Bank Holiday Bonus

Whilst watching these two splendid Yellow Wagtails (With JA and 4 more birders) there was a flypast of 3 Whimbrels and a small white Egret appeared in the distance.

It was not the one I expected to see!

Showing some Summer colouration. Hopefully if it lingers I'll get some better pics.

Cattle Egret

A rare bird in Northumberland!

'Take your Pec'

Return wader movement has just started. Increased numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpipers, Redshank and Curlew. So a regular morning check of Druridge Pools is the norm.

This morning I came across this wader. 1) Rule out Dunlin, 2) Check again make sure it is not a Dunlin, 3) Rule out Sanderling ... OK.

So it is long-winged. Baird's or White-rumped ... legs look a bit long. Bars on back rule out Baird's (but would make it a juv wrs.). I'm struggling at this point so I post pictures on twitter and get some helpful comments. The long dark legs are a problem. Distance and poor light are not helping.

After a long wait it finds some deeper water, preens and in half-decent light reveals yellow legs and bill. The pectoral band is now very clear and ID couldn't be simpler.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Panic Over.

No mad twitch on, because most listers saw the bird on the Druridge Flashes earlier in the year.

Winter Birding

Large Thrush flocks along the coast. Mainly Fieldfare but also good numbers of Redwing and Blackbirds.

Bullfinches are clearly more common these days.

This colour-ringed Sanderling was a new find for me at Newbiggin. 

Left Tarsus: Lime Flag, Lime ring, Metal ring.

Right Tarsus: Green ring, Green ring.

I contacted Colin Morse and he replied with details the same day. 

Ringed 30/04/2017

Hine Greenie, Sanday, Orkney, Scotland.

Bar-tailed Godwit

One of four Skylarks on Newbiggin Golf Course.

Grey Plover

Challenge 10

One of BSBIs efforts to keep us 'botanising' through the winter is to try and find 10 species in flower on a short walk. It was easy at Druridge today (Sunday). All these were found along the short walk to the two hides.

Yarrow

(Achillea millifolium)

Gorse (Furze)

(Ulex europaeus)

Red Clover

(Trifolium pratense)

Trailing Tormentil (?)

(Poentilla anglica)

Yellow-wort

(Blackstonia perfoliata)

Hedge Parsley (?)

(Torilis japonica)

Lesser Hawkbit (?)

(Leontodon saxatalis)

Common Knapweed

(Centaurea nigra)

Common Chickweed

(Stellaria media)

Dandelion

(Taraxacum spp)

N.B. (?) = not sureof ID

Dipping Again ...

. 

An early start at Low Newton on Monday looking for a Little Bunting. The early morning skies were quite striking. 

First bird on show as the light hit the tops of the trees was a Reed Bunting (although this one appears to have a crest (probably just the twig behind)).

After 2-3 hours of trying to ignore the Yellow-browed Warblers, Blackcaps, Godcrests, and incoming Thrushes, couple nearby were on a bird, it was a Bunting and I got a brief view. The bird that flew off according to PS looked too large. I was happy to accept the couples ID but after considering my view and the fact it was never seen again I have to admit I didn't see a Little Bunting. The only birds returning to the Sycamore were Reed Buntings.

The whole morning was not a complete wash out because of the birds mentioned earlier. In addition; Bramblings, Short-eared Owl, Merlin and Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen.

When I got home I noticed a huge flock of Gulls over a ploughed field just yards from my house.  checked the skies for a predator. Then noticed this Juvenile Peregrine on the ground with what looks like a Common Gull.

At first I thought it might be a Saker with all the pale feathering on the head  but eventually decided it was a Peregrine.

Looks like it is trying a new pair of wings.

Eventually it carried its kill to the other end of the field away from the road.

This Twite was sheltering from the wind at Newbiggin. It didn't budge as it was surrounded by food.

Autumn Excitement

Twite on the beach at Chevington (40+ one day).

Lots of Thrushes arriving and most heading straight inland. Blackbirds hang around a little longer , stripping the Hawthorns of their berries.

Redwing, Fieldfare and Ring Ouzel all seen in the Druridge Bay area.

A trip to Hoy Island brought mixed emotions on Monday. A scattering of common migrants and news of a Bee-eater 30 miles South in the Bay. I didn't expect it to linger (especially I missed the 2 birds at Chevington the previous day when I was less than half a mile away)

Well I left Holy Island at 11am and headed South. Thanks to news updates from JA and JB  I thought I had a chance. To my surprise it was still there.

Redpoll feeding on the path at Druridge.

News on Thursday night that a Bee-eater was at Druridge late evening was interesting and I guessed it would still be there on Friday morning with a large crowd following it.

 

I spent the morning birding East Chevington. A splendid Yellow-browed Warbler was my reward. Then as I headed back to my car I noticed the Bee-eater feeding above my car. As I moved past the bushes I lost sight of it but at east I had my record shot. I count most of the bay as my patch but East Chevington is my favourite part of the patch so birds seen here are extra special.

As I neared the car I spotted the Bee-eater on the fence line. I put the news on Twitter and RBA and expected to be joined by a small crowd.

The only crowd to arrive were inquisitive birds and Cows. Most of the birders and photographers waited for the Bee-eater to return to Druridge which it did a couple of hours later.

I was able to watch this bird for exactly one hour, on my patch, feeding, preening, resting and giving its flight call. 

Later on Friday there were Bramblings, Blackcap and Great-spotted Woodpeckers at DBCP.