Red Sky

Lovely lovely Red Sword-grass this morning, just had to post a few pictures. A very cold morning just before light 1 degree above freezing, no frost but almost. Only two moths to enjoy but two nice ones, Red Sword-grass and Satellite.

Red Sword-grass

Satellite

Each year brings at least one real highlight, this will do nicely

Off to Church

Its Sunday, off to church we went, a Little Bunting has been seen this week in the scrub behind Low Newton Church, Stewart had seen and photographed this bird yesterday but I was keen too.

Still dark when we arrived but when the light broke we headed off down the narrow road that heads to Newton Point stopping just as the trees end. I was scanning the Sycamore tree that this bird had been seen in and quite quickly picked the bird up. I shouted Stewart over, the bird showed quite well for a minute or so. For some reason though I wanted to see it for a bit longer, not always possible so I was frustrated, I had seen it well enough but the light wasn't great. 

It was more that I wanted satisfy myself I was identifying this bird, I wanted to have a decent look. Conditions were breezy, a north west wind was buffeting the trees meaning picking up any movement was virtually impossible, the sun had only just reached the tree we were watching and the area was still in cold shade, we gave it an hour or so and headed back to the car for tea, a break we thought, warm up.

It has been a few years since I saw my last Little Bunting, that one was at Hauxley Reserve, in the early days of this reserve, Autumn 1987 it was showing along the path to what is now known as the Wader Hide, I think...

Refreshed, we returned to the spot, Stewart picked the bird up straight away and it showed really well long enough to attempt some photographs and enjoy the bird a bit, moving slowly through the Sycamore picking away at insects and aphids as it went, almost like a large Warbler, not really Bunting like.. much better.

At least two Yellow Browed Warblers along with Goldcrests, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds also seen.

Little Bunting

Flat Out

Its just as well we can be flexible and plans can be re drawn. 

'East Chevington first, catch the Cettis Warbler singing and then straight up the A1 to Budle to have a good look at these Canada Goose races'.

No.

As I pulled away from the drive in the early morning darkness the car felt a bit odd, Puncture !!.
I rang Stewart and asked if I could be collected, of course I could. We still arrived at East Chevington in good time, we drank tea and watched the sunrise.

Sunrise, East Chevington

Taking up position at the south east corner of the north pool we scanned the wildfowl as we listened for singing from the reeds.

Pintail
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Wigeon

The singing Cetti's Warbler was soon picked up by other birders present, singing quite strongly at times as we loitered near the hide in that area of the reserve. 

A bit of a group assembled, some of the really good local birders, all chatting and exchanging tales.
One called out that a Bittern was flying over the reed bed towards us, missed it. 
Birds seemed restless on the pond and also in the surrounding fields. A Marsh Harrier was floating around, eventually going down in the north western corner, flushing Crows and out of sight. A Peregrine, seen earlier must still be patrolling the area as Lapwings and Starlings in the fields above the reserve were finding it hard to settle.

The mood changed in a second among the group though, a call as heard above, not by me mind. Then what seemed like an age passed, a second or two in truth and someone eventually shouted Bee Eaters!!.. two of these beautifully colorful and exotic Southern European birds were flying north up the coast, over our heads. Of course panic ensued a little as everyone tried to get onto them, I'm not really sure about everyone else but I managed to get them fairly quickly and watched them disappear over Druridge Bay Country Park. They didn't fly directly, they were circling as they moved north giving glimpses of turquoise blue plumage now and again.

You just never know what a day has in store.

Pink Footed Geese

Summer gone

The summer of 2017 has well and truly gone, I thought I'd post some warming colour from sunnier days.

Hedgeley 15th August

Small Copper

Wall

Small Tortoishell

Red Admiral

Peacock

Large White

Common Darter

Seeing birds

27th September

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

Barred Warbler

  

A Garden Warbler was showing from the same bushes.. for comparison

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.

Chiff Chaff

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

Red Necked Phalarope

Now when was the last time I saw one of these gorgeous little swimming, spinning wading birds in Northumberland?..

1986 it turns out, and I can remember it quite clearly. It was on the then named Hadston Lake, now Druridge Bay Country Park.