Patch?

A day in the estuary, I tried to cover as much as I could. The tide was high but there was still plenty of exposed mud.
I didn't count anything but Golden Plover numbered easily in excess of 1000 and with the tide rising they were lifting and wheeling around, fabulous just to follow them with the binoculars. The highest sand banks were occupied by groups of larger Gulls, Herring and Great Black Backed.

 

Single Grey Plover and approximately 12 Knot were among the highlights. There were plenty of birds to look through though. Four Goldeneye were on the river above the wier towards The Butts.
A short check of the sea from Cliff House was unproductive apart from a single Red Throated Diver flying south between Coquet Island and the mainland.

View from Cliff House

 Next I had a slow wander around The Braid car park, checking bushes for late migrants, Blackbirds were all over the leaf litter flicking and rummaging, Robins were numerous, a single female Blackcap and a fine Male Brambling were good to see.

 

Braid Car Park

 Warkworth Picnic Site was quieter, a male Blackcap was seen here.



Track of the Day, field edge from Warkworth Picnic Site

A bag of chips for lunch then a 1 hour seawatch from Birling which was dissapointing. A stroll around Seton Point to finish the day off, again quiet but dead Puffin and Little Auk were evidence of the weather conditions that had been prevailling over the previous days.