No Jack

Spent a few hours on a very windy day in wellies hunting round Gateshead for Jack Snipe. With no luck and just one flushed Common Snipe, I can only assume that they are spread very thinly over the many wet and flooded fields. I did manage to add a few Gateshead year ticks, Meadow Pipit and Wigeon at Lamesley, while Burdon Moor gave Skylark and Red-legged Partridge. Also at Burdon were 250+ Golden Plover, 25 Linnet and 4 Grey Partridge.

At dusk I had a look at the Starlings at Shibdon. Loads of Starling, but the strong wind seemed to disrupt them and stop them throwing the amazing shapes that I saw on past visits. Also here were 6 Tufted Duck and a Shoveler.