From the Notebook...

Late for work...

2012-01-26T22:56:00.000Z

Its sometimes good to be late for work. This morning I was running a half hour or so behind schedule, and with a fallen tree reported to be blocking the route south via the coast I headed west towards the A1.

and this is what I saw for my trouble -

An absolutely pristine fully white Ermine scuffling through the base of the roadside hedge at Littlehoughton.

I spent the two very cold spells in 2010 looking for these in drifts of snow. When the snow melted I felt sure there would be Ermine to see against the dark brown leaf litter, but all I managed were two semi-ermine, almost white but with a hint of stoat about them. Now, in a mild winter with scarcely a flake of snow this turns up. I see a few Stoats around here and have seen three or four in recent weeks but all nice russet ones. I never considered the appearance of a ghost-stoat!

It just goes to show, you never know what you will find next.

My highlight of the year so far.

Sunday morning...

2012-01-24T19:57:00.001Z

I would like to say that I regretted not bringing the camera today because I missed the shot of a lifetime, but no, as it happens, it wasn't really needed.

The wind was blowing a strong WNW but at least it stayed fine.

I picked John up at 8am to go over to Branton Pits to do the WeBs count.

On arrival, a flock of geese were resting in the field south of the caravan site. There were 6 Russian Whitefronts, 12 Pinkfeet, 4 Canada's and 193 Greylags. Two Stoats were seen, one very well as it ran through the car park near us, pausing briefly. A good start then.

A suprising number of wildfowl were well scattered, taking shelter in inlets and bays out of the gale.8+ Goldeneye included displaying males, 7+ Goosander plus assorted Teal, Mallard, Tufted and Coot. A Kingfisher found a warmer spot in the sun in the lee of some rushes to its liking.

Along at Hedgely, more wildfowl were on with another hundred Greylags and 74 Canada Geese plus 72 Mallard. A pair of Dippers were displaying on the river.

Nearer home, at Alnwick, we stopped to check out the reported site of Butcher's Broom but failed to locate the site let alone the plant. Not to be beaten, some ferny type things on the wall proved interesting . Harts Tongue Fern and Maidenhair Spleenwort were familiar being found on walls around Howick, but a few Black Spleenwort were identified later on at home, a new species for me (but its not hard really, I've never heard of the thing before!)

Cool...

2012-01-16T23:35:00.001Z

Our village from the south east.

A bit nippy on Sunday morning, -5 degrees, up to about 3 degrees by lunchtime. The bonus though, was the crystal clear sky and bright sun with no wind.

A walk down the Long Walk and back by the coast was mainly uneventful again, but a few new species were added to the year list - 1 male Sparrowhawk was hunting near the frozen pond, observed by the swans, bored of standing on the ice, 3 Golden Plover flew S at the burn mouth, 10 Skylarks flew north in a tight flock over the Village Wood and a nice male Reed Bunting was coming into summer dress just outside the village hall.

Also of note were 3 male and 6 female Goldeneye on the sea and a flock of 70 grey geese flew south too far out to id. On any other year they looked like pinks, but this year they may just have been whitefronts so I'll await a better view.

A golden sunrise lights the hoar frost.

Village Wood 'on ice'.

Although the weather has been 'easier' this winter, the birding has been slow. In the hard conditions of the previous winters, species including Water Rail, Mealy Redpoll, Raven, Woodcock, Peregrine and Merlin had all been recorded by now. The first three may be a struggle this year.

Reed Bunting.

Hey, gringo....

2012-01-12T23:55:00.000Z

Waterside House, Cumbria, 15th July 1996....How long ago!

What a fine bird he was too, singing and trying some stinging lines with the House Sparrow ladies...

2012-01-09T18:17:00.001Z

Now that the New Year is upon us, I have three months to use up my annual leave entitlement. Breaking it down, this means I can, if I wish, work a four day week until April. Which is nice...

Today was day one. I like taking a Monday off.

It was clear and sunny and quite pleasant with that hint of spring about it. The wildlife wasn't to be fooled by this though as there were no birds singing, and while clearing a wild corner of the garden to make way for a compost heap, I unearthed an hibernating Hedgehog. He was well wrapped in a ball of leaves, so I took him and his whole nest and created a makeshift box in another weedy corner ( I have plenty of wild areas). This was then covered in leaf litter and loose dead vegetation to keep him sheltered. We look forward to seeing him in spring.

On the bird table, the Tree Sparrow flock now numbers 30 birds, equally the commonest garden bird alongside Chaffinch and House Sparrow! This is a great increase on the 4 - 6 birds I usually get here in winter. A few walks out with Bunty in between doing the garden had very little really - a flock of 5 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Guillemot, 16 Eider, 12 and 7 Grey Partridges and a flock of geese flew N over the sea too far away to i.d with bins.

As soon as it was dark, a Barn Owl hissed loudly as it flew overhead. I just managed to get the torch on to it before it made off over the fields to hunt.

I caught my first moths of 2012 last night - 1 Winter Moth and 1 Dark Chestnut.

Dark Chestnut

Larophiles look away now.

2012-01-08T23:08:00.000Z

This morning I had a walk from home, down the Long Walk and back via the coast path. About a dozen of so birds were added to the 2012 list with the best being a few parties of Crossbills including one male in song, a pair of Red breasted Mergansers, a few Bullfinches and 5 Nuthatch. I'll total it up tomorrow.

After a cooler, breezy, start the wind dropped and it turned into a mild pleasant day so we took a drive up the coast with Bunty and had a walk on Stringer's beach at Beadnell. No other people were around so a few waders were pushed up by the high tide - 5 Bar tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plover and a bunch of Oystercatchers while another 3 Red breasted Mergansers fed close in on a calm sea.

Lunch was at Seahouses Harbour where there were no white winged gulls, but this pair gave us a laugh next to the car.

I can just hear Mssrs Tilmouth and Garner and Dave the Earl Grey cursing my very amateurish attitude with these birds...not once did I check the P10 tip pattern let alone the gonys shape...but their dance after some chips was as good as being at Seghill Tip thats for sure!

Seconds out...

2012-01-02T18:51:00.002Z

New Years Day and a Happy Birthday to me.

A nice sunny day, a bit breezy and cooler than recently but still nice for January.

Jane, Bunts and myself took a midday walk north along the coast to Craster where we intended to have a drink in the 'Jolly Fisherman'. Unfortunately it was choc full to the rafters so we didnt want to squeeze in when we had the terriator. Not to worry, a pleasant return journey followed and we had hot chocolate, cake and champagne at home ( see my so called resolutions from the other day about not eating and drinking as much ).

Craster Harbour, from the south.

Of the 40 or so bird species seen, all were to be expected, but at least it gets things underway. A Purple Sandpiper and Ringed Plover in the harbour were the best on show.

Today, no new additions, but the most noteworthy thing was about 15 Snowdrops in flower in the copse next to our garden. A very early date indeed!

Purple Sandpiper in Craster Harbour.

The final curtain...

2011-12-31T18:52:00.001Z

2011 Highlights...

Mmm. Now then.

Hows about ( in proper Jimmy Saville mode) this then...

On the patch 154 species. Down on last year but still not too bad with nearly the lot self found ( or maybe even the whole lot). The list included - Great Northern Diver, Water Rail, Mealy Redpoll, Waxwing, Lapland Bunting, Roseate Tern, Quail, Storm Petrel, Balearic Shearwater, Mediterranean Gull, Tree Pipit, Black Tern, Pintail, Shoveler, Scaup, Velvet Scoter, Snow Bunting, Black Redstart, Short eared Owl, Twite and White fronted Goose.

Those in red are firsts for the site.

55 new moths for the garden too, the best being Mullein, Great Brocade and Fen Wainscot..

Plus several new birds for me - Black Scoter, White throated Robin, Sandhill Crane, Greater Yellowlegs and not forgetting the Eastern Black Redstart ( though not a 'tick' cos its just a race). This is the most I've added to the list for several years, quite surprising considering the lack of easterly winds and twitches.

Marsh Fritillary and Northern Brown Argus. Great butterflies and great crack with my companions.

Two Minke Whales in Scotland...

2011 Lowlights...

The weather. A cold wet summer and a westerly autumn resulted in very little migration or seawatching on the patch.

2012 Targets...

1. I must update this blog more. I am almost a hundred posts down on other recent years. I would like to say that its quality over quantity but not so I'm afraid. Must do better.

2. I will keep up with the whole genaralist naturalist thing. Its much better than just constant birding, you should try it. You do? Oh ok...

3. Look for High Brown Fritillary, Mountain Ringlet, Small Blue and maybe Scotch Argus. I've seen the latter two but not for years. Natterjack Toad may be combined with the Cumbrian butterflies.

4. Finally do some mothing off-piste...

5. Do some garden alteration. Remove some knackered old shrubs and replace with something better. Increase the flowering season and quantity to help the insects.

5. Stay healthy. I have not taken a day on the sick since 2003 and have only had two days off in the 4 years before that. Long may it reign.

6. Try to be less miserable, drink more water, get more sleep, eat less of everything particularly chocolate. I'm getting the blame now for increasing the weight of other birders in the county...

Here's wishing you all health, wealth and prosperity in 2012. A Happy New Year to you all...now, where's that bottle....

Out early...

2011-12-27T18:18:00.000Z

This morning our terrier had me up and out at the first crack of dawn. It was calm and mild, Tawny Owls were hooting, and Robins ticking with a cacophony of Pheasants in the gloaming. The local Barn Owl was quartering the back field before heading off to roost. Three Meadow Pipits and 5 Redwings flew around flushed by the owl.

Later on a couple of walks around the village and coast path turned up 3 Reed Buntings in the back hedge, 3 Nuthatches together near the gatehouse, 12 Eiders close in on the sea, 35 Curlews in the coast field, one or two Jays making a racket, a female Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard were in the pond field.

This afternoon I have finally got around to putting up another few Tree Sparrow nest boxes that John made, plus a couple of smaller ones donated by kids in the village ( thanks Evan and Ailsa!). Hopefully there will be an improvement on my one pair from this year...and speaking of which, 20 Tree Spugs were at our feeders today, so it all bodes well.

And thats about it. Christmas over and work beckons...

Mild...

2011-12-25T21:00:00.001Z

Merry Christmas all.

What a difference it is today compared to Christmas past. Its about 14 degrees warmer today, and much easier to get around.

I notice that Warren ( Pitswood Birds) has commented on the lack of birds down there if the weather stays mild. Last year and the year before, we had Waxwings and Woodcocks aplenty, Water rails in Village wood and showy Ravens and Raptors, but there were zero passerines away from the bird table, all either dead or moved out ahead of the cold front. This year I think it will be very quiet for those first species, but we still have pipits, wagtails, buntings and waders, and maybe our Barn Owls will survive?. Keep it above freezing I say...

Well, after a rib-lifting dinner and watching more pixar animation any sane person can take, its time for more champagne in front of Downton Abbey!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T21:12:00.000Z

Only a couple of things around about today, 1 male Siskin on our feeders was the first since the spring, 15 Redwings were in the village copse and a good flock of 5 Purple Sandpipers were on the Rumbling Kern.

I had no sign of Ian Douglas's Hooded Crow at the Haven, but it might still be around so I'll keep checking. Wednesday's elusive caller remained in hiding, so we'll just let that one drop, and assume it was a Coal Tit...

So, here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas 2011.

Cheers!

..And the fire is so delightful...

2011-12-23T18:41:00.000Z

Here are a few pics from last weekends childrens Christmas Party in our village hall. It looked really nice after we had decorated it with tree and lights, but the centre piece was the fire place that we loaded with holly and various evergreenery...Needless to say FC did not arrive via the chimney...( and before you ask, no it isn't!)

Since last weekend the weather has been very mild for the time of year. I have had the moth trap on for the past two nights and caught - 7 December Moths, 1 Chestnut and 1 very late Blair's Shoulder Knot, the latest county record by over a month.

