After completing a bird survey at Mayfield Cemetery in High Pit this morning I needed to drop something off at Seghill. On the way I sent a few minutes checking Seghill Nature Reserve.
As usual the reeds are so overgrown that they block the view of the water. I found a patch of flattened reeds left of the hide and scanned from there.
Apart from a pair of Mute Swans it was very quiet. I then heard movement behind me and saw something run along the edge of the stream that runs past the landfill site, and land in the pipe, which connects, to the pond.
As I went up to the pipe to investigate a Water Rail jumped out of the pipe, landed on the flattened reeds next to the hide and then flew off into the thicker reeds.
No gulls were in the surrounding fields, or anything else, it was all very quiet.
Friday, 20 January 2012
Monday, 16 January 2012
CobWEBS
We did two WEBS counts yesterday, First was the usual at Castle Island. It only took us 10 mins or so as the river was 90% frozen! Well it was -6 when I left the house.
Next it was onto Cresswell Pond where we did AMcL's count as he is on holiday. Being that bit more brackish than many of the other ponds Cresswell was only about half frozen.
The highlights were 200+ Pink Footed Geese circling the pond and 5 (4 Drakes) Red Breasted Merganser together.
Whilst watching the geese over the pond I noticed a lot of splashes in the water, expecting to see the Otter appear, I soon realised that it was Goose shite raining from above!
Also 12 Grey Partridge were active in the fields near the car park.
We checked the awkwardly placed Whooper Swan herd near Warkworth Lane but there was no sign of any Bewick's amongst them.
A single Whooper was attacking loafs of bread at QE2 with the Mutes. The Redhead Smew was also distantly seen at the back of the lake with a few Goosander.
Last stop was at Woodhorn south pool. Again mostly frozen but still held a few Shoveler and a Med Gull was amongst the gulls on the ice.
A flock of 9 Skylark were feeding in the field between the pool and the road. We then decided to check the fields surrounding the nearby Summerhouse Lane Pond. Whilst walking past the small channel behind the pond 2 Common and 1 Jack Snipe lifted.
I didn't see a single Jack Snipe last year, missing the one at Cresswell.
Next it was onto Cresswell Pond where we did AMcL's count as he is on holiday. Being that bit more brackish than many of the other ponds Cresswell was only about half frozen.
The highlights were 200+ Pink Footed Geese circling the pond and 5 (4 Drakes) Red Breasted Merganser together.
Whilst watching the geese over the pond I noticed a lot of splashes in the water, expecting to see the Otter appear, I soon realised that it was Goose shite raining from above!
Also 12 Grey Partridge were active in the fields near the car park.
We checked the awkwardly placed Whooper Swan herd near Warkworth Lane but there was no sign of any Bewick's amongst them.
A single Whooper was attacking loafs of bread at QE2 with the Mutes. The Redhead Smew was also distantly seen at the back of the lake with a few Goosander.
Last stop was at Woodhorn south pool. Again mostly frozen but still held a few Shoveler and a Med Gull was amongst the gulls on the ice.
A flock of 9 Skylark were feeding in the field between the pool and the road. We then decided to check the fields surrounding the nearby Summerhouse Lane Pond. Whilst walking past the small channel behind the pond 2 Common and 1 Jack Snipe lifted.
I didn't see a single Jack Snipe last year, missing the one at Cresswell.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Early Warbler
At 8:51 this morning I was walking past the farm at Nelson Village (Cramlington), on my way to the train station when I heard the faint call of a Chiffchaff.
A tit flock was buzzing around the bushes the call was coming from but it was still too dark to get a look at the bird.
Also I had my first Grey Wagtail of the year, fly over Newcastle Central station.
A tit flock was buzzing around the bushes the call was coming from but it was still too dark to get a look at the bird.
Also I had my first Grey Wagtail of the year, fly over Newcastle Central station.
Monday, 2 January 2012
2012 kick off
2012 started well (and early) yesterday. First stop of the year for myself, SH and DMcK was Marden Quarry where it took us nearly an hour to locate the Lesser Scaup, which seemed to be hiding whenever we scanned the Tufted Duck.
2 Goosander were also on the quarry and a brief flyover Waxwing ‘‘trilled’’ away as it went.
Next stop was Gloucester Lodge Playing (near Blyth) fields were 5 mobile Snow Bunting were in and out of a stubble field. They were accompanied by 18 Grey Partridge, 40+ Yellowhammer, 14 Tree Sparrow and a handful of Reed Bunting and Chaff and Goldfinch. It was encouraging to see such good numbers of declining farmland species.
