Baird's Sandpiper - best viewed in HD at 1080p
Also, here's a few photos from Holy Island last Saturday (15th)...
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| Siberian Chiffchaff |
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| Ring Ouzel |
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| Lesser Whitethroat |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Redwing |
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| Song Thrush |
Great Grey Shrike - best viewed in HD at 1080p
Friday, 21 October 2016
Baird's revisited
After a disappointing morning on Holy Island today we stopped at Low Newton on the way home for some more views of Baird's Sandpiper on the scrapes. The bird was showing really well, especially when walking around the grass on the close shore. Unfortunately we were looking into the sun, which made photos difficult. 15 Whooper Swans also flew over calling.
Also, here's a few photos from Holy Island last Saturday (15th)...
Also, here's a few photos from Holy Island last Saturday (15th)...
Sunday, 16 October 2016
SIBERIAN ACCENTOR in Co. Durham!
We headed straight to Hendon in Sunderland this morning with news of the bird being found. We had a short wait once we arrived before the stunning SIBERIAN ACCENTOR perched up in a tree before dropping down again. A great bird and one that I've been hoping to see since the start of this autumn's influx!
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| Siberian Accentor |
Sunday, 9 October 2016
A great day on Holy Island...
Saturday proved to be one of those classic days on Holy Island with loads of common birds and a few more interesting species. We arrived before the sun had risen so waited in the car for a while before looking around the village. As soon as it got light the large numbers of Goldcrests and Robins on the island were impressive, and we soon heard our first Yellow-browed Warbler and Brambling of the day. On reaching the Vicar's Garden another Yellow-browed Warbler was showing and a late Sand Martin flew over.
After this we walked down the Straight Lonnen, seeing an extremely smart Great Grey Shrike and 2 Black-tailed Godwits just to the east. My dad also found a mobile Red-breasted Flycatcher in one of the elders beside the path. We kept on walking and another Red-breasted Flycatcher was in the willows at the north end of the Straight Lonnen, with this bird being much more obliging, showing down to just a couple of metres and calling a lot. A Short-eared Owl also flew over.
We had a thorough search of the dunes around the Quarry and Excavations but were unable to find yesterday's Little Bunting. However another Yellow-browed Warbler was feeding in some tiny hawthorns, 2 Redstarts were around Chare Ends and a Goldcrest landed on my tripod leg! We then heard news of a Pallas's Warbler in the Vicar's Garden so headed there next.
On arrival the garden was a hive of activity with numerous Goldcrests, several Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler. It took a while, but eventually the Pallas's Warbler was relocated and we got some brief but good views of this stunning bird. We waited another hour to see if the bird reappeared with little success but two Yellow-browed Warblers appeared alongside each other. We headed back to the car but decided to stop at the Snook on our way out.
This proved to be a great decision as on reaching the Snook House Plantation my dad got a brief view of a wing-barred phyllosc which he assumed was a Yellow-browed. However, I soon got onto the bird and noticed a very distinct central crown stripe. I told my dad that I thought it was another Pallas's Warbler, who quickly realised I wasn't joking when it flitted upwards revealing a striking bright yellow rump! A great bird to add to our self found lists!! Another Yellow-browed Warbler joined the Pallas's, with a further 2 YBWs on other parts of the Snook, along with a Redstart, Short-eared Owl and Merlin. Here's our final migrant totals...
2 Pallas's Warbler - hadn't had a decent view of one before today so nice to see two well in a day, and even find one!
2 Red-breasted Flycatcher
1 Great Grey Shrike
7 Yellow-browed Warbler
165+ Goldcrest
125+ Redwing
45+ Blackbird
50+ Song Thrush
2 Fieldfare
70+ Robin
1 Barn Owl
2 Short-eared Owl
15+ Chiffchaff
6 Blackcap
4 Brambling
1 Sand Martin
2 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Redstart
1 Garden Warbler
1 Merlin
c.1000 Brent Goose
50+ Barnacle Goose
2 Little Egret
After this we walked down the Straight Lonnen, seeing an extremely smart Great Grey Shrike and 2 Black-tailed Godwits just to the east. My dad also found a mobile Red-breasted Flycatcher in one of the elders beside the path. We kept on walking and another Red-breasted Flycatcher was in the willows at the north end of the Straight Lonnen, with this bird being much more obliging, showing down to just a couple of metres and calling a lot. A Short-eared Owl also flew over.
