Northumberland Nonsense

Red-backed Shrike

At least 8 birds in the County this week.

My first coastal Whinchat of the year

Flooded Field still producing the waders.

Little Stint with Dunlin

Spoonbill

Early morning action.

Playing 'hide and seek' with certain visitors to the County.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Thanks to MPF and JD for the info!

One of 4 Spotted Flycatchers on Holy Island (on a cold, grey damp day).

Marsh Warbler

This very vocal bird was great to hear but not easy to see well.

Another of the Spotted Flycatchers

Hound's-tongue

Mouse-ear Hawkweed

Common Butterwort

Mixed Bag

This Rose-coloured Starling was first seen near Castle Island and relocated next day (Fri 18, May) by  S Ta.

Glaucous Gull (Chev)

Yellow Wagtail

The field North of Druridge Pools are drying and as waders move trough they are discovering a good food supply. The number and variety ha been a joy.

What a combination! Avocet, Glossy Ibis and a pair of Garganey. Oh, and in the field, there were also 2 Whooper Swans.

Sanderling

Little Terns

Red UVL

12/06/2014 ringed as a chick on Coquet Island

04/08/2014 observed Port Seton

21/08/2016 obs Coquet Island

31/07 to 10/08 2017 obs Coquet

23/05/2018 East Chevington

Many thanks Chris Redfern for the quick reply.

Green EZA

One of Ewan Weston's project probaby ringed Ythan, awaiting details.

East Chevington 23/05/2018

Small Copper

A few of these about at the moment.

Found this caterpillar in almost the same spot where I found one last year. (Dark Tussock Moth, caterpillar)

Amazed to see lots of these Leeches on Holy Island

THought this was an easy ID until I was corrected by TT (Northumberland Moths). It is probably a Lesser Treble-bar. I need to take some more photos.

Again another ID mistake. This is Common Storksbill.

Still Waiting for the ....

Classic breeding birds on the patch. 

All five of the terns appearing on the beach (not all in the photos), including a colour-ringed Little Tern, probably a Seaton Carew bird.

Little Stint

Black-tailed Godwit

Wood Sandpiper (Newton Scrapes)

Lesser Whitethroat

At least 6 Singing birds on the patch. They are on the up, but Stonechats suffered badly this winter and only one pair breeding on the patch.

Still

Bulbous Buttercup

A Little Surprise on the Bank Holiday Weekend

News on Rare Bird Alert of a Squacco, re-identified as Little Bittern at Waren Mill had me pondering. Directions were vague, Bank Holiday Traffic and Hot, Hot weather were deterrents. Then finally some more positive news and directions meant the slug like afternoon avoiding crowds had to change. I joined the A1 and immediately regretted my decision. Crawling along it took an age, I nearly turned back, but knowing the road was dual carriage way soon I persevered. Suddeny the pace quickened and I reached Budle bay where IK gave me better directions

YES!

The first Little Bittern I've seen in Britain. Strangely enough I was talking to RF earlier in the day and he said: 'You know it's about time you had a Little Bittern at Chev'!

This stunning bird was never far from the viewing point (less than 10m) and gave a stunning show flying past the bridge to land close again.

The bird was found by Mandy. ( I think renting a holiday home. She photographed the bird the previous day and tried to get help with ID. Sadly she got some unwelcome abuse online. Fortunately some birders checked out the ID and got the news out.)

This bird certainly brightened my Bank Holiday.

Don't worry, it was just stalking some prey.

If it had been at Chev I don't think the views would have been so good. Thanks to all those, Mandy especially, who arranged access.