Altitude

A week of walking beckons in Switzerland - day one producing e pecten species, nutcracker, crested & willow tit, crag martin etc. hope to get up to the higher ground to try for more alpine species...

Chesty

A late morning - early afternoon potter up the coast with Mark produced a fair selection, given the time of year. First stop was Cresswell - a Pectoral Sandpiper had been found the day previously, and was still showing today, albeit on the northern edge of the north pool. Record shots only today, but I can't complain as I've had better Pecs' in the past.

Avocet still present at Cresswell along with yellow wagtail, and a bit further north, long-eared owl was only heard today. Marsh harrier were noted in a couple of localities,with both a male and female seen.

No sign of the apparently still present red backed shrike at East Chevington in "early spring" rather than "mid summer" conditions...

Distant Pec Sand

& another

 Not got out today, so a final long eared owl to pass the time.

Another

Another picture of the LEO from this morning.

A bike ride this afternoon produced a little owl too... but no camera was to had. Still, a good day all round!

Been back, now listen up.

Second stop of the morning produced some nice prolonged views of long-eared owl, along with the sounds of hungary youngsters in a nearby plantation. A few images were obtained as the adult hovered near by, heres' a quick one off the camera card...

In the red

First stop this morning provided a nice male red backed shrike... Too far for the "proper" camera, so an iPhone record shot. Not very good at this phone scoping mullarky!

In a hole

iPhone pic of a mole foraging on the roadside today!

Out of the reeds...

Another trip to Hadston this afternoon, this time with Mark. Settled conditions and a bit of sunshine were more favourable, with the marsh warbler singing out in the open for most of our visit. Mimicry today included chaffinch, blackbird, sedge warbler, house sparrow and oystercatcher.

The "Reed" Warbler...

Spent a pleasant couple of hours trying to get images of the very vocal Hadston marsh warbler this afternoon. The clouds had lifted and the rain ceased, but the wind speed was not complimentary to a singing warbler - with the majority of viewing of the bird low in the reeds/scrub.

Most views were mid-range, but on a couple of instances he came very close - only to be obscured by reed!

Still, not often you get good views of marsh warbler, so thou shalt not complain... Lots of mimicry too, with barn swallow, blackbird, oystercatcher and common tern all thrown in for good measure!

Ard

With a dip in Hartlepool mid week, a no go for the rustic ... Saturday was saved by 2 Pochard at Arcot Pond this afternoon. It really is that bad!!

More creamy than red

A mini-twitch to West Hartford this afternoon did not provide the hoped-for red kite that Phil had a little while earlier, but a fly through female marsh harrier was new for 2012.

Several whitethroat, sedge warbler etc kept us going while we scanned the skyline to the north, while on the pool 4 shelduck and 2 coot remain.

After nights

A week of nightshift complete, so a cycle to West Hartford was in order to blow the shackles of the heavy head away.

Rather quiet today, but a couple if garden warbler singing strongly was nice. 4 shelduck off and in the pool and maybe two pair of sedge warbler now. Grasshopper warbler still elusive and silent.

Water levels are still high, and the two oystercatcher that dropped in couldn't find a shore to their liking and promptly carried on after circling and skimming the pool.

Little by little

Caught up with little owl this afternoon on a pleasant bike ride through Cramlington, plenty of yellowhammer too.

Not hearing much in the way of sedge or grasshopper warbler though...