Spring on the patch...

Over the past week or so we've had several trips up to the patch to make the most of the actually quite nice weather, and it has definitely started to feel like spring has arrived...

Last Sunday saw an influx of Willow Warblers on the patch, while Sandwich Terns and Swallows were also new for the year. The Budge Fields were holding good numbers of waders with 7 Ruff, 50+ Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel, while a drake Garganey also put in an appearance there. A Water Pipit was looking smart in almost full summer plumage.

Stopping at Cresswell provided us with our first Yellow Wagtails of the year, and it was a nice surprise to see one of them was a male 'Channel', and this one has been seen on and off in the bay since.

This weekend there has been a bit less variety, but a lot of the summer migrants are in, with our first Whitethroats, Reed, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers and Common Terns. More unusual were the 3-4 Garganey at Druridge Pools (probably two drakes from the hides and a pair on the pools by the old coal road).

The patch year list now stands on 134 (166 points).

Garganey

Yellow Wagtail

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Water Pipit - please select to view in HD at 1080p

A return to the patch...

Headed back to the patch this morning, and it wasn't as big a reality shock as we were expecting, with a nice selection of spring birds around. First up were the 2 Crane at Longhirst Flash, which provided me with my best views of this species yet. A really nice start!

Up to Chevington where it was apparent that there was quite a few more summer migrants than when were last here three weeks ago. 3+ Grasshopper Warblers and 2 Sedge Warblers were singing from the usual areas, Sandwich Terns were in abundance offshore, 8 Common Terns were on the north pool, and a Wheatear and a White Wagtail were at the burn mouth. 

We called in at the coastal path at Hauxley to look for the recent Green-winged Teal, but unfortunately there was no sign, although a group of 26 Whimbrel provided some compensation. A lone Pink-footed Goose was visible on the reserve.

Heading back south, just my second ever Northumbs Hooded Crow was showing nicely in the field opposite the entrance to Druridge Pools, while a Grasshopper Warbler was singing from the fence line. 3 Ruff, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, the Eurasian White-fronted Goose and 3 Pintail were on the Budge fields.

Cranes

Whimbrel

Hooded Crow

White Wagtail

Spring is underway...

Another trip to the bay this afternoon where the birding was finally starting to feel a bit like spring...

At Druridge Pools one of the first birds I looked at from the Budge Screen was a stunning adult Little Gull in full summer plumage. The waders present included 3 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin. Also from the screen were 2 Pintail, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a Wheatear while a flock of c. 65 Pink-footed Geese flew over several times.

A look from the north end of Cresswell Pond failed to produce any wagtails but a look towards the west spit revealed 8 Avocets and a surprise Green Sandpiper feeding in the south-west corner. I don't think I've ever seen one on the coast at this time of the year before...

After parking in Druridge Bay Country Park we walked down to the south end of East Chevington where a Sedge Warbler was singing in the reeds and 3 Marsh Harriers (2 males) were flying about. The north pool held the female Scaup again along with a smart White Wagtail and 5 Common Terns.

While driving through the Country Park on our way out my dad saw 8 Common Crossbills land in the trees which were very confiding at times. A Blackcap was singing nearby.

Bothal Pond on the way home failed to produce anything more unusual than another White Wagtail.

Crossbills

Little Gull

Also today Willow Warblers and/or Chiffchaffs seemed to be singing from every patch of trees and a steady northwards passage of Swallows was obvious...

Black Redstart...

This Black Redstart at Druridge Bay Country Park was easily the highlight of a quite quiet look around the patch today. I also saw my first Yellow Wagtail of the year at Chevington.

A single Black-tailed Godwit remained at Druridge Pools and 3+ White Wagtail were at Bothal Pond.

PWC 15
Species:133
Points:169

132. Black Redstart
133. Yellow Wagtail 

Black Redstart

Sedge Warbler

American Wigeon...

Here's a couple of photos of the drake American Wigeon in fading light at Holywell Pond on Wednesday...

At Chevington last night, I saw my first Reed and Sedge Warblers of the year as well as a dark morph Arctic Skua offshore.

PWC 15
Species: 122
Points: 155

120. Sedge Warbler
121. Reed Warbler
122. Arctic Skua 

American Wigeon

Local

We set off to Druridge Bay this morning hoping that we might see some migrants. Chevington first up, as when the Bearded Tit had been seen, it was earlier in the day. We couldn't find it, but 2 Grasshopper Warblers were nice, especially how I managed to get very close to one. There was a smart summer plumage Black-necked Grebe on the North Pool as well as 5 Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Whitethroat.

While at Chevington we heard a drake Garganey had been at Druridge Pools, so that's where we went next. It was showing brilliantly, along with 2 Yellow Wagtails. A summer-plumage Black-tailed Godwit also dropped in. 5 Avocets were at Cresswell and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Lastly a White Wagtail was at Bothal on the way back.

Grasshopper Warbler

Garganey in the heat haze

Swallow

Willow Warbler