Whilst out with Steve H and D McK this morning we decided to try and count as many species of waders as we could. The record to beat was 23 in one day.
We started the day at Castle Island doing the WEBS count. Most of the Island was showing and soon we were onto are first wader species:
3 Common Sandpipers, Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, 6 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and 3 Ruff.
The surprise bird of the day was a stunning summer plumage Grey Plover which was amongst the Lapwing, the second bird we have seen hear this year.
As well as the waders and the other resident Island species, 2 female Goosander were swimming together further up the river.
At Cresswell Pond we thought things were going to get easier as the sand bar in front of the hide was exposed but only 30+ Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing were on it.
At Hauxley a Greenshank was running along the shore in front of the visitors centre.
The Tern hide held a good number of roosting Turnstone as well as 12 Dunlin.
6 Black Tailed Godwit were on the water but like Monday they flew off after a couple of minutes.
From the Ponteland hide a Greenshank and a group of Dunlin were almost within touching distance.
3 Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail were in the channel to the left of the hide with two Common Sandpipers.
We then went to the Blyth Estuary were we added Whimbrel, Bar Tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover to the wader list as well as a good count of 134 Curlew.
A female Red Breasted Merganser was asleep amongst the Curlew.
With no sign of Curlew Sandpiper or Little Stint at Cresswell or Hauxley we knew that today was not the day for the record to be broken, but it was still fun trying.
Are last stop of the day was at Seaton Sluice. We scanned the rocks to the left of the sea-watching hide and soon found 12 Roseate Terns – Lifer.
At first I couldn’t make out the differences between the Roseate and Arctic but this was mainly because there was a lot more red showing on the bill than I imagined.
I then noticed its other key feature such as its distinctive call, shorter Orangey-Red legs, more white body and longer tail.
5 Knot and a Kittiwake were amongst the Roseates and Sandwich Terns. Young Terns of both types were also on the rocks.
A Gannet was flying around and there were 20+ Common Scoter on the Sea.
At the end of the day the Wader table looked like this:
Redshank
Greenshank
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Dunlin
Grey Plover
Ruff
Black tailed Godwit
Bar Tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Ringed Plover
Knot
Snipe
Turnstone
Showing posts with label Hauxley NR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hauxley NR. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Monday, 10 August 2009
1 of 2
After seeing that waders were starting to appear on the coast over the weekend, I had the chance to have a look this morning.
We stopped at Hauxley first where I went to the Tern hide, I think? A band of mud was exposed on the island in front of the hide.
7 Dunlin, some still with black patches, were running along the mud. I noticed a Dunlin sized wader to the left of the 7, which had a more orange head. I then noticed the white v shape on its back, it was a Little Stint.
A Juv Arctic Tern was hiding amongst a group of BH Gulls and 3 Snipe were on the bank in front of the hide.
Wading through the water in front of the mud was a Redshank and two Black Tailed Godwit, which flew off and landed again a few times.
As well as the resident Canada and greylag Geese 27 scruffy Mallard and a few Tufted Duck were on the water, most still looked as if they were in the eclipse stage.
After seeing the report that a Curlew Sandpiper was at Cresswell Pond still this morning, that was the next stop.
The causeway at Cresswell has changed since the last time I was there and the first thing I saw was the pointless square of concrete and wood opposite the car park.
Also I can’t remember there being a fence along one side of the causeway. I’m glad it was there today as the cows, which usually stay further up the field, were very inquisitive today; one was trying to put its head through the fence.
There was no sign of the Curlew sand or the Dunlin flock it was amongst.
The little Egret was on the far bank along with a Whimbrel.
As we were driving off I noticed a wader in the channel, which joins onto the beach opposite the pond. It turned out to be a Common Sandpiper.
We stopped at Hauxley first where I went to the Tern hide, I think? A band of mud was exposed on the island in front of the hide.
7 Dunlin, some still with black patches, were running along the mud. I noticed a Dunlin sized wader to the left of the 7, which had a more orange head. I then noticed the white v shape on its back, it was a Little Stint.
