Sunday 30 September 2018

Coming and Going



Hard to resist snapping a photo of a Whinchat.


Little Stint


About to go.


A tricky Fumitory


An obliging Kestrel.


Village visitors ready to leave.


Spotted Flycatcher


Willow Tit


In the last few days the terrier like barking call of Barnacle Geese has greeted my morning walks.


This bird is female 'N' The neck collar is one of only 13 fitted and so in a population of 42,000 it has not been spotted often. It was fitted to an adult bird at Arbigland Farm, Solway. It was seen on Lindisfarne and at Southerness winter 17/18. Returned from Svalbard this autumn and was recorded at East Chevington.


This was ringed as an adult male (Yellow BCL) 27/07/16 at Ny Aalesund (Svalbard).  I have observed  at least 8 colour ringed birds in the last few days. It is tricky getting all the letter codes but at least with this project information is returned quickly. Yellow rings are more recent birds and Lime Green (now faded) are older one I found was ringed as an adult in Svalbard 2007 so at least 11 return trips from UK to Svalbard.

Saturday 1 September 2018

September 1st ... Greenish Warbler


My reward for a daily stroll from Chevington to Hadston Scaurs.

Approaching the L-shaped hide, expecting to find GW's bike in the hide I heard a small group of Blue Tits calling. Then from behind me the very distinctive chizzli call had me back tracking. The repetitive call made it very easy to locate. It also appeared on the outside of the bushes and I managed three quick snaps.


This was one of my shots and it could be anything.


Fairly happy with this one.


Same as above but heavily cropped.

However the top photo was (as was finding the bird) a stroke of good luck. After watching it through the leaf cover and not getting any better views I continued my daily routine. Only a scattering of Wheatears to add to new arrivals. 

As I put out the news I got a message from GW at Newbiggin. The Leucistic Sandwich Tern was there with other Terns. I first saw the bird about lunchtime on Friday, ME photographed the bird at Boulmer Friday evening and now 7:30 am Saturday it was at Newbiggin.