At 13:15 on Friday I could hear something strange calling that I vaguely recognised. I heard nothing for 20 minutes until I could hear it again as it flew north over my house, turns out it was a Ring Necked Parakeet. Strangely enough it was about this time last year when a mystery parrot sp. was heard by a few different people in cramlington including me.
Anyway onto some proper birding as yesterday myself and GB had a three hour seawatch at Church Point, Newbiggin from 13:40-16:40. My target had been any of the four ‘‘easiest’’ birds I haven’t yet managed to catch up with; Pom and Long Tailed Skua, Grey Phalarope and Little Auk.
It wasn’t long until 5 Little Auk- lifer, flew past north. In total we had 28 past north during the three hours, some very close in.
No skuas at all past but we did see 18 Mallard (N), 7 Wigeon (N), 5 drake Goldeneye (N), 50+ Kittiwake, 7 PB Brent Geese (a family party of five adults and two juvs) (N), 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Common Scoter (N), 2 Med Gull (N) and 3 Manx Shearwater (N).
Most frustratingly of all I picked out a large Diver moving north. It had obvious trailing feet, a heavy build with a solid contrast between its upper and under parts, which were clean and white. Crucially we couldn’t see the bill well enough to confirm whether it was a White Billed or Great Northern Diver. This was 50 minutes after the Whitburn White Billed Diver had been seen flying high north.
Oh well at least I saw the Little Auks.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Saturday, 20 October 2012
Catch up
I’ve been too busy to write up what I have seen over the last week so here it goes. Last Saturday I was at St.Mary’s along with many others watching the mystery Warbler in the willows. I got good views but don’t have the experience to make any claims as to what it might have been, I’m just glad is all been settled and I can now add Blyth’s Reed Warbler to my county list.
Sunday morning it was time for WEBS where the highlight was a drake Pochard amongst the Mallard near Stakeford Bridge. As I was leaving the house a flock of 20 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing flew from the tree in my front garden and continued west. Before an early finish we called in at Cambois railway line. No sign of the Hume’s Leaf or 2 Yellow Browed Warblers but plenty to keep us occupied. A flock of around 50 Redpoll, which contained a possible Mealy, were flying up and down the track. A very vocal Brambling was also nearby before flying off.
On Monday afternoon myself and SH returned to Cambois railway for a few hours. A lot more thrushes had come in overnight and a massive flock of Blackbirds and Song Thrush held two Ring Ouzels, which showed briefly in the dead trees before landing in the ditch near the top bank.
We also had a quick look at the Shags in Blyth Harbour on the way back. Not as many birds as usual but the highlight was a white ringed bird, LDT, which had been ringed as a chick on the Isle of May 9 years ago! Also in the harbour were 13 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the pier.
Sunday morning it was time for WEBS where the highlight was a drake Pochard amongst the Mallard near Stakeford Bridge. As I was leaving the house a flock of 20 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing flew from the tree in my front garden and continued west. Before an early finish we called in at Cambois railway line. No sign of the Hume’s Leaf or 2 Yellow Browed Warblers but plenty to keep us occupied. A flock of around 50 Redpoll, which contained a possible Mealy, were flying up and down the track. A very vocal Brambling was also nearby before flying off.
On Monday afternoon myself and SH returned to Cambois railway for a few hours. A lot more thrushes had come in overnight and a massive flock of Blackbirds and Song Thrush held two Ring Ouzels, which showed briefly in the dead trees before landing in the ditch near the top bank.
We also had a quick look at the Shags in Blyth Harbour on the way back. Not as many birds as usual but the highlight was a white ringed bird, LDT, which had been ringed as a chick on the Isle of May 9 years ago! Also in the harbour were 13 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the pier.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Numbers building
I’ve had a few visits to West Hartford this week. With the pools devoid of life apart from BH Gulls, I decided to focus on the border area next to Hartford Wood.
A WH mega in the form of a Nuthatch was lurking amongst a tit flock behind the substation and 20 Reed Bunting occupied a single stretch of hedgerow between the substation and the new flash pool. I cant remember the last time I saw 20 Reed Buntings together so this must be a new Hartford record.
