Another day at the house with JWR 'piecing up' here and there.
At about 2 o'clock I had swept up so much plaster dust there was only one thing for it. A cuppa over looking the west fields. Earlier in the day there had been 20 odd Curlew and 4 Buzzards together. As we sat chatting a bird called 'Prukk' in a deep woody tone. I commented to John that if we had been on the moors we would be looking for a Raven making that sound. As we were on the coast though I just left it thinking it was a hoarse Carrion Crow taking exception to the local Buzzards.
We decided to have a stroll up the stubble field towards Hips Heugh and had only gone a few yards when the call came again, this time the more usual 'Cronk' making us stop and look around. Sure enough up on the line of pines on the ridge was an absolutely massive Raven being beaten up by the local Corbies!!! It managed to soar up high to avoid them and began circling around for a bit before heading off steadily to the south.
My very first coastal Raven in the county, and only a field from my house, what a start for the patch. The only downside was that it headed towards Boulmer and may have been visible from there too... Dusty Bins should keep a look out at Alnmouth...
Later this afternoon Bunty's walk took us to the Boulmer north end. The tide was very full and there were excellent numbers of waders on the high tide line - 100+ Oystercatchers, 120+ Turnstone, 30 Bar tailed Godwits, 41 Knot and 17 Purple Sandpipers plus the usual Grey Plovers, Redshanks and Dunlin etc...
Sorry no pics, didn't take the camera....
8 comments:
Well done connecting with the Raven, Stewart. Nice one.
Cracking record Stewart, can't remember even reading about a coastal record.
Wow - lucky you Stewart :D. I've yet to see one let alone near the coast!
Great record !!
The NT warden reported 2 Ravens hanging around Dunstanburgh Castle recently too...
I've always checked the corvids at the long nanny for raven and hoodie (and I don't mean a chav type who will nick your car)... Never had any joy tho....
Checked this morning last coastal record was a juvenile flying east at Holy Island Aug 2004.
Great record Stu, I guess you have made a very good addition to your new patch list!
Cheers all, I'll be looking out to see if it is lingering. I reckon it could be from the small population on Eglingham Moor only a short trip inland. The hard weather earlier might have pushed it this way...
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