I went to St.Mary’s yesterday morning with SH to look for the Greenish Warbler, which had just been reported.
With the combined effort of a few birders it didn’t take long until the Greenish Warbler – Lifer, was spotted in the willows next to the dipping pool.
It didn’t show as well as the Willow Warbler, which was in the same tree but I did manage to get good enough views. It went missing for a few minutes before being relocated in willows further left.
This is where I got the best views as it caught insects near the treetops in the sunlight.
Whilst watching the Greenish somebody mentioned a Barred Warbler, which they had found in the bushes on a mound further up the costal path.
We checked the area for over half an hour but there wasn’t a single bird to be seen never mind a Barred Warbler.
Instead of going to Blyth which was the original plan we crossed the river and went to Whitburn Steel as the Bonaparte’s Gull had been around all morning.
When we arrived there had been no sign for over an hour and after scanning through all the gulls on the beach with no success we left.
Showing posts with label ST. Mary's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ST. Mary's. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Saltholme and St.Mary's
We decided to go to Saltholme yesterday but on the way stopped at St.Mary’s as the Marsh Warbler was still in The Gut.
There weren’t as many birders around and many of them were looking in the wrong place.
The Warbler called from the middle of the willows but didn’t show so we headed off to Saltholme.
I had not been to the new centre and pools surrounding it at Saltholme before so over two hours we had a good walk around and look from the hides.
The two things that I was most impressed by were that people were constantly maintaining the site by cutting the grass so that you could see from the hides instead of having to reach out and pull the grass out yourself. Also it is free to enter the site and it only costs to park a car!
From the Saltholme Pools hide there were 70+ Canada Geese most of which had goslings. Greylags were also amongst the Canada flock and on the water.
There presence seemed to scare everything else away so only a hand full of wildfowl, mostly Tufted and Pochard, were on the water along with a pair of Great Crested Grebe and Little grebe. A few Common Tern were fishing in front of the hide.
From the Paddy’s Pool hide the majority of the island was taken up by nesting Common Terns with a few BH Gulls and their chicks.
On the way to the Wildlife Watch point a yellow Wagtail flew overhead.
From the watch point/ hide there was another Yellow Wagtail showing well on the waderless scrapes along with a Stock Dove.
On the way out I searched most of the Pylons but they were all raptor less.
It was then a choice between Dorman’s Pool or another stab at the Marsh Warbler, I chose the Marsh Warbler not realising that the Great White Egret was showing well on Dorman’s.
I still don’t understand this thing about if a bird is at a site for over two weeks it stops getting reported.
I went to the north end of The Gut near to where I had been before, when after five minutes a Whitethroat flush the Marsh Warbler- Lifer, and it began to sing near the edge of the Willows.
I saw it drop further down into the willows before it flew onto the top for all of five seconds before disappearing back into the middle of the willows.
There weren’t as many birders around and many of them were looking in the wrong place.
The Warbler called from the middle of the willows but didn’t show so we headed off to Saltholme.
I had not been to the new centre and pools surrounding it at Saltholme before so over two hours we had a good walk around and look from the hides.
The two things that I was most impressed by were that people were constantly maintaining the site by cutting the grass so that you could see from the hides instead of having to reach out and pull the grass out yourself. Also it is free to enter the site and it only costs to park a car!
From the Saltholme Pools hide there were 70+ Canada Geese most of which had goslings. Greylags were also amongst the Canada flock and on the water.
There presence seemed to scare everything else away so only a hand full of wildfowl, mostly Tufted and Pochard, were on the water along with a pair of Great Crested Grebe and Little grebe. A few Common Tern were fishing in front of the hide.
From the Paddy’s Pool hide the majority of the island was taken up by nesting Common Terns with a few BH Gulls and their chicks.
On the way to the Wildlife Watch point a yellow Wagtail flew overhead.
From the watch point/ hide there was another Yellow Wagtail showing well on the waderless scrapes along with a Stock Dove.
On the way out I searched most of the Pylons but they were all raptor less.
It was then a choice between Dorman’s Pool or another stab at the Marsh Warbler, I chose the Marsh Warbler not realising that the Great White Egret was showing well on Dorman’s.
I still don’t understand this thing about if a bird is at a site for over two weeks it stops getting reported.
I went to the north end of The Gut near to where I had been before, when after five minutes a Whitethroat flush the Marsh Warbler- Lifer, and it began to sing near the edge of the Willows.
I saw it drop further down into the willows before it flew onto the top for all of five seconds before disappearing back into the middle of the willows.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Warbler Twitch
I went out for an hour this afternoon with Steve H when news of a Marsh Warbler at St.Mary’s came through.
