The Fog

Another frustrating day seawatching from Whitburn. The fog rolled back slightly to give a frantic hour, but even then visibility was never more than 600m. Huge numbers of ducks and waders, but what did we miss? Full results here. Peter brought in a stunning Convolvulus Hawk-moth. A Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed earlier and still calling at the south end of the big mound.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Just a mile inland it was red hot with blazing sun. At Burdon Moor a Wheatear and 22 Golden Plover were on the newly ploughed field.

Wheatear

Painted Lady

5 Black-tailed Godwit and a Wigeon were new in at Shibdon, where 10 Shoveler remained. A Golden Plover dropped in to face the wrath of the Lapwing flock.

Golden Plover

Wigeon

YLG

At last we got some northerlies, unfortunately we also got fog with visibility down below 600m. Scopes were redundant, but bins were all we needed for the masses of birds moving close inshore and over the cliffs. A huge movement of gulls were heading north, mostly Herring with Great and Lesser-black Backed, but also an astounding 4 juv/1st winter Yellow-legged. Full results here.

Breaking rocks

The wind was again from the south, but still decent birds were passing Whitburn this morning. Balearic Shearwater and Black-throated Diver were the star birds, but there were loads of ducks and a smart summer plumage Grey Plover to finish. Full results here.

Back in Gateshead I was out in the baking sun at Kibblesworth looking for dragonflies. At least 6 male Black Darter were around the marshy pool, plus plenty of Migrant and Southern Hawker around the main pond.

Black Darter

Migrant Hawker

Long-tail

Yesterday was quiet at the Obs, other than a huge passage of Meadow Pipit. Today was a bit better with a superb dark-phase juvenile Long-tailed Skua heading north. Not a great deal moving until late on when 1000+ Kittiwake lifted off the sea an streamed towards the mouth of the Tyne. Amongst these were 2 Sooty And 2 Manx Shearwater, along with an Arctic Skua. Full results here.

Whitburn this morning

No Tern

A little more was moving on the sea off Whitburn this morning, but still pretty quiet. Still, any morning with a Long-tailed Skua is a good morning. Full results here.

At Whitburn Steel the two Little Stint were showing down to a few feet, unfortunately the light made photography difficult.

Little Stint

The day went down hill from here. A report of a White-winged Black Tern dragged me down to Seaton Carew, but unfortunately it had moved on by the time I got down. The world's most photographed Mediterranean Gull was at Newburn Bridge. I was near, so popped in to see the Pectoral Sandpiper at Greatham Creek, along with a Little Stint.

News that the tern had reappeared at South Gare dragged ne further south, but again to no avail. 5+ Roseate Tern were scant reward. At least I got a go on the Transporter Bridge.

Little Stint

The good spell of seawatching has ground to a halt. The best birds of today's watch were a Great Crested Grebe and an Arctic Skua. Full results here.

A look at Whiburn Steel gave the 2 Little Stint, one showing particularly well.

Little Stint

A Ruff was the only wader of note at Boldon Flats and a Dunlin was new in at Shibdon.

Double Balearic

Two Balearic Shearwater were the star birds from today's seawatch from Whitburn. The second bird gave cracking views, less than 100m off the Obs. Still a few waders and ducks moving, but we could do with some weather to stir things up. Full results here.