Sunday 25 April 2010

Lightening strikes twice

First of all, I was out with SH, DMcK and LMcD yesterday for a trip to Teesside.
We checked west Saltholme pool first for the American Wigeon without any luck. Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the small flashes between West and Back Saltholme.

At Dorman's Pool two Cetti's Warblers were singing in the scrub between the pool and the car park along with Reed and Sedge Warblers which were in the reeds.

Next we went to Greatham Creek were 16 Avocets were on the gravel island with a LRP. On the way to the hide 5 Wheatear flew around the rough ground and a White Wagtail was on the edge of the pool.
Plenty of Seals were swimming up and down the river and on the sand banks. Also a few Black Tailed Godwits were on the sand.

We then had a walk around the whole of the Salthome reserve. Although it was fairly quiet we did get excellent views of 6 or more Yellow Wagtail.

News then came through saying the American Wigeon- Lifer, was on Reclemation Pond. It took a while to find but it was there with a pair of Eurasian Wigeon.

On the way back we stopped at Arcot. 5+ Swallows were flying around Arcot Hall and a Nuthatch and Treecreeper were calling in the woods.
The pond was quiet, a pair of Canada Geese were on a nest amongst the reeds and three Stock Doves landed on the dead trees.
A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling next to the railway bridge near Beaconhill on the way back.


This morning I got a text from SH saying that a Great White Egret had flown NW over Arcot Pond!!!
A year ago to the day since the GWE landed on Arcot and just like last year I had missed it.
I went straight to West Hartford on the off chance it had dropped in but no. Only 7 Canada Geese had dropped in and 2 Grasshopper Warblers were reeling away.

Also I found out that I have missed Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and 20 Whimbrel (I have my doubts about that one) this morning on the patch.
What is it with this day last year I missed the GWE and a Ring Ouzel but at least I had a consolation Drake Garganey.

82 - Stock Dove
83 - Swallow
84 - Nuthatch
85 - Treecreeper
86- Grasshopper Warbler

2 comments:

Killy Birder said...

Some good birds in there, even forgetting the ones you mised.:-) Cheers.

James said...

When I saw Arcot pinging up on Birdguides I did nearly divert up to Cramlington myself!