Mopping Up

Back up to Northumberland this morning for a few that I missed the other day. A slightly earlier start meant the geese were still at Budle Bay when I arrived at first light, large flocks of Brent, Greylag, Pink-foot and the target Barnacle.

Still pretty quiet at Stag Rocks, but I did pick up a few new birds. Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Razorbill and Puffin were new with a few Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck. A walk north along the beach produced a single Snow Bunting at the base of the dunes.

No sign of the Bewick's Swan at Newton, but there was a White-fronted Goose with a flock of Greylag.

White-fronted Goose

The Long-tailed Duck was still at East Chevington where a distant Otter was leaping in and out of the water.

A hunt through the Teal at Druridge failed to reveal the Green-winged again. At Widdrington the Hen Harrier didn't show but I did see my first Great Crested Grebe of the year and a cracking Peregrine.

News from Gateshead made Shibdon the last call of the day to see the Ruff, returned after going missing for a few days.