I have been back at home this weekend so this morning I went for a sea watch at Newbiggin with SH.
Since the wind from last night had died down it wasn’t looking good for a sea watch so we only stayed for just over an hour.
A Great Skua just off the rocks at Church Point was the highlight, other than that a few Divers and Auks heading north was about it.
Whilst watching the sea we heard a Bunting type call which was soon identified as a Lapland Bunting- Lifer!
Two Laps flew past church point towards the church and car park calling, I was told by SH to mention that Tim Cleeves was one of the birders at Church Point this morning which and he was able to confirm them as Lapland Buntings.
Once we had left Newbiggin we headed back to the patch. At Arcot Pond there was a good count of Teal at the back of the pond.
A Nuthatch was calling from the southwest corner and a Lesser Redpoll- Patch Tick, flew over three times.
112- Lesser Redpoll
Showing posts with label Newbiggin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newbiggin. Show all posts
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Shearwaters and Skuas
I was out early with SH this morning for a sea watch at Church point, Newbiggin.
When we got there a line of birders were already set out and already a Balearic Shearwater had been past!
In the two hours we were there a steady stream of Gannets, probably around 100 flew north, usually in groups of 5.
Auks were also heading north in good numbers and a few Guillemots stayed on the water.
Wigeon, Teal and Common Scoter were also heading north in tight groups.
Two Common Scoter were amongst the Eider flock just off the rocks and three Red Throated Diver went north.
A Juvenile Med Gull was flying over our heads and a Wheatear was moving around the rocks.
Apart from the usual passage of wildfowl a female Goosander flew past just over the rocks and a Velvet Scoter went north also quite close.
A Grey Seal was just off the rocks and another further out looked as if it took a swipe at a passing Guillemot.
Once the wind started to pick up a distant Balearic Shearwater went past but I couldn’t see it with just bins.
A Manx Shearwater flew north half way out and a Great Skua- Lifer, went over distantly.
I got better views of another Great Skua later on, we saw 9 Arctic Skuas in total.
In what must be some kind of Newbiggin record the third Balearic Shearwater-Lifer, of the morning flew past and this time it was close enough for me to get a good view.
I watched it skim over the waves until it disappeared past the caravans to the left.
Not long after this Steve got a call saying that a Marsh Harrier was at West Hartford.
Before we left for West Hartford a very distant Sooty Shearwater- Lifer, went past just in time for me to see it turn around in mid air just above the horizon.
By the time we had gotten to West Hartford via accidentally entering a bike race in Newbiggin, the Marsh harrier had moved on.
When we got there a line of birders were already set out and already a Balearic Shearwater had been past!
In the two hours we were there a steady stream of Gannets, probably around 100 flew north, usually in groups of 5.
Auks were also heading north in good numbers and a few Guillemots stayed on the water.
Wigeon, Teal and Common Scoter were also heading north in tight groups.
Two Common Scoter were amongst the Eider flock just off the rocks and three Red Throated Diver went north.
A Juvenile Med Gull was flying over our heads and a Wheatear was moving around the rocks.
Apart from the usual passage of wildfowl a female Goosander flew past just over the rocks and a Velvet Scoter went north also quite close.
A Grey Seal was just off the rocks and another further out looked as if it took a swipe at a passing Guillemot.
Once the wind started to pick up a distant Balearic Shearwater went past but I couldn’t see it with just bins.
A Manx Shearwater flew north half way out and a Great Skua- Lifer, went over distantly.
I got better views of another Great Skua later on, we saw 9 Arctic Skuas in total.
In what must be some kind of Newbiggin record the third Balearic Shearwater-Lifer, of the morning flew past and this time it was close enough for me to get a good view.
I watched it skim over the waves until it disappeared past the caravans to the left.
Not long after this Steve got a call saying that a Marsh Harrier was at West Hartford.
Before we left for West Hartford a very distant Sooty Shearwater- Lifer, went past just in time for me to see it turn around in mid air just above the horizon.
By the time we had gotten to West Hartford via accidentally entering a bike race in Newbiggin, the Marsh harrier had moved on.
Friday, 4 September 2009
Ruff Seawatch: Newbiggin
With the wind slightly better today me and SH had a longer seawatch at Church point, Newbiggin.
As soon as we had sat down three very distant Arctic Skua flew south.
The number of Gannets was not as high as yesterday at Blyth, but there was still a good number also heading south.
Fulmar, Kittiwake and 2 Guillemot were close to the shore as was a group of 26 Eider.
