Boulmer Black Reds.

 The last few weeks have been mainly dry with cool sunny spells. Overall the winter here has been much better than last year when it seemed to rain every week.

Since the last post, a few migrants have arrived in Northumberland but not many into my neck of the woods, still it makes them all the more enjoyable when they do arrive.

A couple of weeks past, Sunday 16th we spent the morning going over Boulmer. Highlights were few but its always a pleasure seeing and counting the common birds too. On this particular day, Great black backed Gulls seemed to be on the move with birds dotted all over plus small parties going north along the rock edges. I tend to over look these giants but I wish I had counted them now.

Also at sea, reasonable numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes on the move and in fishing parties offshore. Note to self, I need to look for our Kitti's on the home turf arriving any day.

Of the waders, 5 Grey Plover, 13 Bar tailed Godwits, 40 Sanderling were on the shore.

Incongrously, a nice tight party of 25 Siskins passed us as they headed North low along the beach.

A female Merlin gave a close fly past as it hunted the waders too, nicely lit by the morning sun.

While scanning the sea, a tiny bird too far off flutted across the waves, then all of a sudden it was gone? I thought Sand Martin, I could see some white on it? But surely that couldnt just vanish? Later in the afternoon when we were back at home, Ben and Mark had a Wheatear on Longhoughton Steel. I assume this was what I had seen making landfall out on the skeers? 

On 17th a walk from Howick to the Rumbling Kern had a small high tide roost of 33 Oystercatchers, 18 Turnstones, 7 Purple Sandpipers and 5 Redshank. 10 Kittiwakes were off shore, new for my local year list.

Over the rest of that week my notebook remained empty.

The weather changed for the better on the 21st with a light SE / E breeze for a day or two.

On the 23rd, John and myself walked the whole headland at Boulmer, sure to find a Wheatear or a Black Redstart maybe. After 4 miles, we were still looking...

Out on the rocks were good numbers of gulls in a mixed flock of around 300+ birds, but best of all hunkered down near two Black headeds was Northumberland's first 2025 Sandwich Tern. Lovely. It looked tired too...as the tide pushed in, it lifted a flock of 300 Curlews too.

A lone exposed hawthorn held a single migratory Goldcrest on its way back to the continent but we saw only one Robin on the whole headland, clearly there has been a big clear out here.

Back in the village it was time for a brew. Almost back at the cars we bumped into our friends Tom and Mu who were looking for the Sandwich Tern.   We chatted a while in the Lifeboat Hut car park when John stammered 'Look!. I turned to find a nice female Black Redstart on the deck only 20 feet away. Finally it flitted around a bit on the boats and tools before vanishing into local gardens. Excellent.

On Tues 25th this single Black Redstart had increased into 3 Black Redstarts reported by Ben. Now there was a nice adult male here too, found by John on Monday. I called in with the camera on my way to work seeing two birds but both were very flighty not allowing anywhere near a close enough approach. Also here 2 Chiffchaffs were in the 'thorny bushes' just N of the village.

 

 Saturday 29th, Kittiwakes were back on our cliffs with 150+ present. The now annual gathering of Razorbill at Cullernose Point held 33 birds at the bottom of the cliffs. They dont breed here, but are getting on the cliffs in increasing numbers each year.

Two parties of Whooper Swans flew N 22 and 9 birds followed by 50 Pink feet.

Yesterday we returned to Boulmer but it was blowing a disagreeable westerly all morning so little was seen. One female Black Redstart was still on the sea defences.

Local Update....

 It appears that spring came and went within a week, now we are back to winter weather.

Around my village patch things are slowly moving upwards. Since my last blog post 11 new additions have arrived - Greylag, Razorbill and Guillemot ( 15th Feb), Glaucous and Mediterranean Gulls ( 24th Feb), Stock Dove, Meadow Pipit, Whooper Swans, Water Rail, Chiffchaffs and Gannet ( all March) .

This brings the total to 87 sp for 1 .5 sq kms around my home.

The more usual Local Patch extends to double this area, 3 sq kms, stretching up the coast a bit. As it happens I haven't ventured too far from the smaller area so the wider patch can only add another 3 to the total - Shelduck, Purple Sandpiper and Greenfinch, all species I should get within the 1.5km boundary eventually. 

