Knot

A message from Paul D this morning that a Mandarin was in front of the hide at Shibdon dragged me out of bed and through the traffic. By the time I got there the Mandarin had moved off, but I did manage to pick up a Knot circling high over the pond. Eventually it dropped and landed on a small island on the west side of the pond. The last wader that I had on this island was the Black-winged Stilt back in May 2012. Knot are surprisingly rare in Gateshead with the last in 2011 and only a handful of records.

Knot

A trip up to Northumberland on the 27th gave distant views of the adult Bonaparte's Gull at Bamburgh, where there was also 2 Water Pipit, a flyby Snow Bunting and a Fieldfare that came in off the sea and landed on the seaweed.

Bonaparte's Gull

Water Pipit

At Buston Links the four Shore Lark took a bit of effort to find before eventually giving good views, until they were flushed by a dog walker.

Shore Lark

Little Swift

Yesterday I spent all afternoon stuck at work and praying that the Little Swift at Hartlepool would go to roost. Luckily it did ad I was there before dawn to see it sleeping below the eaves of a bow window on Cliff Terrace. As it got light it started to twitch, then launched itself into the air and towards the sea. After going missing for a few minutes it spent the next two hours bombing backwards and forwards along the promenade. Unbelievable views as it frequently flew past less than three feet away. Incredibly hard to photograph, the following were all I had from 1250 blurs.

Little Swift

Hoopoe

Popped down to Dalton Park, Murton this afternoon where after a bit of a wait the Hoopoe popped out and gave reasonable views as it moved around the landscaped pit heaps. Shame it was so overcast that it was almost dark.

Hoopoe

Dusky Warbler

Looking at my phone too late, slow traffic and fading daylight meant that I dipped the Dusky Warbler in Marsden Quarry. Better luck this morning, when after a bit of a run around with the bird constantly calling from thick cover, it eventually gave itself up. Good close views, but photos were hampered by foliage, bad light and drizzle.

Dusky Warbler

Yesterday a trip up to Amble gave instant success with the long staying Red-necked Grebe in the marina.

Red-necked Grebe

Last Wednesday an afternoon jaunt up to East Chevington gave good views of a pair of Bewick's Swan.

Bewick's Swan