Sunday, August 12, 2007





Above - Goldfinch and Linnet on thistles.

Out early today to beat the holiday crowds. Yesterday 13 cars were at Boulmer north end with as many in the main car park. It doesn't sound much but when you are used to being almost alone here most of the year, the place feels like Blackpool!

Some light drizzle early on, brighter later with a light W2.

I intended to give the patch a good seeing to after some neglect over recent weeks ( ooh er missus.) Started off at 0600 by checking the golf course roadside bushes, then moving to the haven car park and on to the North End before finally checking along the runways. Back home in time for a late breakfast while watching Countryfile.

The whole place had a decidedly quiet feel to it this morning now that the birds have stopped singing. Of note today -
1 Greenshank dropped in on to the beach with Redshanks briefly before flying off south, Snipe 1 flew W, 55 Ringed Plover, 16 Dunlin, 35 Redshank, 16+ Turnstone, 350 Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 summer plumaged Grey Plover, the first of the winter!, 1 Red throated Diver, 18 Goosander, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 11 Stonechats, 4 Tree Sparrows, 80+ Linnets, 10+ Goldfinch, 15+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk female caught a Starling only yards in front of me and was so startled it dropped it and the Starling flew off.

At Alnmouth, 2 Green Sandpipers were still present, today on the tiny pond between the waterworks and the cricket club, 2+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Willow Warblers, Mallard with 3 new ducklings, 1 Stock Dove, 15+ Pied Wagtails and 3 Teal.

126. Greenshank.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sounds so sad when you say the birds have stopped singing. Our housemartins have a wonderful nest in the eves just above a window in our guest room. Unfortunately, they have also made a terrible mess on the window which isn't going to be easy to clean as it's on the three storeys up!

Beautiful photographs again.

Crystal xx

Stewart said...

Hi Crystal, the next singing we will hear will be the sad song of a Robin after the moult, usually late September.
Nice to hear about the HMs, bare with them, I know they are messy but they need every suitable site. They're worth it, I wish I had them!

Cheers S...

darrell j prest said...

arggh,you have more birds in day than i have in a month,
love the drawings

Stewart said...

Cheers Darrell, I'll flush a few your way!