Wild Goose Chase

Off to a good start with a Little Owl by the road over Burdon Moor.

A wind swept Greenabella Marsh held 14 freshly arrived Avocet, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.

Avocet

 

Black-tailed Godwit

 

After a cuppa at Dorman's Pool, where there were 37 Gadwall, I headed for Saltholme.

 

First up was the Waxwing which fed on the edge of a Hawthorn hedge. A Weasel dashed across the path here.

 

Waxwing

 

Waxwing

 

Next was the Long-eared Owl which took some finding. After a fair bit of scanning I eventually picked it up deep in a Elder bush. Not the best of photos!

 





Long-eared Owl

 

The walk to the Saltholme hide did not produce any Twite, but a Fox strolled close to the path.

 

 



Fox

 

At the Saltholme hide Green-winged Teal appeared after a short wait and showed well, although distant.

 



Green-winged Teal

 

On the drive back north I stopped off at Newburn Bridge for the adult Mediterranean Gull.

 

Mediterranean Gull

 

Lamesley was quiet with just a couple of Wigeon, so I headed west to Whittledene. The Green Sandpiper was seen almost immediately in the overflow stream.

 

Green Sandpiper

 

Before I could go looking for the Bean Geese I got the news that the Egyptian Goose was still at North Shields.

 

Not easy to get to quickly, the bird had flown across the bay towards Collingwood's monument by the time I arrived. Sadly the bird looked exhausted and having evaded being taken into care will be lucky to make it through the night.

 

Egyptian Goose