Decent Effort

Redpoll

A good large flock of Redpolls flew towards the country park (c100). I tried to find them to check for snowballs in amongst them. Sadly I failed to find the flock, let alone a snowball. I did find this loner near my car when I returned to the dunes.

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

Fed up with terrible photos of the back of this couple I decided it was time to make the effort. Camera in a clear plastic bag and wetsuit on I headed out for a swim. Quite pleased with the result.

Wobbly Trees

Created by a diving Goldeneye.

Goldeneye

Warkworth Castle

Should look good when they get the roof on it. A pleasant walk along the river failed to turn up either Night Heron or Belted Kingfisher.

A quick estimate of the species seen at East Chevington and DBCP brought a decent 115 total. Add to that Spoonbill (Castle Island), Water Pipit (Newbiggin) and Smew, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe at Widdrington Moor Lake, it made for a decent month.

Highlight was seeing two Treecreepers in the same field of view at East Chevington.

OK, no wetsuit required.

 

Another Twitch ...

... and it is still only January.

Druridge at Sunrise

Stonechats at Newbiggin

Sunrise at East Chevington

... and here it is.

Spoonbill

Castle Island

Whooper Swans

7 in field with two Mute Swans and a further 2 on the South Pool

East Chevington

Not many Whoopers about this winter so nice to see a few on the patch.

 

Catching Up with the Residents

The Kingfisher is showing well most mornings.

Linton Lane Ponds

As I approached Linton I noticed a stream of gulls heading from the tip to the ponds for a quick wash. It is not a place I visit often but felt it was worth a check. I avoided the cavernous pothole near the parking bay (phew). Then found my path blocked by Arwen Damage. Eventually I reached the hide.

I think they describe this as triple aspect on the homes for sale leaflets. I did check through the gulls and there were a few interesting variations but none I was able to assign to a scarce category. This must be a troublesome reserve to manage and would probably be best secured with perimeter fencing and a couple of observation screens on the track separating the two ponds. Pointless repairing the hides due to the feral kids in the area.

Kestrel

This perching bird attracted an admiring flock of 50+ buntings. At the other end of the reserve a Sparrowhawk attracted 100+ finches (mainly Linnets) including a single Greenfinch.

Roe Deer

Treecreepers

Love these birds!

Rock Pipit

Sad looking gull at QEII country park.

 

Here We Go Again

2022

I hope it is a good year for all of you!

I started the year with a few short walks at Newbiggin Bay, Amble Harbour and Hadston. Not much birding done but pleasant walks nonetheless.

My thoughts for the future year. My first resolution is not to find any rare or scarce birds. To keep a number of lists and to be more sociable. (By the way I should say I never keep my New Year's Resolutions.)

Predictions

1 Dartford Warbler in Northumberland

2 Pygmy Cormorant crosses the Channel

3 My predictions fail

Well one is guaranteed ;)

4th January

My first proper birding day of the year and quite a productive one. Jay, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and a single Redwing.

Chiffchaff

 (only one today and very active)

Kingfisher

Delighted to finally watch it settled at the burnmouth and giving the chance of a few snaps.

If you haven't visited East Chevington it is well worth a visit any month of the year. You are almost certain to top the 50 species mark on one visit with some quality birds. Oh, almost forgot to mention, the Cettis's Warbler was singing also.

 

A Splash of Colour

Grey Wagtail

Not much birding done in the last couple of weeks as a result of the miserable weather.

Goldcrest

Pied Wagtail

The car park at DBCP is a good area to search when you haven't much time and want something to lighten the mood. Otters on the North Pool seem to be very active at the moment but I haven't had the luck of close views. Well you can't have everything.

Warkworth Castle

No review of the year but looking forward to  a 'different' year in 2022!

All the Best!

 

Waiting

ZM406

A lot of waiting about this last week. Currently waiting for a delivery. (Why is it that everything seems to break at the same time?)

Photos above and below taken (Thursday) while waiting for the Black Redstart to reveal itself. It did very briefly so a visit the next day was on the cards. Unfortunately more waiting and only a Wren and a Robin to show for it!

Saturday

Two chiffchaffs still on the patch one with very pale legs but no chance of a decent snap as they were very busy feeding.

Jackdaw

A good amount of variation in the Jackdaw population. 

 

Saltholme RSPB

A brief visit to Saltholme RSPB on Thursday (9th) was rewarded with some special sightings. Firstly a Merlin (although distant) gave great views through the telescope.

This fly past was interesting. KC390 and I guess it belongs to the Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea). Apologies for the smudge, it is somewhere inside the camera.

Then my highlight of the day.

Weasel

I see lots of Stoats and even manage the odd snap, but Weasels I have difficulty seeing and photographing. So to find this one scampering around outside the wildlife watchpoint hide was a treat.

They move very fast so in the end I was very happy with these snaps.

Oh and a Water Rail at East Chevington on Friday, Kingfisher, 3 Otters, a Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler today