Summer

 A few better bits and bobs since my last post.

On 22nd June while seawatching at Whitburn, Mark Harper picked up a very distant Rose-coloured Starling to the south. A return after lunch gave better views on roof tops.

Rose-coloured Starling

On the 21st July a small, slight Cory's type shearwater was on the sea off Whitburn. Seen in flight only briefly it showed a large white flash on the right wing, the significance of which only became apparent a couple of weeks later.

On the 27th a trip up to Amble gave good views of the returning Caspian Gull.

Caspian Gull

A quick video of the Caspian Gull.

A Pectoral Sandpiper was showing distantly at Druridge Pools.

As ever Burdon Moor has done well with passage Whinchat including this juvenile on the 3rd August.

An after work twitch on 5th got superb, close views of an adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Druridge. 

Another after work twitch on 11th gave good but distant views of a smashing summer-plumage Pacific Golden Plover  at Boulmer. A couple of subsequent visits gave better views on the beach.

With Lamesley now totally dry our only chance of a decent wader in Gateshead will be at Shibdon. A Greenshank turned up on the 11th to christen the newly exposed mud.

Some good seawatching gave some early Long-tailed Skuas and Sooty Shearwaters.

A trip up to Northumberland on the 17th gave the adult White-winged Black Tern at Druridge Bay C.P. A nightmare to photograph as it twisted and turned in dull conditions.

A Common Sandpiper joined the Greenshank at Shibdon and 9 Arctic Tern flew high west on the 18th.