Wheatear?

No more reports of 'Desert Wheatear' at Cresswell? I wonder if common sense prevailed, after all, November is still a long way off. The three I've seen in Northumberland were - Bamburgh 14th December 1997, Cresswell 7th November 1999 and Holy Island 3rd November 2005. The only other I've seen was at Musselburgh, 7th December 1997. August may be a tad early especially after constant westerlies for 3 weeks...

Some notes from the diary of 11 years ago...




Two Desert Wheatears in a week...



And the Holy Island one for the 2005 Annual Report...

I'd like one at Boulmer thats for sure...

Shhhh....its oh so quiet....

Holy Island revisited. Today I was on the island at 7.30am with some slight hope of finding a Wryneck ( mmm, my favourite [no Doc, I don't eat 'em]). I should have said 'no hope' of a Wryneck.

The dune slacks at Snook, Chare Ends and Excavations were yomped and the Straight Lonnen and Vicars Garden were also visited with little to show.

Still, I do enjoy the remoteness and the wide open space. Out in the dunes near the Excavations the silence hurt. No cars, voices, aeroplanes, bird song or anything at all really. Even the wind and sea were silent. I had to swallow to pop my ears it was so quiet. Fantastic. Only the soft drone of a passing bee stopped me thinking I'd gone deaf...



Above - Snook House. Click and you can see the name above the door. A good spot for migrants but only when the shutters are closed, the owner is a tad sensitive...



Snook Slack. The haunt of many past drift migrants....



One of the very few migrants seen this morning, a Willow Warbler. I had 4 of these plus 4 Goldcrests and a single Robin out in the dunes.



Above - This is Pirri-pirri, a plant originally from New Zealand that grows here in profusion. Believed to have arrived here from the sea after seeds were imported to Berwick on sheep's wool several hundred years ago. Its a nightmare to get off fleeces / socks etc if you sit down, and what ever you do, don't take a dog in the autumn...



Above - A few Fox Moth caterpillars were around...



As were these clusters of Buff-Tip Moth caterpillars. The books say that these moths inhabit woods and hedgerows. Not many woods or hedgerows out here, but in Ireland they favour coastal areas so its not unprecedented...



Above - A 'galaxy' of star shaped Grass of Parnassus flowers brightened the flat areas between dunes.



Above - The warm humid weather had several butterflies on the wing, best being 2 Graylings, in with 2 Wall, 10+ Meadow Brown and lots of Peacocks and Red Admirals.



And finally the Straight Lonnen was only passable in wellies so was ideal for this chap...

Not many birds. You watch there'll be fall tomorrow after this heavy rain tonight.

Above - Good local patch birds, Whinchats...


A few of the lads were suggesting an easterly this morning but up here it was just a SSW1. Dull and overcast.

At Seaton Point a Whinchat was nice with 4 male Stonechats and further along a family of 1 male 1 female and 2 juvvy Stonechats brought the total to a respectable 8 birds.

1 Whitethroat was the only other migrant seen but a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying high N, was a good bird here as they are barely annual...

A Stoat crossed the road near the caravan site.

Friday 29th August 2008

Ruddy Darter.


Today was overcast and humid with a light W3.

At lunchtime I gave Cresswell Pond a half hour scan. It was quite good...

A Merlin was perched up on some clods of earth in the field across the north end of the pond and showed well in the scope before dashing off north. A good show of waders included 1 juv Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, 8 Knot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Black tailed Godwit and 16 Dunlin. My first returning Goldeneye was here along with 8+_ Wigeon a Little Grebe and a Common Tern.

At Ashington Community Woodland there were 2 Southern Hawkers ( do they ever land!), 6+ each Common and Ruddy Darters, 10 Emerald Damsels...4+ Peacocks and 2 Walls were the only Butterflies and 4 Crossbills flew over the tree tops.

A walk at the north end of Boulmer tonight had 4 Black tailed Godwits with 7 Bar tails in the flock of 234+ Curlews. Black tails are scarce here as there is no fresh water, these were out on the rocks...

