Hooded Merganser

A decent look around Gateshead this morning, starting with a good show from a Long-eared Owl.

Long-eared Owl

An unexpected Gateshead year-tick was a lone Whooper Swan at Lamesley flash pool. Unfortunately distant and only showing its head and neck.

Whooper Swan

Very quiet at Shibdon, but the light was superb.

Grey Heron

Oystercatcher

Also here was my first Holly Blue of the year.

Holly Blue

Stuck at work I was unable to get down to Seaton Common for the Hooded Merganser until last thing. Luckily it was still showing in the ditch running across the common. Hopefully it makes the grade.

Hooded Merganser

Little Bittern

A jaunt up to Waren Mill, after work today for the Little Bittern. Arriving to news that it had not been seen for over an hour and it took a frustrating hour and a half before it finally gave itself up to give stunning views as it hunched on the bank of the stream.

Little Bittern

A stop at Druridge just as it was getting dark gave point-blank views of the Glossy Ibis.

Glossy Ibis

Ouzel

I pulled up at the lay-by on top of Burdon Moor tonight to scan for Wheatear when a Ring Ouzel hopped out of the grass. Showing superbly for 15 mins in the evening sun, it unfortunately disappeared before it could be twitched. 3 Wheatear were also on the top.

Ring Ouzel

A decent spell in Gateshead with 6 Hawfinch briefly at Far Pasture on the 12th (my first in Gateshead since the early 90s) and the pair of Common Scoter found by Stephen W on the 15th (a full Gateshead tick for me). I was unable to re-find the Red-throated Diver that flew upstream on the 18th. 

Common Scoter

Shelduck

On the 18th I popped over to Grindon Lough for distant views of the Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Ruff, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a smart drake Pintail.

A fairly quiet seawatch from Whitburn on 19th was followed by a trip to Saltholme for again distant views of the Ring-necked Duck and closer views of a pair of Black-necked Grebe.

Avocet

Bluethroat

Some excellent views of the White-spotted Bluethroat at Newbiggin this morning, before it was flushed and disappeared for several hours. My first Wheatear of the year was briefly on the cliff top.

Bluethroat

Little was at Cresswell other than a pair of Pintail, but 3 Mediterranean Gull were at Bell's Farm flash.

Druridge was more productive, with the reserve looking superb. 34 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Pintail along with plenty of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler. A Chiffchaff was just outside the Budge Screen, but the star birds were 2 Water Pipit. Unfortunately the brighter of the two birds didn't come close enough for photos.

Water Pipit

Pintail

Late on I popped into Shibdon while waiting for a curry. Pleased with a drake Goosander, but over the moon with a Great Crested Grebe fishing in front of the hide. The first Gateshead record since 2012. No camera, but I managed a phone-binned shot- not bad in fading light!

Great Crested Grebe

White-winged Scoter

An excellent trip up to Musselburgh with Mike, passing a hunting Barn Owl just past Alnwick on the way north. Immediate views of the White-winged Scoter amongst a small flock of Velvet Scoter. Great conditions, but unfortunately the tide was right out and the birds were distant. Panning to the left gave equally good, but again distant views of the Surf Scoter. A few other bits and bobs, including a female Scaup and a Long-tailed Duck. Happy, we were on our way back south again by 9.

First stop was Newton, where we had brief views of a roof-top Black Redstart. On the scrape the Grey Phalarope was still present, spinning away at the closest point to the path.

Next it was down to Newbiggin, where the Bluethroat was flitting around the base of the cliffs below the caravan park.

Bluethroat

3 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the south beach capped off a top day.

Pier

An extra cold seawatch from Whitburn Obs in a stiff easterly produced little this morning. A Little Gull and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser were the star birds.

A stop-off at South Shields Pier was more productive with a Little Gull feeding with a flock of Black-headed, a Glaucous Gull and 3 wind-swept Snow Bunting.

Little Gull

Glaucous Gull

Snow Bunting

A check of the Tyne from Bill Quay upstream revealed little, other than 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull at Dunston and a Ringed Plover at Stella, where 3 Oystercatcher were displaying in the middle of the road. No sign of Darren's Guillemot from yesterday. 20 Wigeon were at a mostly frozen Lamesley.

An afternoon walk in the snow when a hunting Barn Owl flew past, almost brushing my arm.

Barn Owl

Late on at Shibdon the decent gull roost held nothing unusual, other than a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. Two pairs of Shoveler were back on the pond and there were single Jack and Common Snipe.

Common Snipe

No beast from the east.

A bit of a dusting of snow has meant a couple of days birding close to home, mostly on foot. The first sign of the hard weather was the marauding bands of hungry Redwing and Fieldfare around Whickham.

Redwing

The confiding Water Rail was still in residence yesterday in the outlet channel at Watergate, but absent or hiding today.

Water Rail

Shibdon Pond this morning held both Jack Snipe and Woodcock. Little else was seen in the heavy snow and stiff easterly wind. 

Jack Snipe

At Watergate my first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year was with a large flock of Common and Black-headed Gull. No sign of any rare ducks pushed west by the weather, but a pair of Gadwall were a site-tick for me.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Gadwall

A pair of Dipper were around the top of the waterfall along with a Grey Wagtail. Several Snipe were feeding along the inlet stream, both in the open area and into Washingwell woods, where I spooked a Woodcock.

Dipper

Common Snipe