Anticipation

Autumn Gentian

Seaham

This is the normal colour. The photos I've posted in the past have been the white variant found at East Chevington.

Common Darters

Lots of these emerging in the last week.

Guillemot

Great views of Guillemots as they feed inshore on the hundreds of 'sprats'.

Knot

A lovely day at Teesside this week. Waders were the stars including 500+ Ringed Plover, Flocks of Avocet,  single Wood Sandpiper and Great White Egret were just a few of the 20 or more wader species seen.

Pied Flycatcher

A sniff of an Easterly and there is a sudden increase in birders along the coast. Sea-watching Sites become very busy and all the coastal shrubs are checked. I was lucky enough to come across this Pied Flycatcher. The following day I checked the Pier End car park and heard an unusual call as soon as I parked the car. I thought it was a warbler call and it was very loud. As I approached the source of the call there was no movement. Then all of a sudden several birds moved including the Blue Tit that was making the sound. One bird took my interest as it flew strongly away. It was a Wryneck!

I guess the Blue Tit had been scolding it.

Sadly it flew over a fence and in to a nettle patch never to be seen again.

Wagtail

Try and find this one in your field guide.

This wren was sun-bathing in the garden at Salthome RSPB.

Interesting birds have been still turning up despite the winds coming from the West. Greenish Warbler at Cresswell, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers along the coast, Whinchats and Wheatears.