I spent some more time volunteering to watch the Chilean Flamingos at Washington Wildfowl Park yesterday. Just as last week the Flamingos put in another lazy performance, but still the research is all in a good cause.
I went to look for the Egyptian Goose once I had finished but there was no sign on the ‘reservoir’. A female Tufted Duck with a brood of 8 chicks were swimming across the water.
From the woodland hide 7 different Bullfinch including 2 young birds were on the feeders along with 2 Jay and 1 GS Woodpecker.
Today I was out with SH to go on the Puffin Cruise, which had been cancelled earlier in the week. First we stopped at a quiet Cresswell Pond where the highlight was a female Marsh Harrier which flew over briefly.
When we got to East Chevington the Spoonbill was showing well at the far side of the south pool.
A Hobby had been seen earlier in the morning but there was no sign. On the North pool 2 Black Tailed Godwits were amongst the flock of terns.
We arrived at Amble harbour earlier than we expected so got on the earlier boat. The sea was flat as we set off and stayed this way throughout the trip.
Just as we had left Amble Harbour we could see a few Puffins on the water and as we approached Coquet Island we started to see more and more as the flew past and over the boat. The boat stopped in front of the Island and we were surrounded by rafts of Puffin.
Grey Seals were popping their heads out of the water near the boat and at least 25 Roseate Terns were on the Tern boxes.
Showing posts with label Spoonbill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spoonbill. Show all posts
Friday, 25 June 2010
Monday, 18 May 2009
New site and new birds
Up early for a trip to Harthope Valley yesterday with Steve Holliday and Dee McKeown.
I had never been to Harthope before and was told it is probably the best upland site in the county, I agree.
Before we got to Harthope we did a Webs count at Castle Island, not much out of the ordinary there apart from a pair of Wigeon and a Juv RB Merganser.
Just out side of Wooler a Red Legged Partridge was standing in a field, a bird I had previously only seen dead in the county.
In the Valley we checked the trees around river, the lack of leaves on the trees made viewing slightly easier. Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and 2 Redstart were calling. We had a brief view of one of the Redstart in the top of a tree before it flew off.
A Green Woodpecker was also calling and I just managed to see one as it flew from tree to tree over the river.
Siskin and Redpoll were overhead and a family party of Long Tailed Tits were also in the trees around the river.
Before we set off on the main walk, we saw 2 Whinchat, 2 Cuckoo, another R L Partridge, another Green Woodpecker, Buzzard and a Red Grouse on the track near the river.
Birds I was surprised not to see were Meadow pipit, Skylark and Raven or any corvids at all.
As we headed back to the car after the walk a Tree pipit- Lifer, called from, a tree!
We had good views as it flew up in the air before dropping back onto the branches like a small paper ball, well that’s what their flight looks like to me.
Next we headed off to Long Nanny.
As we approached the dunes next to the Tern Hut the noise of the huge colony hit us.
We watched the Terns from the Hut and the women there told us there were around 650 Arctic terns. Amongst them on the beach were there smaller cousins, three Little Terns- Lifer.
After heading south we stopped at the Coquet Island viewpoint near Hauxley where two Puffins- Lifer, were on the water off the island. There were probably many more but they were too distant to pick out, I’m planning on going to the Farnes during the summer so I should get better views there.
We called into Druridge pools to try for the Wood Sandpiper but were instead surprised to see a Spoonbill on the Budge field.
The Spoonbill I saw at Cresswell last year was almost all white but this one had a yellow ring around its neck and yellow parts on its crest, which it showed well as it, scratched its head with its foot.
A BH Gull mobbed the Spoonbill and it flew off and circled the plantation before landing again.
A Drake Garganey swan across the water before disappearing into the tall grass. No sign of the Wood sand or any other waders so off to the mound at Newbiggin.We gave it an optimistic 15 minutes but nothing. There was also nothing at Arcot, are last stop of the day.
I had never been to Harthope before and was told it is probably the best upland site in the county, I agree.
Before we got to Harthope we did a Webs count at Castle Island, not much out of the ordinary there apart from a pair of Wigeon and a Juv RB Merganser.
Just out side of Wooler a Red Legged Partridge was standing in a field, a bird I had previously only seen dead in the county.
In the Valley we checked the trees around river, the lack of leaves on the trees made viewing slightly easier. Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and 2 Redstart were calling. We had a brief view of one of the Redstart in the top of a tree before it flew off.
A Green Woodpecker was also calling and I just managed to see one as it flew from tree to tree over the river.
Siskin and Redpoll were overhead and a family party of Long Tailed Tits were also in the trees around the river.
Before we set off on the main walk, we saw 2 Whinchat, 2 Cuckoo, another R L Partridge, another Green Woodpecker, Buzzard and a Red Grouse on the track near the river.
Birds I was surprised not to see were Meadow pipit, Skylark and Raven or any corvids at all.
