More camera magnets.

 I was informed a few days back that a Lapland bunting or two had been picked up (again) along the coast line walk of the Leas between the mound and Manhaven bay. So with the sun god smiling today, I set off to try my luck here for a couple of hours with my wellies in tow.(wise move this one!). I was between Frenchmans bay and Manhaven bay before the first Snow buntings were picked up, 6 flew overhead and landed just south of Frenchmans bay. Whilst watching these my lugs picked up the twitter of more of these belters passing by, sure enough another 11 flew towards the south side of Frenchmans bay...including a nice brown straggler.

 The second group of Bunt's was picked up again not far from where I watched them land.One's arse parked on the nearest bench to them here and scanning began again..this was short lived as they were off again within minutes of my arrival here.Thankfully the 'straggler' piped up and canny views were had as it flew by.

Edit..Mr DJ has kindly allowed me to use this great record shot he took a few days back on this blog.

Really nice to hear Skylarks singing again here, along with a fair few passing through north on this visit.

 Wor local resident Med. gull starting to change into summer plumage.

And about the best of the bunch of record shots I managed from last Sunday's twitch for the Myrtle warber. Just pleased to see the bird.

At last, patience paid off.

 I didn't hold much hope out for any type of sightings 'water related' when I visited a section of the Don's banks today. Especially when I seen the water level here which was higher than my last visit a few days back,which I thought was high then!. I did a short walk along the river bank here and as I thought no signs visible on any exposed marking points to indicate fresh use by otter, hardly surprising as most of the 'regular' spots i know of were under water.   So on the return leg I stood and watched the bank side's in a few places where fresh looking holes looked to have been made by the other mammal who still lives along these bank sides and I've only had brief glimpses of over the last few years here. And then at the last spot I chose to view, Mr or Mr's Ratty came out to feed...first off seen running along a small section of mud, then 15 minutes later a bramble clump showed movement and about 10 minutes after this it ventured down the side of the embankment and showed well for about 15 seconds.

 It's called Spike....after the Gremlins character. No idea why it has a white patch on its head.?
Needless to say I left with a huge grin on my dish after this experience and wet my lips for more of the same.

 Just a couple more from earlier this week, four Snow buntings around the sand dunes area behind the fair. 17 reported around Frenchmans bay( the leas) the same day.

Best count I've had so far this winter of Pochard on Marine park lake on Tuesday gone. This female was just chilling with 8 drakes for companionship.

I didn't bring waders.

 Only had a couple of hours to spare this morning today and I was still pondering on the carp saga I witnessed yesterday. So the first stop off was back to where this canny sized fish was sighted yesterday to see if there had been more developments. Oh yes they had been..What was left of the fish looked straight out of a comic book really, only the head and tail basically still intact and it had been dragged from the stream to the underside of a hedgerow. Lot's of print sign around the area today and judging by the size of these, more than likely a canny sized dog has been having ago at this fish since yesterday. Still thinking the original thief was a bit more careful regarding leaving signs of it being here and had been disturbed with this catch.

So after a quick once over around the Cockcrow area next, I had the bright idea of having a short visit to Chester-le-street riverside....( daft lad strikes again!)  The above shot shows the river level at this regular waterfowl feeding area today, most of the Swans etc. still there but unfortunately the seating arrangements and riverside path were a little damp.

 Only picked up 3 Goosanders, but they showed well as always here.

Thief!

 Dropped into a few local sites today-one or two that you don't hear many reports from and a couple that are well known. The first two shots are of a Carp which looks pretty freshly caught to me, which I came across in one of the small streams not too far away from a area that holds these game fish. This fish was about 18'' in length and 'something' had been making a meal of it! I've no idea regarding the weight of this fish but 'whoever' had dragged it into this stream, hadn't left any fresh prints around where the fish now lay.

 Ok...its a close up of the eaten flesh, are those eggs on show???

Otter sign was found not too far away from where the fish was found with old spraint and anal jelly marking a flat surface. Me thinks more investigation needed in this area.

 Another section of mud checked out today and this one showed quiet a bit print sign. These where all fresh as this section is within the tidal stretch of the Don and a good few of these lead into the water on this low tide visit.

 Lesser Redpoll from Station burn, 4 feeding along the Don's bank here today not much else really bird wise on this visit of note.

Two male Goosander on the Cockcrow pond in Hebburn. These two were of the 'not come to bread' variety and kept their distance from the duck feeders armed with sliced white.

Note to myself.. take the bloody small digi out Every time!

Two new bird ticks in the same week.

