Black Darter

Another excellent seawatch at Whitburn. No stand-out rarities today, but plenty moving and superb views of a Balearic Shearwater.

05.50-09.30
Common Scoter    23n  3s
Manx Shearwater    25n
Sandwich Tern    38n  9s
Red-throated Diver    14n  6s
Curlew    26n
Common Tern    43n  47s
Arctic Skua    1n  9s
Sooty Shearwater    19n
Redshank    23n
Dunlin    4n
Teal    136n
Arctic Tern    3n
Wigeon    46n
Mallard  1n
Puffin    1n
Knot    16n
Golden Plover    1n
Little Gull    4n  2s
Whimbrel    1s
Shag    7n  5s
Balearic Shearwater    1n
Pintail    8n
Goldeneye    2n  1s
Pomarine Skua    4n
Bonxie    1n
Peregrine    1n
Kestrel    1n
Wheatear    2

Back in Gateshead I took advantage of the warmth and blue sky, taking a visit to Kibblesworth for dragonflies. It took a while, but eventually a pair of Black Darter appeared, the female ovipositing while the male stood guard and chased intruders. Also here were loads of Common Darter, a few Emerald Damsel, 2 Common and a Southern Hawker.



Male Black Darter

 



Female Black Darter

Ovipositing

It was then to Lamesley post box where at least one Holly Blue was flitting around the Ivy covered wall. My first in Gateshead for a few years.



Holly Blue

Great Shearwater

The Great Shearwater went north past a packed Whitburn Obs at 17.28. It capped an excellent day seawatching and was swiftly followed by a high flying flock of 8 Pomarine Skua.

05.50-10.30 and 13.45-17.40
Manx Shearwater    186n
Little Gull    8n  1s
Knot    38n
Common Scoter    11n  3s
Eider    3n  3s
Red-throated Diver    11n  11s
Sandwich Tern    36n  29s
Wigeon    157n
Pintail    14n
Common Tern   36n  1s
Sooty Shearwater    55n
Bonxie    19n
Puffin    4n
Arctic Skua    11n  12s
Teal    207n
Dunlin    5n
Ringed Plover    5n
Sanderling    3n
Shag    2n  9n
Long-tailed Skua    1s
Shoveler    1n
Brent Goose    30n
Tufted Duck    3n
Shelduck    3n
Peregrine 1 hunting over sea
Balearic Shearwater    2n
Arctic Tern    2n
Grey Plover    1n
Great Shearwater    1n
Pomarine Skua    8s

Little Shearwater

At 06.20 this morning a Little Shearwater flew north past Whitburn, about 400m out, the ideal distance to give good, prolonged views. Flying low over the sea, flapping its short rounded wings in a jerking action like a clock-work toy. Only a couple of glides, each for only 2-3 seconds, completely different to the Manx that took a similar line a few minutes later, shearing all the way.

It was all go this morning with a Long-tailed Skua, 5 Sooty Shearwater and 18 Brent Geese among a load of birds. I did miss the Storm Petrel in the very rough sea, but you can't get them all.

05.55-11.00
Teal    306n
Dunlin    21n
Eider    6n  4s
Mallard    3n
Long-tailed Skua    1n
Wigeon    122n
Little Shearwater    1n at 06.20
Red-throated Diver    10n
Arctic Tern    1n
Little Gull    1n
Manx Shearwater    13n
Arctic Skua    10n  16s
Bonxie    3n  1s
Sandwich Tern    59n  7s
Ruff    2n
Snipe    3n
Turnstone    2n
Sooty Shearwater    5n
Pintail    6n
Common Tern    4n
Shag    2n  12s
Common Scoter    13n
Brent Goose    18n

Again nothing new at Shibdon with just 14 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper.

Balearic

More seawatching from Whitburn with the continuing north-westerly. Boat loads of Gannet and Kittiwake were moving with some goodies among them. Two Balearic Shearwater flew north, close in with perfect light, the first bird stopping on the sea for a couple of minutes in front of the Obs. With so many birds moving it was surprising how few Manx Shearwater went past.

