Some easterlies, rain and a high pressure over the continent on Friday night was enough to tempt us to Holy Island for most of Saturday. Despite not getting the scarcity we were after, there was still a variety of common migrants on the island. The highlight had to be the Redstarts, with 13 altogether including 3 stunning males.
13 Redstart
1 Tree Pipit
1 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Ring Ouzel
3 Garden Warbler
4 Blackcap
6 Wheatear
11 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaff
2 Whitethroat
A Greenshank was also calling near the Rocket Fields and 44 Grey Plovers were from the causeway, with a couple more in the harbour.
On the way home we stopped at Druridge Pools, where a great selection of birds were on the Budge Fields. A heat haze hampered most photo opportunities.
2 Wood Sandpiper
1 Garganey - drake.
1 Scaup - drake showed well.
2 Ruff - stunning full summer plumage!
14 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Whimbrel
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Pintail
PWC 15
Species: 138
Points: 177
We expected Sunday to be a rather bird-less day, and so it proved until news of a Red-throated Pipit turning up at Seaton Common on Teesside came in the afternoon. After feeling pretty jealous of the recent Derbyshire bird, I was keen to see this one.
It didn't take long to get onto the brilliant summer plumage Red-throated Pipit once we arrived. At first it was a bit distant, but eventually moved closer allowing some great scope views, but it was too windy for decent photos. A single Yellow Wagtail flew over while we were there.
With the DSLR...
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| Red-throated Pipit along with it's habitat and twitch. |
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| Wood Sandpiper record shot. |
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| Garganey record shot. |
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| Scaup |
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| Garden Warbler |
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| Redstart |