We went straight to The Gut where there were plenty of other birders, none of which had seen or heard anything. The wind has quite strong so any birdcall or song would have travelled well.
We wondered around the track through The Gut but there was no sign. Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Kestrel and Skylark were around and that’s as good as it got.There was no sign of the Iceland Gull on the south Promenade either.
We went straight to The Gut where there were plenty of other birders, none of which had seen or heard anything. The wind has quite strong so any birdcall or song would have travelled well.
We wondered around the track through The Gut but there was no sign. Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Kestrel and Skylark were around and that’s as good as it got.There was no sign of the Iceland Gull on the south Promenade either.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Red Kite!
I needed to take yet more beach photos today so this time we went to ST.Mary’s.
After the photos were taken I quickly checked the wetland, Moorhen, 2 Greylags and a few Teal were on the water.
Chiffchaff and Skylark were in full song this morning and I had great views of a Willow Warbler in the bushes around the wetland, which was also in full song on a branch near my head.
On the way home I thought I would check Arcot Pond quickly as I hadn’t been there in a while, I’m so glad I did.
I was watching a single Canada goose on the pond when the coots began calling very loudly and the Oystercatchers lifted off and flew away calling, this all pointed to one thing, a raptor.
I looked up and saw a Red Kite- Patch tick!, fly low over the pond before drifting over the fields next to the A19.
It stayed over the pond for about a minute and I had time to see its fork tail and surprisingly pale under side of its wings.
It didn’t stretch its wings out fully so they were slightly bent inwards and were a lot darker than the rest of the bird.
After seeing it go towards the road I ran back to the car and we followed it. When I got out it had disappeared over the A19. I waited for a while but only a Buzzard flew over.
That’s when I started doubting myself, but it must have been a kite it had that forked tail and rusty colouring.
I got home and found that Steve Holliday had text me saying he had seen a Red Kite fly over his house 5 minutes before I had it over the pond. Yes! Conformation.
I presume it is the same bird that was at Prestwick Carr the other day.
I’m on a role with good Fridays after seeing those 2 Common Cranes last year and now getting a bird I didn’t ever dream of getting on the patch, the highlight of my birding year so far!
82 - Red Kite
After the photos were taken I quickly checked the wetland, Moorhen, 2 Greylags and a few Teal were on the water.
Chiffchaff and Skylark were in full song this morning and I had great views of a Willow Warbler in the bushes around the wetland, which was also in full song on a branch near my head.
On the way home I thought I would check Arcot Pond quickly as I hadn’t been there in a while, I’m so glad I did.
I was watching a single Canada goose on the pond when the coots began calling very loudly and the Oystercatchers lifted off and flew away calling, this all pointed to one thing, a raptor.
I looked up and saw a Red Kite- Patch tick!, fly low over the pond before drifting over the fields next to the A19.
It stayed over the pond for about a minute and I had time to see its fork tail and surprisingly pale under side of its wings.
It didn’t stretch its wings out fully so they were slightly bent inwards and were a lot darker than the rest of the bird.
After seeing it go towards the road I ran back to the car and we followed it. When I got out it had disappeared over the A19. I waited for a while but only a Buzzard flew over.
That’s when I started doubting myself, but it must have been a kite it had that forked tail and rusty colouring.
I got home and found that Steve Holliday had text me saying he had seen a Red Kite fly over his house 5 minutes before I had it over the pond. Yes! Conformation.
I presume it is the same bird that was at Prestwick Carr the other day.
I’m on a role with good Fridays after seeing those 2 Common Cranes last year and now getting a bird I didn’t ever dream of getting on the patch, the highlight of my birding year so far!
82 - Red Kite
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Gull chat and a possible White Wagtail
I had to take various photos for school today, all of which were conveniently near birds, I wonder how that happened?
First we went to Linton Lane this morning and after taking some shots went to the hide at the bigger pond.
On my way to the pond I had my first Chiffchaff of the year singing in the woods.
When I got to the hide another birder was scanning the pond. He thinks there might have been a kumlien's Gull amongst the group of gulls, which had just taken off.
We soon got chatting about gulls and how the list of their stages and subspecies is endless and confusing.
We came to the conclusion that I should just stick to enjoying the birds without worrying about that winter or race they are. I am still interested in these factors of the birds and it just adds interest to a sighting.
As we were talking we stepped back from the windows as the rain was coming through, once the shower had stopped a group of gulls landed on the water and amongst them was a first winter Iceland Gull. I left shortly after and the gull, which looked, like the Blyth harbour bird was still there.