We had a thorough search of the dunes around the Quarry and Excavations but were unable to find yesterday's Little Bunting. However another Yellow-browed Warbler was feeding in some tiny hawthorns, 2 Redstarts were around Chare Ends and a Goldcrest landed on my tripod leg! We then heard news of a Pallas's Warbler in the Vicar's Garden so headed there next.
On arrival the garden was a hive of activity with numerous Goldcrests, several Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler. It took a while, but eventually the Pallas's Warbler was relocated and we got some brief but good views of this stunning bird. We waited another hour to see if the bird reappeared with little success but two Yellow-browed Warblers appeared alongside each other. We headed back to the car but decided to stop at the Snook on our way out.
This proved to be a great decision as on reaching the Snook House Plantation my dad got a brief view of a wing-barred phyllosc which he assumed was a Yellow-browed. However, I soon got onto the bird and noticed a very distinct central crown stripe. I told my dad that I thought it was another Pallas's Warbler, who quickly realised I wasn't joking when it flitted upwards revealing a striking bright yellow rump! A great bird to add to our self found lists!! Another Yellow-browed Warbler joined the Pallas's, with a further 2 YBWs on other parts of the Snook, along with a Redstart, Short-eared Owl and Merlin. Here's our final migrant totals...
2 Pallas's Warbler - hadn't had a decent view of one before today so nice to see two well in a day, and even find one!
2 Red-breasted Flycatcher
1 Great Grey Shrike
7 Yellow-browed Warbler
165+ Goldcrest
125+ Redwing
45+ Blackbird
50+ Song Thrush
2 Fieldfare
70+ Robin
1 Barn Owl
2 Short-eared Owl
15+ Chiffchaff
6 Blackcap
4 Brambling
1 Sand Martin
2 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Redstart
1 Garden Warbler
1 Merlin
c.1000 Brent Goose
50+ Barnacle Goose
2 Little Egret
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| Self found Pallas's Warbler at Snook House |
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| Pallas's Warbler in the Vicar's Garden |
Red-breasted Flycatcher in willows at north end of Straight Lonnen
Great Grey Shrike
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| Yellow-browed Warbler |
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| Lesser Whitethroat |
Saturday, 1 October 2016
American double...
With news of a Baird's Sandpiper turning up at Boulmer last night, we headed straight there this morning, at least once we'd taken delivery of a new wardrobe!
On the way there we were disappointed to hear that it had been flushed by a Peregrine however on arrival in the car park we were told that it was back. We started walking along the path towards its favoured stretch of beach when a microlite came over, flushing all the birds again.
Thankfully it wasn't long until the Dunlin starting coming back in, and soon the juvenile Baird's Sandpiper had joined them. We enjoyed some great scope views of before the Peregrine returned scaring off all the birds again and the Baird's didn't return while we were there. I was really pleased to add this species to my British list after spending a whole day one step behind a Baird's Sand on Teesside in 2012. Other birds seen in the area included 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flying north and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.
We still had some time to spare so headed south to the patch in Druridge Bay for a few hours. The Spotted Redshank which we had missed last weekend was back on the Budge Fields along with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, a Greenshank, Little Egret and at least 500 Pink-footed Geese.
Finally we called in at the north pool at Chevington. Initially I was most interested in the number of Pintail, with at least 22 present today, but then I picked up a wader feeding on small patch of mud on the west side and realised it was a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper - our second american wader of the day. A Wood Sandpiper then appeared feeding alongside it and a Scaup was on the water.
The batteries in my digiscoping camera were all dead when I took it out of the bag this morning, so I had to resort to phonescoping to get any photos.
PWC 2016
Species: 160
Points: 216
On the way there we were disappointed to hear that it had been flushed by a Peregrine however on arrival in the car park we were told that it was back. We started walking along the path towards its favoured stretch of beach when a microlite came over, flushing all the birds again.
