DDDip. Drip.

Highly unsuccessful trip out on Saturday, south of the Tyne to Teesside (no sign of the semipalmated sandpiper nor temminks stint at Saltholme).

The real reason for a trip to Saltholme RSPB

Closer to home, we managed to avoid any contact with the bonaparte's gull at Whitburn. So that was a complete result.

Then it rained. Alot.

After the storm...

Wonderful West Hartford...

I took a bike ride out to West Hartford this afternoon after a really heavy rain shower had bombarded Cramlington for a half our or so. The immediate effects of the rain can be seen in the two photographs of the Horton Burn (below) - but more of West Hartford first...

I'd thought that there may be the chance of a wader or two after the down pour, and that water levels on the flash would have been greater - alas no to both theories - no waders (as such, oystercatcher don't count in this equation), as the "water" equated to a few puddles... A few pied wagatail fed on the mud, but it was raptors that provided the entertainment - 1 water-logged buzzard sat miserable in the hawthorns, while in the distance a hobby was flycatching over the course of the River Blyth. 2nd consecutive year that I've had this species here. A few texts and call were made to the Cramlington birders and not long later I was joined by LMcD / GM.  No repeat of the hobby during our vigil, but 1 sparrowhawk and a couple of kestrel were noted up till late afternoon.

Otherwise WH was quiet - a single great spotted woodpecker was working the dead trees that edge the main flash and an occassional stock dove made an appearance with the wood pigeon. 9 mallard flew out of the marsh but that was about it!

The Horton Burn had been the instigator of my trip out - having passed over it coming back from a shopping trip it was clear that the volume of rain water had swollen the river course - most of the housing estate storm water drains into the burn - and has an instant effect - !



Horton Burn - just after the rain storm



Horton Burn - a couple of hours later!

17

With continued reports of storm petrel off the north-east coast I headed back out today, arriving at Hartley just before 16:00.

Took a gamble with the location, but I figured that birds being reported off St Mary's and Seaton Sluice could be picked up from the cliff top inbetween...

Indeed they were, with the scope fixed above a feeding party of guillemot the first flew into view, and one and a half hours later a minimum of 17 had moved through. One bird lingered throughout, feeding between fishermens marker flags, while one scope view contained three. Result!

Otherwise it was quiet - six manx shearwater headed north, a small party of common scoter too. Kittiwake were numerous as were gannet. Again no skua sp., two red-throated diver...

Snab 2_4_10

A drive up the coast this afternoon saw me park up at Snab Point, just south of Cresswell. News from earlier in the day has suggested that there could be stuff worth seeing, and indeed my two and three quarter hour visit was moderately successful, particularly as I could sea-watch from the relative comfort of my car.

So, the main quarry - that's the "2" reference; with two storm petrel - the first at 15:11, drifting north ~ not the best view as it fluttered between the wave troughs, but suffice to remind me how small a species it is! The second was picked up at 15:52, this time a few meters closer to shore and a more prolonged view over the top of the impressive breaking waves. A result, especially when I consider that the last time I saw this species was in 1989!!!. Better numbers had been reported in the morning from nearby Newbiggin, but I shall not complain.

4 ~ the number of drake velvet scoter noted - all flying north, with two of them immediately following the stomies.

10 ~ manx shearwater. I had expected to pick more of these but they were sufficiently scarce this afternoon. Although not as scarce as any skua sp. - not a sniff of any!

Otherwise there was a steady stream of gannet, kittiwake, commic terns, sandwich tern along with guillemot and an occasional razorbill and red-throated diver.... all rather pleasant. 

North Potter

A sunny afternoon saw me head north to Hauxley, where I stood on the reserve perimeter not hearing or seeing what I had intended to see. Or hear.

Compensation was in the form of a sleepy 2s spoonbill that arrived on the seaward pool. It only raised its' head once as the resident grey-lag geese paraded past ~ suprising how "small" spoonbill are when you see the two species side by side. 1 bar-tailed godwit and three whimbrel were also noted on this rather lazy visit.

Little to report...

As rare as a "Turkish Robin" (it still huts), here's a blog update. Basically work has predominated June so birding has been very limited - and in fashon true to form the birding pace has weakend with all the migrants settling to breed. West Hartford has been visited but there is nothing to report! Arcot this morning was better, with me finally making the effort to "twitch" a Cramlington rarity - Phil had found this little egret earlier in the week ~ and it looks rather settled this morning, roosting and observing from the trees in the south west corner of the pool.
The water levels here are decreasing, so waders could be a real possibility later in July...

Mex-bits

Social Flycatcher

Tropical Mockingbird

Plain Chachalaca

Ornate Hawk Eagle



Great Kiskadee



A poor holiday photo-wise, small lens and wary subjects...

Double Whammy!

Right Place (Mexico). Wrong Time (6th June).

No ticking of a door-step mega-robin for me ~ I was too busy trying to photograph hooded oriole without any vegetation in the way (I failed...).



Another Journey...

27-29 May was spent birding Norfolk on trip 2 of the "10 days 10 years" project that John, Mark, Rob and I are undertaking.

2010 had been spent birding Mull and Iona, so this years change of location was sure to add more species to the modest 200 species target for the 10 trips.  On Saturday we were guided by Ian, a friend of Johns' from his Minsmere wardening days in the 80s. I could drivel on for ages with species at each site but instead heres' a quick summary of localised, East Anglia specialities seen... (and seen by all four of us - it doesn't count if we all don't connect!)

Bittern (several in prologed flight at Lakenheath)
Cettis Warbler (including a "shower")
Bearded Tit
Golden Oriole
Hobby
Stone Curlew
Nightingale
Nightjar
Woodcock
Tree Pipit
Redstart
Honey Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Red Kite
Barn Owl
Little Owl
Firecrest (JBs listening for one in the BW photo!)
Little Stint
Little Ringed Plover
Mediterranean Gull
Little Gull
Black Tailed Godwit
Shorelark (a single late bird)
Red-crested Pochard
Egyption Goose
Curlew Sandpiper


No Turtle Dove were seen by the four, nor Woodlark could be found...

The 3rd 10 day day 10 year trip will hopefully be in the coming winter... more on that then.

Bank holiday Monday was spent catching up with the unphotographable terek sandpiper at Hauxley... judging by the pager reports today I've been lucky!

Spoooonbill

Four spoonbill graced Druridge today - so I headed up for a look this afternoon after an early-shift at work. A little distant on the budge field, and amazingly they were awake for some of my visit.

Meanwhile at West Hartford this evening 2, then 4 ringed plover were joined by a single little-ringed plover ~ nice to catch one here in the Spring...

4

...Wood sandpiper at West Hartford this evening, plus Phils' earlier found cracking whinchat (good spring record), 2 wheatear, a pair of ringed plover & shelduck

Warblers still warbling - grasshopper, sedge, willow, chiffie, whitethroat...

All good stuff.

7

4 of 7...

West Hartford held an impressive seven wood sandpiper this morning, the highest I've seen at one time there. Supporting cast included a single redshank, oystercatcher, two shelduck, circa 5 reeeling grasshopper warbler, sedge warbler, chiffchaff, willow warbler, whitethroat, swift, house martin, barn swallow, reed bunting and a lone female northern wheatear.

Chillax!

Taking it easy in the spring sunshine, Dunnock style...