Large numbers of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll were all around the site in tight flocks most of which were feeding in trees. The highlight of the trip though was a Red Squirrel jumping around the treetops at Hartford Wood. Also a Common Toad I narrowly avoided stepping on was my first at WH. Whilst watching the Toad two Fieldfare flew over calling.
Yesterday on my way to WH 10 Redwing flew from a berry bush next Northburn Community Centre and headed west.
A WH mega in the form of a Nuthatch was lurking amongst a tit flock behind the substation and 20 Reed Bunting occupied a single stretch of hedgerow between the substation and the new flash pool. I cant remember the last time I saw 20 Reed Buntings together so this must be a new Hartford record.
Large numbers of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll were all around the site in tight flocks most of which were feeding in trees. The highlight of the trip though was a Red Squirrel jumping around the treetops at Hartford Wood. Also a Common Toad I narrowly avoided stepping on was my first at WH. Whilst watching the Toad two Fieldfare flew over calling.
Yesterday on my way to WH 10 Redwing flew from a berry bush next Northburn Community Centre and headed west.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
250
Sunday saw a bit of a milestone for me as I finally caught up with my 250 bird in Northumberland.
These days I only seem to care what birds I see at West Hartford and in the county. Although I still like seeing any new birds I will never be a twitcher and new birds south of the Tyne don’t seem to have the same appeal they once did.
Anyway onto the bird, the Long Billed Dowitcher at Cresswell Pond. I got a quick scope view of this rare wader as I entered the hide before all of the birds on the sand bar flew off and relanded a few times. I’m sure the presence of the Great Skua on the pond had something to do with the birds flightiness. The Dowitcher re landed and settled down with a group of Snipe on the sand bar. Also a Little Stint was amongst the Dunlin.
On Saturday morning thanks to a text from SH, I had my first West Hartford tick since the spring. When JM had a flyover Yellow Wagtail and a Little Grebe at the same time in April I thought that I would have to wait a long time until my next chance.
So thanks to the heavy rainfall and large amount of water now at WH I was treated to views of a Little Grebe swimming across and diving on the main pool.
I still find it strange having a patch where common birds such as Little Grebe, Coot and Tufted Duck are mega rares but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
These days I only seem to care what birds I see at West Hartford and in the county. Although I still like seeing any new birds I will never be a twitcher and new birds south of the Tyne don’t seem to have the same appeal they once did.
Anyway onto the bird, the Long Billed Dowitcher at Cresswell Pond. I got a quick scope view of this rare wader as I entered the hide before all of the birds on the sand bar flew off and relanded a few times. I’m sure the presence of the Great Skua on the pond had something to do with the birds flightiness. The Dowitcher re landed and settled down with a group of Snipe on the sand bar. Also a Little Stint was amongst the Dunlin.
On Saturday morning thanks to a text from SH, I had my first West Hartford tick since the spring. When JM had a flyover Yellow Wagtail and a Little Grebe at the same time in April I thought that I would have to wait a long time until my next chance.
So thanks to the heavy rainfall and large amount of water now at WH I was treated to views of a Little Grebe swimming across and diving on the main pool.
I still find it strange having a patch where common birds such as Little Grebe, Coot and Tufted Duck are mega rares but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Early and Late
I hadn’t had a proper look around all of West Hartford in a few weeks for one reason or another so I gave it a few hours on Saturday morning.
A Painted Lady and Speckled Wood Butterfly were making the most of the sunshine on the edge of Hartford Wood. Whilst walking towards the overgrown field behind the sub station I flushed a very late Grasshopper Warbler, which landed in a small bush providing excellent views. A vocal Jay was calling as I walked to the pools and a Short Eared Owl was hunting over the back fields.
On Sunday morning I heard a Greenshank fly north over my house just before I was leaving to meet SH and DMcK. We stopped at West Hartford first and on the flash pools in the field east of the entrance plantation there were 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank.
Next we checked Cambois for migrants. 6 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff (including a few singing birds) and a Lesser Whitethroat were the only migrants we could find along the old railway line.
Yesterday I was at Seaton Sluice for 9:00 ready to check for migrants. As soon as I crossed the bridge to Rocky Island a few Goldcrest flew down the sluice and landed in the bushes at the harbour mouth. I spent a few hours searching Rocky Island and the harbour and managed to find: 4 Goldcrest, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 5 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstart and a Common Sandpiper in the harbour.
