The small biggie.

A quiet June for me -  predominanly lacking luck:

Great Reed Warbler - dipped on the flowing morning
Black-winged Pratincole - like many, arrived in the Bay to late.

Highlights? Few and far between - The Great White Egret at Hauxley was nice (along with the weird goose assemblage), local Bearded Tit, Spoonbills, Little Egrets, Barn Owls and Little Gulls all nice.

Strangely the "biggie" was a "little-y" - after the fluke trip to Manchester last month coinciding with the Elton Reservoir Little Bittern, this morning saw me on vigil at Gosforth Park, a few mere miles from home watching, albeit brief, another fine male Little Bittern flying access the lake.


No smell of roses at Byker, I failed to locate the rose-coloured starling mid morning... perhaps it will be re-located.

Beard, Neck, Throat etc.

Spent an hour or two up at East Chevington on a blustery "spring" morning with Mark. Some decent birding was had, with the long staying Red-necked Grebe, three Long-tailed Duck, a quick visit from the Black-throated Diver and, more surprisingly a fly-by Bearded Tit.

On the beach, a couple of Snow Bunting provided entertainment, with a lonesome Whooper Swan on the sea..

iPhoned male Snow Bunting...

And some iphoned video...