Car Park Patch Tick

After coming back from the dentist yesterday afternoon, I was sitting in the car, which was parked in the Sainsbury's car park at Manor Walks shopping centre.
I have always thought that car parks are under watched areas and usually Waxwings are the only birds to be reported from them.
So whilst waiting I scanned through the BH Gull Flock which was on top of the bottle bank and scanned through all the trees and bushes surrounding the car park.
My old bins were on the floor of the car, so once I readjusted my eyes I began looking.
Nothing was in the bushes or amongst the mobile gull flock but I did get some close up views of some Starlings which were feeding next to the car.
I opened the window to see if I could hear anything and it wasn't long until 6 Redwing flew over, Seeping as they went.

Whilst watching the Jackdaws fly above Cramlington Hall I noticed a large duck struggling against the wind as it flew quite low over the treetops.
At first I thought I was watching the outline if a Diver but as it flew closer I could pick out the black wings, heavy white body and dark straight pointed head of a male Goosander, Patch Tick!
Still struggling against the wind it flew over towards Arcot.

I just remembered that back in February I was sitting in almost the same car parking spot when a flock of Pink Footed Geese flew over.
Also many years ago L McD had a Fulmar fly over Manor Walks, I wonder how many other species have been overlooked over the years.

113 - Goosander

King at last

On Friday I quickly went to West Hartford at Dusk. I thought that with the influx of Short Eared Owls to Prestwick Carr that a few could have turned up at Hartford but there was no sign.
There wasn’t much around apart from 2 scruffy looking Juv Mute Swans on the main pool.

This morning me and my mate, (who is slowly becoming more interested in birding) checked the Horton Burn again for what must be nearly the 20th time over the last two months for the elusive Kingfisher- Patch Tick, but finally today it was there.
It flew from a branch just over the burn wall towards the fire station and landed on a pile of compost where it stayed for a few minutes before flying back towards us, flew over our heads and back down towards the other end of the burn.
As it flew overhead I could hear it making a high pitched whistling call which I heard later on further down the burn whilst watching a Grey Wagtail which was hunting insects.

We also checked the trees behind Cramlington Hall, later on, for Brambling but no sign, nothing else seen during the trip back despite searching the the graveyard for while.
112 – Kingfisher

Two Black: One Lifer, One County Tick

Back at home this weekend, something which is becoming more regular.
I went up north early yesterday with S.H with Stag Rocks our intended destination. We had a quick and optimistic check of Hulne Park for Hawfinch on the way up but we were soon told to leave as a hunt was taking place at the park.

Before going to Stag we checked Budle Bay where the tide was out. A flock of Pink Footed Geese flew over but no Snow Goose amongst them or in the bay but plenty of Barnacle Geese. A single Goldeneye was swimming in the channel and Dunlin and Golden Plover were amongst the groups of Lapwing.

We checked the sea at Stag Rocks from the lower car park first. 30+ Purple Sandpipers were on the beach 13 Shag were on the rocks. A pair of Slavonian Grebes were very close in and gave excellent views as they dived together.

Although we were seeing some good stuff there was no sign of the Black Guillemot as we scanned every bird on the water between the shore and the Farnes. Bob Dack , also in search of the BG soon arrived and it wasn’t long until Steve found the Guillemot almost as close in as the Slavs.
It was an almost white first winter bird which preened itself and flapped its wings before fishing in front of us. It was so near that we went onto the beach so that Steve could get some record shots. The Purple Sands were also nearly at touching distance as we moved across the rocks. The Black Guillemot was soon joined by the two Slave grebes which made for an impressive sight. I’m glad I got such views of a good county tick, it saves going on a November pelagic to the Farnes one year.

We then moved to the top of the bank next to the golf club and scanned the sea from there. 9 Red Throated Diver were on the sea along with a huge number of Cormorants. A line of 10 Long Tailed Duck were doing some nice synchronized diving but I was surprised to see no Scoter or any Gulls.

After looking in the area around the Red throats BD soon found a Black Throated Diver- Lifer, which I just saw in time as it dived and exposed its large white thigh patch. When it resurfaced it was joined by another Black throat and the pair dived along side each other. A Great Northern Diver was soon spotted near them and I could see the size difference and features between the three species of Diver.