I met Cain at Seaton Sluice and form there we moved onto St.Mary’s. With a much bigger area to cover we managed to find: 4 Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Yellow Browed Warbler (one of 4 around), 5 Brambling and a Swift.
We would have given it longer if the weather wasn’t so bad. Most of the birds were taking shelter in the gut so we headed off to Tynemouth.
Although happy with what we had seen at St,Mary’s it was still annoying to have missed an Osprey which flew overhead!
Tynemouth was much quieter with only a few Redstart seen. Our last stop was Blyth Links Cemetery where 5 Redstart (including a stunning male) were grave hopping along with a White Wagtail.
A Painted Lady and Speckled Wood Butterfly were making the most of the sunshine on the edge of Hartford Wood. Whilst walking towards the overgrown field behind the sub station I flushed a very late Grasshopper Warbler, which landed in a small bush providing excellent views. A vocal Jay was calling as I walked to the pools and a Short Eared Owl was hunting over the back fields.
On Sunday morning I heard a Greenshank fly north over my house just before I was leaving to meet SH and DMcK. We stopped at West Hartford first and on the flash pools in the field east of the entrance plantation there were 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank.
Next we checked Cambois for migrants. 6 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff (including a few singing birds) and a Lesser Whitethroat were the only migrants we could find along the old railway line.
Yesterday I was at Seaton Sluice for 9:00 ready to check for migrants. As soon as I crossed the bridge to Rocky Island a few Goldcrest flew down the sluice and landed in the bushes at the harbour mouth. I spent a few hours searching Rocky Island and the harbour and managed to find: 4 Goldcrest, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 5 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstart and a Common Sandpiper in the harbour.
I met Cain at Seaton Sluice and form there we moved onto St.Mary’s. With a much bigger area to cover we managed to find: 4 Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Yellow Browed Warbler (one of 4 around), 5 Brambling and a Swift.
We would have given it longer if the weather wasn’t so bad. Most of the birds were taking shelter in the gut so we headed off to Tynemouth.
Although happy with what we had seen at St,Mary’s it was still annoying to have missed an Osprey which flew overhead!
Tynemouth was much quieter with only a few Redstart seen. Our last stop was Blyth Links Cemetery where 5 Redstart (including a stunning male) were grave hopping along with a White Wagtail.
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Tuesday
With frustrating strong westerlies on Tuesday morning myself and LMcD couldn’t decide where to go. In the end after a disappointingly quiet look at Cresswell Pond and Lynemouth flash, which held a single Ruff rather than Pectoral Sandpiper, we headed slightly further inland.
We started at the now viewable reclaimed opencast at Widdrington Moor. Around 500 Canada and 300 Greylag Geese sat on the bare earth surrounding the vast pools. Amongst them was a Pink Footed Goose and a Great Crested Grebe dived in the water to the west side.
A lot of Gulls, mostly Common, were flying over west but the main highlight was an immature Marsh Harrier which lazily drifted south on the wind.
Maiden’s Hall lake was quiet despite having a good looking muddy edge but the smaller quarry pool near the farm building held 12 Teal, 8 Moorhen and 4 Coot. Also 3 Jay were calling from the adjacent plantation.
Last stop was West Harford where a single Dunlin was the best thing I have seen there in a while now. But this was eclipsed by SH’s 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat and 1 adult Med Gull which he had later in the afternoon!
We started at the now viewable reclaimed opencast at Widdrington Moor. Around 500 Canada and 300 Greylag Geese sat on the bare earth surrounding the vast pools. Amongst them was a Pink Footed Goose and a Great Crested Grebe dived in the water to the west side.
A lot of Gulls, mostly Common, were flying over west but the main highlight was an immature Marsh Harrier which lazily drifted south on the wind.
Maiden’s Hall lake was quiet despite having a good looking muddy edge but the smaller quarry pool near the farm building held 12 Teal, 8 Moorhen and 4 Coot. Also 3 Jay were calling from the adjacent plantation.
Last stop was West Harford where a single Dunlin was the best thing I have seen there in a while now. But this was eclipsed by SH’s 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat and 1 adult Med Gull which he had later in the afternoon!
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Wader Day 2012: Disturbance
With a target of 23 wader species to beat I went out with Graeme B, D McKeown and John (Howdon Blogger) on Sunday morning.
