Duckfest

A superb trip up to the Aberdeen area. Arriving mid-morning in blazing sun, we headed straight for the Ythan estuary. Expecting the King Eider to be roosting with the hordes of Common Eider on the far bank, we were pleased to see it sail past us, upstream, at a range of 30 feet. If only the sun was behind me and not so bright, but I'm not complaining.

King Eider

With friends

Next we were a little further up the estuary where a drake American Wigeon was mid-channel with a small group of Wigeon. A summering Whooper Swan was asleep just in front of us.

American Wigeon

Whooper Swan

It was now down to the dunes at Murcar for the main event. Very challenging conditions when we arrived, with strong glare from the sun making the search through the 2000+ scoter flock far from straightforward. I hit lucky just a few minutes in when I picked up a first summer Surf Scoter in flight with a Velvet Scoter. I was well pleased with this self-find tick and it eventually returned to show well just in front of us. After another half an hour we picked up the American White-winged Scoter, getting brief, but tickable views before losing it in the ever-shuffling flock. It was another two hours before we able to pick up the bird again and helped now by the increased cloud cover we managed superb, though distant views.

After a lazy start today we arrived at the Murcar at 08.30 in bright sunshine to a very distant Scoter flock. Luckily the cloud built up quickly and we managed cracking views of the White-winged on and off throughout the morning. Dave picked up another Surf Scoter to add to a cracking tally of rare ducks.

Phonescoped pic of the White-winged Scoter

A great couple of days with thanks to Dave for driving and Chris for putting us up.

Sun Dragons

Hot and sunny at last. Still no birds, but at least some dragons are out. A trip to Kibblesworth yesterday gave the year's first Common Darter, but not a great deal else, as although warm, it was pretty cloudy most of the time we were there. Today was much livelier with the year's first 2 Emperor, 50+ Four-spotted Chaser, 15+ Common Darter, 2 Black-tailed Skimmer and a Broad-bodied Chaser. The grass around the pond was full of damsels of four species, but surprisingly few butterflies.

Four-spotted Chaser ( damsel exuviae on reed behind)

Common Darter

Northern Marsh Orchid

At the bridge over the Team at Lamesley at least 15 Banded Demoiselle were putting on a superb display, dancing over the water. I don't have the lens to do them justice, so go and have a look.

Banded Demoiselle

Bonaparte's Again

Popped up to the Wansbeck again this morning. The Bonaparte's Gull was showing well on the north shore of the estuary. Difficult to photograph in tricky light, I had just  got in a better position, when it was flushed by a Mute Swan.

Bonaparte's Gull

Common Tern

Quiet elsewhere, the only birds of note were two Knot that dropped in at Cresswell.

Knot

Bleak Mid-summer

A pretty grim week. Grey skies and a cold northerly have made it feel like November, so there has been little to do other than seawatch from Whitburn. A decent passage of common stuff with the odd goodie like summer plumage Great Northern Diver and Roseate Tern. A trip up to the Northumberland coast on Tuesday yielded little, but a Wood Sandpiper at Newton was a nice find. A Peregrine over Lamesley on Thursday was my first Gateshead year tick for ages.

A bit of warmth this morning, so a wander around Kibblesworth was worth it. Although it wasn't sunny there were loads of Four-spotted Chaser and four Broad-bodied Chaser, including an ovipositing female. Unsurprisingly there were few butterflies, but there were several Small Heath and the first Meadow Brown of the year.

Four-spotted Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

Meadow Brown

Large Skipper

Common Blue Damsel

A good show of Bee Orchid were at nearby Birtley.

Bee Orchid

More Bonaparte's

A light easterly doesn't make for great seawatching, so it was unsurprisingly quiet this morning, but the crack was good. Birding highlights were two Bonxie and a Little Tern.

At a bit of a loss with the crap weather I headed back up to the Wandsbeck for another look at the Bonaparte's Gull. Initially on the wrong side of the river it was shifted over by a bait collector giving good, but fairly distant views. A fly-by up the river allowed me the flight shots I was after. Fairly happy with the results considering the drizzle.

Bonaparte's Gull

Sunny day

Out in the sun today. Good views of local Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, but the heavy canopy making it no good for photos.

Up to the Durham hills where I managed brief views of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Frustratingly, the thistles weren't in flower and the Frits just flitted up, chasing Small Whites before disappearing again into the vegetation. There were still loads of Orange Tips around and a couple of Dingy Skipper and Small Copper. A Curlew was showing well from the same post as last year.

Curlew

Back in Gateshead at Burdon Moor there were three Broad-bodied Chaser, including a rapidly maturing male.

Broad-bodied Chaser

Last night I had another look up to Slaley, where I managed brief views of 3 Nightjar, but only one roding Woodcock. At least 3 Cuckoo were constantly calling.

Woodcock

Doldrums

It really felt like summer today, seawatching in a t-shirt. The birding was more summer-like too, with little moving over a flat sea. Two Roseate Tern and a couple of Manx Shearwater were the best.

Popped out north this afternoon for some photos.

Black-necked Grebe

Shoveler