The Eider were soon joined by a small group of Common Scoter. Small groups of Common Scoter were flying past every so often as did 18 Wigeon and 63 Teal.
2 Red Throated Diver flew south and a Grey Plover, Snipe, Dunlin, Ruff and Roseate Tern went north.
Wheatear and Meadow Pipit both came in off the sea and a 1st winter Med Gull circled overhead.
We checked West Hartford on the way home, at first nothing much was about until 2 Ruff- Patch Tick flew overhead and landed on the near shore with a Dunlin.
As if this wasn’t good enough 10 Dunlin then flew over. 5 Dunlin landed on the mud at the back of the pool whilst the others carried on.
108 – Ruff
As soon as we had sat down three very distant Arctic Skua flew south.
The number of Gannets was not as high as yesterday at Blyth, but there was still a good number also heading south.
Fulmar, Kittiwake and 2 Guillemot were close to the shore as was a group of 26 Eider.
The Eider were soon joined by a small group of Common Scoter. Small groups of Common Scoter were flying past every so often as did 18 Wigeon and 63 Teal.
2 Red Throated Diver flew south and a Grey Plover, Snipe, Dunlin, Ruff and Roseate Tern went north.
Wheatear and Meadow Pipit both came in off the sea and a 1st winter Med Gull circled overhead.
We checked West Hartford on the way home, at first nothing much was about until 2 Ruff- Patch Tick flew overhead and landed on the near shore with a Dunlin.
As if this wasn’t good enough 10 Dunlin then flew over. 5 Dunlin landed on the mud at the back of the pool whilst the others carried on.
108 – Ruff
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Med Gull
I was out early with Steve Holliday again this morning, first stop was Castle Island, somewhere i've never been before.
Most of the site was under water but there where a few Moorhen and GBB Gull there. BH gull also around as well as little Grebe,Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, 89 Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Redshank ect.
Blue tit, Coal tit and Goldcrest were in the trees on the river bank and a kestrel was hunting in the field.
Next off to Newbiggin to feed the gulls. We stood for about five minutes feeding throwing chips and bread which soon got the interest of the gull, starlings and Jackdaws. After looking at the Jackdaws I noticed one Nordic with almost a full collar.
The Med Gulls - Lifer then came down and started eating the chips, they didn't stop long enough for a photo but in the five minutes 1 2nd winter, 1 1st winter and 3 adult Med gulls circled with the rest of the gulls.
Last stop was Woodhorn flash, plenty of teal but no Green Winged, 2 Mute Swan, Tufted duck the same as castle island really.
A good sunday morning.
Most of the site was under water but there where a few Moorhen and GBB Gull there. BH gull also around as well as little Grebe,Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, 89 Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Redshank ect.
Blue tit, Coal tit and Goldcrest were in the trees on the river bank and a kestrel was hunting in the field.
Next off to Newbiggin to feed the gulls. We stood for about five minutes feeding throwing chips and bread which soon got the interest of the gull, starlings and Jackdaws. After looking at the Jackdaws I noticed one Nordic with almost a full collar.
The Med Gulls - Lifer then came down and started eating the chips, they didn't stop long enough for a photo but in the five minutes 1 2nd winter, 1 1st winter and 3 adult Med gulls circled with the rest of the gulls.
Last stop was Woodhorn flash, plenty of teal but no Green Winged, 2 Mute Swan, Tufted duck the same as castle island really.
A good sunday morning.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Frustration
Had the day off so I went to Newbiggin to see the desert wheatear. I won't go into deatails but I didn't see it and I can now add it to my list of birds I have either not seen or they have desided to fly off before I arrive.
The list includes Desert Wheatear, Bittern, American Wigeon, lesser grey Shrike, Humes leaf Warbler, Yellow browed Warbler, Red breasted Flycatcher, Dotterel, Wryneck and many more.
The list includes Desert Wheatear, Bittern, American Wigeon, lesser grey Shrike, Humes leaf Warbler, Yellow browed Warbler, Red breasted Flycatcher, Dotterel, Wryneck and many more.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
If Carlsberg did birdwatching it would probably be like today
What a day.
With the water levels being lowered earlier in the week I had been itching to go to Cresswell Pond but school got in the way as usual.
When I arrived there today, after avoiding the puddles which were still surprisingly deep, I saw that there were at least 25 bird watchers on the road side at the north end of the causeway.
After about 5 minutes and my second little Stint of the year, some dog walking arseholes decided to walk across the causeway and scare off almost everything. One of the walkers even came up to me and said, ''will this effect your bird watching?'', even when I said yes she still carried on.
