Fenham Flats again

Fenham Flats again

The year moves on and WeBS for September was today, the sky was clear and there was a warmth to the air. As happened last month the first birds picked out were a small group of 3 Little Egrets and as I moved out to the point more birds made their presence known, including a single Greenshank as it "chew,chew,chew'd" overhead. More unusual for the site was a single Green Sandpiper in the dunes, when I reached the point I was greeted with the sight of a huge flock of 770 Oystercatchers on the sand, on the island just offshore were gathered a mixed flock of 354 Bar-tailed Godwits and 222 Redshank along with smaller numbers of Knot,Eiders and yet more Oystercatchers. A noisy interlude was provided by 21 Arctic Terns and a small group of 5 Little Terns. As I headed back I could hear an unmistakable sound which heralds the  autumn as a flock of 340 Pale-bellied Brent Geese landed on the flats, this autumnal feel was reinforced by the sight of 940 Wigeon on the water near Elwick hide, what other time of year could you get Arctic Terns and Brent Geese on the same walk.   

Ruff time on the A1

News of a  Pectoral Sandpiper at Charlton Mires tempted me away from more pressing work in the garden for an afternoon. There were a dozen Ruff probing the mud, outnumbered by forty to fifty Lapwings. A couple of Snipe, a Little Ringed Plover and of course excellent views of the 'star of the show' completed the wader roll-call. 
The seasonal pool is viewable from the side of the A1 just south of Brownieside close to the dog kennels. It's not the most peaceful place to bird.... but well worth a visit while these seasonal visitors are there.

Fenham Flats

Fenham Flats

Today was my monthly trip to Fenham Flats to do a WeBS count. The day started well with a flock of 7 Little Egrets just east of Elwick hide, the weather seemed to be holding as I headed in the direction of Guile Point, by the time I got there the sun was out and I spent well over an hour counting birds, the highlight being 17 Little Terns secreted amongst the larger group of 43 Arctic Terns and 3 Common Terns. Numbers of waders really have increased since my visit last month and included 172 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30 Ringed Plover, 96 Curlew and smaller numbers of Grey Plover, Sanderling, Knot and Redshank. No sign of any early Geese but a Peregrine was seen hunting over the dunes.  

Garden list addition

Garden list addition

After a lovely day at Greenleighton Quarry looking at Flowers and Butterflies it was back to the garden for something new. As we stood watching young Chiffchaffs and Blue Tits our attention was drawn to a small red tailed bird on the window ledge only a couple of feet away, it was a female Redstart, soon she was joined by a second female. What happened next was unusual ,in that they both then proceeded to feed a speckled looking juvenile Redstart which had appeared on the gravel. Over the last few days we have seen glimpses of a Redstart in the garden but never more than one, so this behaviour was a real bonus. 

Norfolk or Northumberland?

Spoonbills, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Marsh Harriers, Reed Warblers......... you could be forgiven for thinking that you were in Norfolk rather than the south-east of Northumberland.... but the climate-assisted northward drift of these species in recent years is making such a list more likely and more accessible. Yesterday, we enjoyed good sightings of all of these birds,seeing the four spoonbills currently at Druridge Pools from the Budge Hide, whilst at least eight Avocets and over fifty Black-tailed Godwits were close to the hide at Cresswell, along with the brief appearance of a couple of Reed Warblers. Equally enchanting were the Little Gulls also present just in front of the hide, mainly immature first summer birds but at least a couple of more mature birds in smart summer plumage with jet black heads and a pinkish tinge to the breast. We counted fifteen, but there have been daily variations of up to 23 birds reported from a couple of days back.

Nocturnal activities

The weather was mild, dry and just a light breeze so we set off for Holburn Moss. The midges were few and far between as we settled down next to the shelter of the trees with good views across the Moss, after a short wait we could hear a Green Woodpecker yaffling behind us and the constant screeching of Gulls on the wetter area. As the midges began to build we finally heard the noise we had been waiting for, a far carrying, churring, as a Nightjar sang in the gloom. Soon a second bird joined in from nearer the middle of the Moss and there perched on a bare branch was the source of these evocative sounds, after a few minutes it decided to fly and it's long narrow wings and distinctive flight gave us our last images of the evening, it was 11.00 pm and we then headed home for a further 2 hours moth trapping. 

A trip down south

A trip down south

As it was the last day of our holidays we decided on a trip to Wykeham  Forest near Scarborough, we arrived at 10.15 about 15 minutes later than we had hoped due to traffic, note the time it is important.
On reaching the raptor watch point we were soon viewing a low flying Honey Buzzard, this was soon followed by several Goshawks some of them at quite close range as they circled ,swooped and dived at great speed , territory marking with their white lower tail coverts spread. The morning raced by with Common Buzzards putting in an appearance along with more views of Goshawk, meanwhile Tree Pipits sang from the surrounding branches.
After a brief lunch break we walked along the road into the forest in the direction of the tree nursery and were soon hearing the soft purring calls of Turtle Dove, a species which is under real threat but seems to be fairly reliable at Wykeham.
Back to the view point but very little to see, the clear sunny morning turning into a sultry, hazy afternoon,but a Green Woodpecker was heard from the valley below.
Finally why was it important to remember our arrival time?, well at 10.03 , 11 minutes before we got there some lucky observers were treated to a fly over White Tailed Eagle, isn't traffic annoying!