 I went down to see the Ibises today for the third time on this their tenth day of being reported in South Tyneside, after a being told they are showing well again. This was the sight that I was greeted by as me and a few other lads viewed by the metal gate to the horses field just south of the dog stadium on Blue house lane. A little more distant than in my last two visits, but showing well from this vantage point.

They took off a couple of times whilst I was here and returned eventually to this same location after a short fly-about,this after a few of us ventured towards the flats looking for them to no avail... and viewing them from the other side of the metro line, on northern side of Blue house lane eventually again.

Blink and they are gone!..or stop talking and take notice.?

Bugger! over in seconds and wishing I had got the wings in.

Nuthatch in South Tyneside...another one that until last week has evaded my eyes. I've heard them twice in Bluebell woods and tried a few other times to see a one over the last few years. So seeing two on the outskirts of Cleadon park on a couple of occasions on visits here was a tad special after being tipped off.

A few efforts from the last couple of outings.

 Popped back down to Jarrow again a couple of days back, this time the sun god was smiling.There was still around between 25-32 Waxwings (different numbers counted by folk) in the area of Saxon way along with over 10 Redwings and up to 8 Mistle thrushes, plus 3 Siskins and a male Bullfinch put in brief appearances.

 A good number of the Waxwings were doing their fly catching act, flying up and snatching insect on the wing from the tree tops.Always love to watch this behaviour from these birds.

 I couldn't manage to get over to Boldon all of yesterday to see these two belters, that had been spotted in a field east of the Greyhound stadium. So this morning when I was informed that they were showing well not that far from were they were originally picked up, me and the better half went forth.
After a small degree of difficulty finding the exact location we eventually found it.(cheers Phil). A fair number of folk were viewing to the east of the flooded field area and also some to the north side. The north side looked a better option and proved to be.

Stunning views had when we first arrived at the chosen vantage point.....and then it got better! The birds continued looking for food and edged closer and closer to where me and the better half, plus a few familiar faces stood. They appeared totally at ease and just went about their natural behaviour, not showing any signs of being distressed or put off by the presence of the folk viewing them from this vantage point.They eventually wandered off further away and then flew off a short time later. I didn't see them take off and only realised they had when somebody told me .As to why they did I couldn't honestly say.But I do know none of the folk around where we stood almost rooted to the spot caused these belters to fly off.

New tick for the better half and another magic moment for me...

First post of the year.

It's been a canny start really to the new year over the last few days for myself, especially with today's events. The first outing of the year was to the pier area (where else!) a few days back and it was nice to see a few Shags now starting to drift in here, along with the usual numbers of waders. But I've been informed there's larger numbers of Purple sands than usual sighted the last few days by different watchers. Also a colour ringed Sanderling was sighted by a Jarra lad just before the new year but I ain't caught up with that one yet.

 Marine park lake holds around 40-50 Tufties at present along with 5-7 Pochards ( depends when you visit the number varies). Four Mute swans and the almost resident 4 Canada geese now. And then I picked up upon this new oddity to the collection a couple of days back....

Definitely a Pochard hybrid, more than likely a cross with a Tufty.?? First time I've seen it here, amazing what tickles ya fancy on a regular walk.
I've viewed Marsden Bay a few times also this new year on the drive along the coastal stretch.This is just a handy spot to drop into for a short time to do a bit of sea watching as I'm not as dedicated as the lads up the road in the Whitburn observatory.. Do I miss that Lizard point car park for this purpose.!
A drake Long-tailed duck present a few days back in the bay along with a scattering of Scoter, eider and the odd Red throated diver on a visit or two. Also a Blue Fulmar a few days back was picked up inter-acting with another 2 Fulmars near the stack, I came back the next day and hardly a Fulmar to be seen around the cliff areas. Harbour porpoises seen on just about every visit also.

 A welcomed phone call this morning from one of the Jarra patch watchers got me activated. I was soon mobile and heading for the town's hot spot of Saxon way after hearing the news that 10 Waxwings had been picked up here. Great stuff!. Myself and the great Waxwing hunter ( another Jarra lad)  managed 14 high up
in the trees at the end of this road. A second visit later with the better half + Bob and the count went up to 20, by now a canny crowd had gathered...great banter . It's a hard one to pin down the actual number due to the Starling's joining in the action here, over 10 Redwings, a few Fenzies (Mistle thrushes) defending the berries and a Songie or two + Blackbirds. Frantic action at times, Brilliant all the same!

Hopefully drop back into tomorrow if lights better and there's more action to be had.