After a few more photo stops we ended up at St.Mary’s lighthouse and with the tide out I had a quick walk around the North Bay.
On the shoreline there were 43 Sanderlings with a Curlew and Oystercatcher.
No sign of the early House Martin but I did have two Pied Wagtails on the rocks in front of me. After looking closer at the Wagtails I thought the right bird looked lighter and took one distant shot just before it flew off.
I looked back in my bird book and I’m not sure if it is a White Wagtail or just another Pied. Any ideas?
First we went to Linton Lane this morning and after taking some shots went to the hide at the bigger pond.
On my way to the pond I had my first Chiffchaff of the year singing in the woods.
When I got to the hide another birder was scanning the pond. He thinks there might have been a kumlien's Gull amongst the group of gulls, which had just taken off.
We soon got chatting about gulls and how the list of their stages and subspecies is endless and confusing.
We came to the conclusion that I should just stick to enjoying the birds without worrying about that winter or race they are. I am still interested in these factors of the birds and it just adds interest to a sighting.
As we were talking we stepped back from the windows as the rain was coming through, once the shower had stopped a group of gulls landed on the water and amongst them was a first winter Iceland Gull. I left shortly after and the gull, which looked, like the Blyth harbour bird was still there.
After a few more photo stops we ended up at St.Mary’s lighthouse and with the tide out I had a quick walk around the North Bay.
On the shoreline there were 43 Sanderlings with a Curlew and Oystercatcher.
No sign of the early House Martin but I did have two Pied Wagtails on the rocks in front of me. After looking closer at the Wagtails I thought the right bird looked lighter and took one distant shot just before it flew off.
I looked back in my bird book and I’m not sure if it is a White Wagtail or just another Pied. Any ideas?
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Confirmed Lifer
Was out with Steve Holiday at St.Mary’s to try again for the Water Pipit. It was there today on the rocks in the North Bay with a Grey Wagtail.
I am 40% sure that I saw one here was winter but today it was confirmed.
Next we went in search of White winged gulls at Blyth harbour.
There were no sign of any Iceland or Glacous but there were GBB Gull, 56 Eider, 1 female Red Breasted Merganser, a Juv Shag and a Grey Seal which was eating a fish and giving us very good views.
Onto the Blyth Estuary, and there were 60 Golden Plover, 10 Bar tailed Godwit, 150 Lapwing and 19 Shellduck.
At Arcot Pond there are now a pair of Mute Swans as well as the Gadwall pair, 10 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 26 Teal, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Coot, 4 Snipe (flushed by the bread hungry Mutes) and 3 Pochard- Patch Tick. That takes my crammy total too 60 for the year.
We also checked the marshy field between East and West Hartford, which I should do more often. It held 200+ Linnet, 3 Grey Heron and 70+ Teal.
I am 40% sure that I saw one here was winter but today it was confirmed.
Next we went in search of White winged gulls at Blyth harbour.
There were no sign of any Iceland or Glacous but there were GBB Gull, 56 Eider, 1 female Red Breasted Merganser, a Juv Shag and a Grey Seal which was eating a fish and giving us very good views.
Onto the Blyth Estuary, and there were 60 Golden Plover, 10 Bar tailed Godwit, 150 Lapwing and 19 Shellduck.
At Arcot Pond there are now a pair of Mute Swans as well as the Gadwall pair, 10 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 26 Teal, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Coot, 4 Snipe (flushed by the bread hungry Mutes) and 3 Pochard- Patch Tick. That takes my crammy total too 60 for the year.
We also checked the marshy field between East and West Hartford, which I should do more often. It held 200+ Linnet, 3 Grey Heron and 70+ Teal.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Plenty of Pipits but no Water
I had a walk around ST.Mary's today with my parents. The trip only lasted an hour because the tide was coming in, so I checked the north bay for the Water Pipit. There were 8 Rock Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail but no sign of the Water Pipit.
On the shore line there were 20+ Turnstone a couple of Redshank and 8 Purple Sandpiper.
On the way back I saw 20+ Pink Footed Geese in the field right of the Beehive flash.
On the shore line there were 20+ Turnstone a couple of Redshank and 8 Purple Sandpiper.
On the way back I saw 20+ Pink Footed Geese in the field right of the Beehive flash.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Holywell Brambling
Out early with Steve today, first stop was a frozen Holywell Pond which had 40 Pochard, 14 tufted Duck, 6 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag and 2 Pink Footed on the un- frozen water.
It was better watching the feeding stations from the members hide rather than the pond today, as to the left of the hide there were 20+ Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Bluetit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit and 1 Female Brambling- Lifer.