So, what targets can I realistically seek out the rest of this month? Things like Common Scoter, other wildfowl and some waders, like Dunlin or Sanderling passing, Lesser black backed Gull etc, mainly things that will repay further seawatches . On the land, Brambling, Peregrine, Raven have been secretive this year but may turn up.

The enjoyment of watching such a small area around home goes beyond just numbers on a list. The arrivals and activities of common birds can be appreciated too, for example through steady recording I noticed yesterday that the first singing Meadow Pipit was back on site rather than just flying over. A Magpie was nest building in village wood and also yesterday a Water Rail dashed across the lane in front of my car as I got back from work. All good stuff.

One conundrum cropped up in the dark the other night. About 7.30pm as I was getting into the car to collect a takeway, a bird called a few times over head on its way south. It stopped me in my tracks as it sounded very like a Stone Curlew. The thing about these nocturnal calls, because they remain unseen, there is always an element of uncertainty especially when there is the potential of it being a Common Curlew just making a different call. It wont be counted in any totals or submissions, but it does give a buzz of excitement regardless of its actual identity... 

Moths

 After a self enforced sojourn from mothing since early September last year, the weather was mild enough last night to expect more than a lone Pale brindled Beauty to enjoy in the morning.

Sure enough, I was pleased to find 40 guests in the trap comprising of 10 species. 

Taxa

Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella (Agonopterix heracliana agg.) 8

18.006 a moth (Rhigognostis incarnatella) 2

45.010 Beautiful Plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) 1

70.103 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 2

70.245 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 3

70.247 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 1

70.251 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 6

70.255 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1

73.242 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1

73.244 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 2

73.249 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 16

Particularly pleasing were two Rhigognostis incarnatella, a rare species here. I've only had one record in 15 years of a single in October 2021, a first for VC68 at that time, so to find two side by side in the box this morning was incredible.

To prove two individuals, here they are in matching twin pots...

Oak Beauty

Early Grey

Clockwise from top left - Pale brindled Beauty, Water Carpet, Beautiful Plume and Common Quaker

Ross's Goose Conundrum...

 During the hard winter of  2010,  on 3rd December I had an adult Ross's Goose drop into the field behind the Bathing House ( the White front field of recent weeks), Howick, Northumberland with 40 Pinkfeet and 5 Barnacle Geese. They only stayed for a short spell before heading off south again. This Ross's Goose had also been seen at Low Newton Pool on 29th November. 

Back then they were not accepted as wild birds so I did not write it up, however it was still recorded in Birds in Northumbria 2010, the annual report for the county in the section 'Birds of Unknown Origin'.

In that paragraph it is believed to be the same bird as that with Pinks at Doddington from 8th - 16th November which seems very plausible to me, but...

On checking the British Birds Report on Rare Birds 2023 Vol 117 Page 673 this bird is referred to as Bird N. See below - 

You can also see then that Bird N was in Norfolk at Burnham Market from 24th November 2010 to 16th March 2011 returning back to Doddington on 28th March 2011.. 

So there is a discrepancy here. Our bird cant be two places at once? How can the same bird be in Norfolk from November but in Northumberland in December? 

Two birds involved here... I might write it all up and submit it.

Local Patches with cake.

 I've mentioned before my new found use of the eBird app and site online. If nothing else it is a good way to focus the mind, particularly on quieter periods and in a local context.

Now that I am getting more used to it, I try to plan the month ahead, loosely, using the app to do more recording and list management. Here at Howick the plan is to get a full list of species counted maybe once a week, while adding extra species as needed on other days. This will ensure common species aren't overlooked in the quest for the cherry on the top which can often happen, and get records in at the same time. Its a win / win really.   

After taking advice from Ipin at Druridge, yesterday I've used one feature to set up local patches by linking known recorded sites within the patch.  This is a doddle and looks good. For example my own patch consists of 4 spots with in it - Craster, Cullernose Point, Howick Village and Coast, Howick Hall Gardens while the Boulmer patch is made up of Boulmer, Seaton Point and Foxton Golf Course. Both areas under 3.5 miles from home at the furthest point away.

 The majority of recording time is spent in these coastal areas with a lesser period, in better weather, at spots inland from here on moorland or forestry sites. I might even set up an 'Uber Patch' on eBird at sometime to see what all spots are like when linked.

