You are...GOLD!

Not that I ever was a Spandau Ballet fan, but this morning really did turn up some gold...

A last minute arrangement saw me and JWR up to Newton Pool for an early morning bash. We bumped into Gary who was just leaving saying all was quiet, and the Rosefinch from a couple of days ago had not returned. Not to worry, we decided to have a look around anyway and enjoyed Willow Tit, a Little Tern and a singing Lesser Whitethroat before we went into the hide.

After five minutes it was clear there was little here other than a female Gadwall and a lone shot-up Pink footed Goose that flew N.

That was until John said 'What's this coming over the pond?'

A quick glance saw a medium sized bird with a skylark -like flight pattern heading north . Before I lifted the bins I had my suspicions. As soon as I got the glass onto the bird - Golden Oriole! A green and yellowish streaky bird with darker wings landed in the cottage garden.

I rang Gary to tell him ( mind, he sounded well excited ;) who said he was along the track and on his way. He and Jimmy Steele arrived in minutes and soon located the bird in trees in the garden as it crept about like a huge warbler, eating insects, and even a bee.

Through the scope its bright greeny yellow plumage offset with yellow undertail and red bill made for a very handsome bird, a patch first for Gary and only my third in Northumberland. After half an hour feeding up, it flew out of the tees and Jimmy pronounced that 'its f*cked off!' as it moved high west. A poetic tribute to a Mediterranean tourist in the county I think. [You can take the man out of Newbiggin but you cant get Newbiggin out of the man...]

Nice to get one back for Gary after all the birds he has given me.

GoldyO before it F*cked off...

A Barn Owl hunted in the sunshine near the car too...