When a Yellow-rumped Warbler was reported in Co. Durham during the Big Garden Birdwatch I didn't expect to see it. It came as quite a surprise last night that they were trying to arrange access. As soon as we found out where it was, we set off to High Shincliffe. We arrived half an hour after the bird was last seen and over the next couple of hours a couple of people were just getting glimpses of the bird. It wasn't looking good.
3 Waxwings were trying to keep spirits up, but then the stunning YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was pinned down to some low bushes, in which it was feeding on fat blocks. It showed well for the next quarter of an hour, although partially obscured almost all the time. It proved very hard to photograph, so I only managed a few record shots.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - note the tail pattern in the last photo
3 Waxwings - just along the road from the Yellow-rumped Warbler
The Grey Phalarope which had been around Stag Rocks for the past month or so was the target for our days birding. A couple of hours at Stag Rocks early morning was good with the highlights being: a Black-throated Diver, very close Red-necked Grebe, Little Gull as well as at least 5 Slavonian Grebes and more than double that of Long-tailed Ducks.
We decided next to have a look around some of the other sites in the area and return at high tide. At Budle Bay there was good numbers of both subspecies of Brent Goose and Barnacle Geese as well as a few Grey Plovers. The hide at Fenham-le-moor produced more Grey Plovers and Brent Geese.
Back at Stag Rocks the Grey Phalarope had returned and we saw it before we'd even got out the car. I spent the next hour photographing it at really close range and filling my boots with freezing cold sea water, though it was certainly worth it! 2 Little Gulls also gave amazing views, but by this point the light was fading, so my photos of them probably could have been better (perhaps more like these!).
3 Tundra Bean Geese at Alnmouth were the highlight of an afternoon dodging showers. They showed well with Whooper Swans from the road down to the Alnmouth Dunes car park. Other birds included a Merlin at Alnmouth, 4 Grey Plovers at Amble Braid and Slavonian Grebe, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, a female Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser at Chevington.
I had a morning unintentionally trying out the rain cover for my camera in Druridge Bay, though it was well worth it.
First to Lynemouth, where the Glossy Ibis showed distantly in the rain. At Druridge Pools we got great views of the smart male Green-winged Teal as well as 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Pintail.
At Chevington a Slavonian Grebe was the highlight, and a female Common Scoter, female Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Whooper Swans were also on the North Pool. An 'Ermine' Stoatwas a bit of a surprise on the roadside near Widdrington.
Another look at the Ibis on the way home gave much closer views in better weather. 40+ Pink-footed Geese flew over and a few Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush were in the same field.
First off to Tynemouth to look for the Lesser Whitethroat ssp. this morning. We didn't have to wait long before it showed up and continued to show well at times intermittently over the next hour. From what I've read I believe it to be of the race halimodendri. I also managed some photos that show a completely white t6 and a white tip to t5, one of the clinching features of halimondendri or Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat.
DNA has proved this bird to be of the race blythi or Siberian Lesser Whitethroat not halimondendri.
Next to St. Mary's Island to see if the Siberian Chiffchaff was still around. I wasn't expecting it to be, as it hadn't been reported for a few days. It was though and it showed very well for a few minutes, before completely disappearing. It was the first time I'd seen this subspecies. There were also two colour-ringed Turnstones on the beach.
Last of all we went to Gosforth Park, where we saw at least 2 Bitterns as well as a Water Rail.
Yesterday I finally got the chance to see one of my most wanted birds - Two-barred Crossbill. It took a while to find Broomhead Reservoir in South Yorkshire, and even when we did there was a wait before we got on to some Two-barred Crossbills. At first there was a flock of 7 birds, 5 males and a female. Later on in the day we saw some more Two-barred Crossbills (4) with a group of Common Crossbills, and they were quite likely different birds, though we can't be certain. A Woodcock also flew over at one point. Looking back through my photos, I have also found a Parrot Crossbill candidate (see below), which comments would be very welcome on.
A gull roost is also on the reservoir every night, an over the past few days an adult Kumlien's Gull had been reported. It wasn't long before it came in, and showed well for about 15 minutes, before being scared off by some shooting. I also picked up a first-winter Kittiwake in the roost later on.
Two-barred Crossbills
crossbill sp. with a Parrot Crossbill like bill (comments much appreciated)
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