Green Party



 

We met up at Alnwick this morning and headed north. Stewart had an idea that Holy Island might be worth a visit as there have been gentle but persistent easterly winds during the last couple of days or so. It was nicely overcast.

We called in at a small flooded field near South Charlton that has been attracting some good waders recently. A few Lapwing, 2 Snipe and 5 Ruff were all we saw. 15+ Pied Wagtails were nice running around the mud and short grass, various different ages and sexes.

 

We called in at Hoppen Kiln, Budle Bay and Monks House Pool on our way north to Holy Island. Some nice birds to enjoy as we stopped off at these spots, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Med Gull, Ruff. I think the cheese pasties and tea at Budle Bay may have been the highlight of the morning though.

 

Lindisfarne Castle

 





Straight Lonnen, track of the day

There were migrant birds on Holy Island, Wheatear on the causeway as we drove on. We parked up, drank tea and headed off for Straight Lonnen, Crooked Lonnen and The Lough.
We spent alittle time searching the Willows at the head of Straight Lonnen, male and female Redstart, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler and Pied Flycatcher were seen.
We headed to the Lough to check out a Red Backed Shrike, we failed to see this bird but had seen photographs earlier on the camera of one of the areas patch birders. It doesn't count does it?...

A nice Whinchat was seen along the fence line to the north of the Lough and a Merlin sat up on a stone wall as a family group of Kestrels wheeled noisly overhead.

We headed back to the car, another Whinchat en route and a flock of feeding Goldfinches were nice. Exploring Virtually the last group of bushes before reaching the car I noticed a movement, another warbler. I lifted my binoculars and and when it hopped into view I saw a lovely long eye brow and a neat lemony coloured wing bar. We enjoyed this Greenish Warbler as it busily flitted around a Hawthorn bush feeding on insects. Photographs were taken before it eventually flew to another group of bushes.

 

 



Greenish Warbler

 

Flypast