They're Keeping Me Waiting

House Martin and Sandwich Tern have been seen but the reedbed returners are taking their time. Probably the cold northerly has held them up.

This Herring Gull is one of our Norwegian Visitors.

Several trips to Newbiggin but still no AP sightings. 

 

NWT have  dismantled one of the hides at Druridge and made a splendid job of the bridge to the Budge Screen.

I am hoping they will eventually improve access to the l-shaped hide at East Chevington. All it would take is a trailer load of bark chippings. 

A few Twite remaining.

Moss Forest

More from Newbiggin.

Pollen Beetles and a hungry spider.

Black-tailed Godwit

March into April

One of my favourite times of the year. Returning migrants and that sudden increase in the variety of plants and animals. Sometimes too much to cope with, like the first few days birding in a new country.

Probably the bird I photograph most. The variation among the males is amazing. This is one of the brightest males in the bay area.

Newbiggin has had a few visits recently but still failed to tick off AP for the year list of birders ;)

Today the horse field on the golf course held 8 Wheatears.

Early Dog-violet (with the dark spurs).

The day finished with mixed emotions. A sky-dancing Ad Fem Marsh Harrier and a roadkill Badger.

Wood you believe it?

A brilliant few days. Swallow over Cresswell and Siskins (and Greenfinch) on the garden feeders.

This is always an exciting time as birds are returning from their warm winter migration spots. Today was a classic day of the unexpected.

A Jay near the North Pool feeders was a nice start. An adult female Marsh Harrier hunting along the reed edge and so the WeBS count was underway. No surprises but probably a lowish count as the wind picked up. I headed back to the car and hear a bird calling above me ... I knew it was a good one. Over my head and away from the sun I recognised the bird matching the call. Broad-winged, short tailed bright white belly and under-tail. Woodlark! Bonkers ... but so pleased after failing with the Lindisfarne bird last year. 

At the south hide AC and I saw an egret flying north. Size was difficult to judge but I assumed it was a Little Egret (probably without taking much notice, Then I received a text from JA to let me know about a GWE on the Budge field flying off North, which matched the timing of our egret. (Note to self ... take more time with the commoner IDs!)

The Widdrington Moor  and Stobswood counts were unimpressive because most of the wildfowl were sheltering from the wind.

Druridge Pools next and a Sand Martin feeding over the deep pool was a first for the year for me and on leaving TF and JF pointed out a Juv Glaucous Gull heading North towards East Chevington.

Time for a rest!

Spring

North Shields

Little Ringed Plover

Great to see this summer visitor. Very easy to ID when you get a bird with a bold eye-ring. Some of the autumn birds can be trickier but of course the lack of a wingbar in flight is a clincher.

A fresh supply of Tapioca on the supermarket shelves soon.

Marching On

The Green-winged Teal gave betters views eventually.

The warm southerly winds didn't last and now we're back to chilly winds, cold temperatures and rain. That's more like it.

Nevertheless up to six Chiffchaffs have been seen in the bay and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls put in an appearance. The Avocets are wandering around the bay area and someone has kindly dug out the channel again at Cresswell. It will get blocked regularly at this time of year so it is essential to keep working on clearing it.

Goldeneye

Common Teal for comparison. Barn Owls are putting on a great show some mornings and if you stand still and wait they may give very close views as they fly past.

Newbiggin this morning and plenty of Rock pipits. Most were very flighty which was a shame because some are showing the colouring of the Littoralis sub species (not this one though).

Egyptian Goose

Bittern

Read the Small (i) Print

Cracking Caudatus caudatus

A still morning with this Owl hunting within a few metres of me and what a joy!

 

A lovely morning around Gateshead and great views of a couple of Red Kites

Small Tortoiseshell

(First butterfly of the year)

Lovely Grey Wagtail

(Don't panic, the Northern Long Tailed Tit was photographed in the garden by a neighbour of my niece in Helsinki.  ;-)  )