Newbiggin was next to be visited. Only two Med Gulls could be seen amongst the flock in the south bay. Whilst we searched the beach around Beacon Point for the Desert Wheatear, which had temporarily gone missing, a Short Eared Owl was spotted hunting along the ash bank.
With the Wheatear relocated and watched we headed off to check the flock of Greylags in the field north of the north flash at Woodhorn.
The Tundra Bean Goose was soon picked out as were 4 Greenland White Fronted Geese.
A Kingfisher was mobile along the Horton Burn near the old fire station. When we checked. West Hartford was on poor form as was Arcot Pond apart from the 10 (8FM, 2M), Goosander.
So off to a good start, although this year I am not keeping a Cramlington List, just going to enjoy my birding list free the year.
When I finish university for good in May I will give the blog a revamp and include some of my artwork. It desperately need a new look.
2 Goosander were also on the quarry and a brief flyover Waxwing ‘‘trilled’’ away as it went.
Next stop was Gloucester Lodge Playing (near Blyth) fields were 5 mobile Snow Bunting were in and out of a stubble field. They were accompanied by 18 Grey Partridge, 40+ Yellowhammer, 14 Tree Sparrow and a handful of Reed Bunting and Chaff and Goldfinch. It was encouraging to see such good numbers of declining farmland species.
Newbiggin was next to be visited. Only two Med Gulls could be seen amongst the flock in the south bay. Whilst we searched the beach around Beacon Point for the Desert Wheatear, which had temporarily gone missing, a Short Eared Owl was spotted hunting along the ash bank.
With the Wheatear relocated and watched we headed off to check the flock of Greylags in the field north of the north flash at Woodhorn.
The Tundra Bean Goose was soon picked out as were 4 Greenland White Fronted Geese.
A Kingfisher was mobile along the Horton Burn near the old fire station. When we checked. West Hartford was on poor form as was Arcot Pond apart from the 10 (8FM, 2M), Goosander.
So off to a good start, although this year I am not keeping a Cramlington List, just going to enjoy my birding list free the year.
When I finish university for good in May I will give the blog a revamp and include some of my artwork. It desperately need a new look.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
One King
Checked Horton Burn on Boxing day and flushed one kingfisher at the old fire station end.
Checked WH yesterday, no sign of any Jack Snipe just 15 common.
Other highlights included 8 Wren, 6 of which were together at the base of a tree, 10 seperate Bullfinch sightings and a single Lesser Redpoll amongst a flock of Goldfinch behind the substation.
Thanks again to anybody who has helped me increase my birding knowledge this year. The definate highlight of the year was the trip to Norfolk and Suffolk.
Happy New Year!
Checked WH yesterday, no sign of any Jack Snipe just 15 common.
Other highlights included 8 Wren, 6 of which were together at the base of a tree, 10 seperate Bullfinch sightings and a single Lesser Redpoll amongst a flock of Goldfinch behind the substation.
Thanks again to anybody who has helped me increase my birding knowledge this year. The definate highlight of the year was the trip to Norfolk and Suffolk.
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Two Kings
On saturday afternoon I went to count the Cormorants in Blyth Harbour with SH. A good count of Cormornats and a few colour ringed Shags.
The newly arrived trawlers ahd attracted a lot of gulls but nothing interesting amongst them. 30+ Eider were also in the harbour, probably brought in by the cold weather.
The highlight though was a Kingfisher which was perched on a post near the boat yard before flying under the pier. 200 Pink Footed Geese flew south over the harbour as we were leaving.
On sunday I was out again with SH, DMcK and GB for Webs count at Castle Island. The highlight of the count here was also a Kingfisher on the near shore. It stayed perched on an over hanging branch for most of the count.
After the count we went to East Chevington were it was almost an exact repeat of the week before with the GN Diver, Scaup and LT Duck all occasionally showing. No sign of the GW Teal again but a redhead Smew was nice to see.
Also we checked the new pool at West Chevington/Maiden's Hall Lake whatever it is called.
Around 200 Eurasian WF Geese were in the field to the left but no sign of any Beans just Greylags. Apart from gulls a drake Goosander was on the Lake/pool itself.