As we headed back to the car after the walk a Tree pipit- Lifer, called from, a tree!
We had good views as it flew up in the air before dropping back onto the branches like a small paper ball, well that’s what their flight looks like to me.
Next we headed off to Long Nanny.
As we approached the dunes next to the Tern Hut the noise of the huge colony hit us.
We watched the Terns from the Hut and the women there told us there were around 650 Arctic terns. Amongst them on the beach were there smaller cousins, three Little Terns- Lifer.
After heading south we stopped at the Coquet Island viewpoint near Hauxley where two Puffins- Lifer, were on the water off the island. There were probably many more but they were too distant to pick out, I’m planning on going to the Farnes during the summer so I should get better views there.
We called into Druridge pools to try for the Wood Sandpiper but were instead surprised to see a Spoonbill on the Budge field.
The Spoonbill I saw at Cresswell last year was almost all white but this one had a yellow ring around its neck and yellow parts on its crest, which it showed well as it, scratched its head with its foot.
A BH Gull mobbed the Spoonbill and it flew off and circled the plantation before landing again.
A Drake Garganey swan across the water before disappearing into the tall grass. No sign of the Wood sand or any other waders so off to the mound at Newbiggin.We gave it an optimistic 15 minutes but nothing. There was also nothing at Arcot, are last stop of the day.
Thursday, 5 June 2008
The Reward
With most of the day available I decided to act on yesterdays decision and went to Druridge Pools in search of the Temminck's Stint and anything else that I could add to my list.
On my way to the Druridge I went the Cresswell way past the pond and this is when I noticed a Spoonbill feeding in the flooded field next to Cresswell causeway.
With a car behind me I couldn't stop and decided to come back to the pond later.
I spent about an hour searching the Budge field at Druridge for the Stint but found nothing.
Checking the main pool and finding nothing I had one last try at the half built hide where I had seen the Lesser Yellowlegs a few weeks ago.
After checking for about 15 minutes all I saw were a few Gadwall, Shellduck, Garganey and a Snipe this was until two men came out of the main pool hide and within minutes of them checking, managed not only to find the Temm Stint flitting around the long grass on the waters edge but also a Little Stint.
Both Stints then disappeared back into the long grass and I disappeared off to Cresswell Pond.
As I was leaving about ten people came to look for the Temm Stint and after talking to one of the people he said that he had seen three Spoonbill at Hauxley at 6:30 this morning after hearing that they were flying south of Long Nanny at 4:30.
I then thought I saw two Wrynecks in the trees next to the Budge field hide but was unaible to get a claer sighting of them before they flew off further into the bushes. So if any are reported here I know I can add them to my list as they are very distinctive birds.
I stopped at the car park next to the dunes at Cresswell as a group of people were gathered here looking a the Spoonbill which was feeding only meters away from the stone wall dividing the pond from the road.
What a bird and what good views, why didn't I bring my camera.
The only other time I have seen Spoonbills was last summer at Leighton Moss in Lancashire where I got distant views of eight feeding in the water but todays was a county first for me.
Thanks to everybody that helped and talked to me today as this was very useful.
So thats 149 and 150 back on the list and this time they are staying which I think is a reward for making yesterdays decision.
On my way to the Druridge I went the Cresswell way past the pond and this is when I noticed a Spoonbill feeding in the flooded field next to Cresswell causeway.
With a car behind me I couldn't stop and decided to come back to the pond later.
I spent about an hour searching the Budge field at Druridge for the Stint but found nothing.
Checking the main pool and finding nothing I had one last try at the half built hide where I had seen the Lesser Yellowlegs a few weeks ago.
After checking for about 15 minutes all I saw were a few Gadwall, Shellduck, Garganey and a Snipe this was until two men came out of the main pool hide and within minutes of them checking, managed not only to find the Temm Stint flitting around the long grass on the waters edge but also a Little Stint.
Both Stints then disappeared back into the long grass and I disappeared off to Cresswell Pond.
As I was leaving about ten people came to look for the Temm Stint and after talking to one of the people he said that he had seen three Spoonbill at Hauxley at 6:30 this morning after hearing that they were flying south of Long Nanny at 4:30.
I then thought I saw two Wrynecks in the trees next to the Budge field hide but was unaible to get a claer sighting of them before they flew off further into the bushes. So if any are reported here I know I can add them to my list as they are very distinctive birds.
I stopped at the car park next to the dunes at Cresswell as a group of people were gathered here looking a the Spoonbill which was feeding only meters away from the stone wall dividing the pond from the road.
What a bird and what good views, why didn't I bring my camera.
The only other time I have seen Spoonbills was last summer at Leighton Moss in Lancashire where I got distant views of eight feeding in the water but todays was a county first for me.
Thanks to everybody that helped and talked to me today as this was very useful.
So thats 149 and 150 back on the list and this time they are staying which I think is a reward for making yesterdays decision.
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