Top - J & B in Ingram Valley.
Bottom - View down the valley.
Not much birding this weekend but had one or two year ticks at Boulmer. The weather has been glorious all weekend with bright sunshine and clear blue skies. Very mild too.
On Friday I had a flock of 14 Linnets and a Skylark on the old runways. On Saturday I was very suprised with a flock of 9 Long tailed Tits on Seaton Point, another Skylark flew south and 250 Pink footed Geese flew north.
Today we decided to have a trip inland for a walk. We found a good track in the Cheviots heading south from Ingram Valley towards Alnhammoor. Birds were very sparse but a ringtail Hen Harrier was a good record as it flew right overhead onto the adjacent hillside. I couldn't see any wing tags on it. Also here 2+ Buzzards, Kestrel, 6+ Long tailed Tits and 6 Bullfinches were at nearby Branton GPs.
More locally, around Longhoughton this morning were 10+ Yellowhammers, 60+ Chaffinches, 1 Buzzard, 4+ Meadow Pipits and the female Blackcap and two Tree Sparrows were still in my garden.
I was invited to go with IDR and TB to see the Pacific Diver near Knaresborough this morning and was unable to make it. Unfortunately the bird departed at 9am before the lads arrived so they had to 'make do' with the American Robin at Bingley. I can take missing that one much easier as I saw the Grimsby bird a few years ago.
Almost as bad as missing the Diver, I see that BR has had 3 Scaup on my patch and I've missed them! See Cuddy's website link for more details...
76. Skylark
77. Long tailed Tit
8 comments:
Thought you might be interested I had a Hooded Crow flying over the beach and towards Low Steads farm just south of Howick Dene on Sat morning. Only a brief view but didn't look like like a hybrid or anything like that from what I could see. Also the 3 Scaup were close in just north of Low Steads mid afterrnoon.
Thanks for that Tariq. I will be busy at work all week but will be checking it out at the weekend. I heard that there was a Hoodie in the Howick area in November, maybe its been there all along...Any good records are gratefully accepted.
Cheers, Stewart
HI,
WE SPOTTED A LONE GOOSANDER,ON THE WANSBECK ADJACENT ST.GEORGES CHURCH,MY WIFE THINKS IT WAS A FEMALE IN ECLIPSE PLUMAGE,SHE WAS MIXED IN WITH THE MALLARDS,(THE GOOSANDER ,NOT MY WIFE)
COLIN
Hello Colin,
Yes you will have seen a Goosander. At this time of year they are moulted out of eclipse so chances are it will have been an adult or first winter female. There are 5 inc 2 nice drakes on the river at Warkworth wier at the minute...
Cheers S...
I've decided to make the stretch from Cullernose to Low Steads my patch for this year. So I'll let you know if I do manange to turn anything up.
stew i have a blackcap feeding in the garden at the moment also had 1 last year about this time could it be the same bird its a male.
Nice one Tariq. I'll look forward to checking your blog for details of whats being seen 'next door'.
Hello Chris. With small birds you can never be sure if you have a returning bird or maybe your garden suits the requirements of wintering Blackcaps? Only ringing would provid ethe answer...
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