My first seawatch of the year from Whitburn this morning was a bit slow. A Puffin north and a Long-tailed Duck south were the highlights. Eventually managed to get Gannet and Kittiwake on the year list.
Back over to Gateshead and the male Gadwall was still at Lamesley with 4 Wigeon. The stubble field at Burdon Moor was wind-swept, but still held 40+ Skylark, 14 Yellowhammer, 12 Linnet and 3 Meadow Pipit. A Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtail were at Far Pasture with 2 Redpoll among Siskin in the car park.
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Gateshead Med
A grey and windy day today. No sign of any Black Grouse at Derwent Reservoir, but a Dipper performed well at Carrick's picnic site. A quick look on the moor above Edmundbyers gave a Red Grouse perched on top of the heather.
Far Pasture pond very full and held only 3 Teal. A Kingfisher was perched low in the reeds and a Buzzard flew through mobbed by crows.
A late afternoon look at Lamesley was worthwhile with a pair of Gadwall and 5 Wigeon. I then picked up a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull feeding with Black-headed, the first that I've seen in Gateshead for many months.
Far Pasture pond very full and held only 3 Teal. A Kingfisher was perched low in the reeds and a Buzzard flew through mobbed by crows.
A late afternoon look at Lamesley was worthwhile with a pair of Gadwall and 5 Wigeon. I then picked up a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull feeding with Black-headed, the first that I've seen in Gateshead for many months.
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
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.
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.
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.
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| White-fronted Goose |
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.
Monday, 5 January 2015
LEO
Teesside today with mixed success. A frozen Greenabella first thing was deserted, other than a Little Egret, so we moved on to Saltholme. The Green-winged Teal failed to show, but after a full English a Long-eared Owl was quickly under the belt, being pinned down by RSPB staff. Greenfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker were belated year ticks here.
Back out to a now thawed Greenabella where the Spotted Redshank showed well, but little else. Out on the flooded Seal Sands the Velvet Scoter was eventually picked up with a few Red-breasted Merganser. On the walk back to the car a couple of distant Black-tailed Godwit were picked up.
Back out to a now thawed Greenabella where the Spotted Redshank showed well, but little else. Out on the flooded Seal Sands the Velvet Scoter was eventually picked up with a few Red-breasted Merganser. On the walk back to the car a couple of distant Black-tailed Godwit were picked up.
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| Long-eared Owl |
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Hen Harrier
The bird of the day was almost the first that I saw. A second look at what I took as a Wood Pigeon sitting on a wall by the road from Seahouses to Bamburgh made me slam the brakes on. Just 30 feet away was a pristine male Hen Harrier staring back at me. Spooked as I reached for the camera bag, it was off over the fields to the west.
Arriving at Budle Bay to the news that the Barnacle Geese had flown off I had to make do with a couple of small flocks of Brent Geese. Other year ticks picked up here were Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Partridge.
A mixed flock of Twite and Linnet were in the fields at Stag Rocks, but the sea here was very quiet. I think that this is the first time that I've been here when there have been no grebes or divers. There were at least 12 Long-tailed Duck and new for the year were Common Scoter, Guillemot and Shag.
With calm seas the Black-necked Grebe was outside the harbour at Seahouses and a couple of Rock Pipit were flitting about the pier.
Moving south a small mixed flock of Whooper and Mute Swan were at Buston Links.
East Chevington held similar birds to yesterday, but the Hen Harrier failed to show at Widdrington. No sign of the Green-winged Teal at Druridge or the Black Redstart at Newbiggin where a few Sanderling and Turnstone were below the cliffs.
Last stop for Northumberland was Woodhorn where a White-fronted Goose was picked eventually in a flock of Greylags.
Sun-down at Burdon Moor failed to provide any owls.
Arriving at Budle Bay to the news that the Barnacle Geese had flown off I had to make do with a couple of small flocks of Brent Geese. Other year ticks picked up here were Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Partridge.
A mixed flock of Twite and Linnet were in the fields at Stag Rocks, but the sea here was very quiet. I think that this is the first time that I've been here when there have been no grebes or divers. There were at least 12 Long-tailed Duck and new for the year were Common Scoter, Guillemot and Shag.
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| Eider at Stag Rocks |
With calm seas the Black-necked Grebe was outside the harbour at Seahouses and a couple of Rock Pipit were flitting about the pier.
Moving south a small mixed flock of Whooper and Mute Swan were at Buston Links.
East Chevington held similar birds to yesterday, but the Hen Harrier failed to show at Widdrington. No sign of the Green-winged Teal at Druridge or the Black Redstart at Newbiggin where a few Sanderling and Turnstone were below the cliffs.
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| Sanderling |
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| White-fronted Goose |
Saturday, 3 January 2015
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.
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.
Next up to West Hartford where the mobile Great Grey Shrike showed well, although always fairly distantly. Also here were 2 Stonechat.
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.
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| Iceland Gull |
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| Iceland Gull |
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| Glaucous Gull |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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.
Friday, 2 January 2015
Kale
Spent the morning staring at a field of Kale just south of Bridlington. Other than Kale I did see 5 Linnet, 1 Meadow Pipit and a Buzzard over 3.5 hours in very cold & very windy conditions. The day had started so well, with cracking views of Barn Owl near Scarborough and Peregrine near Bempton. A positive from the morning is that I hopefully got the year's biggest dip out of the way early.
Heading back north I called into Teesside to pick up some year ticks and Dorman's Pool provided Shoveler, Pintail and Gadwall. Newburn Bridge gave Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and the dependable Mediterranean Gull.
Viewing from the life boat station at Hartlepool gave the Glaucous Gull and several Eider.
A quick look at Lamesley gave a Meadow Pipit to keep the Gateshead year list ticking along.
Heading back north I called into Teesside to pick up some year ticks and Dorman's Pool provided Shoveler, Pintail and Gadwall. Newburn Bridge gave Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and the dependable Mediterranean Gull.
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| Mediterranean Gull |
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| Purple Sandpiper & Turnstone |
A quick look at Lamesley gave a Meadow Pipit to keep the Gateshead year list ticking along.
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