0605-0925
Long-tailed Duck    1n
Arctic Skua    29n  4s
Velvet Scoter    1n
Sandwich Tern    21n  8s
Dunlin    1n
Wigeon    28n
Little Gull    10n
Manx Shearwater    7n  2s
Balearic Shearwater    2n
Eider    1 on sea
Teal    13n
Common Tern    6n
Common Scoter    4n
Tufted Duck    1n
Red-throated Diver    3n  3s
Golden Plover    2n

Little change at Shibdon with just 19 Black-tailed Godwit. An evening dash down to Timber Beach to try to head off the two Sandwich Tern that had gone up river failed, but did give two Black-tailed Godwit, my first here.



Black-tailed Godwit

Long-tailed Skua

An excellent seawatch from Whitburn this morning. The strengthening north-westerly did the trick with loads of birds passing, including some quality. Star bird of the day was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua that went south following a flock of four Arctic Skua.

0605-0920
Arctic Skua    2n  20s
Manx Shearwater    23n  2s
Common Tern    34n  40s
Puffin    1n
Little Gull   11n
Red-throated Diver    1n  1s
Velvet Scoter    1s
Dunlin    8n
Common Scoter    10n  1s
Sandwich Tern    17n  64s
Arctic Tern    20s
Curlew    2n
Whimbrel     1n
Pomarine Skua    1s
Long-tailed Skua    1s
Sooty Shearwater    1n
Teal    40n  1s
Shag    1n
Black Tern    2n
Knot    1n
Oystercatcher8n
Bonxie    1s
Ruff    1n
Swallow    2n
Wigeon    3n

At Shibdon more Black-tailed Godwit have dropped in, mostly fresh juveniles. Only other wader of note was a Common Sandpiper.



Black-tailed Godwit

No Northerly

The over-night northerly blow did not happen, so this morning's seawatch was not as good as expected. Still a few good birds though with 2 Sooty Shearwater and a Spotted Redshank the highlights.

0620-0940
Sandwich Tern    7n  54s
Redshank    6n
Red-throated Diver    1s
Common Tern    16n  20s
Arctic Tern    1n
Curlew    1n
Teal    97n  8s
Manx Shearwater    11n
Sooty Shearwater    2n
Wigeon    1n
Eider    4s
Bonxie    1n
Dunlin    4n
Common Scoter   1s
Shag    2n
Knot    19s
Spotted Redshank    1n
Swallow    3n

Still quiet at Shibdon with just 11 Black-tailed Godwit.

Seawatching

With the wind starting to turn northerly it was time for some seawatching from Whitburn. Although the north wind hadn't been blowing for long there was plenty passing. Two watches with the morning being more profitable.

06.20-10.40
Red-throated Diver    1n  3s
Common Scoter    52n  6s
Curlew    2n
Little Gull    13n  19s
Shag    20n  6s
Sandwich Tern    4n  29s
Wigeon    69n
Common Tern    17n  44s
Arctic Skua    9n  3s
Sooty Shearwater   1n
Purple Sandpiper    1n
Knot    22n  1s
Manx Shearwater    11n
Grey Wagtail    1s
Turnstone    3s
Arctic Tern    9n  1s
Redshank    4n  96s
Common Gull    3n  1s
Dunlin    2n  4s
Swallow    59n
Teal    750n  7s
Puffin    1s
Bonxie    3n
Tufted Duck    2n
Ringed Plover    1n
Pintail    3n


14.50-17.00
Common Tern    2n  18s
Sandwich Tern    10n  70s
Wigeon    2n
Teal    33s
Red-throated Diver    1n
Dunlin    6n
Eider    2 on sea
Little Gull    7n
Grey Wagtail    1s
Shag    2n
Arctic Skua    1n
Swallow    2n
Bonxie    2s
Manx Shearwater    2n

All quiet again at Shibdon with 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.