The newly arrived trawlers ahd attracted a lot of gulls but nothing interesting amongst them. 30+ Eider were also in the harbour, probably brought in by the cold weather.
The highlight though was a Kingfisher which was perched on a post near the boat yard before flying under the pier. 200 Pink Footed Geese flew south over the harbour as we were leaving.
On sunday I was out again with SH, DMcK and GB for Webs count at Castle Island. The highlight of the count here was also a Kingfisher on the near shore. It stayed perched on an over hanging branch for most of the count.
After the count we went to East Chevington were it was almost an exact repeat of the week before with the GN Diver, Scaup and LT Duck all occasionally showing. No sign of the GW Teal again but a redhead Smew was nice to see.
Also we checked the new pool at West Chevington/Maiden's Hall Lake whatever it is called.
Around 200 Eurasian WF Geese were in the field to the left but no sign of any Beans just Greylags. Apart from gulls a drake Goosander was on the Lake/pool itself.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Great(er) mornings birding
I was out with SH and IFo this morning. After another look at the much obliging Desert Wheatear just north of Beacon Point we headed off to East Chevington.
The GW Teal didn't show itself on the south pool but a lot of the Teal were just on the edge of the reeds and it could be easily hidden. A Water Rail was calling form somewhere on the south pool.
This was probably my best ever visit to East Chevington, a site where I haven't had much luck in the past.
The norht pool was lifting with birds the highlights being 3 drake pintail, 1 Long Tailed Duck, 2 female type Scaup, an Otter and a Great Northern Diver.
This was the first time I had ever seen a GN Diver and LT Duck away from the sea, but it was still hard to spot them at times as the disappeared under the water for long periods of time.
Also a semi Ermine Stoat ran accroos the field over looking the south pool.
Ladyburn Lake was our next stop were an impressive 27 Pochard and 6 Red Breasted Mergansers were diving.
Amonst the Mallard, Moorhen and Tufted Duck near the waters edge was a single female Pintail.
On our way down to Cresswell Pond, 2 Waxwings were spotted in the tree tops near the turn off for West Chevington.
We stopped at the roadside overlooking the flash north of Bell's Pond on the way as well. The Greater Yellowlegs was feeding alongside 2 Curlew near the fenceline right of the flash. An useasonal Black Tailed Gotwit was also on the flash and 2 Whooper Swan flew north.
Oppossite the the car park at the south end of Cresswell Pond were a pair of Stonechat, the first I have seen for some time.
54 Whooper Swans (most of which flew off towards Warkworth Lane), were on the pond along with 450+ Wigeon.
Not long before we left a group of waders circled the pond a few times looking for the now hidden sand bar before landing on the western spit.
The group contained 20 Turnstone and 4 Purple Sandpiper, both rarities and my first at Cresswell Pond.
The GW Teal didn't show itself on the south pool but a lot of the Teal were just on the edge of the reeds and it could be easily hidden. A Water Rail was calling form somewhere on the south pool.
This was probably my best ever visit to East Chevington, a site where I haven't had much luck in the past.
The norht pool was lifting with birds the highlights being 3 drake pintail, 1 Long Tailed Duck, 2 female type Scaup, an Otter and a Great Northern Diver.
This was the first time I had ever seen a GN Diver and LT Duck away from the sea, but it was still hard to spot them at times as the disappeared under the water for long periods of time.
Also a semi Ermine Stoat ran accroos the field over looking the south pool.
Ladyburn Lake was our next stop were an impressive 27 Pochard and 6 Red Breasted Mergansers were diving.
Amonst the Mallard, Moorhen and Tufted Duck near the waters edge was a single female Pintail.
On our way down to Cresswell Pond, 2 Waxwings were spotted in the tree tops near the turn off for West Chevington.
We stopped at the roadside overlooking the flash north of Bell's Pond on the way as well. The Greater Yellowlegs was feeding alongside 2 Curlew near the fenceline right of the flash. An useasonal Black Tailed Gotwit was also on the flash and 2 Whooper Swan flew north.
Oppossite the the car park at the south end of Cresswell Pond were a pair of Stonechat, the first I have seen for some time.
54 Whooper Swans (most of which flew off towards Warkworth Lane), were on the pond along with 450+ Wigeon.
Not long before we left a group of waders circled the pond a few times looking for the now hidden sand bar before landing on the western spit.
The group contained 20 Turnstone and 4 Purple Sandpiper, both rarities and my first at Cresswell Pond.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)