Our first stop at West Hartford just before 6:20 provided us with out first waders of the day, Lapwing and Snipe.
The mist cleared as we headed north, just in time as a family party of 7 Red Legged Partridge ran across the road just outside Newton. 2 Ruff, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Curlew were next on out list at Newton scrapes before a quick pit stop at Seahouses Harbour gave us Knot and Bar Tailed Godwit.
No Purple Sandpipers were at Stag Rocks only 2 Stonechat and hundreds of diving Gannets close offshore. At Budle Bay we saw our only Common Sandpiper of the day.
Holy Island causeway was next and this is where our birding was first disturbed not just by the constant stream of traffic across the causeway but by dog sand kids flushing everything on the sand and a group of backpackers standing in front of our scopes.
The best we could managed apart from Dunlin were 2 Greenshank on the edge of the causeway near Beal.
After failing for the first time that I can remember to find a Grey Plover at Holy Island we thought one would be at Fenham flats. No sign of any there either or at anywhere else we visited during despite being present during the day.
When we began the day we also thought that we stood a good chance of finding our own rare wader but this notion soon disappeared when we saw that common waders were only present in poor numbers.
The best ‘self found’ wader of the day was at Fenham when Graeme found a Curlew Sandpiper amongst the Dunlin. Also at least 300 Brent Geese had returned to the flats.
On the return journey we quickly stopped at Amble Braid when a Whimbrel flew over calling. As we approached Bell’s Pond we could see all the birds take to the air as a jet flew (too) low over. By the time we got to the hide at Cresswell it was Little Stint, Avocet and Pectoral Sandpiperless.
Futher south at Cresswell Village we had a Great Skua fly low over Cresswell Ices and head further inland. It had earlier seen on the pond where it killed a Coot!
A Yellow Wagtail was the only thing at Lynemouth Flash. The Spotted Redshank that had been at Castle Island had also disappeared as people were on the island in canoes.
The day would have been complete if cocklers were picking at Blyth Estuary but fortunately they weren’t’ it just a shame no bird were there either.
So the day finished just over 12 hours after we set off and we finished on a disappointing 19 species but still a good day was had by all.
Our first stop at West Hartford just before 6:20 provided us with out first waders of the day, Lapwing and Snipe.
The mist cleared as we headed north, just in time as a family party of 7 Red Legged Partridge ran across the road just outside Newton. 2 Ruff, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Curlew were next on out list at Newton scrapes before a quick pit stop at Seahouses Harbour gave us Knot and Bar Tailed Godwit.
No Purple Sandpipers were at Stag Rocks only 2 Stonechat and hundreds of diving Gannets close offshore. At Budle Bay we saw our only Common Sandpiper of the day.
Holy Island causeway was next and this is where our birding was first disturbed not just by the constant stream of traffic across the causeway but by dog sand kids flushing everything on the sand and a group of backpackers standing in front of our scopes.
The best we could managed apart from Dunlin were 2 Greenshank on the edge of the causeway near Beal.
After failing for the first time that I can remember to find a Grey Plover at Holy Island we thought one would be at Fenham flats. No sign of any there either or at anywhere else we visited during despite being present during the day.
When we began the day we also thought that we stood a good chance of finding our own rare wader but this notion soon disappeared when we saw that common waders were only present in poor numbers.
The best ‘self found’ wader of the day was at Fenham when Graeme found a Curlew Sandpiper amongst the Dunlin. Also at least 300 Brent Geese had returned to the flats.
On the return journey we quickly stopped at Amble Braid when a Whimbrel flew over calling. As we approached Bell’s Pond we could see all the birds take to the air as a jet flew (too) low over. By the time we got to the hide at Cresswell it was Little Stint, Avocet and Pectoral Sandpiperless.
Futher south at Cresswell Village we had a Great Skua fly low over Cresswell Ices and head further inland. It had earlier seen on the pond where it killed a Coot!
A Yellow Wagtail was the only thing at Lynemouth Flash. The Spotted Redshank that had been at Castle Island had also disappeared as people were on the island in canoes.
The day would have been complete if cocklers were picking at Blyth Estuary but fortunately they weren’t’ it just a shame no bird were there either.
So the day finished just over 12 hours after we set off and we finished on a disappointing 19 species but still a good day was had by all.
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