Elusive

Well what a few days we've had in Northumberland.

Dipping a Little Bunting when within touching distance is hard to take.

Then finding a Red-flanked Bluetail which proved almost impossible to relocate.

Yesterday having covered my patch early because of the Cross Country races, I headed for Druridge then Snab and finally home for lunch. I needed to get out again but where to go? I avoid Newbiggin because there are often bikers in the dunes and I couldn't do my patch. Amble of course ... check the woods at the Marina Car Park then do the dunes South of Amble.

Obviously lot of thrushes had just arrived and plenty of Robins When I got round to the sheltered, sunny side of the main wood a bird flew into view and landed in front of me. I lifted my binoculars fully expecting to see a Robin but my field of view was full of rich blue and orange. The image is still so clear in my memory. A dazzling bright blue tail, orange flanks and the bird turned its head towards me before flying upwards into the canopy.

Red-flanked Bluetail (ad Female or more likely,1st Winter)

Instead of following the bird and trying to get photos (mistake) I rang, texted and tweeted assuming a gathering crowd would quickly relocate the bird and then I'd get my photos.

One and a half hours and no sign. AC and I spotted a bird fly in high which looked a good candidate almost immediately TF pointed to the same area and he had just had the briefest (but that's all you need) of glimpses to clinch the ID. I lingered hoping for another view but to no avail.

(Just down the coast in Cleveland birders were being treated to another RFB sitting on the beach and the photos are stunning.)

Today a trip to Holy Island and signs were good 100 Redwing in one field, Goldcrests, Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-browed Warbler (Vicar's Garden) and Great Grey Shrike.

It was clear however that most birds had moved out and the weather was gloriously sunny. 

Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Barn Owl were nice additions before I headed South myself. I spent an hour in Amble but failed to see the RFB.

Lots of Robins (5 together on the Vicar's lawn)

Rarely captured on Holy Island these two Lindisfarne Bustards were on the far end of the Snook. (OK Pheasants)

Shortest Twitch

Toothache almost prevented a visit to Holy Island, but the pain had gone early morning and my plans for Tynemouth birding and a ferry crossing to my Dentist in South Shields were put on hold. Waiting for the tide to fall I managed this snap of Grey Plover and my first Barnacle Geese of the Autumn dropped in to join the Brents.

Looking at the plan of Holy Island and the wind direction I headed for the walled garden and the walls leading to the Lough. (Lancy in mind!) I was beginning to regret my choice as apart from an obvious fall of thrushes, a few crests and Brambling calls thee was little to see. In the Lough Hide I found this roosting Long-eared Owl. I texed DD to see if he was on the island and got an excited call back through breaking signals to say someone was watching a WHITE'S THRUSH on the straight lonnen.

Badly out of breath I arrived and waited. Well over 30 minutes elapsed before the bird showed well although distantly from the lonnen. I managed a few shots and we were then treated to a 'fly past' as the White's Thrush flew a circular path around the Willows and back to the same spot. The under-wing pattern is really special!

The supporting cast on the island also picked up with: Goldcrests (lots), Blackcaps, Ring Ouzel (4), Yellow-browed Warbler (4), Brambling, Song Thrush (lots), Blackbird, Robin and Redwing.

Got There ... Eventually

Angle Shades

Druridge

Migrant Hawker

(female?)

Chiffchaff

Dunlin

Trying to find the ringing project for this one. None match on CR bird site. May be Polish?

Waders seem to have been the big news recently. It took three attempts for me to catch up with the Baird's Sandpiper. It was however worth it, with five minutes of super close action (camera in the house of course).

Thanks to CB for the call.

JF and TF found a Pectoral Sandpiper at Chevington and next morning it gave good but distant views.

News also that MD had 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Chevington (after I had covered the patch all morning). It seems the birds were arriving all day along the coast, or at least being discovered later.

So this morning, first stop Chevington, first sound 'chsweep', first bird this fab Yellow-browed Warbler. At times it was less than 1m away and at eye level.

After searching the dunes all the way to the Country Park I finally found one of my own (Y-bW that is). The light and pose almost make it look like a different species.

A walk along the railway at Cambois was disappointing but that may have been due to the presence of both a male and female Sparrowhawk. Nice coffee break at STa's and met 'Ace Dipper' BB at Druridge.

An afternoon walk from Hadston to Chevington Burn did not produce any new birds but I did get views of a juv Marsh Harrier. The North Pool is teeming with wildfowl and the sounds are amazing.

Blustery and Rosy!

Yesterday I snapped this Hawthorn Shieldbug at the Budge Screen, Druridge.

After some early shopping I stopped at Cresswell to find it disappointingly quiet. Although the Wheatear and a Juv. Avocet were nice.

On to Druridge and a Spotted Redshank was back, sheltering beside a Greenshank. So back home, unpack the shopping, coffee and decision made; head for Wooler. I hadn't bothered so far because I didn't fancy peering into gardens looking for a bird, but when I was told that wasn't necessary it changed my mind.

When I finally got to the site (after visiting various farms and cottages in the 'real' Roseden),  (Thanks ACo for the correct directions!) it was very windy ... and the bird didn't appear for over an hour. It finally put on a fabulous  show just after a couple from Holy Island arrived (they only had a five minute wait  ..  grrr).

A very distinctive bird and the supporting cast of Tree and House sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, GSW and Common Starling kept me busy while I waited.

So being nearby I headed for Holy Island to catch the rising tide.

A great move as I saw: 12 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff , Pink-footed Geese and ots of Brent Geese. Terrific!

I also spotted this in Roseden which I think is Fox and Cubs .. must check it though.

Westerlies ...

Early morning, Redstart, always nice.

Lesser Bindweed

(Convolvulus arvensis)

Bar-tailed Godwit

A good read! Helped me understand why I'm not too bothered about lists. Some nice historical info about early birding.

Kingfishers everywhere. Even managed to get IR to twitch this one

Lesser Bugloss

(Lycopsis arvensis)

White Dead-nettle

(Lamium alba)

Herring Gull

Migrant Hawker

I think?

(Aehna mixta)

Dippers on Holy Island

A little late for Tall Ships?

Birding with STa at Cambois. No birds of note but nice to find plenty of Evening Primrose.

Monday morning waiting for tide to fall. No sign of the Thrush Nightingale but met up with several other Dippers.

Plenty of Brent Geese and good to find lots of Skylarks. Don't think they've had a good year in the bay.

Hope this is just Rosehip debris above the bill?

OI!

This fine bird was reported again at the Long Nanny. I imagine apart from the twitch on the first day, many haven't bothered because it is from a release programme in Spain. The fact that it may well re-orient and breed next year in Europe (in the wild) shows how fickle bird listers can be. Still if you're interested in birds this is well worth a visit. This super bird is very skilful at catching Bees and tremendous to watch. It even drew a crowd of Goldfinch, Stonechat and Meadow Pipits to watch it make short work of one monster Bee.

Sadly the heat haze made photographing the bird a little tricky.