Red and Blue finish

Back out today with SH, DMcK and Ifo to do the WEBS count at Castle Island. When we drove past CI yesterday the river had been drained making for a promising count. When we got there today the water level was back to normal so instead made for a quick and uneventful count.

Next we went down to St.Mary’s wetland as the Red Flanked Bluetail – Lifer, had been seen again. We were at the back of the queue of birders over the second stile at the wetland when we arrived and I could just see the area of fence and post where it had been seen half an hour earlier. Whilst waiting for it to reappear Ifo refound it on the fence to the left where it was being chased by a pair of Robins.
The RFB was only out in the open for a minute or so but I managed to get very good views as it landed on the fence post and then a bush where it turned its back so I could see the pale blue in its tail.

Next we went back to Tynemouth so that Dee could see the Dusky Warbler (a lifer for him as well).
Again the Dusky showed much like it had done yesterday, briefly across the bushes at the base of the pier.
There was no sign of the Great Grey Shrike around Prior’s Park but Ifo did find a Red Breasted Flycatcher in a tree backing onto some gardens. By the time we got to the tree it had gone but a Brambling was showing well.
I now see that a Shorelark was also at Tynemouth this afternoon, I think I'll see a few Shorelarks before my next Red Flanked Bluetail, I hope.

Dusky Start

I was back at Teesside University this week so was glad to get out and do some birding with SH this morning.
Tynemouth was our first stop and we had just gotten out of the car when a Great Grey Shrike hovered above us before disappearing around the monument, a good start.
It soon got better when the Dusky Warbler – Lifer, showed at the base of the pier.
The Dusky worked its way across the bushes before landing in the hedgerow at ground level.
It was off to Newbiggin next as news of a Red Flanked Bluetail came through.
Despite spending the best part of three hours at Newbiggin up and down the Ash Bank lagoon side we ended up missing the bird.
During our time at Newbiggin large numbers of Siskin, Robin, Goldcrest, Brambling, Redwing and Skylark were around the Ash Bank and flying over the golf course.

Also I had a Stonechat- Patch Tick, along with a Whinchat in the SE corner field at Arcot last Sunday, which puts me on 116 on the patch.

116 – Stonechat