Not much birding really, but on my day off on Wednesday, I heard a tantalising call from the village gardens that repeated several times before the vocalist just vanished. I wont be saying any more on the matter unless I actually find the thing this weekend then you will hear all about it!

Easier to find were a party of 4 Bullfinches and 10 Redwings just along from our garden.

Less welcome is our garden Mole. It has a dozen heaps so far, and luckily, for him, not in the lawn. Although I do like them and won't harm him, I'll be trying deterrent methods as the weeks progress. There are acres of grass just yards away that I am sure will be more suitable...

When the weather outside is frightful...

2011-12-18T23:02:00.000Z

Out at 8.30am with JWR over the moors to do a WeBs count at Branton Pits near Powburn. How different the weather is only a few miles west of home! 4 inches of snow covered everything and open water was all frozen. So, before leaving the car...

...time to fit in a winter warmer.

Very little wildfowl to count on the ponds with 8 Russian Whitefronts being the highlight.

So, we headed back up to an arctic Corby Crags where the air was filled by an exuberant male Crossbill, warbling a canary-like song high in a larch. Another 4+ were feeding with him on the small cones. Maybe the sun had opened them slightly to assist those crossed mandibles. On the moor, 2 Red Grouse stood out against the white.

...and thats about it really, home again for lunchtime.

We've got wind.

2011-12-13T20:39:00.001Z

As I write this, it a tad breezy outside.

When I say 'breezy' I mean its a 'we'll be lucky to have chimneys in the morning' type of wind.

I have just had to wedge the telephone box door closed with a short railway sleeper as it was smashing open against a stone wall, rocking the whole box. Outside I can hear a neighbours shed rattling and banging. Its one of those metal constructions and it sounds like a drum beat in the wind. I hope the damage doesn't cost too much....LATE UPDATE - 9.30pm - Just been outside and the neighbours shed is totalled. Its flat and half way up a tree! Not bad for an 8 x 12 ft building. According to the Met Office observations at RAF Boulmer, winds here are gusting 75 mph and blowing a constant 50 mph. Worrying thing is that the pressure is still falling? Does that mean its getting worse?

Off work today, on leave, to get some shopping done. Out with Bunty along the coast path, a lone Purple Sandpiper was with three Oystercatchers, and one of our Tree Sparrows stunned itself on the window trying to evade Sparrowhawk capture. After a passport photo, it flew off strongly none the worse for wear...

S'no show for snow!

2011-12-11T19:42:00.000Z

Its all gone. This morning was very mild and calm, much better than the cold stuff from yesterday. Didn't do much birding today though, time spent shopping and xmas decorating etc...

A dog walk had 69 Curlews in the stubble behind the Old Rectory, 1 Lapwing S, 1 Buzzard in the heronry and a good few Mistle Thrushes around the village. Odd Yellowhammers and Bullfinch added to the interest.

I haven't even bothered my arse to pay a visit to the Newbiggin Desert Wheatear even though its been there a week now. As I've seen 4 in the county I am hoping one will skip along the rocks here...

Only 5 weeks until the Winter Aconites show, 6 weeks until Snowdrops, 8 weeks until Toads head for the pond and 10 weeks until Blackbirds start singing.....roll on.

Winter?

2011-12-10T19:01:00.000Z

What a shock this morning to get up and find this -

The views above are the front and back from our house. Snow was falling quite steadily and was wholly un-forecast. Last night was a cold -2 with a clear full moon.

The usual Saturday morning walk around the coast path was mostly quiet but a few birds were moving south over head - 56 Golden Plover, 4 Lapwing, 27 Skylark, 1 Greylag and 16 Cormorants. A Red throated Diver was close in on a heavy swell.

In the garden, birds flocked to be fed, with Tree Sparrow numbers increasing to 19+ birds now. Here are a couple of feeder shots. I make no apologies for another Tree Sparrow pic. Great little birds. Both male and female Great spotted Woodpeckers visited the peanuts too.

Tree Sparrows - a bit of Meerkat about them?

As busy as the Metro Centre...

A short interlude...on behalf of the Natural History Society of Northumbria.

2011-12-07T22:24:00.000Z

Time for an advert.

I see that the Natural History Society for Northumbria are doing some courses over the winter. Please check out HERE for further information. I believe that the society is in the process of reinventing itself, not a bad idea as its been pretty much unchanged for 200 years!

The society is now doing all sorts of interesting things, like trying to get Natural History into local schools as a core part of the curriculum, trying to open up the Hancock collection (which is full of good stuff, including 4 Slender-billed Curlews and a Great Auk) for research and more.

So, it may be worth getting involved!

And now, to the weather....

Barns and Trees.

2011-12-04T17:27:00.000Z

A cold but fine day with only a light NW breeze. Quite nice for the time of year.

Around about the village today. First off, a dog walk north to Cullernose Point found a nice fw Mediterranean Gull with other gulls and pigeons feeding in stubble. A flock of 12 grey geese came right over head and looked very like Beans but I can't be sure. Pity that, that's a good bird for the patch.

Back home, Tree Sparrows are now up to 14 and are second only to House Sparrow for most abundant garden bird. A Sparrowhawk did its best to reduce their numbers, but it nearly became lunch itself when a neighbours cat lunged at it, flushing the whole garden.

The Barn Owls looked nice catching some rays while they still can.

Further up just past the Hall a very dark Red Squirrel complete with black tail was caching food right on the roadside. Whats the betting it gets flattened this week. I hope it goes back into the woods...

At dusk we walked down to the pond where things have gone quiet since being shot last weekend, but a Goldeneye skulked along the edge and 2 Woodcocks flushed in Village Wood.

.

Patch List 2011

2011-12-03T16:58:00.000Z

I thought my list ( see right column) was a bit light. I have double checked and find that I have missed off a whopping - 17 species! They are -

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Teal
Tufted Duck
Fulmar
Manx Shearwater
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Common Sandpiper
Feral Pigeon
Kingfisher
Sedge Warbler
Whitethroat
Brambling
Linnet

Taking the list up to a respectable 154 ( 2010 - 161, 2009 - 147). some very common species there that have been overlooked.

Note to self, must do better with record keeping in 2012. I've been concentrating on the moths too much!

In the spotlight...

2011-12-02T21:22:00.001Z

Headlights really. On the way home from work tonight I was pleased I took the decision to use the A1 rather than the coastal route. As I came off the small sliproad roundabout at Stannington, I noticed a very nice Long eared Owl perched on top of a verge-side bush, nicely lit by overhead lights and car headlights.

The long 'ear' feathers were blown forward by the breeze giving it a very distinctive outline.

A brief but great view of a lovely bird...

Eastern Black Redstart...

2011-11-20T18:45:00.001Z

Help. Why is the Holy Island bird 'phoenicuroides' and not 'semirufus' ?

I'm trying to sort out the diff....

EDIT - Just checked Svensson ( I forgot about him) and find that he mentions the greyer upperparts of phoenicuroides rather than the blackish of semirufus. Also cheers to M for his comment below.

I like to get these things clear in my head....

Case closed.

No birding this weekend but...

2011-11-20T18:30:00.000Z

Yesterday at 1.10pm 80+ Eurasian White fronted Geese flew SE over our garden. It was interesting to hear them calling. A bit like Pink feet but more squeaky and nasal...84+ Curlew and 3 Skylarks were in the stubble field next to the Old Rectory...

Today, a walk down to the pond in fabulous spring-like weather had a nice finch flock in a couple of roadside Alders, comprising of 6+ Lesser Redpoll with a single Mealy Redpoll, 10+ Siskin and 4 + Goldfinches. At the pond, 5 Teal were with Mallards, 6 Crossbills flew over calling, 22 Redwings came into the trees and 30+ Fieldfares flew south.

Tonight at dusk a Snipe lifted, giving its scraping call, from the back field behind us and a nice Barn Owl came down the Village road and over the village hall car park.

Not bad for a non bird watching weekend....

Appreciated!

2011-11-19T19:38:00.000Z

Yesterday, I felt too guilty to go to work after not paying respects to the eastern traveller on Lindisfarne, I risked dismissal and a life of abject poverty to show my appreciation.

Although the tide table said I would not get on to the island until 10am, I found a dry causeway at 8.55am so headed straight across. Not only did I miss work and illegally jump the tide, I recklessly paid no heed to the village signs and parked at the Vicars Garden where hopefully a short stroll to the shore would see the target 'bagged'.

The best laid plans, and all that found a birdless beach and me trudging the boulder and mud shore for a few hundred yards until I bumped into Johnny Mac on his way back. The bird was another hundred yards north. I should have parked at the Chare Ends, it would have been nearer and legal.

Arriving at the spot another Tees birder stood alone, and having seen the bird, said, 'Its on the tide line but its not in view at the minute'....I need not have worried as the little male Eastern Black Redstart soon hopped up onto some strand line weed and behaved impeccably. This male, of the race phoenicuroides is a first for Northumberland and may be only the fifth for Britain. Another has been in Kent for the past week or so.

Not even a list addition, this gem is still one of the years highlights up here...

F...F Frigging Phoenicoroides...

2011-11-17T19:37:00.001Z

Some smashing photos of the Eastern Black Redstart on Holy Island today were only slightly marred by the comment that ' Considering this hopefully will be the fifth UK record accepted it was rather strange to be in the company of only a few others. Having made it all the way from Southern Russia it should really be more widely appreciated'.

Yes Yes Yes I would certainly have appreciated it half to death but, although the economy is in tatters and unemployment is through the roof, as unlikely as it may seem, some of us are still required at WORK!

Gggrrrrrr, bloody week day south easterlies....sodding dark nights....buggering shitting Holy Island all the way up there....and did I mention WORK!

Humph.

( Maybe not as 'humph' as the chap from Chester who came to Hauxley for the yellowlegs and then hurried off on his way to Kent for that Eastern Black Redstart down there...)

A blog first...

2011-11-16T22:01:00.001Z

Check out this very short, but quality, vid taken by Mike Hodgson yesterday when we were goosing....

Cheers Mike.

A wild goose chase.

2011-11-15T15:28:00.000Z

A day spent around about home, turned up a few good birds.

This morning we walked to the coast path where a pair of Peregrines were casually soaring not too high over the laybye before gliding off north to settle on a stone wall. A few minutes later on the walk back, a female Merlin came close by, behind a flock of Starlings, looking for an opportunity.

Back home, a male Blackcap was calling and flitting about the drive while on the feeders were 10 Tree Sparrows, 7 Goldfinches and a Great spotted Woodpecker.

A few of the 10 Tree Sparrows in the garden today.

At lunchtime Gary Woodburn rang to say he has seen a large flock of geese land in a field at Dunstan Hill just NW of Craster. There were two white birds in the flock that looked to be Ross's geese. As this is only 2 miles up the road for me, I was there in 10 mins to join Gary and Mike Hodgson scoping the birds in stubble next to the road.

What a superb mixed flock too. All too often we check goose flocks to find nothing but Pinks or Greylags, but this group consisted of 6 species!

Ross's Geese 2 adult
Tundra Bean Geese 2 ( though Mike did wonder if they were Taiga's, but I didnt think so?)
Eurasian White fronted Geese 5 ( 4 ad and 1 juv)
Barnacle Geese 53+
Greylag Goose 1
Pink footed Geese 600+

After an hour or so they were flushed by farm workers but seemed to drop down slightly further west.

Also here 100+ Fieldfare, 1500+ Woodpigeons and a Buzzard.

Part of the goose flock with the Ross's in the foreground. One Bean Goose is at the top of the geese at the far left hand edge of the photo.

Great Legs!

2011-11-13T18:25:00.000Z

What a difference a day makes. This morning I was at Bondi Pool for first light in drizzly dull SE conditions. No sign of the goal. Then, news came through that it was just one hide along so, five minutes later and Andrew Kinghorn is kindly showing me the GREATER YELLOWLEGS in his scope only seconds before it strode off around the back of an island and out of sight. Although I had seen the tall shape and bright yellow legs I hadn't even seen the bill so I was hoping for better.

