Iceland Gull at NSFQ

The second-winter Iceland Gull showed really well while we were at the North Shields Fish Quay this morning, down to just a few metres at times. It's the first non-Kumlien's Iceland Gull I've seen for almost two years.

Iceland Gull

BNG and GGS

QEll was our first stop as I hoped to photograph the Black-necked Grebe which had been there for the past few days. Eventually we found it and it showed really well at times, though could disappear at times. Also present was a Great Crested Grebe, Goosander and a Little Grebe.

Finally we stopped at West Hartford where we eventually got really good views of the Great Grey Shrike.

Black-necked Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Grey Shrike

Garden birds...

Just a few photos from my garden over the last couple of days...

Mistle Thrush

Blackcap - the second this winter.

Robin

Sooty Shearwater...

One flying north past Chevington this afternoon was my latest Sooty by at least a month, and as far as I'm aware it was only the second December record in Northumberland in the last 14 years...

Black Redstarts

Three Black Redstarts at Newbiggin were the highlight of an otherwise quiet day. There was one male along with two female/first-winter types which showed well especially on my second attempt...

At Cresswell there was a single Black-tailed Godwit and Little Egret and a hybrid duck of some sort.

Black Redstart

Chevington...

A walk along the beach and to the hide at Chevington this afternoon was quite productive with 8+ Twite allowing a close approach on the beach and a Lapland Bunting which flew over calling (my first since 2011!). The redhead Smew was still on the north pool with a Little Egret.

Twite

Hume's v Yellow-browed

Here's a couple of comparisons between today's Hume's Warbler and the Yellow-browed Warbler at Cresswell in October...

Hume's Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Hume's Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler