Asian Desert Warbler

A very early start got me to the Snook on Holy Island for 04.05 this morning. Twenty or so birders were already on site, loosely surrounding a stunted pine. The Asian Desert Warbler was singing as we arrived from deep cover to release the tension. Tickable views were soon had, but the bird made us wait for better. It flitted from the pine into a tiny bush, where it went to ground for the next 45 mins, singing occasionally. Finally it gave itself up, flying to a more sparsely vegetated bush where it fed and performed in the relative open for the happy crowd.

Asian Desert Warbler

Photos were hampered by the poor light in the murky conditions, but I was more than happy! The following video shows our first good views and has some singing at the start.

                                     

Burdon Moor has had a bit of a purple patch recently with a male Red-backed Shrike (first Gateshead record for 23 years) and 3-4 singing Quail.

                                      

The Marsh Warbler at Sunderland Academy Pools put on a great performance at the start of the month. Much better than the Great Reed Warbler at Druridge that just called three times for me in less than ideal conditions.

Marsh Warbler

Marsh Warbler

Lockdown Gems

The ongoing lockdown has meant any birding has been local, but surprisingly successful. Three unphotographed raptors were welcome additions to the list; Merlin hunting at Burdon Moor, Osprey north over my house and best of all a male Marsh Harrier east along Whickham Front Street while I was out for a run.

My earliest ever Swift flew past my window on the 19th. It wasn't until today that after an obvious large influx I saw my next.

Swift

I've managed some decent views of Short-eared and Long-eared Owls on morning wanders.

Short-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

There seem to be a large number of warbler's around, perhaps an upside of the harsh lockdowns in southern Europe keeping hunters and trappers out of the countryside. Normally scarce Garden Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats are popping up everywhere. Grasshopper Warblers had a slow start but are now reeling in numbers, with one showing particularly well.

Grasshopper Warbler

Hare

Wheatear

Stoat

Rook

A nice find was the Wood Sandpiper that spent the 4th May feeding up at Lamesley.

Lockdown

With lockdown in force, early morning trips to Burdon Moor have been my only escape from staring out of the window, praying for a White-tailed Eagle.

 On the 6th April two Willow Warbler were singing along Tanfield Railway, along with a couple of Blackcap, but Burdon Moor was quiet with just the pair of Stonechat to speak of.

The next day 5 Willow Warbler were singing at Burdon Moor, but the star was the male Ring Ouzel feeding along the top fence-line. Annual here, but rarely stopping long, this is a bird that I missed last year. Also new for the year were 3 male Wheatear in the freshly tilled field by the entrance.

Ring Ouzel

The 7th was better again with a smart male Redstart getting chased by the Stonechat pair along the hedge-line at the top of the loop. Views were as brief as for the previous day's Ouzel. A couple tired looking Swallow dropped in to rest on wires and there were now 5 Wheatear in the entrance field.

Redstart

Swallow

A few quiet mornings then the moor was back on form today. First up was another Ring Ouzel, this one picked up on call on the bottom track. It quickly moved along the hedgerow, resting briefly in a tall tree, then flying high west. 2 singing Whitethroat were fresh in and both showed superbly along with a singing Stonechat. A vocal Tree Pipit was heard and seen as it zipped overhead to the north and a couple of Swallow passed through. Frustrating views of a flushed Snipe sp. that will hopefully be there tomorrow. Wheatear had built up to 6 in the entrance field by the time I left.

Ring Ouzel

Stonechat

Wheatear

Whitethroat

House Martin

My last day at work for a while finished after 5 mins this morning. Hopefully this won't go on for too long.

My earliest ever House Martin today, feeding over Birtley reed beds with a single Sand Martin. The previous earliest was on 7th April in both 2017 and 2019. Not much else, but several Chiffchaff were singing in the chilly breeze.

House Martin

Last week I caught up with the Bald Ibis at Stella that had given Paul H a fright and the Great White Egret at Longhirst Flash thanks to Dave E.

Bald Ibis

Great White Egret

A B-2 bomber flying south past Cresswell was a tick.

B-2

More Yellow Wag

A trip to the dentist this morning meant that I was back in the vicinity and with a bit of sun I popped up to Prestwick Carr. The Eastern Yellow Wagtail was still showing superbly, but the low winter sun and hedge meant that it was often in the shade.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Stuck at work yesterday when a reported Yellow Wagtail at Prestwick Carr quickly escalated, as expected, into probable Eastern. Photos showed the required long hind claw and pale base to the bill, while the call was reported as spot on.

Before first light this morning I was on site with a handful of those unable to get there yesterday. It was barely light when I picked up the bird on its harsh, rasping call as it dropped into the flooded field just in front of us. Now happy that it was an Eastern, I spent the next hour with the bird, at times just a few feet away, seemingly feeding well on blood worms despite the thin coating of ice. It regularly took short flights giving the same harsh call as the other three Eastern Yellow Wagtails that I have seen on Scilly. With limited time before work the light was a bit poor for photos, but I'm not really complaining!

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Kentish

Rare up here, a Kentish Plover at Marske luckily hung around while I was stuck at work. An early start this morning had me on the beach before first light and 20mins of scanning through the Ringed Plover got me the bird. Just time for a couple of distant phonescoped shots before the flock was flushed by dog walkers.

Kentish Plover

Luckily the birds flew inland and relocated to the safety of the (dog-free) school playing field. The Kentish Plover showed well, but too distant for the camera.

Kentish Plover

While on the beach I had flyover Merlin and Snow Bunting.

Some excellent recent seawatching from Whitburn, all on  Trektellen. Highlights on 29th October were Smew, Sabine's Gull, Slavonian Grebe and White-billed Diver. The moment of the day was the diver turning it's head to flash it's banana bill in the sun. On the 31st a Leach's Petrel flew north, before heading out to sea.