After about 15 minutes, I got a call saying the bird was showing well in front of the Wader Hide on the other side of the reserve so off I went. The place was getting busy with long distance twitchers now so I got a move on but not before a scan from the banks of the far side. No view of the 'legs but the Grey Phalarope gave a nice fly past.

By the time I got to the rapidly filling hide, the bird was nicely on show, often in the same view as the Grey Phalarope ( I wonder if they travel together!). What a cracker too, at this range Lesser Yellowlegs was never a contender, see notes above. Tonight I see some nice pics show the bird was lightly speckled on the mantle but this feature didnt show at all in the gloomy daylight.

As the place was packed out and we are no lovers of twitching hoards JWR and me headed off to Warkworth Gut, where some newly flooded scrapes were the focus of our visit. Before we left Hauxley a final glance gave us a brief Kingfisher perched near the hide, for a few seconds before vanishing back to thicker and quieter cover.

Warkworth Gut was excellent with Little Egret, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank on the scrapes with 20+ Snipe and 50+ Teal. Along the track a very confiding Snow Bunting allowed views down to 10 feet and some dog walkers told us that there was a small flock on the beach but they had been flushed by a Sparrowhawk.

What a great mornings birding then with the Yellowlegs being my 401st British bird and my 326th Northumberland species. Result!

Back home, I was out with Bunts at 3pm when a calling Raven demanded attention. It came from the west and slowly flew down to land in a dead tree in the copse right next to our garden. I thought it might even drop in! I must stake a dead sheep to the lawn sometime...Its calling drew in a second bird from the same direction, and both flew North to Cullernose Point where they could be seen gliding about the coast path and cliffs from our drive.

A fitting end to a great day...

A day of two halves...

2011-11-12T20:18:00.000Z

First half, this morning went quite well.

Out with a recovering terrier ( she was spayed on Thursday) first thing, a Lapland Bunting flew south over the village calling, then, better still for me, 3 White fronted Geese flew low right over our house, a great one for the garden list. Seen only with the naked eye they were low enough to see the full blaze on the lead bird and the thick black belly bars on them all as they passed right overhead.

This isn't the WF Geese from this morning, but the view was exactly like this. These birds were near Boulmer a while back...

A male Blackcap was on the last remaining elderberries in the garden a bit later on...

Then.

Late morning...

A message came through that ADMc had turned up a Greater Yellowlegs at East Chevington.Putting this in context, I have seen about 4 Lesser YLs in the county but must be the only Northumberland birder who failed to make the relatively short trip to Rockliffe for one of the last twitchable records of this species about 20 years ago. Why, I cannot remember...

So, a lifer and a county addition, 20 mins from home had me twitching like an epileptic at the oscars. the problem being, I had to take Bunty for a vets check up at 11.40 and would not be 'daan saaf' before 1pm.

I duly arrived at a queue of cars at Chev at 1 o'clock to find 50 birders gazing at water, the bird having gone north 20 mins earlier towards Hauxley. Off I went...

Bondi Pool - Redshank 4 nothing else.

Hauxley main pool from the Tern Hide - Lots of birds but not a sniff of yellowshank. Worse still, I'm on me todd, not another birder in sight to help look.

Striding back towards the car a small podgy wader flew from my right only 20 yards away, low over the dunes and out of sight on to the shore - Grey Phalarope! No, must be a roosting Sanderling heading back to the shore and off I traipsed never giving the 'sanderling' a second glance. I had bigger fish to fry.

Amble Braid - Checked the Coquet estuary very briefly as Alan Jack had beaten me to it and still no mega yank to be had.

Out of time, I was gutted and limped off home to lick my wounds.

4.10pm RBA annouces - GREATER YELLOWLEGS, Bondi Pool ( it stayed til dusk) and...GREY PHAL on the beach.

Shite.

Guess where me and most of the birding community ofr 300 miles will be in the morning....

Winter Postponed....

2011-11-06T22:52:00.001Z

The run of sunny clear days continues. The weather during October and November is better than July and August lately! As the day was so nice, I took a good few pics of varying quality, but they show our coast off at its best.

Most of the day was spent wandering the south end of the patch where a few things of note were seen. A first light (above) a seawatch was less than profitable, but 3 Snow Buntings flew around the rock edges here and later at Rumbling Kern. Through the morning 800+ Pinkfeet flew S in flocks of assorted sizes...

At the pond, the local Mutes did a lap before returning to the family. However the highlight on here was a fine drake Pintail with the Mallards. I've not seen one on the pond before and it may well be a first.

While watching the pond,a Chiffchaff was calling nearby, an unusual bi-syllabic call. On investigation it turned out to be a Scandinavian Chiffchaff of the race abietinus. It was a washed out buff and peachy toned bird and very whitish underneath. The top pic is blurred but you can see how pale the bird was...

The view North to our village...

Above - Howick Burn Mouth. A few Goldeneye were here with a Goosander and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

Above - The bridge over the Howick Burn mouth.

A walk inland a short way from the bridge up the burn takes in a completely new habitat. Crossbills were heard up here but only a single male was seen.

Above - This Common Darter and a Red Admiral helped to delay the onset of winter just a bit longer...

Above - The Rumbling Kern. The Snow Buntings were climbing the cliff faces here, different to their usual beach habitats....

And all this with only a few walkers to disturb the peace. Click on the pics for a larger image ( the landscapes in particular...)

Bonfire Night...

2011-11-05T15:37:00.007Z

A nice calm, fair, day today with a very light NW1 keeping things a touch cooler than lately.

9am Along the coast path, 7 Twite flew S as did 6+ Skylark, 6+ Meadow Pipit and a Brambling. 45 Curlew were in the field. Back home 800 - 900 Pink footed Geese and 12 Whooper Swans flew S over the garden and 6 Tree Sparrows were on our feeders.

At lunchtime a walk north beyond Cullernose Point had a Great northern Diver fly from the sea and head north and at the same place a tremendous flock of 12 Snow Buntings were feeding right next to the path giving great views. They called at each other as they scuffled between the rocks before fluttering off a short way south. Several nice males were included. Much better than the lone female from the other week.

Two Rock Pipits were on the cliff top and a Fieldfare was with two Mistle Thrushes on the farmland.

A good morning then....

After writing this post I looked out of the window to find this dapper chap...

Brambling, male...new in.

Pity the light was dismal just before dusk ( and its through the living room window...).

PPS -

Check this out - yours truly in print in 'Bushcraft and Survival Skills' magazine! Don't even begin to ask how that came about.....

Patch Tick!

2011-11-04T19:59:00.000Z

But dont get too carried away.

Yesterday while I was wandering along the road in our village something moved among the fallen leaves....Common Frog! Oh yes, it may not have you lot grabbing the camera and running for the car, but in the 2 years 7 months we've been here this is my first. Toads are the thing here. Common, particularly in spring, and the odd Smooth Newt but the humble lowly Frog is as rare as, as rare as...well..as rare as a Fox thats for sure. Maybe not quite. Fox would be a new one for me here.

I have no idea why Rana temporaria should be scarce here. We have ponds and ditches for them as well as damp boggy areas but, despite looking, they are now where to be seen....

As for Fox, I know exactly why they are rare...

The last of the sunshine....

2011-10-30T21:04:00.001Z

Above and below - Howick in an autumn light.

A lovely mild calm and quiet day today. A real pleasure to be out and about. The last rays of hazy sunshine lighting up golden leaves and red berries.

At home, while waiting for JWR to arrive first thing, a few things attracted attention.While having a coffee and gazing through the kitchen window, a 'buzzard' glided low over our house chased by a crow. I nearly didnt give it a second glance, but I lifted the bins and I was pleased to see not a buzzard at all, but a Short eared Owl! Not only new for the garden but new for the patch too...

Some viz migging from the drive had 1 Brambling, 1 Redpoll, 3 Siskin and 400+ Pinkfeet all south. Later, in the afternoon a walk to the Pond had 2 distant hirundines over the wood that I think were probably Swallows and 5 Crossbills circled about low overhead.

After John arrived we took a short trip up to Craster and walked the Heugh and around the Village. After some time, we found a nice Yellow browed Warbler that showed very well but only briefly before taking cover, a House Martin and a flock of 12 Crossbills flew S, a female Blackcap was in the allotments and a Purple Sandpiper was with Turnstones in the harbour. The sea was quiet with only a couple of Red throated Divers and Guillemots seen. A few birds were in a hedge next to a game crop including 15+ Tree Sparrows, 12+ Yellowhammers and a couple of Reed Bunting.

Yesterday...

2011-10-27T22:58:00.000+01:00

A flexi day off. I headed off to Holy Island to arrive there shortly after first light. There were not as many migrants as may be expected considering the weather on Tuesday but there was enough to keep the interest up.

Back home at 1pm, I had a walk from home down to the Howick Burnmouth and back via the coast path. Two female / fw type Black Redstarts ona manure heap near the farm was a nice record and a male Stonechat with yesterday's Whinchat were the highlights. The Stonechat was my first on patch this year. It shows how the winter has affected this bird, when a couple of years ago there may have been 3 or 4 pairs in the area.

To save me writing please click on the notebook to see the birds seen....

FW Male Blackcap...

The most unusual sighting...a bloke playing sax to Pale bellied Brents...

A nice chat...

2011-10-25T22:06:00.000+01:00

Finished work early and headed home to check the coastal path and village to see if any migrants had dropped in. A strong SE wind and torrential rain through the night had built up expectations..

All was quiet really with not even the expected thrush-fest. A fllock of Chaffinches in the back field soon moved on, probably new in and a group of 11 Mistle Thrushes tried to look foreign, but generally a few Goldcrests were the only sign of immigration. That is until I was almost home, when a nice, late, Whinchat popped up on the fence behind our house.

Flexi day tommorrow so maybe I'll fare a little better....

A double dip day saved in the closing minutes...

2011-10-23T19:58:00.000+01:00

I collected JWR at 7am and we headed off to Teesside to see if we could find the Pallid Harrier and Semi palmated Sandpiper that were still present yesterday. I had a chance to go for the harrier with Alan and Andy on Friday but work commitments put the block on it.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, we never did see the harrier. Making matters worse for John ( he hasn't seen Semi P either) we didnt see the sandpiper but it was relocated minutes after we left! Oh well you cant win them all.

Of interest during the morning were 1 Merlin over the car at Greatham Creek, 1 Peregrine at Saltholme, 3 Little Egrets, 8 Black tailed Godwits, 100+ Golden Plover 3 Pintail and, my highlight, 130+ Shovelers feeding together in one group.

A wander around the RSPB reserve at Saltholme was a first for us. Its very nice too with all the facilities at hand, nice paths, comfy spacious hides and a cafe. A bit too soft and sterile for us though, back to normal next week - cold, knackered, and damp...

Speaking of which, back home this afternoon a stroll around the coast path brought a pleasant surprise, a Snow Bunting. A drab fw female but very nice all the same as it skipped along the ash path ahead of us until it was stampeded by a family striding forward on their afternoon walk. I didnt see it again after that...

Take it as Red....

2011-10-15T19:52:00.001+01:00

Autumn sunshine at Howick Hall.

Masses of Red Admirals on ivy flowers high up in the sun. Click for a larger image.

The only time the thing sat still long enough to get a photo...

Speckled Wood.

A walk around the Hall grounds this afternoon was very pleasant. Lots of butterflies on the wing - 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 50+ Red Admirals, including 40+ on one ivy bush all together made a spectacular sight and a lone Painted Lady flew through our garden.

A Red Squirrel rang rings around us, literally, very close to begin with but high and distant before he sat for a photo.

On the way home a Raven cronked high over the Hall and flew east towards the coast, the surrounding Jackdaws were not happy with its appearance.

Later this afternoon news of a Great Grey Shrike 2 miles along the coast at Dunstan almsot had me jumping into the car, but it will wait until the morning...maybe?

Some migrants at last...

