Monday 28 April 2014

All gone a Wry

News that the Wryneck was still in Whitley Bay was too much of a draw to resist, so my first stop this morning was Whitley Bay Cemetery.  After searching with other birders for about an hour with no sign, it wasn’t looking good.  Then just as I was thinking about giving up it popped up right in front of me.  Then it was a case of catching the attention of other birders to get them onto the bird.  Although once found it showed superbly for everyone to get really good views and photos.



 I then headed to Druridge Pools.  Viewing from the budge hide the Great White Egret flew in and landed in front of the South facing hide.  So I ‘hot-footed’ it round there to find that the Egret had moved out into the middle of the budge field., where it stayed the whole time I was there.  Other birds of note were a couple of White Wagtails and good numbers of Whimbrel mixing with the Curlew and Black-Tailed Godwit.

Driving slowly back towards Creswell pond with my window down I heard a call from the side of the road which I recognised.  I stopped the car and looked back over my shoulder to see a stunning male Yellow Wagtail sitting on the fence, but as I reached for my camera it flew off into the field.  Passing the little burn near Bells farm I heard the call again although I couldn’t see anything, then another male Yellow Wag came out from the burn and flew off into the same field.      

Thursday 24 April 2014

Sunny Druridge

I had a nice trip up to Druridge Bay yesterday with my first stop being at Cresswell Pond.  I only had a quick look at the North end of the pond hoping for Yellow Wagtail, but unfortunately with no luck.  I didn’t even see any Avocet although other birders had seen them.  There were a few Wheatears in the cow fields between Hemscott Hill and Druridge Pools.  On the Budge field the only bird of note was a Little Ringed Plover that flew off high to the North.  In the field to the North of the big pool the Egyptian Goose was feeding with the Curlew.  There were also a few migrants with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat all singing.


                                                 
Next stop East Chev, where a Stoat was lurking around the rabbit burrows next to the path.

                                    
A walk around the East end of the South pool produced my first Sedge Warbler of the year.  I also had three Marsh Harriers including a fly-through 'cream crown' and the regular pair drifting around the South pool.

                                 
Driving out of East Chev I had a nice Lesser Whitethroat singing from the hedge at the side of the bumpy road.