White Wingers

A trip over the river to southern Northumberland today started at North Shields Fish Quay. As I shut the car door the Iceland Gull flew past and continued to show well in fly pasts and perched up on the water.

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

A Glaucous Gull was quickly picked up on a shed roof and this too dropped down to feed on the water just below the quay.

Glaucous Gull

Next up to West Hartford where the mobile Great Grey Shrike showed well, although always fairly distantly. Also here were 2 Stonechat.

Great Grey Shrike

On to Widdrington where a ring-tail Hen Harrier was quartering the rough grass.

The north pool at East Chevington gave a number of new birds for the year with 3 Scaup, Black-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merganser. An Otter was fishing at the north end of the pool. No sign of any Snow Bunting on the beach, but by the coastal path I got brief views of an ermine Stoat.

Cresswell was quiet, but did supply Tree Sparrow and Dunlin. A quick look from Snab Point gave a single Red-throated Diver flying north.

Back in Gateshead Shibdon held a pair of Shoveler and a Dunlin. A Kingfisher was at a quiet Far Pasture and 2 Golden Plover were high over Burdon Moor.