Monday, September 11, 2006

Since the excitement of the Bonaparte's Gull there has not been much to write about. Over the weekend highlights were a seawatch on Friday 8th Sept where I had 2 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Manx Shearwaters and 16 Bar tailed Godwits.

On Saturday 9th Sept the tides were the biggest of the year, leaving Boulmer Haven all but dried out at its lowest point. On the beach were 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 25+ Dunlin, 2 Knot and 1 Whimbrel. An after noon seawatch at high tide had 8 each Wigeon and Teal flew N in one flock, later a flock of 48 Teal went North, 10 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas, 1 Red throated Diver flew South.

On Sunday 10th Sept the patch was very quiet dispite covering most of it. Of note were 1+ Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 41 Meadow Pipits-S, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 13 Pied Wagtails flew from their roost on board one of the floating fishing boats in the haven, Robins seem to be back with a vengeance with at least 18 birds present, 2prs Stonechat, 1 Whitethroat, a flock of 35+ Goldfiches and 50+ Linnets together and, best of all the first 16 Pale bellied Brent Geese of the autumn flew North.

Late morning on Sunday I popped down to Alnmouth south dunes to see what JWR was up to. On his patch we had 1 Great nothern Diver N ( probably, it was quite distant and high ), 1 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat, 5+ Common Terns and 2+ Sandwich Terns. There was a steady south passage of Swallows and House Martins all morning.

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