Thankfully it wasn't long until the Dunlin starting coming back in, and soon the juvenile Baird's Sandpiper had joined them. We enjoyed some great scope views of before the Peregrine returned scaring off all the birds again and the Baird's didn't return while we were there. I was really pleased to add this species to my British list after spending a whole day one step behind a Baird's Sand on Teesside in 2012. Other birds seen in the area included 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flying north and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.
We still had some time to spare so headed south to the patch in Druridge Bay for a few hours. The Spotted Redshank which we had missed last weekend was back on the Budge Fields along with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, a Greenshank, Little Egret and at least 500 Pink-footed Geese.
Finally we called in at the north pool at Chevington. Initially I was most interested in the number of Pintail, with at least 22 present today, but then I picked up a wader feeding on small patch of mud on the west side and realised it was a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper - our second american wader of the day. A Wood Sandpiper then appeared feeding alongside it and a Scaup was on the water.
The batteries in my digiscoping camera were all dead when I took it out of the bag this morning, so I had to resort to phonescoping to get any photos.
PWC 2016
Species: 160
Points: 216
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| Baird's Sandpiper |
Video best viewed in HD at 1080p
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| Pectoral Sandpiper - the worst photo I've ever put on my blog?? Although I think with the help of the video you can just about see what it is!? |
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| Peregrine hunting waders (taken with the DSLR) |
Sunday, 25 September 2016
Rosy Starling...
Just my second Rose-coloured Starling after last year's bird in Prudhoe, with this individual being a smart juvenile. Not the easiest of viewing by the A697 this afternoon however we were eventually treated to some good views as it sat (mostly) in the open for a few minutes...
Video best viewed in HD at 1080p
Saturday, 17 September 2016
RB Fly and a Franklin's
With yesterday's Pallid Harrier at Holy Island that was our first port of call this morning. There was no sign of our target although a showy Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Half Moon Slack was good compensation. A Yellow-browed Warbler was also here. Other birds on the island included 4 Whinchats, a Redstart, 3 Chiffchaff and a Wheatear.
From Holy Island we headed straight to Whittle Dene Reservoir where we had more success with the Franklin's Gull as it was picked up in a field at the south end. The bird lingered for about an hour, giving some good scope views although the light and heat haze ruined any photos. 2 Greenshanks were also around the lakes along with a Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and several Grey Wagtails.
From Holy Island we headed straight to Whittle Dene Reservoir where we had more success with the Franklin's Gull as it was picked up in a field at the south end. The bird lingered for about an hour, giving some good scope views although the light and heat haze ruined any photos. 2 Greenshanks were also around the lakes along with a Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and several Grey Wagtails.
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| Franklin's Gull |
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| Red-breasted Flycatcher - a very nice bird! |
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| Yellow-browed Warbler |
Thursday, 1 September 2016
Great White hat-trick
The highlight of this morning's birding was a Great White Egret at Druridge Pools which was our third of the year. Other birds here included a Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit as well as 3 Little Egrets.
A further 14 Little Egrets were at Cresswell along with 3 at Amble and 6 at Castle Island. Other birds at Cresswell Pond included 4 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Black-tailed Godwits. 5 more Black-tailed Godwits came in off the sea here and continued west. While Castle Island held 3 Ruff and 20 Black-tailed Godwits.
A flock of 12 Ruff were stood ankle deep in water at the south end of the north pool at Chevington so hopefully some mud may appear there soon. 4 Pintail were also here.
The water level at Bothal Pond is starting to look good and it had attracted a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Green Sandpiper as well as 5 Dunlin and 5 Black-tailed Godwits when we visited today.
A further 14 Little Egrets were at Cresswell along with 3 at Amble and 6 at Castle Island. Other birds at Cresswell Pond included 4 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Black-tailed Godwits. 5 more Black-tailed Godwits came in off the sea here and continued west. While Castle Island held 3 Ruff and 20 Black-tailed Godwits.
A flock of 12 Ruff were stood ankle deep in water at the south end of the north pool at Chevington so hopefully some mud may appear there soon. 4 Pintail were also here.
The water level at Bothal Pond is starting to look good and it had attracted a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Green Sandpiper as well as 5 Dunlin and 5 Black-tailed Godwits when we visited today.
Great White Egret
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