Pec

 

Up to Bamburgh in the rain this morning. Inland to Hoppen Kiln Flash and the Pectoral and Wood Sandpipers were seen immediately and 4 Garganey dropped in. A superb site, just a shame it is distant viewing from the road.

Another look at the Lesser Yellowlegs at Beadnell, then a wander down to Long Nanny to the tern colony. Several hundred Arctic Tern, 4 Little Tern and a few Sandwich Tern. Just as I was leaving a Little Gull dropped onto the beach.



Arctic Tern

Little Tern

Little Gull

Newton was quite with a Common Sandpiper on the pool, Yellow Wagtail and a couple of pairs of Stonechat at the scrape.

Roedeer

Stonechat

On the way home there was a Marsh Harrier just outside Ashington and a smart drake Garganey at Bothal Pond.

Yellowlegs

Stuck at work until 8pm yesterday meant I was unable to get up to Beadnell for the Lesser Yellowlegs. The alarm set for daft o'clock and I was wandering through the caravan site at 5.15 this morning. My heart sank when I scanned the flash pool and nowt, but a couple of Shelduck. A few more scans and the Lesser Yellowlegs popped up out of nowhere. Cracking, but distant views as it fed around the edge of the pool. Back in the car by 6.30 and at work in Newcastle by 8.00, a success!

Lesser Yellowlegs

A roadside Barn Owl was a bonus on the journey north.

Otter

Popped into Shibdon tonight on the way to the Metro Centre. A cracking Otter feeding in front of the hide. After a few minutes it caught a small eel that it brought to the nearest new island to eat. After eating this it caught a big eel that it dragged off into the reeds. The Otter was badly cut around the shoulders, but it didn't seem to hinder it.

Otter

Also here were a Common Sandpiper and a fly over Goosander.

At Lamesley there were 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 summer plumage Dunlin.

Not Dipping

A bit of a lie in, then up to Muggleswick to try for Wood Warbler. Not today, just a couple of singing Pied Flycatcher.

Pied Flycatcher

A quick look at the reservoir where 6 Great Crested Grebe and a couple of Common Sandpiper the highlights. Over the top to Allen Banks where 4-5 Wood Warbler and 2 Pied Flycatcher were singing by the river.

Wood Warbler

Back over the top again to Blanchland passing plenty of Red Grouse and a few Golden Plover.

Golden Plover



Not far out of Blanchland a walk along some young pines on the moor edge eventually gave cracking views of a Tree Pipit. 2-3 Cuckoo were calling constantly and one flew out over the moor, mobbed by pipits.

Tree Pipit

Cuckoo

The plan was to head home, but news of Woodchat Shrike meant a long drive north. The shrike was still on view when I got there, scope only views unfortunately as the bird was miles away perched up on a fence. Hopefully this the end of my bad twitching run.

Woodchat Shrike

It would have been rude not to, so I popped into Druridge Pools for a look at the Great White Egret which was showing from the Oddie hide. Also here, 27 Whimbrel dropped in.

Great White Egret

More Dipping

I was a hundred yards from the Newbiggin Western Bonelli's Warbler when it stopped singing and disappeared. A three hour vigil, but not another peep. A bonus was a Crane flying south over the ash lagoon



Crane

More Whimbrel

2 Whimbrel tonight on the top of Burdon Moor. The first multiple sighting I have had in Gateshead. Also here were 3 Wheatear and a pair of Redshank.



Whimbrel

Gateshead Tick

Turnstone at Shibdon was a great find from George this morning. A Gateshead tick for me and the first in Gateshead for many years. Horrendous weather, so difficult to get a photo.



Turnstone

A quick look at Lamesley gave 3 Pink-footed Geese, Wigeon and a Goosander. A pair of Gadwall were in the long grass in front of the hide, hopefully the first breeding pair in Gateshead.