Another pleasant evening with a W5 breeze. Tonights walk around Seaton Point had 42 Ringed Plover, 27 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Stonechat and a Whitethroat.

Its about time we had a change in this westerly weather pattern ( though I bet they don't think that on Cape Clear after Yellow Warbler, Northern Waterthrush and Solitary Sandpiper all in one day). Go on give us a swing 'round to the east, north or at least a high pressure movement of shearwaters...

Golden Sheep...

The light was very strange this evening at Boulmer, the sunshine and stormy sky bathed everything in a golden glow. The Painted Lady at the bottom was from Saturday and taken on my phone...

Final China post on BB Extra!....

But here is a selection of pics of those who made my trip so enjoyable...oh and a few of me too....





The only time I use a fork. Scrutiny of other pics will see chopsticks constantly...



The footpath up the great wall is not for the faint hearted...no health and safety barriers here...




Mr Biggs. A low point in his birding career.



Above - Tristrams Bunting 'spot the ball'...see where they are looking? theres one in there...



Above - Rob, Rich and Andy getting some air after a slog around the island. This is our hut. 5 star accomodation eh.



Above - Mr Biggs on the far left. The person far right in red is Klaus Malling Olsen the author of many i.d works including 'Gulls: an identification guide'.



Above - Freddy Kruger takes some notes. Something not many people do nowadays...



Above - Yours truly and Ipin. Me having an attack after seeing a Needletail...



Sock tree in flower...



Above - A fat, crap Lars Jonsson.



Above - Richie, Luxemburger and Rutter in contemplative mood...



Party Time - From the left -Luxemburger #1, Ipin, Tom, Andy, Jesper (standing), me, Rob, Rutter, Richard and Lux #2.




Above - Rutter and Tom, silly Buddas. Thats them in the front.



Above - As the early starts take a toll, JWR decided that he would just go to bed ready for the off...



And finally a happy ending from all...thanks to Tom Cadwallender for the people pics...

The End.

Today was fine and sunny with some cloud early on but warm and clear later. Mod SW4.

I met up with ADMc at Cresswell at 7.30am. A good show of waders were gathered at the noth side of the causeway - 2 Little Stints, 35 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 15+ Knot, 2 Black tailed Godwit, 12+ Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper plus 600+ Lapwings.



Above - Little Stint.




Above - A selection of waders, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Lapwing and Redshank.


8 Wigeon were back on the pond and 10+ Gadwall were scattered amongst the Mallard. Around the edges were 3 Grey Partridge, 2ad and 2 juv Stock Doves, 1 Swift flew S, 1 Wheatear was on a fence post.

All of the birds gathered here had attracted the attention of several raptors - 1 juv Marsh Harrier, 1 juv and 2 ad Peregrines put on a great display harassing the flocks of waders and a Kestrel flew over.

Next stop was along at East Chevington. The water levels here are very high leaving no mud exposed for waders. The first thing of note seen was a large dog Otter swimming along the reeds on the south pool. At one stage he took an unhealthy interest in a Mallard and two young Moorhens before they flew off.



Above - Druridge Bay. Note the Bank Holiday crowds...


1 Sparrowhawk was hunting the Alders, 1 juv / female type Pintail flew over, 1 Little Egret was on the north pool, a Buzzard soared over distantly and a female Merlin dashed overhead. A Vapourer Moth caterpillar was new to me.



Above - Vapourer Moth caterpillar.



Above - Autumn Gentian.


Loads of Peacock butterflies were on the wing as well as 2 Walls and afew late Meadow Browns. 2 Common Darters were along the tracks.

In the dunes a few spikes of Autumn Gentian were in flower.

Back at home at lunchtime, 2 Buzzards were over our garden and a Sparrowhawk chased the Collared Doves.





Above - Red Admirals and Orange Hawkweed in our garden.

We took Bunty along to Brizlee Moor for a walk seeing 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and another Sparrowhawk, 15+ Red legged Partridges and a Red Grouse.





Above - Brizlee Crags and Moor.



The raptor total for today was good with -

Marsh Harrier 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine 3
Sparrowhawk 4
Buzzard 5
Kestrel 3