to the north end, and at first we couldn't see it anywhere. Then it landed on one of the concrete blocks in the middle of the pond, providing great scope views and putting the ID beyond doubt. We were only able to watch the Pec Sand for a few minutes before it flew off north-west.
The bird had a severe limp due to an injury to it's right leg, so if it turns up again it'll be easy to know it's the same bird. A Green Sandpiper was also at the north end and an adult Ruff was from the south end.