The Brambling was on the back feeder and kept going between the feeding table and the bushes to the left.
The birds then flew off as a Sparrowhawk flew in and caught something, hopefully not the Brambling.
A pair of Pheasants and four Moorhen were also flushed. On the feeders right of the hide 2 Dunnocks, 1 Robin, and a Water Rail were feeding on the ground. The Water rail only came out in the open when running between the spilt seed and the reeds, the rest of the time it hid away from my camera under a bush next to the feeder.
We scanned the Gulls but no sign of the Iceland Gull.
Next was ST. Mary's where we looked for the Water Pipit in the north bay but there were only 3 Meadow pipit, 8 Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Dunlin, Redshank, Sanderling and 2 Brent Geese.
No sign of the Waxwings in Benton Cemetery. Had a few Crammy year ticks around Arcot today as well GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper (both quite hard in crammy) and 15 fieldfare.
It was better watching the feeding stations from the members hide rather than the pond today, as to the left of the hide there were 20+ Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Bluetit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit and 1 Female Brambling- Lifer.
The Brambling was on the back feeder and kept going between the feeding table and the bushes to the left.
The birds then flew off as a Sparrowhawk flew in and caught something, hopefully not the Brambling.
A pair of Pheasants and four Moorhen were also flushed. On the feeders right of the hide 2 Dunnocks, 1 Robin, and a Water Rail were feeding on the ground. The Water rail only came out in the open when running between the spilt seed and the reeds, the rest of the time it hid away from my camera under a bush next to the feeder.
We scanned the Gulls but no sign of the Iceland Gull.
Next was ST. Mary's where we looked for the Water Pipit in the north bay but there were only 3 Meadow pipit, 8 Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Dunlin, Redshank, Sanderling and 2 Brent Geese.
No sign of the Waxwings in Benton Cemetery. Had a few Crammy year ticks around Arcot today as well GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper (both quite hard in crammy) and 15 fieldfare.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Migrant Mission 2: Red lifers
Crammy Birder in an all star cast featuring Redstart, Pied flycatcher and Red backed Shrike.
With only a half day today, the migrant hunt was back on. Whitley Bay Cemetery was the location today. After a two hour spell I saw:
4 robin
6 Spotted flycatcher
3 Pied Flycatcher-Lifer 173
2 Redstart- Lifer 174
There was no sign of the Red Breasted Flycatcher, Wryneck or Barred Warbler, which had moved on by the time I got there.
I then went to St Mary's to see the Red Backed Shrike which was on the island in the cottage garden.
When I got there John malloy was watching a flock of House Sparrows, one of which turned out to be a Juv Red Backed Shrike-Lifer 175 which flew around the bushes and ran accross the wall for about half an hour.
The last two lifers I had before today began with Spotted and today started with Red, hopefully next time it will be Semipalmated or Icterine.
With only a half day today, the migrant hunt was back on. Whitley Bay Cemetery was the location today. After a two hour spell I saw:
4 robin
6 Spotted flycatcher
3 Pied Flycatcher-Lifer 173
2 Redstart- Lifer 174
There was no sign of the Red Breasted Flycatcher, Wryneck or Barred Warbler, which had moved on by the time I got there.
I then went to St Mary's to see the Red Backed Shrike which was on the island in the cottage garden.
When I got there John malloy was watching a flock of House Sparrows, one of which turned out to be a Juv Red Backed Shrike-Lifer 175 which flew around the bushes and ran accross the wall for about half an hour.
The last two lifers I had before today began with Spotted and today started with Red, hopefully next time it will be Semipalmated or Icterine.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Seawatch and the usual boring July
On Wedneday I had a 2 hour sea watch at Seaton Sluice between 7:30 and 9:30.
I sat on the cliff edge and watched 6 Fulmars nesting on the cliff side for most of the time but still managed to see 4 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kittiwake, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron and 35 Eider duck offshore.
Yesterday I went to St Mary's and saw 6 Turnstone, 7 Lapwing, 9 Oysrercatcher, 3 Curlew, 24 BH Gull, 4 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin.
The wetland was dead apart from 4 Swallow, 7 Linnet, 1 Moorhen, 6 House Sparrow, 4 Goldfinch and 1 Reed Warbler.
Next off to Holywell pond where there was 10 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag Geese, 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 4 Pochard, 1 Coot, 6 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Grey Heron, Little Grebe calling in the reeds.
On my way towards the members hide I heard a Grasshopper Warbler.
It's a good job that I didn't walk on the beach at Seaton Sluice the other day as Lesser Weaver Fish have been found there and at South Beach.
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