Sundays effort

I had it in my head today to try for the American Golden plover again but this time on the rifle range field at high tide. I thought I would have the path way to myself when I arrived at 3ish after not seeing any reports for a few days. But nope, a half a dozen folk where already here viewing the 300 or so flighty Golden plovers( plus a budgie) here when I arrived.
Noticed a nice couple ive met numerous times, Davy and Irene and settled in with the scope to view the flock with them. After a few "possibles and maybe's" it didn't look like anyone had picked the plover up.
Then I moved away to view a few stragglers with another lad towards the southern end of the field and there it was. Pleased to see it again....better shots, maybe next time.

Two Med. gulls seen around the doors today, this one in the larger Marsden car park. But not the regular one we have had winter here for years, this one didn't even follow the B.H.gulls lead regards scraps of chips etc. from visiting folk. The second one was just off Whitburn cliffs on the sea later on this day.

Trow visit about mid -day. Little legs and the better half in tow. Didn't expect much so wasn't dissapointed.
Only one Little owl on show near the second bay, but a imm. Heron in this bay was a nice sight, we seldom see a one here. Gannets, Sandwich terns and a few Commons just off this bay along with very few Guillemots now. Four Knots in the first bay being the highlight of this visit here today.

Large movement of House martins/Swallows over Trow and the Leas today including possibly my last sightings of Swifts this year( 6ish).

Jan picked up on this Small copper butterfly near gun point, not a regular sight here.

One of 4.

Distant shot from the public path here.

ps. Ive deleted my last Bona gull post for my own reasons.

This weekends wanderings

Hightlight this weekend was a seeing a American Golden Plover at Whitburn on Sunday afternoon at this regular Golden plover hang-out at low tide, out of the breeding season. Ive seen many a better shot of the bird since it was found....but just pleased to see it!

Before a text and second-hand info. was had about the American at Whitburn me and Jan where visiting some of the Gateshead sites on this Sunday. Nowt really great on this visit, highlights beeing- to Thornley ( Roe Deer), Far Pastures( Wood mouse under the feeding stone in car park was amuseing...loves sausage rolls!) and Shibdon's Spotted Redshank and Green Sand. plus Jan picked a Water rail up near the duck feeding area.

Chester-le-street riverside on Saturday-

After a B&Q visit headed for here, did'nt know a certain Cricket match was on! but thankfully the officials here allowed for folk visiting this riverside area and park with parking provided. Canny number of Goosanders present here with 8 birds counted, one group included 4 young-uns. No Males though-. And a brood of less than a week old Mallard ducklings present and very few Tufties on this visit.

Sadness is starting to dawn.

This evenings walk along the pier patch was pants and the thought of the terns departing was really starting to hit home with only a couple of Common terns hunting just off the pier.

Its not been the best year for the terns gracing the patch this year with many a folk disappointed by the Roseate no's. here (especially after last years feast!). But I think most beaches along the NE coastline have recorded fewer numbers rested up at regular sites this year.

Fuller summary to come of my wanderings this season around the big beach(tern wise)........when it ends. :-(

Up north for a hour or two.

Its was one of those "Where do fancy going" days today. Its been a while since me and Jan filled a flask and headed off for a few hours out of the area. So eventually we headed for Druridge and Cresswell.
Well the weather started to close in not long after we reached here and it was The Great North bike ride today also so great care had to be taken driving along certain stretches of the coastal roads. These riders had pedelled from Seahouses and finished at Tynemouth!..excellent effort and no doubt has raised alot of money for worthy causes.


Six Ruff at Cresswell on the exposed sand area in front of the hide along with a Common Sand and a few Dunlins.

Oddie hide at Druridge - not the best visit either but a couple of juv. Dabchicks kept us entertained. On the return leg from here to the car I spotted a area of grass flattened in the undergrowth which lead to the north pool area, this held Max's attention also with him almost vanishing from sight until I called him. Otter or Fox suspected for this path....the dog's shown no signs of being interested in Rabbits yet.

Not one of best visits to this area today bird wise, but always nice to get up here. Especially for a ice-cream from the Cresswell shop and sit at Snab point eating it whilst doing a bit sea watching.

Walk out tea time

The sight of young Tufties might not be too special for many folk, but to some of us locals this is a rare treat in our boro.!The couple of bairns which have survived on Marine park lake are now I think beyond the "Gulls" attention, judging by the size of them. Well done that Mam!

My .. how you have grown in less than a week!

This evening visit to the pier area was poor really regarding Terns. But I did witness the sight of 2 Roseates just off the pier which flew around here at a distance, the call of the birds alerted me to their presence here. What followed behaviour wise is something I have only seen on a couple of occasions. The birds called to each other constantly, circulling each other whilst climbing higher and higher gaining a great height before flying off south.

Wader wise was not too great either except for 4 Purple sandpipers and poser Turnstones.

Nice evening

Another nice warm evening visit to the local beach with the dog in tow. Again not loads of Terns around but a few more than I have seen in previous visits with a small group settled beside the pier.
A scan produced 20 odd Common terns and 4 Roseates, 3 of which where juveniles. But a few terns took off before I reached a safe viewing point so there was more in the area this evening especially with 3 Juv. Rosies being settled here.

Highlight wader wise tonight was 4 Sanderling...always nice to watch!.

And this Juvenile had me looking a few times at it, very small compared to all the other Juveniles here. A late offspring from Common terns to show here at this time of year, all others are well more advanced now.

Pleased to say the locally bred Tuftie young-uns (2) are looking bigger by the day and have done well to survive the Herring gulls.

Trow Quarry, don't ya just love the place.

A lie in this morning was interupted by my mobile phone going off, a text first and then a missed call. Jan my better half quickly made me aware of this..."Sounds like ya missing something" was her words as I opened my eyes. I quickerly got dressed and dashed out of the door after reading the text from Jason alerting me to Woodchat Shrike in Trow.!
Still half asleep and not really feeling my best I wandered into Trow on my usual route via the "Little Owl" tree and made my way around the cliff edges( a call from Dougie was had at this time but the conection was lost). The Shrike was sat on a outer branch of the Whitebeam tree as I rounded the bend into the main bowl area, camera out and clicked a few shots off..brilliant!.what a stunner I thought. Then I turned around to see a dozen or so lads viewing from the other side of the quarry,Oh shit! a quick retreat was made from the birds position towards the viewing folk....And thankfully the bird wasn't spooked as I would have been hung-drawn and quartered.

Ive been down here 3 times today and spent a canny few hours here, our lass enjoyed her first Woodchat and indeed her first Shrike!..

This shot was taken after the "Foghorn" left to go in search of Whinchats which where in the area earlier today. This view was the best many a folk had here of the bird after a few hours of waiting.. It showed really well in the open as it sat on a rock after going to ground for a canny while.

A view from the west end of the quarry today as it sat on top of a tree here with a Wheatear for company.
All in all, a fantasic experience viewing my second adult Woodchat and a pleasure to meet and rattle with folk local and others who have had their passports stamped.