Wader Fest

The Shibdon wader fest continues. I looked up from the Pectoral Sandpiper this morning to see 8 Spotted Redshank dropping in. Almost annual in Gateshead in ones or twos, but this, I think, the first ever flock. The birds quickly moved and 7 were showing well from the duck-feeding area for the rest of the day. Other waders were 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 120+ Redshank and 200+ Lapwing. A Kingfisher zipped through.

Spotted Redshank

7 of 8 Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank in flight

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pec in flight

Greenshank

Ruff

Green Sandpiper

Lamesley continues to disappoint, with just a Wigeon new today.

More Pec

Called into Shibdon after work and the Pectoral Sandpiper was again performing in front of the hide. Also here were 2 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 120+ Redshank and 200+ Lapwing.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pec and Dunlin

Pec

Shibdon Pec

Popped into Shibdon this afternoon and the first bird I looked at was a fresh in juvenile Ruff. I pulled the camera out of the bag and started clicking (Ruff is still a pretty good bird for Gateshead). After a few shots it dawned on me that the Ruff had moved and I was shooting Gateshead's first and long-awaited Pectoral Sandpiper. Get in!!

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

New Ruff

Ruff chasing Pec

Also here were 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and the adult Ruff.

Seawatching this morning was slow to get going and failed to get overly exciting, with 2 distant Black Tern the highlight.

0620-1040

Wigeon    8n  1s
Teal    55n  13s
Arctic Skua    14n  1s
Whimbrel    35n
Common Tern    31n  30s
Tufted Duck    1n  1s
Sandwich Tern    7n    14s
Bonxie    4n
Bar-tailed Godwit    1s
Common Scoter    28n  5s  3 on sea
Manx Shearwater    4s
Eider    4s
Grey Plover    1n
Black Tern    2n
Red-throated Diver    1s
Pintail    1n
Dunlin    3s
Swift    1n

A quick look in Whitburn C.P and a good search of Marsden Quarry failed to turn up any migrants.

Greenish

Started the day with a seawatch at Whitburn which was dominated by a massive movement of Teal, but had highlights of Red-necked Grebe, Sooty Shearwater and Velvet Scoter.

0600-0840

Teal    1700n 
Wigeon    60n
Bonxie    4n  1s
Common Tern    70n
Manx Shearwater    22n  1s
Common Scoter    268n  105s
Arctic Skua    7n  4s
Sparrowhawk    1n
Turnstone    1n
Red-throated Diver    2 on sea  1n  1s
Puffin   1n
Sooty Shearwater    1n
Sandwich Tern    2n  3s
Velvet Scoter    1n
Red-necked Grebe    1n
Whimbrel    5s

After the seawatch it was up to Whitburn CP for the Greenish Warbler. After a 20 min wait the bird showed well, feeding along the south edge of the big mound. I hit lucky, as after this performance the bird did not show again. The only other migrant was a calling Chiffchaff, while a Sparrowhawk made frequent passes.

Greenish Warbler
 

Back in Gateshead Burdon Moor was very quiet while Shibdon held 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 9 Shoveler and 1 Kingfisher. A Migrant Hawker was zipping about in front of the hide.

Pom

Another sea watch this morning. The wind has shifted round to a south westerly and the birds were slow to start moving. Although there were long periods with nothing passing, it ended up a decent watch, with the star bird being a dark phase Pomarine Skua heading north.

06.35-10.40

Sandwich Tern    39n  8s
Common Tern    7n
Common Scoter    54n
Manx Shearwater    68n
Oystercatcher    11n  3s
Bonxie    2n
Curlew    1n
Sooty Shearwater    2n
Arctic Skua    3n
Wigeon    6n
Redshank     5n
Pomarine Skua    1n
Golden Plover    1n
Grey Wagtail    1s

An evening dash to Cleadon failed to get the Bonaparte's Gull. Hopefully it  won't give me the run-around like the last two years.

Balearic

Another early start with a sea watch at Whitburn before work. Again no big shearwaters for me, but a single Balearic was new for the year.

05.40-07.30

Red-throated Diver    5n
Manx Shearwater    47n
Arctic Skua    4n  5s
Common Tern    10n
Oystercatcher    4n  5s
Sandwich Tern    27n  1s
Knot    1n
Curlew    1n
Balearic Shearwater    1n
Teal    4n

Sooty

Five hours sea watching this morning at Whitburn Obs. Still not great numbers, but I did pick up my first Sooty Shearwater of the year. Half an hour after I left a Cory's went north. Next time.

05.30-10.40

Curlew    9n
Mallard    1n
Oystercatcher    18n  8s
Manx Shearwater    116n  4s
Redshank    32n
Sandwich Tern    12n  5s
Common Tern    32n  11s
Arctic Skua    1n 5s
Common Scoter    42n
Sooty Shearwater    3n
Bonxie    1n
Turnstone    1s
Teal    4n
Sparrowhawk    1s