2011-10-14T23:00:00.000+01:00

Yesterday an early morning dog walk had a few migrants arriving from the coast. 21 Redwings flushed from Village Wood while 6 Bramblings, my first of the autumn, flew west. Another single Brambling was in the copse next to our garden.

Late on last night a Whimbrel was calling as it flew north along the coast path, a late bird here.

Today there are quite a few Blackbirds and smaller numbers of Redwings dotted about the village. A lone Redpoll that was big enough to be a Mealy dropped into the Rowan on our drive before carrying on west.

I might get a better look tomorrow. I might not have missed out on a chance of Yellow browed quite yet...

Norfolk...

2011-10-09T16:05:00.002+01:00

This week we have been on holiday in Norfolk, staying at Sea Palling. We tried further east for a change, but in future we will stick with the north coast. Its much nicer.

Our digs for the week...

We hired this boat for a day...they'll let anyone drive these....

The weather, as you well know, was unbelievable. Temperatures in the first half of the week were consistently between 26 - 29 degrees, peaking at 30 on our way down last Saturday. Unfortunately, the settled weather meant that few birds were to be had, but one or two bits of interest were noted.

Marsh Harriers seen in a few places including 3 together at Cley.
Cetti's Warblers heard only on the Broads and at Cley.
Mediterranean Gulls in bulk at Great Yarmouth with 25+ together on the beach.
Common Crane, a flock of 8 birds seen from near our cottage flying off to roost but distant.
A few passage waders, including Spotted Redshanks, Greenshank and Little Stint.
Lapland Bunting 2 seen well on the ground at Kelling Quag were nice.

Non avian interest also added to the week -

Adder 1 golden yellow female at Waxham dunes.
Moths - Large Wainscot, Beaded Chestnut and Herald at the lighted windows of our cottage.
Chinese Water Deer, 1 nearly knocked me over while I watched the cranes go to roost, disturbed by a farm vehicle.
Hornet, quite a few at Hickling along lanes near some woodland.

We visited the various coastal towns and villages around about. All were nice and quaint with that 'seaside' feel to them - Blakeney, Cley, Kelling, Sheringham, Cromer, Sea Palling and Waxham but nothing could compare with Great Yarmouth....I couldn't stop laughing the whole time we were there! I should have taken a tracksuit....

Great Yarmouth Pier. Oh dear we missed Joe Pasquale and the Chuckle Brothers...

'Ket' Shops abound...

'Joyland' looks like a set from the Scooby Doo cartoons....

Adult, second winter and first winter Med Gulls.

Herald Moth

After the 'fish out of water' experience of us at Great Yarmouth it was a pleasure to get back to the cool and quiet of Northumberland...

Near Miss...

2011-09-29T19:41:00.000+01:00

After Sunday's twitch north for the Sandhill Crane, imagine my face when Alan Priest called me this morning to say it had just flown over Newbiggin and was heading towards Blyth! Oh no, I thought, dejavue, Short billed Dowitcher scenario all over again...

Fortunately my fears did not materialise, our costly trip to Scotland had been worthwhile after all, the Crane continued its journey south.

I must be the only person in Northumberland who wished a county first would bugger off!

On the way home from work this evening 2 Little Egrets flew serenely up the River Coquet into Warkworth, keeping up speed with the car.

Back to reality...

2011-09-27T20:07:00.001+01:00

I forgot to mention, on Saturday night at 11.30pm I popped out for the terriers last walk and activated the outside light on the Old School holiday cottage.

The glow lit up a Barn Owl hunting the Starling roost in our neighbours garden. The Starlings were flushing everywhere and the owl flew through our garden into the sycamore above the moth trap, where it gazed back looking at me like I'd ruined its evening....On our return, it flew out of the garden and along the field edge nicely lit by 125 watts of MV Bulb...

Not a regular sight to get one actually IN the garden. Nice....

Milestones...

2011-09-26T22:42:00.000+01:00

Its only taken about 38 years of birding for the Sandhill Crane at the Loch of Strathbeg to take its place on my list...I dont want to make a song and dance about it, but, it is my 400th species in the UK..... I say... its.....

Sandhill Crane ...

...not 399...

Cheers Alan!

Not another word to be said on the subject. I dont recall seeing anything else up there really...see here for another account of our twitch.

Woe is me...

2011-09-24T19:33:00.001+01:00

The Swallows have gone.

Last weekend there were still 30+ in the village but none today. Late afternoon produced 15 flying strongly south overhead, but they aren't ours. It will be 15th April before they return...

Over the back field this morning were 5 Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting were in the hedge while 2 Sandwich Terns were on the rocks in the cove. The garden still has plenty of Chiffchaff comings and goings while a male Blackcap is in the elders. A single Grey Wagtail and my first 9 Pinkfeet of the year flew south.

September has been a flop here so far with scarcely a hint of an easterly that is so well required at this time.

Oh well, maybe October will give us a.....Yellow Rumped Warbler ( ? or something with a yank accent) that is now on the Norwegian coast waiting for a cool tail wind to restart its migration...That is how Northumberland's only Red eyed Vireo arrived many moons back on Holy Island...

Corby...

2011-09-18T15:53:00.002+01:00

This morning I went to do JWR's WeBs count up at Branton Pits.

Highlight was a Little Egret, the first we've seen at this site, and quite uncommon so far inland. Apart from that it was a standard wildfowl count really.

From here a jaunt up to Corby Crags to check for some dragonflies was quite a good diversion.
Masses of Black Darters, with two or three Common Hawkers along the rides, a single, tiny, Common Lizard posed well and the birds were quite active too - 13+ Crossbill, several Redpoll, Siskin, Bullfinch, 3+ Goldcrest and 6+ Chiffchaff.

The view from Corby Crags. Proper Northumberland...

Fungi sp, to be id'd...maybe Melanoleuca cognata?

John 'Insect Magnet' Rutter finds photographing Black Darter tricky...

Common Hawker ovipositing.

Red Admiral

Common Lizard. Looks the size of an iguana, but only about the size of my little finger.

2011-09-17T20:08:00.003+01:00

The wind has dropped to a SSE2 this morning, with odd showers, brightening to a nice sunny afternoon.

A seawatch from 8am - 9am was a tad slow. The southerlies have blasted the birds back into the north Atlantic. Still a few wildfowl were moving -

Pale bellied Brent Geese 11
Teal 130
Wigeon 58
Shoveler 2 a rare bird on the patch.
Pintail 2 ditto
Common Scoter 101
Red throated Diver 3
Arctic Skua 4
Bonxie 7
Manx Shearwater 1
Arctic Tern 6+
Sandwich Tern 3+
Grey Wagtail 2
Whimbrel 1 on the rocks.

All going north.

A few Chiffchaffs were in the coastal scrub including one singing. At least 4 were in the garden this afternoon. One bird was very inquisitive, peering in at our windows, gave me a nice photo opportunity. Click for a bigger image.

A Swift went S over the garden this afternoon in with 30+ House Martins and 86+ Swallows.

2011-09-16T19:53:00.000+01:00

This morning and the wind had increased in tempo, still from the SE. I quickly dashed to the coast for a half hour seawatch before work. It was half light with an orange glow on the horizon and there were thousands of birds on the move. The problem being, the light was very poor and, the SE blow ( we are more used to seawatching an a N wind) meant that the birds had a rocket up their ar.. and were very difficult to track.

Still the potential was there -

Sooty Shearwater 4
Manx Shearwater 3
Arctic Skua 6
Bonxie 2
Red throated Diver 2
Eider 27

All flying N.

The light was dismal this evening and the wind is a gale now with heavy rain. It might be worth a look first thing...

A Good Hour...

2011-09-15T20:15:00.000+01:00

I came in from work at 6pm this evening and was changed and down on the coast path by 6.10pm.

Although not ideal seawatch conditions, I fancied that the recent jet stream / hurricane would blast some birds over and into the north sea and there might be a bit of a high pressure movement to follow. Today's light SE3 came from a small, moving high, and if the forecast is right it will soon be replaced by another rain bearing low...

Enough of the Michael Fish, what was had...

6.10pm - 7.10pm

Sooty Shearwater 11 N my first of the year.
Manx Shearwater 34 N
Arctic Skua, difficult to be sure but somewhere in the region of 9 seen. They sneak around after tern frenzies so I tried not to duplicate counts.
Bonxie 1 N
Red throated Diver 1 S
Pale Bellied Brent Geese 29 N
Black Tern 2 in a tern frenzy consisting of about 50+ Arctic and Common Terns and a few Kittiwakes.A patch tick!
Wigeon 9 N
Pintail 3 N
Teal 16 N
Common Scoter 3 N

Then back to set the moth trap in time for tea...

Good old BOU...

2011-09-12T21:20:00.002+01:00

On perusing the Birdwatch Mag website today I find that the BOU have added two new lifers to my list.

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus ( used to be maura?) Seen several, my first being at Newbiggin in Oct 1990 in a massive fall. Previously Saxicola torquatus maura/stejnegeri 'lumped' with Stonechat Saxicola torquata.

Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius numenius One seen on St Mary's Isles of Scilly in Sept 08 or 09? Previously this was the American race of Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus, lumped with Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus.

This brings my bird lists to -

BOU British 399 ( oh yes...what will it be, and mores to the point - when?)
Northumberland 325.

Pre-Hurricane Migration.

2011-09-11T18:14:00.001+01:00

View south from stubble field to the village. Copse on the left and Back Hedge on the right.

The coast path viewing south from Cullernose.

Up and out by 7am. After checking the moths, I popped to the coast path to see if I could get a Black Tern for the patch list. With the milky back light there was little chance of this, but I gave it an hour anyway.

I had -

Arctic Skua 6 S including some very close in.
Bonxie 1 N
Arctic Tern 5 S but there were loads of terns offshore too far to id in the poor light.
Sandwich tern 4 S
Wigeon 28 S
Teal 6 S
Shag 3 S
Knot 2 S
Red throated Diver 1 adult still in summer plumage on the sea close in.
Further offshore there were loads of Gannets in feeding frenzies, plus a few Fulmars.

While seawatching it was clear that there was some viz-migging going on along the coast. The next hour or so was spent wandering the back field at home up to Cullernose and back counting the birds moving south. The strong SSW breeze was keeping them low and near the coast, but birds were moving on a broad front so these are absolute minimal counts.

Swallow 180+ S
House Martin 55+ S
Sand Martin 1 S
Swift 1 S mobbed by Swallows then it or another over the Village later on.
Meadow Pipit 200+ S
Skylark 4 S
Goldfinch 61 S
Linnet 34 S
Siskin 19 S
Redpoll 7 S
Pied Wagtail 1 S
Grey Wagtail 4 S

A male Blackcap was still in the elders in the garden and 4+ Bullfinch were in Village Wood, and thats about it really. No Hoopoes here I'm afraid ( Bamburgh 7.55am)...

Buzzard - Gull - Buzzard?

2011-09-07T20:42:00.000+01:00

On my way home from work this evening via the A1, a large bird caught my eye hanging in the wind right over the road near the turn off to Eshott. After assuming it was a Buzzard then thinking, no its just a gull, I drove right under it, and was over the moon to see it was an Osprey!

A very brief view at 50 mph but enough to id it. Nice one.

Delayed Post from Sunday...

2011-09-06T20:03:00.000+01:00

On Sunday I actually did some birding complete with scope and everything. Well I had a couple of hours around the Village and a short jaunt to Alnmouth and Boulmer so here goes -

6.45am wandered to the coast path to look at the sea. On the way noticed some viz migging going on -

Siskin /Redpoll a flock of 36, sounded like 80% Siskin. S
Meadow Pipit 63 S
Swallow 99 S
Sand Martin 1 S
Yellow Wagtail 1 S
Grey Wagtail 1 S

All in about half an hour.