Most of the now fairly pissed bird watcher packed up and drove off or like me, went to the hide.
The hide was as good as it's ever going to get with some mud flats appearing and held, 4 Wigeon, 50+ BH Gull, 7 Common Gull, 1 Little Gull- Lifer, 19 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 10 Bar tailed Godwit, 18 Knot, 9 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 6 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin, 17 Snipe, 1 Cormorant and 1 Water Rail- Lifer!!!
I have always wanted to see a Water Rail today was finally the day. Another birder spotted it first, it was running next to the reeds in a amongst the snipe group and stayed out for about 5 minutes, cleaning itself with its foot before disappearing back into the reeds.
If the water levels had not been lowered I don't think that I would have seen the Rail and if that isn't a sign to the NWT that the water should be lowered at the right time of the year then I
don't know what is.
I then checked the bank on the left side of the pond where there were a large number of ducks one of which was a female Pintail- lifer.
A Black Tern- Lifer then joined the crowd of gulls on the mud flats and cleaned itself for a while before flying off.
A Redstart was flying about in the dunes next to the car park.
I went back to the causeway about two hours later and met one of the bird watchers that I met at Newbiggin last week, who kindly let me borrow his scope where I saw, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers- Lifer and 1 Buff Breasted Sandpiper- Lifer amongst others.
On the way home I stopped at Newbiggin where I saw 1 Guillemot riding the waves, 6 Wheatear and 1 Female Velvet Scoter- lifer.
All in all probably the best days birdwatching of the year or even ever.
With the water levels being lowered earlier in the week I had been itching to go to Cresswell Pond but school got in the way as usual.
When I arrived there today, after avoiding the puddles which were still surprisingly deep, I saw that there were at least 25 bird watchers on the road side at the north end of the causeway.
After about 5 minutes and my second little Stint of the year, some dog walking arseholes decided to walk across the causeway and scare off almost everything. One of the walkers even came up to me and said, ''will this effect your bird watching?'', even when I said yes she still carried on.
Most of the now fairly pissed bird watcher packed up and drove off or like me, went to the hide.
The hide was as good as it's ever going to get with some mud flats appearing and held, 4 Wigeon, 50+ BH Gull, 7 Common Gull, 1 Little Gull- Lifer, 19 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 10 Bar tailed Godwit, 18 Knot, 9 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 6 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin, 17 Snipe, 1 Cormorant and 1 Water Rail- Lifer!!!
I have always wanted to see a Water Rail today was finally the day. Another birder spotted it first, it was running next to the reeds in a amongst the snipe group and stayed out for about 5 minutes, cleaning itself with its foot before disappearing back into the reeds.
If the water levels had not been lowered I don't think that I would have seen the Rail and if that isn't a sign to the NWT that the water should be lowered at the right time of the year then I
don't know what is.
I then checked the bank on the left side of the pond where there were a large number of ducks one of which was a female Pintail- lifer.
A Black Tern- Lifer then joined the crowd of gulls on the mud flats and cleaned itself for a while before flying off.
A Redstart was flying about in the dunes next to the car park.
I went back to the causeway about two hours later and met one of the bird watchers that I met at Newbiggin last week, who kindly let me borrow his scope where I saw, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers- Lifer and 1 Buff Breasted Sandpiper- Lifer amongst others.
On the way home I stopped at Newbiggin where I saw 1 Guillemot riding the waves, 6 Wheatear and 1 Female Velvet Scoter- lifer.
All in all probably the best days birdwatching of the year or even ever.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Migrant Mission
Ok so this mornings post was a little premature and at two o'clock I finished the boring tasks and with the sun creeping out headed off to Newbiggin.
I could have gone to a number of different locations but when I saw that a Dotterel was on the Golf course that swayed it for me.
There was no sign on the golf course so I headed off to the mound where the Red Breasted Flycatcher and Greenish Warbler were.
I met a number of other birders today off which I know none of their names, sorry.
There were about five birders scanning the trees just off the track when me and two other birders arrived.
Someone said that the RBF hadn't been seen for about an hour but we were in the right area.
there were also a few pied Flycatchers and Spotted Flycather around.
After about half an hour my time was up and I had to go home. I didn't see the Red Breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher or Greenish Warbler but did see 2 Spotted flycatcher sitting in the tree tops, Lifer 172.
Not as spectacular as my last lifer begining with Spotted but never the less a Lifer is a Lifer.
Small Warblerish bird where flitting about just out of sight which made it more frustrating, one was a Goldcrest, I think it was too quick to see.
