A days birding with GB and LR yesterday started at Newbiggin. We checked both the mound and the golfcourse but the freezing winds meant that no birds ventured onto the course. The only bird of note found at The Mound was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler on the side of the Ash Bank. A RT Diver and a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets were all that was out at sea.
Woodhorn Churchyard was also migrantless although 7 Blackcaps may have been. They along with a few Willow Warblers stayed on the shaded side of the hedgerow overhanging the pool.
Lynemouth Burn was quiet with only a Common Snipe flushed and a single White Wagtail on the flash. Cresswell Pond still had a Long Tailed Duck on it along with 4 Red Breasted Merganser. 4 Avocets chased each other from one side of the pond to the other and Grasshopper and Sedge Warbler both sang near the hide. Druridge Pools was Crakeless but does look very good for something soon especially on the Budge Field.
Next we checked the flash pools between Chevington Burn and the turning circle at Druridge. The pools were full of Ringed Plover and Dunlin. At one point we though we might have had either a White Rumped or Baird’s Sandpiper but when we got a better view out of the sun we decided on a lst summer Dunlin with a strange plumage variation.
A few Yellow and White Wagtail were in the fields including a ‘Channel’ type, the first of this kind I have seen.
We walked along the beach back to the car but found more dead than alive birds. 15+ Puffins, a Grey Seal, young Porpoise, fresh Guillemots and Gannets amongst a few migrants like Blackbird and Woodcock.
Last stop was Prestwick Carr where the GW Egret was nowhere to be seen but some very showy White Wagtails were on the flashes near the horse paddocks.
2 comments:
I had 2 Avocets on the Chevy Burn/ Druridge flashes for all of 20 seconds on Wednesday. Mustn't have liked what they found and headed back to Cresswell, most likely.
Its a shame those flashes aren't permanent as I think they would attract more waders.
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