Cresswell this morning was not looking too promising. Scanning from the causeway Dunlin numbers were down on my last visit, with 2 Knot and 1 Ruff, but no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper. Stood chatting about yesterday's good fortune and the news came through that a Stilt Sandpiper was showing from the hide. A quick dash and the bird was on show on the sand bar, a cracking barred adult. The waders all lifted before I could get a photo and settled on the spit. It gave good scope views as it fed, but a bit far for a photo. The following crap photo is a heavily cropped phone shot, hand held through the scope.
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| Can you see what it is yet? |
A look at Castle Island failed to turn up the pratincole, but there was a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper.
At Shibdon there were 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff and 6 Shoveler. One of the Godwits was colour ringed in Iceland and hopefully more information will follow.
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Ruff |
A Cormorant caught and struggled to swallow a large Flounder. The first Flounder that I have seen here for years. Small ones used to come in through the sluice, but never as big as this one.
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| Cormorant with Flounder |
Any more spotted flycatchers seen in the area?
ReplyDeleteNone in Gateshead, but a few should move through in August.
DeleteAmazing capturea and blog here! I initially noticed your "Cormorant vs Flatfish" shot. That looks like a huge fish staring down its captor's (long/skinny neck!) throat!
ReplyDeleteSo the cormorant was really able to win the battle and gulp down that huge fish okay?? Does the prey put up a good fight, if eaten, does the unlucky fish get swallowed wriggling/alive all the way as well?!
-Kyle