I've made an effort to see some good birds lately. Starting on the 27th of September I was working in Berwick when news broke of a Scops Owl that had been found in Ryehope Dene, on the coast south of Sunderland. A rare bird in the UK with only three seen in the last ten years. I wasn't in a position to even consider trying to get to see the bird, 78 miles away and at work. When I arrived back at the office all systems were down so it was all systems go for me, I had an early finish punched the locality into my sat nav and off I headed.
That all to familiar but not often experienced in my case for too long now, feeling of nervous excitement had gripped me by the time I was decanting from my parked car and heading off to where I though the bird was showing, I was in the right place.
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| Scops twitch |
The Scops Owl was showing sat roosting in an elder bush. Good views but difficult to get a clear view for photgraphs, as is often the case at 'events' such as this, all the best seats and angles are taken.
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| Scops Owl |
1st October
It was October, October the 1st, Sunday morning and Stewart and I decided to have a trip up to Goswick. A juvenile Long Tailed Skua had taken up residence on the golf course there and seemed settled, some great photographs had been posted by observers.
We arrived early and the light and weather were poor, tea was the first job. We then wandered north up the golf course, chatting to golfers, a friendly bunch that were showing us photographs they had taken of the bird on their phones.
It didn't take us long to locate the bird, a fabulous bird, usually seen flying out at sea, great to see one so well and close. Rain made viewing and photography difficult but didn't dampen the enjoyment.
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| Long Tailed Skua, Goswick Golf Course |
Also today, as we headed back down the coast we called at Stag Rocks, Bamburgh, parked up and walked the coast north to Budle Point. Looking back into Budle Bay as the tide was rising.
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| Budle Point |
We picked up Black Tern here as well as Common, Arctic, Roseate and Sandwich. No sign of the White Winged Black Tern we glimpsed frustratingly last weekend. Back on the cliff top, at the car after chatting to a birder and his son scoping the sea I was about to pull away in the car when the young lad waved at us.. he had picked up the White Winged Black Tern. Good scope views as it flew past the lighthouse. It turns out this lad had just recently been crowned young birdwatcher of the year... a nice Little Stint at Monks House Pool finished the morning off
8th October
Barred Warbler day. Newbiggin by the Sea first. Early morning seawatch, not to productive for seabirds, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Common Scoter and Red Throated Divers, but good numbers of Barnacle Geese moving.Lots of migration generally though, lots of birds.
As we stood at the Ash Lagoons, on another golf course as it happens, looking for the Barred Warbler that had been seen, there were Brambling arriving and small groups of Tree Sparrow, vocal Robins and Dunnocks. No sign of this Barred after an hour or so.
Druridge next, an assembly of birders and photographers were at the entrance to Druridge Links, where a man used to stand with a little bag, all those years ago, collecting money on entry. In the days of 'Save Druridge'.
Anyway, this Barred Warbler showed quite well but infrequently, I think because of us all standing and the associated hum drum and chatter that goes with this type of thing..
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| Barred Warbler |
A Garden Warbler was showing from the same bushes.. for comparison
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| Garden Warbler |
10th October
A morning to myself at Warkworth, checking Picnic Site Car Park, weather conditions weren't great but there were birds. I soon picked up a Yellow Browed Warbler, I love these birds, they are becoming more regular on our coast but its always a treat when you pick one up yourself. Chiff Chaffs were singing and there were plenty of Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds. 17 Black Tailed Godwits flew over, heading for the estuary no doubt.
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| Chiff Chaff |
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| Track of the Day, Road to Warkworth Golf Club |
As I was leaving I got a message from Stewart about a Red Necked Phalarope at Druridge Reserve, I'd not been keeping an eye on the messaging service and had missed this.. off I headed. The bird was showing really well from the hide that looks south into the area called Budge Fields
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| Red Necked Phalarope |
1986 it turns out, and I can remember it quite clearly. It was on the then named Hadston Lake, now Druridge Bay Country Park.
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