Now With Notes

Adding notes today in my coffee break. Got so fed up with the slow speed of my computer yesterday that I gave up after adding the photos.

Spoonbill found by JA (19/05/2015)

It was surprisingly active for a Spoonbill; feeding, flying and preening. Then after a short time it decided to head high and west.

Later Tuesday IR called me to tell me about four distant stints at Druridge. After much debate we agreed they were Temminck's. Several birders braved the hailstorm to see them and some even had point blank views (if only short ones). They were gone the next morning but two turned up again today (more in next blog).

Orange Tip (First Wall Brown also seen).

Unusual display between two families of Canada Geese. The lowered, extended neck posture with open bill was directed at the other adults but no sound was made. The goslings fed unconcerned.

Iceland Gull (QEII CP) 20/05/2015

This bird gave great views and has been present for some time now.

LBB

This Avocet was ringed as a pullus, 10th August 2012 Cresswell pond (one of a brood of three) by IF.

It was first seen back at Cressell 03/04/2015, then later on the Blyth Estuary. Yesterday (when I took the photos and today it was on Lynemouth Flash.

Colours

Left Tibia Lime over Blue

Right Tibia Black over Blue

Right Tarsus Metal

Out and About

Fabulous ...

On the last post I mentioned how uncooperative these birds can be. Ha ... eat my hat, a pair of duelling males took not notice of me and the camera. I was delighted :-)   .

First Lapwing chick of the year. Sadly the Druridge crows are on the look out for these young birds.

Despite the poor early light the camera coped well with these shots I thought.

Finally a trip inland was well rewarded. I think flycatchers are my favourite birds. So to see two species nearby was amazing. The Spotted version kept in the canopy and no photos were possible. It may have been a new arrival as they are one of the last to arrive. The Pieds seemed well settled and at least two territories were noticed with other birds heard ... good news. The more settled birds allowed these photos. The last one has a soft focus affect was caused by the leaf in front of it which I couldn't avoid.

Finally it's hard to resist photographing  Swallows, caught the light right here.

Breezy

Some amazing summer plumage waders at Newbiggin. The Sanderling always suggest a variety of rarer species but ... careful examination reveals the truth.

Second Great White of the year at Chev.

Lesser and Common (one is much more co-operative than the other) Whitethroat.

Just Photos ... Sunday

Sedge Warbler

Swallow

Weekend Birding ... corrections

Singing Little Grebe

Punk Bird in better light

Fab (Sat) Friday morning on the patch, the reedbed alive with song and plenty on show.

Holy Island (Sun) Saturday today and well worth the effort.

Plaenty of variety but nothing exceptional.

Birds everywhere making it very exciting. Some of the list: Blackcap, Redstart, Wheatear, Whinchat, Ring Ouzel, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff , Whibrel and 11 Roe Deer

Election Day

These two were feeding in the open (middle of the day) although distantly.

This male RBMerg was getting quite excited although the object of his desire was more interested in feeding.

Whitethroats are very photogenic and usually quite obliging. They are back in good numbers only the Reed Warblers missing from the bay in the numbers previously recorded. (Late arrivals or a bad winter in Africa ... time will tell.)

Aah ... another Wheatear.

Not up to the Cresswell Camera Club but always a good way to start the day. Harriers on show an another Whinchat made the early start worthwhile. The Garganey (seen yesterday) did not show at Druridge this morning and many of yesterday's waders have moved on. (40+ Whimbrel, 4 Ruff, 3 Blackwits and a Common Sand)

A walk to Bell's ponds was largely uneventful birdwise except for 80+ Gadwall in the fields. I remember when they were quite scarce in Northumberland.

Bank Holiday Weekend

Friday 1st May

Took my Mum to Dalby Forest to enjoy the first day of the Tour of Yorkshire

Not quite as good as the French version but a great day was had.

They let me do the route in my spare car?

These photos are in reverse time order.

The Whinchat (above) and Harriers (below) were taken on Monday 4th May.

The Whinchat was a nice surprise amongst 8 newly arrived Wheatears.

Not sure what he prey was but this food pass was really interesting although distant.

Finally this Black Redstart (Sunday 3rd May) created little interest as we saw many last Autumn and one overwintered at Newbiggin.

I was delighted to find it as the weather conditions promised a good fall of migrants and this spurred me on to check every possible location on my patch, once the rain eased. An increase in Whitethroats was obvious and even this morning 12+ were seen at Newbiggin. Swifts were seen and still not many Reed Warblers. Hopefully more birds are on the move today and tomorrow's rain might make something a little rare drop into the bay.

Fingers crossed!