The week that was...

It's been a great week for birding - both locally and further afield. The roller-coaster that birding can be sometimes...

2 county ticks for me - an overdue purple heron and county first: 1s male collared flycatcher

County bird of the year?

A selection of smashing year-ticks: surf scoter, king eider, white-billed diver, black throated diver, ptarmigan, capercaillie, crested tit, golden eagle, great white egret.

Some great birds at West Hartford too! ~ black-tailed godwit, little ringed plover, ringed plover, wood sandpiper... whatever next?

Great encounter with Ptarmigan on Cairngorm

Eight Osprey seen during Highlands visit

Obliging king eider - a stunning sea duck

Pristine great-white egret

Collared Flycatcher, Low Newton

It was an early evening dash up the coast for the splendid 1s male collared flycatcher at Low Newton... news had broke just as evening meal preparations had begun, so it was a somewhat long hour and a three quarters before the twitch commenced - departing at 18:50.

Easy to see on arrival, the flycatcher was favouring the hedge opposite the tin church, resplendent in early evening sunlight. Great viewing but tricky for the camera, a tad distant. The fence line of the horse field was great in respect that it enforced an orderly watch-point, enabling the migrant to feed without any hassle.

As the sun set the flycatcher made a very quick foray to the near fence line enabling some ok record shots to be taken, albeit at ISO1250... The first two images here were amongst the last to be taken (20:10hrs).

Earlier on while the sun was out, the flycatcher remained a bit further up the hedge - strong contrasting light again making photography a mild challenge. However, fantastic viewing ensued, and it was good to catch up with some fellow Northumbrian birders - a county tick for all and a lifer for some.

Late Decision / Good Decision

A late evening decision on a week of early shift - worth it though!

Hot under the collar

It certainly was on Sunday at least, with a productive visit to Crail, Fife for the 1st summer male collared flycatcher! my first tick of 2009, this was a delightfully convenient species catch up with, especially as I missed an opportunity while away in Thailand. Newton Stringer described the Portland bird with "PHOOOAAAARRRR !!" - I'll agree with that description now!!

A very attractive bird, but very active and tricky to photograph as it flitted between fly-catching missions. I was surprised at how "white" the bird was, with extra large wing patches and a very pale grey patch on it's back. When the bird did sit still it would either be concealed by foliage or at the back of the copse! So record shots it is...

Collared Flycatcher - it's up there somewhere!

"Showing well" ....at the back of the trees

Checking us out

The journey home was broken up with a quick pop into Druridge, where an adult spoonbill was feeding on the pool adjacent to the south facing hide. Nice to see a full adult for once - recent birds have tended to be first summer. I love the yellow tones on the crest!