Seawatching from 7am - 7.30am over a calm sea -

Sandwich Tern 35 S
Roseate Tern 1 N
Cormorant 7 S
Shag 14 S
Goosander 1 S
Little Gull 1 fs very close in with a few Black headed Gulls flew N, a good bird for here.
Red throated Diver 1 S and 1 on the sea.
Skua sp 1 N too far off the Hubble couldnt put it in a family...
Whimbrel 3 S
Wigeon 8 N my first of the autumn. Oh dear winter is not too far away.
Common Tern 1 S
Common Scoter 1 N.

Around the village were -
Sparrowhawk 1 female next to a Kestrel on fence posts.
Willow Warbler 1 singing.
Chiffchaff 1
Blackcap 1
Whitethroat 2
Redpoll 11 NE over the garden.

Nota bad local tally.

At Foxton Bends with JWR we had Kingfisher or maybe two, 4 Greenshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers. Alnmouth Rugby Club saltmarsh pool had a juv Black tailed Godwit and a Bar tailed Godwit flew around. A Little Egret flew S and 100+ Curlew dropped in.

Up at Boulmer the tide was starting to recede and waders were moving in with 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 100+ Dunlin, 7 Bar tailed Godwit, 15 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone. 20+ Common Scoter were offshore.

Back home for lunch...

Around about...

2011-09-01T20:21:00.001+01:00

Theres a distinct lack of illustration on here at the mo, must do better....

Any way, todays dog wanders around the village and coast path had -

Meadow Pipit 17 S in 20 minutes first thing.
Sandwich Tern 4+ offshore.
Common Tern 1 offshore.
Whimbrel 3 N at sea and some whistling, unseen, inland from our drive.
Arctic Skua 1 hammering a kittiwake offshore.
Sparrowhawk 1 female ( I see there was a Gos at St Mary's Island today. I wonder what that was...)
Jackdaw / Rooks 600+ in back fields.
Still plenty of Swallows and House Martins.
Theres a canny Starling roost building in my next door neighbours four conifers recently. There might be 100+ birds? Not exactly the smoke waves of the Somerset Levels, Dumfries or Brighton Pier, but, you know...I'll try and get a count at the weekend.

I might do some proper birding this weekend, using the scope and everything...

2011-08-31T22:25:00.000+01:00

Yesterday evening a Swift flew S with some Swallows and House Martins over our house, while a Yellow Wagtail moved N. Isn't migration strange...

Tonight a sharp call, in the dark, outside was either a Spotted Redshank - 'Chewit' or a Little Ringed Plover - 'Cheew'. Bugger. Pity I didnt get a second chance at it....

Some updates....

2011-08-27T12:59:00.001+01:00

Tuesday 23rd...

This evening a walk down to the Howick Burn Mouth was quite pleasant. A large gull flock held a single juvenile Mediterranean Gull, while 5 Whimbrel flew south overhead. Back up to the farm, and my first Merlin of autumn briefly chased a swallow before moving on south.

Thursday 25th...

A Porpoise was very close in at Cullernose this morning. I managed to get some Yorkshire tourists on to it as they walked by enquiring what I was watching. They were pleased, not having seen one before..

Friday 26th...

Most unusual sighting of the year came while I was working in deepest Ashington last night. Ashington is a largish town with quite dense housing at its east end. It is one of the most socially deprived areas in the north east . So imaging my surprise at 8pm when I glanced up from a housing estate car park to see a Spoonbill being chased by a Little Egret both flying NE overhead! Absolutely bizarre...

Garden Viz migging...

2011-08-21T23:35:00.000+01:00

A migrant Tree Pipit, this one was on Holy Island a while back...

Not much from the Notebook action this week I'm afraid, though I have a few photos to post on here tomorrow night. Don't get too excited though...

This morning while doing the moths, first thing, on the drive, some early visible migration was taking place overhead. The metallic 'pseez' of a Tree Pipit overhead was the first thing into the book. It was quite low and was seen well in the binoculars. Fifteen minutes later a second bird came through, higher this time, but both going NE?

Next to change my focus was the wooden 'chip clip' of Crossbills somewhere high in the blue. Unfortunately I couldnt pick them out so no numbers here. There was more than one and they were going S is all I can add.

A lone Whimbrel, trilling, again moving N, was quite an easy one to pick up, followed by a Yellow Wagtail, then Grey Wagtail ended the early am movements.

A steady southerly passage of hirundines in small groups of 8 - 10 birds took place before 8am.

And all of this from the garden, cant be bad...I'll update some more tomorrow ...

Hoverflies.

2011-08-16T20:55:00.000+01:00

Have you noticed how many hoverflies are in your garden at the minute? Go and have a look. Tonight I spent half an hour looking at the thousands in my garden. There were 4 or more on every single flower out there. Although the light wasn't too good I identified four species from photos taken -

Commonest by many hundreds to one was this above - Marmalade Hoverfly.

Above - This one is a bigger one, Pied Hoverfly.

Then its more tricky. Above is Eupeodes latifasciatus.

And its mate, Eupeodes luniger.

This is the first time I've really looked closely at these and I'm sure I'll be taking more notice in future. Click on them for a bigger image.

Riot!

2011-08-12T19:52:00.000+01:00

Early this morning before work the sun shone a mellow light, glinting off the rain soaked grass. A Golden Plover, my first of the autumn, flew north, low, over the garden calling its clear, hoarse note.

A Comma was on the buddleia on our drive next to the forsythia that held the Woodpigeons nest containing a single newly hatched chick and an egg.

At 7pm it all kicked off in the garden with a set of proper juvenile delinquents. An adult female Sparrowhawk was being battered by two squealing large young ones, almost flying into the window. They landed on the fence in a flapping screaming racket so I attempted a photo -

By the time I scratted around for the camera, mother and sibling were off leaving matey quite bemused at their absence. About half an hour later the noise started again as the trio returned causing all manner of consternation in the Starling roost in the conifers...

This is the first time I've seen this type of raptor behaviour in the garden....

Oh dear me....

2011-08-07T21:56:00.000+01:00

It started to rain at about 11.30am on Saturday and it hasn't stopped yet. I've seen nothing whatsoever to post on here other than a Whitethroat along our drive and a flyover Sparrowhawk. Hopefully we might get some of this over the next week or two attached to an easterly wind. I'm unearthing ants nests on the lawn for a Wryneck...

I believe it is due to fair up tomorrow mid morning. Great eh.

End of Summer...

2011-07-31T19:19:00.000+01:00

For the birder anyway.

August, tomorrow, heralds the start of the autumn migration season for me.

On the local patch young warblers begin to appear in unusual spots such as gardens etc, an eye on the sky always has the chance of some viz migging, with things like Swifts and Sand Martins already on their way to more tropical climes or a drifting raptor like an Osprey maybe. Early in the morning a practiced ear can add a fly by Tree Pipit or Greenshank to the list. Birds not known as migrants can also be added to new areas as juveniles carry out a post breeding dispersal. Nuthatch is a good example of this, just check tit flocks early in the mornings.

Today, loitering around our village produced a typical late summer, early autumn, selection with 3 Arctic Terns N high over head, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail N. In the garden, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat all appear to be juveniles in nice fresh plumage.

Down on the coast path, an adult Arctic Skua was in the cove while 20 ish Common Scoter flew N...

Tension builds as we hope for an easterly towards mid month...

10? Is that all?

2011-07-26T21:26:00.000+01:00

Before I start, Birdguides / Rare Bird Alert - Any bird reports on here are usually seen at Howick unless otherwise stated. Yesterdays report of Roseate Tern and Stormies were here, not Boulmer...

Right, where was I...oh yes, Storm Petrels.

If you live in Northumberland and have not seen one of these I suggest you get to the coast pronto before they move offshore or north or where ever they will vanish to, soon. This is a spectacle that will not be repeated in the near future I bet...You may need a telescope though, I tried to see if I could locate one in the binoculars but even at relatively close range they are tiny and take some picking out.

Tonight I seawatched off the coast path (er, Howick) for an hour from 6.35pm. In the first 15 minutes I had 15 Stormies, and ended with a minimum count of 32 birds before 7.30pm. There were more sightings, but I tried to eliminate duplicates of feeding birds.

After half an hour I decided to concentrate further out than Stormie range to see if I could get a July Sooty but it wasnt to be. I did get 12 Manx Shearwaters, 40 Arctic Terns, 3 Puffins, 1 Bonxie and 1 Arctic Skua though so I'm happy with that.

A gallon of Petrels...

2011-07-25T22:02:00.000+01:00

After yesterdays good showing of Storm Petrels off various north east headlands I could only manage half an hour this evening after work, so me and the terriator trotted down to the front and waited.

Not for long mind you as no sooner had my eye hit the scope two tiny ~~House Martins~~ Stormies fluttered into view. The true sea swallows these, forget the analogy about terns. As they soared and glided, and flicked their wings the sea looked just like a big pond with hirundines over it.

Each time I moved the scope it was only a minute or two before I picked up another, with some very close in, feeding with feet pattering the waves. In total I think I had 10 birds, but there may have been more disappearing over crest and into troughs. This was a sight I didnt think possible in Northumberland even after 25 plus years seawatching here I saw more Storm Petrels in this half hour than in many dozens of hours previously.

Also of note - 8 Manx Shearwaters and a Roseate Tern plus many auks, gannets, terns and kittiwakes.

Brilliant.

Seawatching 'n'that....

2011-07-24T19:59:00.001+01:00

Last nights northerly was still nagging this morning dropping overnight temperatures to 9 degrees.

Nothing else for it, I'm off seawatching, my first session of the year. A short walk found me atop the cliff on a mouldy old deckchair pointing east. As I expected so early in the season, the scene was dominated with breeding species, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Terns. After only 5 minutes, a shearwater came into view from the south, and not a Manx. Balearic Shearwater! A patch tick, and my first shear' of the year too. A nice dark bird showing distinctive pale belly and wing linings. It was flapping along quite slowly, zig-zagging offshore then inshore again then landing not far off but the swell took it out of sight immediately, and it wasnt seen again.

Arctic Skuas were in reasonable numbers with 8+ seen, 1 Bonxie distantly North, then a tiny, black Storm Petrel slipped over the swell for a second then lost to view. A very brief snippet but enough to add it to the list. Two patch ticks in a day, cant be bad.

Other 'padders' were 3 Puffins ( a year tick, what a disgrace), 1 Roseate Tern, 4 Goosanders N and 2 Whimbrel S.

The rest of the day was spent tidying part of the garden and putting some plants in. A few butterflies were seen, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Green veined White, Large White and Small White, the latter egg laying on the nasturtiums. A Chiffchaff fed in the overgrown corners and a Blackbirds sun bathed between feeding its second brood.

Our Garden....

Our Drive, its coming along nicely... ;)

Sawfly larvae plundering the small birch - the insect is called
Craesus septentronalis.

A few bits of note from yesterday -

The farmer cut the back field behind us for silage on Friday night. In the process he chopped up a Grey Partridge, leaving its brood calling from the side lines. I hope they can look after themselves, small creatures hiding in the long grass have little chance to escape a big mower doing 30 mph around the field. Squatting and hoping it will go away is just a recipe for disaster.

On Saturday morning a big Lesser black backed Gull and 5 Magpies were squabbling over the partridge remains while a Buzzard picked off other exposed small wildlife.

As we watched from the kitchen window and adult Mediterranean Gull flew low around the field then moved off south. A lot of insects must have been disturbed as the sky was full of hirundines etc with many Swallows, quite a few Sand Martins and a handful of House Martins and Swifts.

In the wood, Broad Leaved Helleborines are coming into flower and Giant Bellflower is in bloom along the lane.

Not a bad weekend then...

Bloody Blogger, any ideas?

2011-07-21T23:13:00.000+01:00

I've removed my patch list from the side bar because it has just stopped working. I am unable to add to it. All that keeps coming up is that Javascript is void??? As I have no idea what the hell that means I've removed it all.

A tick!

2011-07-21T20:41:00.001+01:00

Last nights coastal stroll produced a few bits and pieces. A big frenzy of terns was offshore, a tad too far for the bins, but a few came close in - 2 Roseates, 3+ Commons, 10+ Arctics and 10+ Sandwich. Below the terns were a good few Razorbills with young and at least 2 Goosander.

