Little Terns and Sanderlings

 We nearly didn't get out birding last night as a massive thunderstorm threatened to make it a write off, but it seemed to skirt south of us leaving a glorious evening. 

I met John and Boulmer for a couple of hours loitering.

Along the now rising tideline, two pairs of Little Terns were showing well and giving a right old vocal performance when squabbling. For a little bird they put on an impressive turn of speed when in full chase mode. A few Sandwich Terns, 3 Red throated Divers and 20+ Eiders were the only things around the haven. Further off a few frenzies of Gannets were fishing the oily calm waters then a party of about 12 Bottle nosed Dolphins appeared below them. They were very active on the surface with adults and young floating with a spiky dorsal sticking up before gradually moving north.

Little Terns

Sandwich Tern

The slowly flooding sea pushed and shuffled a few waders around all in lovely bright summer plumage with 16 Sanderling, 31 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and 13 Turnstone.

So not a lot to note really other than a very pleasant wander along the shore.

Sanderlings

Crowded Beaches...

The hungry hoards.

A day off work is all the better when the weather is good, and today was just the job. Calm and sunny, very spring-like.

After a visit to Alnwick, I grabbed the gear and headed up to Low Newton, to see if there were any waders on the shore. And were there! The image above is just a fraction of the hoards as the tide washed rotting seaweed around freeing up juicy invertebrates that all the birds seemed to like. Further up the beach those awful black sandflies were swarming in clouds, so I kept nearer the water where possible.

Sitting on the sand as the tide pushed the wader flock closer is great fun, they run past only feet away and are constantly active...maybe they see me as a seal? Er, not a word from you lot...

Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper actually showing some purple...

Sanderling

There were 140+ Sanderling, 20+ Purple Sandpipers and a few Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone and Oystercatchers as well as gulls, eiders and half a dozen Goldeneye.

This plane came over low, putting the birds on edge so I left them to feed...

Along at the scrapes and pool, were masses of wildfowl - 130+ Teal, 80+ Wigeon, lesser numbers of Mallard, Shelduck, Gadwall and Goldeneye. In with 50+ Greylags were 3 White-fronted Geese. This one was really going for it, calling constantly, a sound I cant recall hearing before, it was like a diver, doing that warbling and wailing thing quite unlike the sounds we're familiar with? 

White-fronted Goose having a 'gander'.

 The scrapes look excellent for the spring passage. It wont belong before the Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears are skipping around over it...