As I am blabbing about Local Patches and Apps, the newly popular Bluesky platform, Twitter replacement app, has a feed called #Lowcarbonbirding that fits quite well with my latest fad. There are some interesting posts on there, often about local patching that had me thinking. It is surprising how many birders take on lengthy hikes in pursuit of ornithological goals. Distances of 15 km plus are quite regularly posted, on foot from home. I read these with mixed emotions varying from Wow! through Guilt to F. That! depending on mood. 15 km is a canny trek with birding gear too, that is time consuming if you add in stopping and watching slots. My walks are no more than about 5 km usually and that still takes a morning. Yesterday morning's amble was around Boulmer and up to Longhoughton Steel and back, a distance of 4.11 km. Sometimes we might double that on a good day.

My friend Alan, seems to know me a bit too well...so I felt the need to reply...

 So far February has not been too productive on the art front, something I must try to address...

Since my last post there have been some pleasant seasonal changes. From 5th Song Thrushes began singing here on fine mornings, always a good harbinger of spring, that one. Skylarks began on the same day. Lovely.

Song Thrush

Our 6 Russian Whitefronts were still hanging on til yesterday when a farm worker and dog went through the field flushing them off. What might have been them were seen flying S at Hauxley, down the coast at lunchtime. I will check to see a bit later.

A pair of Gadwall on the pond were the first of the year coinciding with the end of the shooting season disturbances. Its not just the actual killing and lead shot that causes wildlife problems, the noise from a score of people beating and blasting shotguns through the countryside does nothing to help things. A Kingfisher was almost a daily sighting here last week.

A Woodcock flighting out to feed was nice one evening and at the same time the back field Barn Owls could be heard hissing, though they remain elusive. Some reasonable numbers of birds in the village fields included 37 Curlew, 45 Oystercatcher and 14 Yellowhammers. Best though was a Little Egret flying low, south, from our drive, a rare bird here.

Buzzard

Gadwall

Kingfisher

Russian White fronted Geese

Yesterday our wander around Boulmer was in full overcast, cold and breezy conditions so there wasn't a great deal going on. An adult Mediterranean Gull was a highlight, plus another or the same Little Egret as above, 200+ Curlew, 11 Grey Plover, 14 purple Sandpipers, 50 Linnets, 2 Fieldfares and the first Gannets of the year with 10 birds moving N.

 I will end with some stats off eBird - 

My usual Howick - Craster Patch - 

YL- 80   Feb - 71

My village small area within the above, about 1.5 sq km - 

YL - 75    Feb - 59 

Boulmer with much less coverage -

YL- 64    Feb - 54

 

Russians arrive...

 Been keeping local recently after the flurry of county twitches earlier in the year.

As you can imagine, it has quietened off somewhat but there is still a few bits and pieces to keep the interest up. I'm also trying to use ebird for my patch birds as a way to keep up with a year list and to provide records that I might not otherwise have.

On the plus side, apart from an odd hurricane force storm, the weather seems to be better than last year too. By late Jan 2024 we were already up to Storm Isha ( they are named alphabetically) but at the same time in 2025 we only have Storm Eowyn...

So what has been seen....

Around the village, coast and pond, keeping a count of commoner species is a good thing to do. In this 1 sq km ( maybe 1.5 sq km) a flock of small birds in stubble comprised of 25 Yellowhammers approx, its hard to get them to sit still long enough, with 5 Reed Buntings and 65 Chaffinches, but no Bramblings this winter. Tree Sparrow numbers have declined too with usually only up to a dozen present. 55+ Linnets left the coast blackthorn roost this morning but arent feeding in with the stubble flock? and up to 12 Goldfinches present too.

A male Kingfisher is usually at the pond on days with better weather, sitting up along the back edge, fishing for sticklebacks.

An Alnwick Wildlife Group guided walk on the 18th added Fieldfare, Rock Pipits, Ringed Plover, up to 300+ Lapwings and 400+ Golden Plover while 7 Goldeneye were on the sea.

3 drumming Great spotted Woodpeckers were in the wood on 20th with a couple of Nuthatch and Treecreeper.

Short visits have been made to Boulmer and Craster over the last couple of weeks too where up to 18 Purple Sandpipers and 2 ad Mediterranean Gulls plus the resident hybrid Falcon still causing mayhem.

Without a doubt though, the highlight over the past week has been the presence of 6 Russian White fronted Geese in the field behind the Bathing House. A rare bird on my patch with only 3 previous records in 15 years and these are my first ones to be actually on the deck! Such a smart grey goose these are, well camouflaged in a field filled with molehills, they were all present and correct still this morning.

