No Stilt

The plan was to nip up to Cresswell to get some photos of the Stilt Sandpiper, but the bird was not playing ball and had taken off overnight.

First port of call was Lynemouth Flash where there was a smart Greenshank with 6 Dunlin.

Greenshank

Despite extensive searching the Stilt Sand couldn't be found at Cresswell. There was 2 Spoonbill, 4 Little Egret, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Knot, 2 Ruff, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 50+ Dunlin and 30+ Snipe.

From the Budge Hide at Druridge there was 2 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret and a Yellow Wagtail. Two Marsh Harrier were hunting to the north and 2 Red Admiral and a Peacock were sheltering from the wind.

At Foxton Bends 8 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 2 Kittiwake and 3 Little Egret.

Newton Scrape is looking good with loads of birds, holding 2 Ruff, 1 Little Ringed Plover and a Kittiwake.

Back in Gateshead the Ruff was still at Shibdon and 3 Little Grebe at Far Pasture. The latter site held Southern Hawker and Ruddy Darter, but neither would settle for the camera.

Little Grebe

Paul got the results back for the colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit at Shibdon, a well travelled bird.