A grand morning in Cramlington, with Liverbirders drake scaup collected at Arcot - a Cramlington first for me (and the bike for that matter). The cycle to West Hartford was little owl-less, but an encounter with LMcD was good value as always.
West Hartford produced a little ringed plover - always good to get in spring, while the cycle home was broken up with a check of the wheatear fields at East Hartford - 1 male and 2 female this morning.
Warblers today included willow, chiff, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, blackcap and grasshopper. Still not managed a sedge, but plenty time for that.
Work commitments prevented a trip back to West hartford for the wood sandpiper - hopefully I'll catch up with one later.
Bags now packed, a trip is about to happen!
Showing posts with label Northern Wheatear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northern Wheatear. Show all posts
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Saturday, 20 April 2013
How the mighty fall
Back in April 2004 West Hartford struck patch-gold, with a single Avocet on what was, the new flash.
Fast forward to 2013 and the lone record is something of a distant memory as West Hartford's apparently resident Liverbirder picks up not one but two.
A great patch record - and not the news that I wanted whilst in Newcastle procuring vinyl.
Three hours later and I'm there, somewhat short of breath as the cycle ride (had to take the bike for the list!) into the wind was an effort.
The 2 elegant waders spent their time in the middle / far side of the pool - so record shots with the mighty compact will suffice.
The cycle ride back home was easier, with the wind assisting the journey somewhat... stops at East Hartford produced 4 wheatear, and at the delightful place that is Boghouses, another - 5 is a good Cramlington total.
Fast forward to 2013 and the lone record is something of a distant memory as West Hartford's apparently resident Liverbirder picks up not one but two.
A great patch record - and not the news that I wanted whilst in Newcastle procuring vinyl.
Three hours later and I'm there, somewhat short of breath as the cycle ride (had to take the bike for the list!) into the wind was an effort.
The 2 elegant waders spent their time in the middle / far side of the pool - so record shots with the mighty compact will suffice.
The cycle ride back home was easier, with the wind assisting the journey somewhat... stops at East Hartford produced 4 wheatear, and at the delightful place that is Boghouses, another - 5 is a good Cramlington total.
Friday, 19 April 2013
Picking up
Spring may have finally sprung, with Cramlington year-ticks accumulated this afternoon and evening:
Willow warbler in full orchestral song at West Hartford this afternoon - maybe 5+ singing, two sand martin and a belated addition of Jay too.
Later, to the East of West, three wheatear in the ploughed field behind the football pitch - Cramlington birders duly alerted, though PA had clearly left the mobile at home.
At Laverock, a minimum of 4 tree sparrow on the territory side of the patch and a few barn swallow too.
Chiffies abundant... it's finally starting to happen...
Willow warbler in full orchestral song at West Hartford this afternoon - maybe 5+ singing, two sand martin and a belated addition of Jay too.
Later, to the East of West, three wheatear in the ploughed field behind the football pitch - Cramlington birders duly alerted, though PA had clearly left the mobile at home.
At Laverock, a minimum of 4 tree sparrow on the territory side of the patch and a few barn swallow too.
Chiffies abundant... it's finally starting to happen...
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Cor!
Corvids to be precise - hooded crow was a handy year tick today, having not yet ventured out of the county for 2012 birding. Not the easiest species to catch up with, so a bonus during a visit to Druridge Bay.
First stop had been at Woodhorn where a great grey shrike had been showing in the hedge near the church. I arrived ten minutes after it had lifted and flown over the road to the north.
Dipping continued at Druridge pools - I failed to locate the drake garganey, but a female marsh harrier gave decent views.
The hooded crow was next to Hemscott Hill and took an age to come into photographable range - it was nice light, not that the heat haze helped at all... A single sand martin flew through while I waited and flooded fields to the north held black-tailed godwit.
Meanwhile at Cresswell, 4 avocet fed in the northern part of the pool, and a male wheatear fed next to the path.
An alert of a male siberian stonechat on Holy Island was tempting (I still need this for Northumberland), but the timing wasn't quite right for a trip today...
Saturday, 7 April 2012
New arrivals and hangers on
A steady potter to Druridge Bay on a dull day produced a nice selection of new arrivals and hangers on.
Cresswell held 2 avocet and little else. The hoped for white wagtail could not be found on the north pool and a walk along the lane did not produce the common crane.
The journey to Druridge provided a male wheatear and some twite, while from the budge screen the 2 pintail remain and a male marsh harrier patrolled distant fields.
East Chevington produced a cream headed marsh harrier and 6 sandwich tern.
Refreshed with chips at Amble the return leg included a stop at Hauxley, where puffin covered the sea round Coquet Island (which had both Canada and grey lag geese on it), many gannet flew north and 3 barn swallow were my first of the year.
A final stop at Warkworth Lane delivered the most distant of distant common crane...
Not a bad trip out!
Cresswell held 2 avocet and little else. The hoped for white wagtail could not be found on the north pool and a walk along the lane did not produce the common crane.
The journey to Druridge provided a male wheatear and some twite, while from the budge screen the 2 pintail remain and a male marsh harrier patrolled distant fields.
East Chevington produced a cream headed marsh harrier and 6 sandwich tern.
Refreshed with chips at Amble the return leg included a stop at Hauxley, where puffin covered the sea round Coquet Island (which had both Canada and grey lag geese on it), many gannet flew north and 3 barn swallow were my first of the year.
A final stop at Warkworth Lane delivered the most distant of distant common crane...
Not a bad trip out!
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