A Feast before the famine....

 Happy New Year folks and thanks for the concerned comments. After my last sickly post it still took another week or 10 days to get back up to speed making the whole sickness thing last maybe 2 or 3 weeks.

Hence the only things in my notebook over Christmas week were 3 Primrose plants in flower on Christmas Eve and a Kingfisher was a semi resident on the Pond while the first Snowdrop clump was in flower on 31^st. Despite our Estate being a nationally known Snowdrop collection with literally millions of plants, this is the first I've ever had before the New Year. So here goes with 2025....

 2025 came in like a lion with a strong W wind and rain in the afternoon of the 1st but since then Northumberland has been ‘the place to be’ nationally when it comes to some more unusual bird sightings.

 The famous Grey headed Lapwing, first seen in the county at Low Newton in May 2023 as a first British record, seemed to return when one arrived at East Chevington in December and remained for a month. Due to the incredible rarity of this species, this is likely a return of that first bird rather than being a second individual. Where has it been since May 2023 when it was last noted on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides is anyone’s guess.

 As already mentioned, due to one thing and another, I was late to this party, not calling in to pay my respects until 3^rd January when the bird was frequenting some damp field corner and taking advantage of invertebrates thrown out by some industrious moles making their soil mounds. It hung around until the final sighting on 9^th January. Will it resurface?

Figure 1: Grey headed Lapwing in Northumberland when it should be in SE Asia!

On the same day, another spot in Druridge Bay held no less than 5 Short eared Owls, male and female Hen Harriers, male and female Marsh Harriers, 3 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels. The same site saw the efforts of Northumbria Ringing Group, ring 9 Barn Owls along with 3 Short eareds and 2 Long eared Owls. 6 Barn Owls were ringed on one evening alone. Amazing!

Some proper wintry weather arrived on 5^th that seemed to shuffle things up -  a lot! Some snow and a strong E wind resulted in the arrival of several very rare species.

 On 8^th a juvenile White billed Diver showed well to all comers at Druridge Bay Country Park after first being seen on Cresswell Pond the day before. This, the largest of its tribe is rare here usually being seen flying past a headland, out to sea on its way back north. To get one on a fresh water body is an great record. Even more so as this same site ( exactly the same spot even) also hosted an ever rarer Pacific Diver on 21^st January 2017! The White billed remained until the rough seas abated and the freezing temps on 11^th almost completely froze the surface of the lake.  

 

Figure 2: Juvenile White billed Diver, DBCP.

 

Figure 3: White billed Diver, DBCP.

 On 8^th while we watched the Diver a message came through that an adult Ross’s Gull had flown N close in past Whitburn. These small arctic waifs always cause excitement, more so for those of a certain age who remember when these pink gulls were basically a myth or a fairy tale even. The Unicorn amongst seagulls. With some chattering between birders the hoped for happened when the gull was relocated feeding in the Tyne Estuary off South Shields Pier.

 Work commitments prevented me from going for the first two days but on Friday 10^th, as soon as an update was received I was off down to the Royal Quays Marina, North Shields where the bird was feeding in the river with about 30 Black headed Gulls. I was a bit lucky here as after 15 minutes of observation it flew with the flock away off up river towards Howdon and was not seen again from the North side. This is my 4^th Ross’s Gull but every one is as gripping as the last, you cant get enough of them.

 

Figure 4: Ross's Gull, adult, River Tyne Estuary North Shields.

 During January so far, when it seems as if another rarity is just around the corner, on Saturday 11^th a female Ring necked Duck arrived at DBCP with the Diver briefly before relocating to Widdrington Moor Lake as the country park froze over night. This little brown duck from America is only the second female of its kind to arrive in Northumberland though there have been more records of drakes.

 

Figure 5: Female Ring necked Duck, a rare North American wildfowl, Widdrington Moor Lake

 As if in support, an American Buff bellied Pipit was also present at Ross back sands at the same time, an even rarer bird, being only the second record ever for the county.

 What a spell for birders this last two weeks has been. Above are the birds I managed to catch up with, there were also others – Black Scoter, American Wigeon, Green winged Teal, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls that I didn’t have time to see plus Snow Buntings, Scaup, 3 Smew etc. A veritable feast for anyone who has an interest in birds.

What has made Northumberland the centre of the birding universe I couldn’t really say but the going has been great. No doubt normal service will be resumed soon…