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| Firecrest - the highlight of a frustrating day at Fishburn |
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| Chiffchaff |
Sunday, 3 February 2019
Monday, 21 January 2019
Saturday, 19 January 2019
A good day up north...
We fancied some sea birding and the calm, grey conditions encouraged us to head up to the north of the county. For a change we tried Holy Island to start with, and were surprised to see 3 Red-necked Grebes scattered around just off the harbour. I can't remember ever seeing three in a day before let alone in the same place...
Looking from the Heugh, the tide was a bit high so the birds were scattered across the bay, but we did manage to pick up 6 Slavonian Grebes, 20 Long-tailed Ducks and 24 Red-breasted Merganser among others. A group of Dark-bellied Brent Geese was feeding in the harbour, with a few Pale-bellied mixed in too, and a Merlin and Peregrine were also seen.
Just as we were leaving the island, my dad noticed a pair of Long-tailed Ducks in the channel by the causeway, so I stopped the car, and was able to walk down to the water's edge while the ducks were below the surface. I was treated to some stunning views down to just a few metres before they flew off as the tide rose. We had lunch at Budle Bay, where the ever-present Spotted Redshank was feeding on the mud.
On arrival at Stag Rocks, one of the very first birds we looked at was another close in Red-necked Grebe, while our fifth of the day was further north off Budle Point. I definitely haven't seen five Red-necked Grebes in a single day in Northumbs before! A Great Northern Diver showed quite nicely if briefly, 5 Slavonian Grebes included one close bird, and 16 more Long-tailed Ducks were offshore.
Looking from the Heugh, the tide was a bit high so the birds were scattered across the bay, but we did manage to pick up 6 Slavonian Grebes, 20 Long-tailed Ducks and 24 Red-breasted Merganser among others. A group of Dark-bellied Brent Geese was feeding in the harbour, with a few Pale-bellied mixed in too, and a Merlin and Peregrine were also seen.
Just as we were leaving the island, my dad noticed a pair of Long-tailed Ducks in the channel by the causeway, so I stopped the car, and was able to walk down to the water's edge while the ducks were below the surface. I was treated to some stunning views down to just a few metres before they flew off as the tide rose. We had lunch at Budle Bay, where the ever-present Spotted Redshank was feeding on the mud.
On arrival at Stag Rocks, one of the very first birds we looked at was another close in Red-necked Grebe, while our fifth of the day was further north off Budle Point. I definitely haven't seen five Red-necked Grebes in a single day in Northumbs before! A Great Northern Diver showed quite nicely if briefly, 5 Slavonian Grebes included one close bird, and 16 more Long-tailed Ducks were offshore.
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| Long-tailed Ducks |
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| Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Dark-bellied Brents |
Unfortunately my digiscoping eyepiece is away being fixed at the moment, so there may be some dodgy phonescoped photos on my blog in the next few weeks...
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| Red-necked Grebe off Holy Island |
Sunday, 6 January 2019
Recent images
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| Shore Larks at Buston Links |
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| Eurasian White-fronted Goose at Hesmcott Hill |
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| Pink-footed Geese at Cresswell |
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| Hooded Crow at Linton |
Monday, 31 December 2018
A day on Teesside...
Yesterday me and my dad fancied a change of scene. A few visits to the patch recently have proved rather quiet so we decided to have a day down on Teesside.
Our main aim was to get better views of the Bean Geese, so we headed there first. We were the first there so the 6 Taiga Bean Geese were close to the road and we were able to get some really good views from the car. They had been joined by a Pink-footed Goose but there was no sign of the Tundras.
While the weather was still good, we drove round to Dorman's Pool. We gave it a while in the top car park but there was no sign of the Bearded Tits. Down at the hide, the drake Green-winged Teal was showing well on the grass in front, even if the light was a bit difficult.
Saltholme also provided a nice selection of birds. One Long-eared Owl was visible from the viewing platform, and the ringtail Hen Harrier showed nicely from the Haverton Viewpoint along with a Short-eared Owl. 3 Pintail and several Little Egret were also around the reserve.