On the way back to the car I saw a Whinchat in the graveyard and 26 Wheatear , 11 on the golf course and the rest on the beach.
I really like Newbiggin and can now see how it's got such a good migrant reputation.
I also found out that the Dotterel was about two miles away from the golf course nearer Alcan but I didn't have enough time.
I could have gone to a number of different locations but when I saw that a Dotterel was on the Golf course that swayed it for me.
There was no sign on the golf course so I headed off to the mound where the Red Breasted Flycatcher and Greenish Warbler were.
I met a number of other birders today off which I know none of their names, sorry.
There were about five birders scanning the trees just off the track when me and two other birders arrived.
Someone said that the RBF hadn't been seen for about an hour but we were in the right area.
there were also a few pied Flycatchers and Spotted Flycather around.
After about half an hour my time was up and I had to go home. I didn't see the Red Breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher or Greenish Warbler but did see 2 Spotted flycatcher sitting in the tree tops, Lifer 172.
Not as spectacular as my last lifer begining with Spotted but never the less a Lifer is a Lifer.
Small Warblerish bird where flitting about just out of sight which made it more frustrating, one was a Goldcrest, I think it was too quick to see.
On the way back to the car I saw a Whinchat in the graveyard and 26 Wheatear , 11 on the golf course and the rest on the beach.
I really like Newbiggin and can now see how it's got such a good migrant reputation.
I also found out that the Dotterel was about two miles away from the golf course nearer Alcan but I didn't have enough time.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Only 30 to go
On Friday despite the weather I went up to Long Nanny to do some Tern spotting.
The weather was getting gradually worse and as I got onto the beach I was attacked by a sand storm and then a rain storm.
On the beach there were 50+ GBB Gulls with a few other gulls which I couldn't be bothered to identify. With no sign of any Med Gulls I moved onto Terns.
After a depressing 15 minute soaking I thought screw this and headed back after only seeing 4 Sandwich Terns. On my way back I nearly tripped over a young dead Grey Seal which had been washed up quite far up the beach due to the tide.
Yesterday with the weather looking a bit better I decided to go for the first time ever to Newbiggin-By-The-Sea.
I spent about an hour in the sun sea watching and saw 11 Curlew, 8 oystercatcher, 5 Eider, 1 Red Breasted merganser, 11 Redshank, 3 BH Gull, 14 GBB Gull, 9 Herring Gull, 7 Cormorant, 2 Carrion Crow, 7 Linnet and Lifer no 170, a Northern Whetear which was flying around for the whole hour I was there.
On to Cresswell Pond and apart from three Buzzard and a peregrine circling the south west corner fields it was quiet.
North of the causeway there was no sign of any Little Stint and the Dunlin flock flew off as I arrived all there was were 15 BH Gulls, 1 Grey Heron and a Stock Dove on a fence post in the field behind.
The beach at Snab point was to full of people so all I saw was 5 Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank and 4 Sanderling with no sign of any Little Gulls.
When I got home I found out that the Little Gulls had moved to Lynemouth.
The weather was getting gradually worse and as I got onto the beach I was attacked by a sand storm and then a rain storm.
On the beach there were 50+ GBB Gulls with a few other gulls which I couldn't be bothered to identify. With no sign of any Med Gulls I moved onto Terns.
After a depressing 15 minute soaking I thought screw this and headed back after only seeing 4 Sandwich Terns. On my way back I nearly tripped over a young dead Grey Seal which had been washed up quite far up the beach due to the tide.
Yesterday with the weather looking a bit better I decided to go for the first time ever to Newbiggin-By-The-Sea.
I spent about an hour in the sun sea watching and saw 11 Curlew, 8 oystercatcher, 5 Eider, 1 Red Breasted merganser, 11 Redshank, 3 BH Gull, 14 GBB Gull, 9 Herring Gull, 7 Cormorant, 2 Carrion Crow, 7 Linnet and Lifer no 170, a Northern Whetear which was flying around for the whole hour I was there.
On to Cresswell Pond and apart from three Buzzard and a peregrine circling the south west corner fields it was quiet.
North of the causeway there was no sign of any Little Stint and the Dunlin flock flew off as I arrived all there was were 15 BH Gulls, 1 Grey Heron and a Stock Dove on a fence post in the field behind.
The beach at Snab point was to full of people so all I saw was 5 Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank and 4 Sanderling with no sign of any Little Gulls.
When I got home I found out that the Little Gulls had moved to Lynemouth.
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