But, for me, the highlight wasn't the flickering winged sea swallows, not even the rare ones, no. On my way into the house a call over the back field grabbed my attention and, duly, a Ringed Plover was added to the garden list! It flew low over the field in display flight mode towards the coast. On this stretch they are a difficult bird to get because its very rocky with little sand for them. I assume this is an inland bird returning to the coast to winter...

Big Ugly Bugger...

2011-07-18T20:19:00.001+01:00

Last nights stroll to the coast path found the cove filled with terns. Well, 30+ anyway, a not bad count for this rocky stretch. Mostly Arctics, there were a few Commons and Sandwich too. Suddenly the Arctic Terns started making a 'pew' 'teu' call that I recognised as a mobbing tone, scanning around, there, almost over head, was a huge big old Bonxie, soaring like a Buzzard over the coast path. At one stage it went inland for a bit then back to the sea. Although it spooked the crap out of the terns it didnt seem too bothered and just loafed offshore. It was quite a pale mealy mottled adult, a nice early one for the year list...

Odd...

2011-07-15T22:41:00.000+01:00

This morning on my way to work, I was driving south, approaching the speed camera at Hadston when I saw a party of 4 birds flying towards me just west of the road. They looked odd. Not young Black Headed Gulls? Nope, a group of Arctic Skuas flying north over fields and houses. It looked like two pale phase adults and two immatures. Agreed only half a mile from the sea, but for this species, a good way inland...It brightened the journey anyway...

MEGA hoo ha!

2011-07-14T23:24:00.000+01:00

Mega alert the other day said Greater Yellowlegs, at some pool made of concrete. Now that woke me up. I missed the Solway bird a few years back so might have been keen to get this one. As the morning wore on it came on the pager again, now showing well. Showing well I say.

Then, after lunch a report came on saying Greenshank, showing well and gave the same on site parking instructions.

What is going on here? How the hell can someone, indeed some crowd, report GYL on at least 4 occasions before the realisation finally dawned on them that this was actually one of the commonest early freshwater passage waders of autumn.

Its amazing how many budding Kieth Vinnicombes are out there blubbing about scapular notches and emarginations, but a Greenshank SHOWING WELL might as well have come from Mars.

GRANK. Showing Well.

Over the Border...

2011-07-10T23:07:00.000+01:00

Today myself and John took a short jaunt north over the border into Scotland. From home this was only a 50 minute drive and it was well worth it..Above, Burnmouth harbour looking as scenic as ever. From here we could just see Holy Island and Bamburgh castles in the distance..

The limestone scree here was covered in nice wild flowers with White Stonecrop, Salad Burnet, Wood Sage, Red Valerian, Lady's Bedstraw and...

Above, Common Rock Rose. This is almost non existent in Northumberland, but here it is prolific.

So it was with little surprise that we found our goal quite easily - Northern Brown Argus, above. Although worn, these tiny chaps have bottle spending their time harassing every other butterfly that dares fly into its territory. We had about 5 in a small area along with 20+ Grayling, below, 1 Common Blue, 10+ Meadow Brown, 5+ Ringlet, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Large White.

We also came across a very showy Hummingbird Hawkmoth, that began laying eggs on Lady's Bedstraw, bottom. This must be a scarce occurrence in Scotland...

The only noteworthy birds were a single Raven over and a lone Crossbill in some pines in the village.

A favour...

2011-07-07T20:12:00.000+01:00

Hello all this is an appeal, well to Northumbrians anyway.

A few of you have texted me or emailed with details of Hummingbird Hawkmoths in your gardens this week. Would you be able to send me the full info please -

Your name
Site where seen, if garden address please.
Six fig Grid Ref
Date
How many.

If you are kind enough to send this info I'll forward on to Tom the county recorder. Or alternatively you can send directly to him using the Northumberland Moths website link on my moth blog, link left.

It would be good to get numbers of the little hummers on this, clearly, an influx year.

Thanks again.

Hummingbirds...

2011-07-03T22:59:00.001+01:00

After hearing that Mike Hodgson had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in his garden the other day, I decided to keep an eye open at home. No joy on the flowers, after all these migrants are quite scarce in the north east, I mean this isn't Dunge or Portland...

So, at 5.30pm when I was about to take Bunty for a wander I opened the door into our porch to be greeted with an almighty buzzing and beating around the tomato plants. Thinking that the mother of all bumble bees needed to be released, I was over the moon to see this little hyper active critter bashing up and down the glass, having just come in through an open sash!

After a photo session It flew off faster than a racing pigeon high into the sky.

I think the person was right who said 'Everything comes to he who waits...'

Over the sea to Skye II

2011-06-30T22:14:00.000+01:00

Part I is on the moth blog, link on the right...

Last week was spent on holiday on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides. Despite having covered most regions in Scotland, this was our first time on the isle. Rather than go on in details just see pictures and comments below...

Our cottage for the week, Gramarye, The Braes. Google it.

The road down to the cottage...

The evening light on the hills from the garden...

The view the other way towards the Isle of Raasay...

It just didnt seem to get dark. This photo was taken at 11.10pm. Wheatears were still hopping from post to post down at the waters edge.

It wasn't all sunshine. Some dramatic, heavy showers...

One morning a party of 9 Bottle nosed Dolphins appeared as we had breakfast outside. They could be seen tossing salmon into the air...

Some of the neighbours didnt look too good ...

You can see how the 'Black Cuillins' get their name. Click on it to see the cottage in the middle to give some scale.

The scenery was truly amazing. You should have been there....

The view from Elgol looking towards Soay. No idea who the bloke is but those dogs look familiar.

This is one I've stuck together in photoshop to give a better idea of the vistas...

Jane and the terriator enjoying the sun. From here a dozen Black Guillemots were on the sea and a few Bonxies were on a low island just out of shot to the right...

One of the trips highlights for me were the fantastic hay meadows. Full of wildflowers with not much grass we located three calling Corncrakes in two locations. One was here in the distant field full of ox-eye daisies...

Plenty of Hoodies around. Unusually these were quite confiding in supermarket car parks etc. Ravens were all around the coast too...

In the wildflower meadows and even on roadside verges orchids were in abundance. The Greater Butterfly Orchid was one of many seen along with Lesser Butterfly, Common Spotted, Heath Spotted and Northern Marsh Orchids.

Another great highlight was at Neist Point the most westerly part of Skye. Two Minke Whales were feeding only a hundred metres offshore and showed well for over an hour. Although I have seen Fin Wale, Sperm Whale, Pilot Whale, Killer Whale and Cuviers Beaked Whale, this, the commonest of British whales has always eluded me. Superb. Also here were a few Common Dolphins and Porpoises upping the list to four cetacean species in the week.

Families of Twite were all around the coast. I had a colour ringed bird that I will submit later.

A new plant for me was Oblong leaved Sundew. I have seen Round leaved Sundew in many areas but this one was nicely different.

Species that managed to evade the camera were two Otters together on the first night from the cottage, two Golden Eagles over the cottage and Rock Doves ( or as near as you can get) were all over.

A great week was had.

Marauder.

2011-06-12T21:03:00.001+01:00

This morning was nice and sunny with some cloud, a blessed relief after yesterdays effort. JWR and myself headed off west to do his WeBs count.

The gravel pits looked well in their pseudo-summer finery ( after all we can't string two nice days together to merit the name 'summer') with drifts of Birds Foot trefoil and Sheeps Sorrel dotted with clumps of Ragged Robin. Purple Loosestrife and Knapweed in bud hinted at the next generation of flowers to follow on.

Only a few birds were noteworthy - Great Crested Grebe, Little Ringed Plover and Goldeneye being the main attractions with odd Redpolls calling overhead.

A sweep around with my newly acquired net turned up a few new moths ( see the moth blog for details) then John located this -

A female Adder trying to catch some rays.

Next as we wandered back a bird speeding towards us over the pond prompted the cry 'Hobby!' as subbuteo in full hunt mode dashed by too quick to get a pic. I suggested that it was heading to a Sand Martin colony at our next stop.

Onwards after a pastie and tea, to finish at another pit across the main road when our hooded marauder turned up bang on cue.

This one is from John...

This time, no fly by. It circled the lake and riverside, mobbed a Sparrowhawk harried some hirundines then soared off up into the blue after about 5 minutes of great views. Our pictures cant do it justice. Click on them for a better idea....

This evening as the weather reverts to type, windy and dark with heavy rain spattering the windows, the Cuckoo is calling constantly under pressure right next to our garden...

The last case of mistaken identity at Hartlepool...

2011-06-06T23:43:00.003+01:00

...was this.

During the Napoleonic War legend has it that a monkey was washed ashore at Hartlepool after a shipwreck. He was mistaken as a French spy and hung.

Oh well, we all make mistakes.

So, this morning as I left for work a pager message said that a Red Flanked Bluetail had been trapped and ringed at Hartlepool Headland and it would be released at 8.30am. I thought this was a good bird to find in June and headed off to work...

Half an hour later as I passed south through Amble, the siren noise from the pager awakened me to a Mega alert. As I glanced down, expecting something in Cornwall or Kent, the message read - WHITE THROATED ROBIN, Hartlepool Headland, NOT Red flanked Bluetail! Now while the Bluetail is a fantastic bird, the Robin is an altogether different kettle of fish. There have only been two previous British records and none of those were accessible to other birders, so this one, on the mainland, would attract an FA Cup sized crowd.

I calmly pulled into a laybye to consider the options. I had no binoculars with me, and I was due in at work, so I rang and texted a few friends before rooting out a brown paper bag to breath into as I continued my commute.

By the time I was in the office, I was pondering a get out clause, then I spoke to Richard, who told me that it would be best to make all efforts to get down the road as the bird had been showing on and off. Right, that was it. Flexi time again to the rescue ( I will be working nights to catch this lot up) and a few calls later and I was off to meet up with Andy and Alan, Finn and Ella in the ASDA car park at Blyth before we headed off to the south ( well, south for me anyway). Alans three year old twins were just the tonic for calming the nerves and took our minds off wondering the will it / wont it scenario.

In no time we were parking up just a toddlers stroll from the Bowling Green where our target was still showing. And was it not. The White throated Robin performed like a true mega, running out from low bushes to chase insects in some rough weeds on the green edge. Often it would pose for the paparazzi right on the green itself.

What a relief to get this one, a bird I never thought I would see in the UK though I have seen a good few in Eastern Turkey but that was many years ago. We were able to give it a thorough going over before we headed back home and to work. The rest of the afternoon was great seeing pager messages flash up knowing that loads of birders were pounding up M roads from hundreds of miles away, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

A fantastic bird. Better than a monkey hanging, anyday.

Thanks to Richard Dunn...

...and to Roger Forster for their great photos.

British List - 397

Everything is Rosy...

2011-06-05T20:03:00.000+01:00

I've just taken a wander with Bunty along the coast path. The rain has stopped and although its dull, it feels relatively calm and mild.

Just offshore a small feeding frenzy held 28 large gulls, including 2 Lesser and 1 Greater black backed, 6 Guillemots and a handsome Razorbill. At least 6 Sandwich Terns were accompanied by a nice clean pinky Roseate Tern, my first this year. I haven't seen Arctic or Common Tern yet, but there's no doubt they are just waiting out there for me to point a scope their way. While I sat, an adult and an immature Red throated Diver flew north, very close in, almost overhead.

Down on the rocks I was surprised to see a pair of Oystercatchers behaving territorially when a Great Black Back flew over. Later investigation showed one of the birds to be squatting low, on what I assume are small chicks. I didn't disturb her in case the gulls or crows returned but I will keep an eye on them later this week. I've not noticed them breeding here before, and it is very exposed so I don't expect too much success.

A small area of Bell Heather or Cross leaved Heath is in flower on a precarious cliff edge too, but I'm not sure which it is. I'll confirm that later this week too...