Back at Seaton Common, the 6 Taiga Bean Geese had been joined by the 2 Tundra Bean Geese but unfortunately they were now staying at the back of the field, so photos were impossible with the poor light.
Our main aim was to get better views of the Bean Geese, so we headed there first. We were the first there so the 6 Taiga Bean Geese were close to the road and we were able to get some really good views from the car. They had been joined by a Pink-footed Goose but there was no sign of the Tundras.
While the weather was still good, we drove round to Dorman's Pool. We gave it a while in the top car park but there was no sign of the Bearded Tits. Down at the hide, the drake Green-winged Teal was showing well on the grass in front, even if the light was a bit difficult.
Saltholme also provided a nice selection of birds. One Long-eared Owl was visible from the viewing platform, and the ringtail Hen Harrier showed nicely from the Haverton Viewpoint along with a Short-eared Owl. 3 Pintail and several Little Egret were also around the reserve.
Back at Seaton Common, the 6 Taiga Bean Geese had been joined by the 2 Tundra Bean Geese but unfortunately they were now staying at the back of the field, so photos were impossible with the poor light.
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| Taiga Bean Geese - with a Pink-footed Goose in the last photo. |
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| Green-winged Teal |
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| Greenfinch - it was good to see these in decent numbers around the RSPB reserve. |
Tuesday, 25 December 2018
12 photos from 2018...
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| Spotted Sandpiper at Holme Pierrepont - we had a few days stay down in Norfolk in February, stopping off to see this Spotted Sand on the way. Highlights from Norfolk included Black Brant, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Golden Pheasant and 17 Parrot Crossbills. |
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| Cyprus Wheatear - in April a family holiday to Cyprus also allowed for some great birding. All three endemics along with plenty of other good sightings including Baillon's Crake, Greater Sand Plover and an extremely early Eleonora's Falcon. |
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| Little Bittern at Waren Mill - probably the best bird we saw in the county. The views were amazing and it was a welcome grip back after dipping at Gosforth Park. |
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| Glossy Ibis at Druridge Pools - during the spring a flash developed in the fields between Druridge and Chevington and it proved extremely attractive to spring migrants. This extremely confiding Glossy Ibis was the pick of the bunch along with a Pectoral Sandpiper and multiple records of Garganey, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. |
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| Rose-coloured Starling in Ashington - the first of a national influx. Surprisingly a different bird wintered in nearby North Seaton at the end of the year. |
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| Red-breasted Flycatcher - this was the best of a spring fall on Holy Island with other birds including an Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes. |
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| American White-winged Scoter at Musselburgh - we saw this bird twice during the year, in March and September. This photo was taken in September, when we also saw a Woodchat Shrike and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Barns Ness on the way home. |
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| Pomarine Skua at Newbiggin - some northerlies in late October gave me the opportunity to finally see my second Pomarine Skuas after a five year wait! Not only this, I also picked up a lifer in the form of a Leach's Petrel. |
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| Barred Warbler on Holy Island - just one of the highlights of a decent late autumn. Two Gull-billed Terns at Haughton Strother were a British tick for us and a Spotted Sandpiper showed well in Jarrow. |
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| Little Swift at Hartlepool Headland - bird of the year, especially with it flying around alongside a Pallid Swift! |
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| White-billed Diver off Stag Rocks - my favourite find of the year. A Bonaparte's Gull also showed well at Stag Rocks that day. |
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| Red-backed Shrike at Newbiggin - one of the most unexpected sightings of the year with it turning up in December! |
246 (including 11 BB rarities: Spotted Sandpiper x2, American White-winged Scoter, Long-billed Dowitcher x2, Little Bittern, Gull-billed Tern, Black Scoter, Little Swift, Pallid Swift, Bonaparte's Gull)
Thanks for reading my blog and have a good Christmas!
Monday, 17 December 2018
Teesside Taigas
We called into to Seaton Common yesterday morning on our way down to visit relatives. The flock of 6 Taiga Bean Geese showed nicely, if hidden at times in a small dip.
2 Tundra Bean Geese were also at nearby Cowpen Marsh, although the views were much more distant.
2 Tundra Bean Geese were also at nearby Cowpen Marsh, although the views were much more distant.
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| Taiga Bean Geese |
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