Today was my first real bash at the patch, so armed with scope I headed off the have a 'stand and stare' from the high point at the Howick Haven. I arrived to meet a lovely calm sunrise over a mirror flat sea, with a mild very light SW1 blowing. Just the job for listening out for birds flying over.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWO7pY8D5ytqAXNdpPlqN35PiJH2mUT8Ecsq-EQqLquGbpSyRMWsd65wzlASohprYPwlYEBaaFR1Pqp7ULJ_0n-TIGE7e0YI5FBf9N8cHrwyIryq6UppW7OUkP34D63kgrPja/s400/06011302.jpg) |
Dawn at the Haven |
As the dawn light increased, new patch species came thick and fast -
3 Purple Sandpipers, 11 Goldeneye, a pair of Red breasted Merganser, Common Scoter and a faint 'peep' alerted me to a nice female
Kingfisher sitting on the rocks. Over head, 22
Pink feet flew south while 9
Red throated Divers loafed in the bay.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8-EmZBQLxZLYAaoRtDB5vQ00Xytxf5A2ndwa6DqiMAqeP_YIvRnbgYugKPnpasoT49YlwFUZaTKjqht5zyDbyhbVC7VSR77RiP9BJ7Hn_ot24q9ZMcO0c6AR2XQWekh9RAax/s400/06011303.jpg) |
The view south, this is the south end of my patch. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyQhUIO8TuSzVc9Dv7rYnY3xjBUTlRjCCFA2dbIFtJmAEPtrWEErBKYyibtN3ceE3dM4wCFqguMEFrJaUDeyi9X56h0z7swtBAT8sN4yEuotymr_i8pjU1c-Q8LTrVD6Ik4E6/s400/06011304.jpg) |
And the view North towards the Bathing House and Dunstanburgh castle. |
Further down to the burn mouth, a male
Shelduck was a good find for the time of year being more easily seen in the spring. Another glance seaward added a
Guillemot to the total.
Fired up with this boost, I headed around to the Pond Field to see if there were any ducks at all, as there were none on my last visit. As I was the first visitor here this morning at least
Mallard, Teal and Little Grebe made a show, with
Stock Dove, Greenfinch and a bonus female
Blackcap in the woods for good measure.
Back home for a late breakfast, no new species were added, but on the feeders a
Siskin was at the niger seed with
Goldfinches, 4+
Long tailed Tits fed like animated lollipops on the nuts and at least 10
Tree Sparrows were on the seed feeders.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeO0dDQ0wEvd_pzXdYTGGIh-j-7EvXnYHZr4ZvP9ev1qW6_DiqzIRPNIdEiJ6nE8C-C02scbu2tKCJM8BMO4ybDOkOZQ3EsudU21ce-iQMMWX3AqfmY2Ru4n5ewnCb_isui9L/s400/06011305.jpg) |
Goldfinch male. Note the extent of red on the face. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ghi7lW4neTu1hJwoHWDgNAQR8_oKtfWLlfcm5ve1DxuNlLp8ngN6lecIU4cBWHuJBx7KUk6SeHFx1yxGfDuwvQAVsOzZp8Sz7yGlskl43I-WoV8hwhyphenhyphengVzi8jzqNzPmI6Ehw/s400/06011306.jpg) |
Long tailed Tit. |
My first Moth trapping session of the year yielded only a single moth but it was notable, being my earliest Hebrew Character by a full month.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpi8CghBqMHB3PVP0ITELF3KtnN6VQ5mkj2Nh275kwxInGAdyICBsa78Bo2_djCFfBAO4c2s4OY-NTLj5gCezMS5DXCiCLeMGvobkPZpFaENhy5krEs0QHf7eWkMnlGoyscDj/s400/06011301.jpg) |
Hebrew Character, first moth caught of 2013. |
If this nice weather holds maybe a few common omissions from the bird list will show themselves...
The running total after today - 71 species ( 77 points). Maybe another 10 to get before the end of January...All on foot and all self found.
4 comments:
Love that sunrise shot with your scope in it.
Nice shot of the patch Stewart, some good birds too. Happy new year
Dean - Cheers, it was a lovely morning.
Trent - To you too Trent, cheers.
Top patch birds and a moth ..a great day !
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