Monday 24 March 2014

Whats the Point


It happens every year, late March, its all about summer visitors. Expectantly searching the best areas with tales of someone having seen an early bird in some location or other, usually much further south than North Northumberland.
A cold bright and breezy morning Stewart and I headed for Newton, Wheatear and Sand Martin were in our thoughts.
It was a gorgeous Morning as we parked the car near the little tin church at Low Newton. We supped tea and headed up the road towards the village. The area where we parked up was alive with bird song and our attention was held for a good few minutes by at least 3 Chiff Chaff singing and involving themselves in territorial skirmishes.
Walking into Low Newton village we cast our gaze towards the high tide shorline to the north, a group of bird ringers, all known to uss, were netting birds feeding on the seaweed. Rock Pipits were the target species and we were allowed to observe the ringing and measuring of one of these very special little birds.
I love Rock Pipits, I always have, springtime is a great time to watch them and it was a great start to the mornig seeing on in the hand like this.



Rock Pipit


We headed along the track towards Newton Pool Nature Reserve, the flooded fields to the north of the main reserve look really good for spring birding. Grey Lag Geese, Shelduck and a couple of Ringed Plover were seen.
 
 
 

 


From path leading to the hide we had more Chiff Chaffs singing and a nice male Reed Bunting.
Into the hide, quiet really, male Goosander, a pair of Goldeneye, Grey Lag Geese, Teal and Moorhen were joined my a nice group of 8 Gadwall. We tried to cut through directly from the hide to the shore and neded up walking along the top of the high dune behind the reserve. Great views of the reserve and the surrounding area from here before we headed towards Newton point.
 
 
Track to Newton Pool
 
 
Newton Pool
 
 
 
Low Newton from the south
 





 

Walking towards Newton Point we paused at the high tide area. I sat on a rock for a while watching Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Starling and Stonechat. The rock I was sitting on was warm and I was fully sheltered from the cool breeze, I could have sat all morning, the birds were fabulous, giving great close views feeding amongst the seaweed in the warm sun.



 
 


Lesser Celandine
 
 


The remainder of the walk to an exposed Newton Point was enjoyable, I could have sworn I heard a Sandwich Tern but it could have been early springtime delerium, or a Starling.
Skylark, Snipe, Curlew all seen and Skylark song filled the air on the way back to the car.

Whats the Point to Newton Point?, there is every point. A great place and a wonderful morning out.



2 comments:

  1. First Sandwich Tern back on Farnes today. Coincidence?

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  2. ah well, its funny that isn't it?, stuff like that happens with birds a lot..

    ReplyDelete