Our luck ran out after leaving Stag Rocks as a check of Monks House Pool provided nothing and there were no Corn Buntings at East Fleetham, which was not surprising.
There was nothing of note at either Arcot or West Hartford but I did get my first look at a Sinensis Cormorant during a Cormorant count at Blyth Harbour.

Sunday's Sab

I have been at home since the middle of last week due to illness. So you can imagine how pissed off I was when I wasn’t well enough to see the Eastern Crowned Warbler despite being offered a lift.
Yesterday I got a call from JM (http://birdingsometimes.blogspot.com/ ) saying he was going for the Sabine’s Gull at North Shields and that I could come along. Still not 100% well, I was determined to get at least one good bird out of the weekend, and I did.
When we arrived at North Shields the Sabine’s Gull – Lifer, was sitting on the edge of the beach with a few BH Gulls which looked bigger in comparison.
After being flushed by a dog it landed on the water’s edge again and allowed us to get reasonably close, it was close enough for me to even get some record shots. After fifteen minutes it flew off and landed on the sand nearer the Fish Quay, my cameras battery ran out at this point so I got no more photos which is a shame as on the sand the Gull was much closer and there was a clearer back drop.
The Gull seemed to be struggling to keep its balance at times as the waves lapped against its legs.
Once again it flew off a while later and was relocated in the Fish Quay where we watched it fishing with the other gulls above the water showing off its distinctive wing pattern. I’m glad I saw my first Sabine ’s gull in this way rather than ticking a distant shadow of a bird in the rain at Church Point.
Whilst at the Fish Quay 7 Whooper Swans flew north up the Tyne.

Red Rain

On Wednesday at around 8 I was walking from the Library to my room when I added another species to my campus list – Redwing.
It was drizzling lightly and almost pitch black but still I could hear what must have been around 100 calling as they flew overhead in the darkness.
It just made me wonder how many people walk around completely oblivious to this huge annual migration.On Thursday morning I was woken up to the sound of a Grey Wagtail, which was running around the car park outside, another new campus bird.

Fire and Gold

Back at home again this weekend so I went with SH and DMcK to do the WEBS count at Castle Island this morning.
After a fairly quiet count we headed for Newbiggin and the Mound.
Just as we were about to turn into Newbiggin Steve got a call saying that the Radde’s Warbler was at Druridge Pools again.
We thought we would have a go at the Radde’s first so drove straight to Druridge.

We went to the area where the Radde’s had been reported but after a half an hour wait without a sniff of any Warbler we went to the Main Pool Hide.
The Glossy Ibis was tucked into the far left corner bordering the reeds and I got brief views as it waded through the water. Also a pair of Scaup were swimming and diving along the back of the pool.

Instead of going to the Mound we went to St.Mary’s instead where news of three Yellow Browed and a Firecrest was filtering through.
When we got to the north end of the wetland we had just missed the Firecrest by ten minutes and were told that it had gone back into deeper cover.
A Yellow Browed Warbler called nearby but never showed so we walked around to the
other side of the willows to get a better angle.
It soon paid off as a Yellow Browed Warbler moved quickly through the trees and out of sight.
Although I did see a bird move through the trees I cannot comfortably say what it was so it looks like I will have to wait for another day to see a Yellow browed.
Whilst it moved through the willows it flushed out a Firecrest – Lifer.

I always thought the day that I saw a Firecrest I would have a new favourite bird and now I do.
We had brilliant views over a half an hour period as the Firecrest moved through the trees, stretched its wings and even stood still on the branches.
At first I could only see its Greenish back and Lemony wash on its breast but once it turned around the fiery crest and black markings on the face were very clear.At one point we though two were present but it turned out to be a Goldcrest, which was even closer, and probably close enough to photograph unlike the Firecrest which was always diving in front of braches at a photographable opportunity.

Tawny Tick

Last night whilst walking back from the pub I heard the unmistakable sound of a Tawny Owl which called constantly from 10:50 until 10:55.
I could not locate the bird but I presume it was in a row of trees which border the football pitch.
This was my 13th campus bird and one I really never expected to hear or see.
Even when I got back to my room I could still hear it calling.
I was going to try and walk along the tree row tonight but the rain has but me, and probably the owl off.