A Juv Arctic Tern was hiding amongst a group of BH Gulls and 3 Snipe were on the bank in front of the hide.
Wading through the water in front of the mud was a Redshank and two Black Tailed Godwit, which flew off and landed again a few times.
As well as the resident Canada and greylag Geese 27 scruffy Mallard and a few Tufted Duck were on the water, most still looked as if they were in the eclipse stage.
After seeing the report that a Curlew Sandpiper was at Cresswell Pond still this morning, that was the next stop.
The causeway at Cresswell has changed since the last time I was there and the first thing I saw was the pointless square of concrete and wood opposite the car park.
Also I can’t remember there being a fence along one side of the causeway. I’m glad it was there today as the cows, which usually stay further up the field, were very inquisitive today; one was trying to put its head through the fence.
There was no sign of the Curlew sand or the Dunlin flock it was amongst.
The little Egret was on the far bank along with a Whimbrel.
As we were driving off I noticed a wader in the channel, which joins onto the beach opposite the pond. It turned out to be a Common Sandpiper.
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Stormie!
Last night I went with Steve H and D McK to Hauxley to watch Storm Petrels being ringed.
The ringing was organised by Ian Fisher, other birders was also there.
Before last night I had no idea about what a ringing station looked like or even what the net looked like.
We helped set up the nets and waited on the rocks until it was dark enough to play the tape and attract a Petrel.
Also before last night I had never heard the call of a Storm Petrel, but after listening to the tape echoing across the beach for three hours it is a sound I will never forget.
As well as Storm, Leach's and swinhoe's were also played.
I enjoyed just sitting on the beach listening to the other birds that were around during the night. Apart from the Curlew and Oystercatchers Mallard, Grey Heron and Sandwich Tern were calling and flying around the beach.
At around 12:15 the net had its first action of the night when a Storm Petrel- Lifer, was caught.
I knew they were small but not that small! It called a few times as it was being handled but then settled down.
The ring on its foot was so small at first I couldn’t see it. After the bird was ringed we took some photos, unfortunately mine are a bit blurred.
Ian fisher asked me if I would like to release it so we went away from the lights and got closer to the beach to let the Petrels eyes get more adjusted to the dark before flying off.
It stayed in my hand for a minute or so, turning around in circles and flapping its wings before it flew off.
We packed up at half 1 as no others were coming towards the net.
Last night was definitely my favourite birding experience so far.
The ringing was organised by Ian Fisher, other birders was also there.
Before last night I had no idea about what a ringing station looked like or even what the net looked like.
We helped set up the nets and waited on the rocks until it was dark enough to play the tape and attract a Petrel.
Also before last night I had never heard the call of a Storm Petrel, but after listening to the tape echoing across the beach for three hours it is a sound I will never forget.
As well as Storm, Leach's and swinhoe's were also played.
I enjoyed just sitting on the beach listening to the other birds that were around during the night. Apart from the Curlew and Oystercatchers Mallard, Grey Heron and Sandwich Tern were calling and flying around the beach.
At around 12:15 the net had its first action of the night when a Storm Petrel- Lifer, was caught.
I knew they were small but not that small! It called a few times as it was being handled but then settled down.
The ring on its foot was so small at first I couldn’t see it. After the bird was ringed we took some photos, unfortunately mine are a bit blurred.
Ian fisher asked me if I would like to release it so we went away from the lights and got closer to the beach to let the Petrels eyes get more adjusted to the dark before flying off.
It stayed in my hand for a minute or so, turning around in circles and flapping its wings before it flew off.
We packed up at half 1 as no others were coming towards the net.
Last night was definitely my favourite birding experience so far.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
In Focus
I went to In Focus at Hauxley N.R today to get a new pair of binoculars, ones that could actually pick out detail unlike my old pair.