Cuc-koo.

2011-06-05T17:06:00.000+01:00

A rare thing on the Northumberland coast these days, the Cuckoo. Last year I dont think I had one on the OFFH list, but one turned up last Saturday in our Village Copse, cuck-oo ing for all to hear. I heard it briefly at a distance last weekend, but yesterday I finally saw it, as it flushed from the back hedge behind us. It was seen off by a few smaller birds and headed towards the coast path and out of view.

I hope it can find a mate in the area, but I think he might have to move towards higher ground before he encounters another of his kind.

Didn't we have a luvverly time the day we went to...

2011-06-03T19:41:00.001+01:00

...Carlisle. If its good enough for Lady Gaga, it'll do for us.

The weather forecast today said it was going to be a hot'un, so without further ado, a Flexi day was booked and we were off on a jolly!

After picking up the chaps, we ploughed on, west, towards our target species. First off, into the woods where a large damp field proved to be just the job...

Searching and searching, we looked high and low....

But for some, the quarry was elusive.

While for the rest of us...

..Marsh Fritillarys were all over. At least 20+ were seen in a hundred metre stretch, alongside good numbers of Small Heath. The Marsh Frits were a new butterfly for me and what views we had of these stunners.

Then it was time for lunch and a nap (the heat can take it out of you when you get to our age) ...

... before we headed off to the next stop where a very rare dragon was on offer.

...Over a dozen White faced Darters put on a good show but were tricky to get perched up as they dazzled about often being harried by larger Four spotted Chasers. If you have read this blog for a while you may remember that I posted about these cheeky little chappies a few years back, but you cant get too much of a dragonfly with looks like this.

Then it was off home so that Bird Guides could be up and running ( just a shade late, but it was a quiet afternoon) and we can all peruse our pics at leisure.

A great day out with some great company and crack. Roll on the next one.

Click on the images for a bigger view.

Black and Red and Black Leaf FrogHopperJumperthingys....

2011-05-29T20:46:00.000+01:00

While the grapevine buzzes with Terek Sandpiper and Great White Egrets, we took a detour this morning to check an old railway line near Powburn for butterflies. Well, I've seen a couple of Tereks and four or five Great White Egrets in the county anyway...

But, I haven't seen these critters before. Red and Black Froghopper, sometimes known as Black and Red Froghopper ( I kid you not). Cercopis vulnerata. They were everywhere today with at least 30+ along the track. On checking their status I find this...

No records north of the Tyne Valley. I'm sure I saw one on a local blog a while back, maybe at Druridge, ST?

Not many butterflies were had - 5 Orange Tip, 2 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, several Green veined Whites and a small selection of moths...

Taxa
0016 Gold Swift (Hepialus hecta) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 2
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 2
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1

Not bad....

I'm a dad!

2011-05-25T20:44:00.000+01:00

Well not really, what I mean is, the Tree Sparrow's fledglings were on the garden wall when I came in from work. There were two of them next to a family of House Sparrows, while a brood of Starlings ransacked the birdbath. Its like a creche not a garden.

Tree Spug chick with another one pitching in...

Last night, the Barn Owl was hunting out the back right up to our garden wall, only 7 or 8 meters from the kitchen window. You guessed, when the camera came out it made off to the back hedge and wasn't seen again.

Two Ticks...

2011-05-21T19:55:00.001+01:00

But nothing to write home about. Firstly this morning 2 Sandwich Terns flew south along the coast path just offshore. I haven't done any spring seawatching really so these are rather late on the OFFH list.

Secondly this afternoon a lonesome Swift flew south ahead of a gathering storm. Last year it was June before I saw this species, as it doesnt breed locally so I normally get them on southwards passage in July. Last year though, an hour after my first Swift, a Hobby flew over the garden. I hope this one is an omen...

The Pits

2011-05-16T20:39:00.000+01:00

Out to Branton Pits this morning with John doing the WeBs count. All was generally quiet but Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover were noteworthy. My first damselflies of the year were on the wing at Hedgely with -

From the left, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly (teneral) and Blue tailed Damselfly.Click on pic to enlarge.

Other than that and a few moths for the moth blog, that was it really...

Can I have a tern....

2011-05-14T15:05:00.000+01:00

I thought to myself as the pager kept updating the presence of an adult White winged Black Tern in Druridge Bay over the last few days. After about 3 days or so, I could stand it no longer, I mean, I drive past the place twice a day so It would be daft not to check it out.

On Wednesday after work a short detour down to East Chevington North Pool found me and the White winger out in some heavy showers. I watched it for about half an hour before heading off home, sometimes close, sometimes distant but always a joy to watch, dip feeding amongst a large flock of hirundines over the pool.

Maybe my fifth county record but the third I've seen from this very same spot. Now, why not a Whiskered?

New Resident...

2011-05-11T22:06:00.000+01:00

This is one of my garden nestboxes. No Blue Tits for me this year, oh no. Tree Sparrows! Feeding young with bill fulls of St Marks flies. A while back I mentioned hoping to get the Tree Sparrows to nest as the habitat looks right and they do visit my seed feeder, so I was pleased to finally confirm our new lodgers.

In time for next spring there will be more spuggies boxes erected in the hope of establishing a colony.

Not a lot of bird activity around the village this weekend though two House Martins joined local Swallows on wires during a rain shower, new for the OFFH list. While gardening 3 Whimbrel flew south overhead...autumn is early this year...

Badger...

2011-05-06T20:30:00.000+01:00

Late last night I took Bunts for her final stroll, only to be met face to face with Brock just coming out of the Village Hall car park. He sat on the road under the street light for a while, sniffing for terrier, then ambled his way along the road and out of sight. Tremendous. Bunty liked to sniff where he had been walking...

Today looked ok for some migrants but despite walking the whole coast from Howick Burn to Craster all I had were 4 Greenland Wheatears and a pair of Yellow Wagtails. There seems to be 3 or 4 Sedge Warblers around the Village now and plenty of Whitethroats but nothing to set the pulse racing...

The Kittiwakes on the cliffs are in full breeding mode now, a great sight to accompany any walk on the coast path.

The Hat Trick...

2011-05-05T19:07:00.000+01:00

This has been a week of warbler arrivals at Howick.

After the garden Garden Warbler, and yesterday's Grasshopper Warbler (no sign today), a short judder of a call in an almost blossomless cherry tree in the old school garden had me investigating. Within a few seconds, the Lesser Whitethroat could be seen flickering from twig to twig looking for insects, then, as suddenly as he arrived, he flew, high westwards towards some tall sycamores. I wonder how far it is going....and has he brought his mate, the Wryneck, with him...? If it rains tonight I'll be out checking in the morning...

Thats a nice trilogy of the scarcer patch warblers to get this week.

While watching the Lesser Whitethroat a Yellow Wagtail flew north, calling.

Last night, a Barn Owl flew over the old school towards the paddock, my first sighting of one in the village this year.

Gropper and Squill.

2011-05-04T11:47:00.004+01:00

This morning, along the Lane, I heard a short snatch of a rattling song in the hedge next to the road. I peered over into a sunny open patch and saw a nice Grasshopper Warbler creep from under a bramble and out onto a twig only a few inches from the ground. It sang, on and off, in short bursts and looked quite tired. Maybe the white frost this morning hadn't agreed with it, I know it didn't make me too happy either...

It was no more than 15 feet away, and with the naked eye I could see its yellow gape as it churned out its very un-British sounding song... Also here this morning were Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler.

Please click on sketch for a larger image....

Later we had a walk along to Cullernose Point. The sea was bright blue and the sound of Kittiwakes filled the air. But, it wasn't the birds we were after...

Coast Path to Cullernose Point.

It was a scarce plant that until now had eluded me in Northumberland.

Spring Squill

The Spring Squill is a tiny plant that flowers in the salt sprayed turf of cliff tops and shore edges. It is more of a plant of the north, I've only ever seen it on Orkney, and I think Northumberland is as far south on the east coast as it comes. In previous years, I seem to have miss timed my visits and couldn't find it at all.

Today, quite a few were just coming into flower in the short turf between the rocks just above the spray zone. Its very small though, no more than an inch tall, so if you go looking, be careful not to tread on it.

Also around the point were lots of Thrift, Tormentil, Sea Campion and the smell of Thyme, not yet in flower, coming from the rocks when photographing the Spring Squill.

Thrift

Odynerus spinipes.

This Mason Wasp is, I think, Odynerus spinipes. On checking the Gateway Maps, this doesnt seem to be recorded north of Cleveland. I suppose these things will be less monitored than moths so there are probably loads...

All in all, a very pleasant morning...

In the Garden...

2011-05-02T17:48:00.001+01:00

This morning while I fed the birds a 'blackcap' was singing from the copse nearby. As I dished the seed out it was apparent that the song was coming from a tall shrub rose in our garden so I waited a short while for the bird to show. It was a surprise when the 'blackcap' emerged and was a Garden Warbler! Now I know these two have similar songs but I have them sussed, you know, the short, more melodic, Blackcap ending in the usual flurry of notes, while Garden Warbler is more prolonged with a hint of mimicry in there. Obviously this one didn't know the rules.

It sang on and off while clambering about various shrubs for a spell but I didnt see it again after mid morning. Maybe this is a new arrival using a shorter sub-song until it gets on breeding territory where it can settle in to a more usual vocal rendition... oh, and the shrub rose? It is a variety appropriately named 'Canary Bird'.

At the village road end, a large female Greenland Wheatear hopped about the sheep cropped turf catching unseen prey in the grass.

On 'the drive of activity' a Red Admiral was a new arrival.

7.30pm Update - Just walked Bunty along the lane, when a single Waxwing flew over head, calling, then landed briefly in the garden of the Old Rectory before being chased off north by a Starling. My latest one by a mile, but outside here tonight is cold enough to be November...

A Drive of Activity...

2011-05-01T20:13:00.000+01:00

After Friday's Royal Wedding party at our Village Hall it was back to normal today, thank goodness.

Today was nice and warm in the sunshine, but in the nagging easterly breeze it could be very cool. Our drive way at home is nicely sheltered from the east, and the garden wildlife was taking full advantage ...

Above - This is the end of the drive, where I operate the moth trap. As you can see, 'wildness' is actively encouraged and apart from hand pulling clumps of grass and nettles, other plants are left for the wildlife. In here are Buddleia, Ivy and Forsythia, Periwinkle and Elder, while in the hardcore are Mullein, Black Medic, Dandelion, Ivy leaved Toadflax, Willowherbs, Teasel, Clover, Cow Parsley etc. Its a nice sunny spot on a day like today...

These Goldfinches and a pair of Greenfinches have been dandelioning daily and this morning a Tree Sparrow was collecting nesting material...

While above a pair of Swallows are investigating the shed...But the main interest has been from butterflies...

Wall Brown, the first of the year.

Orange Tips, usually too quick to photograph. Never still for a second. At least 3 males have been in the garden.

Small Tortoiseshell on White Dead Nettle.

Green veined Whites, this one on Honesty.

So, it just shows what is around if you neglect a little strip of hardcore!

Streaks and Heaths...

2011-04-25T18:34:00.000+01:00

Yesterday found myself and Mr Rutter down at Alnmouth, checking the Foxton Bends, the Golf Course Pond and the River. Although it was a cracking morning, there wasn't a great deal doing.

A duck Mallard led her brood of 7 across the river under the bridge, my first fledglings of the year. In the Golf Course Pond willows a few Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were the highlight, and along the river 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Red breasted Mergansers and a Whitethroat were of note. Two Whimbrel tried to land briefly before flying off north.

From here we dropped John's car back off at Shilbottle, 6+ Whitethroats were noted on route, and headed up to Alnwick Moor and Widehope. The target here was to look for Adders, Emperors and maybe Green Hairstreaks.

