Redstart

After slogging around Gateshead all day with nothing to show for it, I jammed into a cracking male Redstart in the fading light this evening.

Redstart

A Long-eared Owl showed well in poor light this morning.

Long-eared Owl

White Wag

New birds in at Lamesley today were a pair of Ringed Plover and a White wagtail. Also here were 2 Little Ringed Plover, Red Kite and a House Martin.

White Wagtail

Ringed Plover

The day started with a couple of Long-eared Owl, but the light was a bit poor for photos.

Long-eared Owl

Yellow Wag and Otter

A Wheatear at Burdon Moor and a Little Ringed Plover at Lamesley were all I had to start the day. It improved with the first Common Sandpiper of the year at Shibdon and a life tick in the form of Swan Mussels thanks to George.

Wheatear at Burdon Moor

Common Sandpiper at Shibdon

Roe Buck

An evening trip to Big Waters failed to reveal the Garganey, but the night was saved by two cavorting Otter and at least one fly-through Yellow Wagtail.

Otter

Osprey and Garganey

Cold and windy this morning with nothing to note at Watergate and just a couple of Wheatear at Burdon Moor. Down to the hide at Lamesley as the weather started to look nasty. Decent numbers of Sand Martin with a few Swallow and a House Martin were all moving through south. 4 Little Ringed Plover were on the water meadows and a Kingfisher made a couple of passes. Russell picked up the star bird, an Osprey moving north over Long Acre Wood harried by a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Osprey and Lesser Black-backed Gull

After lunch I had a look at Shibdon, but with nothing to see and the rain stopping I nipped up to Big Waters. I eventually picked up the pair of Garganey, hugging the reeds of the west side of the pond. From the concrete viewing platform I was looking into the sun and struggled to get a photo as they scooted off around the reeds. Not much else on the pond, but there were 30+ Sand Martin hawking insects.

Drake Garganey

Pair of Garganey

Red-crested Pochard

Back to cold, grey and windy. Just a Red Kite at Burdon Moor this morning. News of a White Stork at Boldon Flats led to a disappointing trip, as I arrived to the news that it had flown south. Holywell was more successful where the 2 drake Red-crested Pochard showed well from the hide.

Red-crested Pochard

Red-crested Pochard and Pochard

Back in Gateshead 2 Little Ringed Plover were at Lamesley with several Swallow and Sand Martin. A decent feeding flock of 30+ Swallow and Sand Martin were at Far Pasture where Willow Warbler and Blackcap were singing. Watergate provided the first House Martin of the year where 3 were feeding over the lake.

House Martin

House Martin

Osprey

Another beautiful morning started at Watergate, before the dog walkers got out. 4 Willow Warbler and a Blackcap were singing, 15 Tufted Duck were on the lake and a Roe Deer on the path back to the car.

Roe Deer

At Burdon Moor there were 2 smart male Wheatear and a Jack Snipe flushed from just by the path. A Swallow was on the phone wires by the car park.

Wheatear

Nothing new at Lamesley today, but there was a Little Ringed Plover and a few Sand Martin moved through.

A look up to Derwent Reservoir paid off when an Osprey eventually dropped in, spending an age bathing by the far bank before showing pretty well near the yacht club. Also here were 2 Buzzard, Red Kite, Long-tailed Duck, Little Ringed Plover and 4 Swallow.

Osprey

New arrivals

Another beautiful day and another trickle of migrants. Willow Warbler had arrived overnight with 2-3 singing at Watergate and one at Burdon Moor. Both male and female Blackcap were around the car park at Far Pasture and 3 Wheatear were at the top of Burdon Moor.

Grey Wagtail at Birtley reed beds

Blackcap at Far Pasture

Wheatear at Burdon Moor

Yellowhammer at Burdon Moor