I tried out a few different pairs outside, which were in my price range. I was looking for the usual things, good long and short distance, not to heavy and comfortable to hold.
Almost straight away I found the right pair, Opticron 8 x 42.
They were slightly lighter than the others I tested as well as having a wider field of vision, (if that’s the right term?)
I tested my new bins around the reserve but there wasn’t much around apart from the usual flocks of geese in the fields and on the water, saying that I didn’t look the whole way around the reserve.
We stopped at East Chevington, where 30+ Common Tern and 15+ Sandwich Tern were sitting on the rocks and mud. A couple of Redshank were in the low water along with 7 Little Gulls.
I tried out a few different pairs outside, which were in my price range. I was looking for the usual things, good long and short distance, not to heavy and comfortable to hold.
Almost straight away I found the right pair, Opticron 8 x 42.
They were slightly lighter than the others I tested as well as having a wider field of vision, (if that’s the right term?)
I tested my new bins around the reserve but there wasn’t much around apart from the usual flocks of geese in the fields and on the water, saying that I didn’t look the whole way around the reserve.
We stopped at East Chevington, where 30+ Common Tern and 15+ Sandwich Tern were sitting on the rocks and mud. A couple of Redshank were in the low water along with 7 Little Gulls.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Day in the Bay
I was out yesterday with Holywell Birder and his mate, so we went to the Druridge Bay area.
It was cold and grey but the visibility was ok, we checked Linton on the way up, but not much there.
We then checked Lynemouth Flash but again nothing there, we were going to go straight to the north car park at Cresswell Pond but as we drove past, noticed that the hide was full.
Even though the water level is to high at the moment and there was nothing obvious to be seen on the pond we still stopped, only to find that the hide was full of photographers, photographing nothing. There were no Wagtails in the fields north of the causeway.
At Druridge Pools we stopped at the Budge Screen first where the pair of Garganey were showing well but the Little Egret was nowhere to be seen.
I scanned all of the mud for LRP or Black Tailed Godwit but nothing apart from a few Snipe and Redshank.
From the other new hide, which looks a lot like the public hide at Holywell, it didn’t get much better.
A strange sighting was 14 Gadwall together in the sheep fields right of the reserve.
At East Chevington there were around 10 Gadwall in a fields right of the reserve as well, with some Greylags.
Hauxley was the furthest north we went, in the visitors centre there had been a Brambling reported as well as the Bar Headed Goose.
Most of the Geese were in the fields outside the reserve but could be seen from the fence.
Mostly Greylags with a few Canadas thrown in also 10 lingering Whooper Swans.
As we got to the first hide we heard the Geese fly over and land on the water, something they did the rest of the time we were there.
2 Sandwich Terns were amongst the Gulls on the middle island, but the Bar Headed Goose hadn’t joined the others on the water.
We checked all the hides on the right side of the reserve and then the fields again on the way out.
Eventually I saw a very pale goose amongst the Greylags in the fields. We all watched it for a while before it flew off towards the water.
After dropping off HB’s mate we went to Holywell Pond, 6 Drake Shovelers together was the highlight.
On the way home we quickly checked Arcot Pond but nothing much was about.
I see that a Black Redstart was reported today at Hauxley at the sewage pipe, I can’t say we checked it; I can’t even remember a sewage pipe.
It was cold and grey but the visibility was ok, we checked Linton on the way up, but not much there.
We then checked Lynemouth Flash but again nothing there, we were going to go straight to the north car park at Cresswell Pond but as we drove past, noticed that the hide was full.
Even though the water level is to high at the moment and there was nothing obvious to be seen on the pond we still stopped, only to find that the hide was full of photographers, photographing nothing. There were no Wagtails in the fields north of the causeway.
At Druridge Pools we stopped at the Budge Screen first where the pair of Garganey were showing well but the Little Egret was nowhere to be seen.
I scanned all of the mud for LRP or Black Tailed Godwit but nothing apart from a few Snipe and Redshank.