What was immediately apparent were the number of Common Heath moth on the wing. On our walk 40+ were seen including a female that had assembled 3 males to mate. A Green Woodpecker was yaffling while two Buzzards soared above. A couple of pairs of Stock Dove emerged from cracks and fissures in rock faces. 2+ Wheatears skipped around and a Roe buck made off as we broke the skyline.

Common Heath pair

Further along, where bilberry was more apparent a short 'tea stop' turned up the goods. A single stroppy Green Hairstreak mobbed a Green-veined White that had over stepped the mark by encroaching on its territory, then, surprisingly for this species, it flew off high over the trees and over the road. A closer examination of the site revealed another two Green Hairstreaks sunning low down on small birch and bilberry.

Shining like an emerald, the Green Hairstreak.

A superb little butterfly, and a great one to find at a new site too, only a few miles from home.

Frontiersmen.

2011-04-22T20:48:00.001+01:00

A few weeks ago I went to an excellent talk at the Bird Club by Martin Garner on the new 'Frontiers in Birding'. What an inspiration he is. Very enthusiastic and a great orator he had everyone gripped by his tales, theories and lessons. Is it just a coincidence that two weeks later Northumberlands first Black Scoter was found...I wonder.

So, fired by Martins words that no matter where or when you go birding there is always something of interest to question and seek out, I vowed to get stuck in at the earliest opportunity.

Last Sunday saw me and JWR up in the Cheviot foothills doing a WeBs count. Possibilities here are multitude. Rare Gulls, aythya ducks, races of Jackdaw still returning after the cold winter, Iberian type Chiffs etc etc to be found by an enquiring mind and an eagle eye.

That is unless you are an overweight, middle aged, cynic who turns out on a Sunday armed with a bad haircut, two chins and a big flask of tea. The only frontier we pushed was that we happened upon the first Mr Whippy of the year up Ingram Valley...

JWR with TWO ice creams, greedy get...

Any wildlife at all?

Climbing Corydalis.

Wheatears, Buzzards, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper and a few nice plants.

But what a cracking morning we had!

We couldn't locate any rare birds but it takes skill to locate two 99's with monkey's blood up here, I'll tell you.

Oh and broadband back up to speed!!! Yay!

One Hundred....

2011-04-19T23:10:00.000+01:00

Last night a wander around the coast path was met with a small flock of wagtails flying low, south, over the cliffs.There were about 10 'alba' wags and a single male Yellow Wagtail. My hundredth species this year on the OFFH list.

BT man has been out this morning and carried out extensive line renewals, and socket replacements. He said that I should have a 5 meg speed after 4 hours. 11 hours later and...132kbps. At least it isn't dropping out.

Black Scoter

2011-04-17T22:42:00.000+01:00

I have just read up Martin Garner's piece about Black Scoter in his book 'Frontiers in Birding' and see that he mentions that they look bigger than Common Scoter due to them sitting higher in the water. I thought it looked larger [see notes] but didn't notice it being higher up. Possibly due to it being constantly on the go when I was there...The bill opening it is strange too. I haven't seen anything like this from other seaduck...

I forgot to mention yesterday that I had 15+ Waxwings at Ashington the other day still, and last night a Whimbrel was calling in the dark at 11pm over our garden....

Scotering....

2011-04-16T14:16:00.002+01:00

Unable to get up to Bamburgh the last two days, I ventured north this morning to see the Black Scoter. Sure enough, the bird, a nice adult male, was with 150+ Common Scoter and a fw male Velvet Scoter just offshore. Reasonable views were had between its feeding dives, chasing around after female Common Scoters and calling regularly. I couldn't hear the call, but the bill opening and closing was quite comical.

Not only a good county tick, but a lifer too, the first of 2011. British List 396, Northumberland List 324.

Also around were 3 female Long tailed Ducks, a few Sandwich Terns and masses of hirundines streaming north, mostly Sand Martins. A Grasshopper Warbler could be heard reeling behind the dunes, but remained unseen.

Right, lets quit while I'm ahead. Broadband speed still only 136kbps so this might drop any minute....

Doomed....

2011-04-12T20:00:00.000+01:00

Broadband update. Last night's speed test revealed the dreadful truth - 117kbps. Dial-up is 45kbps.For those of you who, like me, aren't sure what that really means, other people in the village have a speed of 1145kbps and complain at how slow it is. At Alnwick you get 4500kbps.

BT Technical Ops rang this morning. Dominic. He was very polite. He said that there is a problem (no kidding), and since my speed test yesterday, my speed has dropped 45 times. He didnt have a clue where or what to do next.

This may finally finish off blogging from Boulmer Birder. ..

25 days...tick,tock,tick,tock.

They're back....

2011-04-10T22:30:00.000+01:00

...the Swallows that is. After seeing my first at Alnmouth this morning, we had 3 at home later in the afternoon, a week earlier than last year.

With my broadband still disconnecting at will, and a speed of no more than 133 kbps, blogging is a bit time consuming hence the lack of posts this last week or more. I have not had a full 24 hour connection to broadband now for 23 days.

Not to be tempted by the Mark Toni's Warbler ( or whatever they call Subalpine Warblers now) or Western Wigeon, Avocets etc, we checked out a few local areas.

Alnmouth - Foxton

Sand Martin 30+, Swallow 1, Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 2, Wheatear 1 , 14 Shelduck, 2 Snipe, Goosander 1 pair.

Greenrigg, R. Aln, Hipsburn -

Sand Martin 30+, Blackcap 8+, Chiffchaff good numbers, Grey Wagtail 1. Orange Tip 2, Peacock 3.

A few plants along the disused line here included Moschatel, Bugle and Primrose.

This afternoon was spent in the garden at home -

Siskin 1 pair on niger feeder, Yellowhammer 1 male on seed, Tree Sparrow 2, Grey Wagtail 1 s, Pink footed Goose 80+ N.

On the edge...evening edit.

2011-04-07T12:05:00.001+01:00

Still struggling with this. Lets see if I dare upload anything or will it all go pear shaped again...

Sunday 3rd April...

On Foot from Home found a few new arrivals around about...

Three nice male Wheatears were together on the teepee track while 3 Sand Martins hawked over Howick Haven. Down at the burn mouth, a male Blackcap mirrored last years early sighting. Chiffchaffs are in force now singing every 50 yards in woodland. At least one Crossbill was flying around pines at the burn moth too, and not far away I found a Buzzard sitting on a new nest platform, then mating in a nearby tree. Cheeky Jackdaws started stealing sticks off the Buzzard nest when the flew off!

2 Redwings were sub-singing in trees along the burn.

On a nice spring day like this a flower species are on the increase -

Marsh Marigold

Wood Anemone

with good shows of Marsh Marigold, Wood Anemone, Butterbur, Primrose, Common Field Speedwell and Red Dead Nettle. Around these and some sallows was my first Bee-fly of the year and a couple of Peacock butterflies. While I was taking the flower photos above, a Roebuck in velvet ( his antlers, not a 70's jacket) was quietly watching me from a glade before dancing off into the trees...

Broadband Problems...

2011-04-03T17:06:00.000+01:00

Hi all, I haven't moved or anything, its just that my BB is playing up. Its not my computer (tried another one) its not the sockets (tried both) its not the ADSL filters (got new ones)....

its BT! And I still have to wait until the 8th April for them to 'reset my IP' .

It could be sometime before normal service is resumed. I am typing this in the usual 1 hr window I get at this time each night. The other 23 hrs are dead.

A tale of two estuaries...

2011-03-28T16:04:00.001+01:00

Yesterday morning turned out grey and cool, but by mid morning the sun was out and it was a lovely day.

JWR and myself checked out the estuaries of the rivers Aln and Coquet, our two nearest rivers.

Alnmouth was quiet other than a few Teal and Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall and half a dozen Snipe. A Chiffchaff was singing in the willows on the edge of the golfcourse pond, where 2 Coots, 2 Teal, 2 Mallard and 6 Moorhen were the only waterfowl. Green Alkanet was in flower along the banksides.

Down to Warkworth where we walked to the north side of the Coquet. This used to be our patch in the mid 90's but I havent been here for years. Its changed a bit, mainly with picnic sites left uncut and overgrown, creating more cover for migrants! See cut backs (or lack of them) aren't all bad....

Two pairs of Stonechat were pleasing to see, having survived the winter. One of the females seemed to vanish down onto her nest while the male sang overhead. On the estuary itself, 30+ Redshank, 28+ Knot, 50+ Curlew, a few Dunlin, 1 female Red breasted Merganser, 20 Wigeon and a smatter of Teal, 8 Goldeneye flew off overhead and out to see, while my first hirundine, a Sand Martin, skimmed over head, north.

A tall Sallow here was humming with Bumble Bees and my first butterfly, a Small Tortoiseshell was sunning on the track

Back home Howick Pond was leaping with ( or should I say 'humping with') Toads all in a spawning frenzy...

Dispicable goings on...

2011-03-26T19:03:00.000Z

...in the flower beds.

I have heard people complain when House Sparrows dust bath in their finely raked seed beds. The tilth, is flattened, spread and generally knackered by the shenannigans of the excitable spuggies.

Well, if that has happened to you, imagine this...

This hen Pheasant, wandered between the perennials, began scratching it all level before bathing away, flattening my Lupins and Hyacinths...As if this isnt bad enough...

In walks chummy, fit after scoffing a kilo of wheat free finest wild bird mix. Striding over the Phlox, narrowly missing a Hollyhock, to meet his laydee...and then, would you believe it...

Oh, for goodness sake, give it a rest. This would have Monty Don reaching for his prozac...Even the tete a tete daffs are amazed!

And then off they went into the sunset. Look at the state of the garden...

This autumn I'm going out beating.....

New Additions..

2011-03-25T13:20:00.000Z

Last week I forgot to mention, I was feeding the birds in the garden when a Crossbill flew north, calling. Yesterday, out with the terriator down the coast path I heard a faint call of a Lapland Bunting. Scanning the skies I didnt see anything, then after about 10 minutes, it lifted off the field with 2 Linnets and circled around. It seemed to land behind Howick Haven, but I've checked this morning and there's no sign.

Still no Wheatears either.... I suppose it is early for them up here but I thought this mild spell would have had an effect....

Incy wincy spider....

2011-03-21T17:44:00.001Z

Another Monday on holiday ( I'm starting to catch up with teachers now) and I headed all the way south down there to East Chevington for a chat with Andy and Nigel. It was a lovely sunny but breezy day, the temperature up to 15 degrees, but things were quiet on the bird front. Highlights at a well over flooded Chevington North Pool were 45 Goldeneye, 3 drake Red breasted Merganser displaying and 10+ Gadwall. A light passage of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits tracked north overhead but there were no early hirundines.

Whilst chewing the fat we had company on the sun warmed hide sides -

Tibellus oblongus

Salticus scenicus

The little chap with the glasses is the Zebra Jumping Spider we see on the walls of houses etc, but the strange looking critter at the top is a lifer for me.

This afternoon Roger and Sylvia dropped by. Roger quietly letting on that he had photographed this Lizard by my seawatch seat...Never seen a Lizard on the patch...

What to Look for in Spring...

2011-03-20T20:34:00.002Z

...goes the title of the ladybird book first published in 1961. I had all of the 'seasons' series, beautifully illustrated by Charles Tunnicliffe. They were very evocative of halcyon days out in the field, before all people cared about was their XBox, OK magazine, Big Brother, Bankers Bonuses, Cuts, Libya and Stejnegers Scoters. I loved them.

Toady up at Branton Pits doing the count with Mr Rutter, was just like the Spring one.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes were keeping close, while Coots were territorial and the Reed Buntings looked lost as they had just returned to look for a place to call home.

Sallows bloomed around the margins, just waiting some warm sunshine to get the bees and moths to pollinate...

A Chiffchaff was in full song between flycatching sorties, and a Redwing looked ready to have a sing before heading north.

The Black headed Gull colony was starting to crowd up while down at the river, the Dippers were in full breeding fettle..

Sigh...

[Oh and I forgot to add a proper patch tick this morning. A single Red legged Partridge was along the lane end.]