Grebe

A north-easterly made it pretty cold and unpleasant in Whitburn Obs this morning, but it brought the birds. Only the third Red-necked Grebe of the year headed north late on, but before this there were Great Northern & Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Pomarine Skua, Velvet Scoter and Little Auk amongst loads of Kittiwake and Guillemot. A Peregrine was hunting auks about two miles out to sea. Full results here.

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Velvet Scoter

Yesterday's star bird was a Black-necked Grebe, a very rare bird from the Obs, but the second this year.

Quiet in Gateshead with the Whooper Swan not seen since Wednesday. A Stonechat at Burdon Moor on Saturday the only notable bird.

Stonechat