From the other new hide, which looks a lot like the public hide at Holywell, it didn’t get much better.
A strange sighting was 14 Gadwall together in the sheep fields right of the reserve.
At East Chevington there were around 10 Gadwall in a fields right of the reserve as well, with some Greylags.
Hauxley was the furthest north we went, in the visitors centre there had been a Brambling reported as well as the Bar Headed Goose.
Most of the Geese were in the fields outside the reserve but could be seen from the fence.
Mostly Greylags with a few Canadas thrown in also 10 lingering Whooper Swans.
As we got to the first hide we heard the Geese fly over and land on the water, something they did the rest of the time we were there.
2 Sandwich Terns were amongst the Gulls on the middle island, but the Bar Headed Goose hadn’t joined the others on the water.
We checked all the hides on the right side of the reserve and then the fields again on the way out.
Eventually I saw a very pale goose amongst the Greylags in the fields. We all watched it for a while before it flew off towards the water.
After dropping off HB’s mate we went to Holywell Pond, 6 Drake Shovelers together was the highlight.
On the way home we quickly checked Arcot Pond but nothing much was about.
I see that a Black Redstart was reported today at Hauxley at the sewage pipe, I can’t say we checked it; I can’t even remember a sewage pipe.
Saturday, 27 December 2008
No new Geese
The weather was to bad to go up the coast last sunday so Steve Holliday and me postponed the trip until today.
We stopped on the roadside at Widdrington and watched 33 Whooper Swan in a field as well as Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.
A quick and quite stop at East Chevington produced not a lot, so off to hauxley where we spent about an hour and a half from 9.
When we arrived there were 5 Whoopers near the reception hide with Mallards and a Shellduck. From the Eric Hide there were 2 Goldeneye, Gadwall, Drake Red Breasted Merganser, 83 Wigeon, 31 Teal, Carrion Crow, Moorhen, Curlew, 7 Mute Swan (which chased the Whoopers) and 2 Pheasant which flew from island to island.
A nice Silvery Peregrine flew over the ponteland hide.
After half an hour a few Greylag flew onto the water including one GreylagxCanada Goose Hybrid which was to far away for the photo which it deserved. Then more and more Greylag landed, totalling 395 birds including one which had an orange neck ring.
In amongst the Greylags was the Tiaga Bean Goose which landed on the far hillside, but no sign of any Greenland White fronted.
There were also 51 Canada Geese and 5 Snipe viewed from the main path.
Around the car park and feeders there was Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Tree Sparrow, 1 Starling, 11 Pheasant, Magpie and a Sparrowhawk.
Next was Hemscott Hill Links where there were 90+ Twite in a cow field. They stayed on the ground for a while but occasionally lifted onto the fence. Had a good look at them and noticed the white number 7 pattern on there wings as well as there bright yellow beaks.
At Bells pond there were 3 Whoopers and 2 mutes and 150+ Pink Footed Geese nearby but no Snow Goose.
We decided not to bother with the packed Cresswell hide but manage to see an Otter from the roadside.
Linton Lane next, and first we explored the area behind the lane and flushed out a Snipe.
900+ Pigeon went overhead. A couple of hundred Pink Footed Geese flew out of the field behind the smaller pond, they circled overhead for a while before joining two other groups and then they all landed back in the field.
As we walked back down the lane the Geese all flew off south. I never realised what a noise over 600 hundred Pink Footed's wings could make.
On the bigger pond there were Pochard, Tufted, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, BH Gull, Common Gull, GBB Gull and Herring Gull as well as more Pink Footed overhead.
Last stop was North Blyth where 12 Collard Dove were in the middle of the road. 10 Grey Heron where roosting on the pier with 1 Merganser underneath. 35 Linnet where on a fence and 18 Common Scoter flew across the sea. If you want to see more of my images from today go to Birdguides northumberland page because I can't be arsed to upload them onto this post as it takes 10 minutes for one to upload and then you can't change there size ect.. it's really starting to annoy me.
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