American Golden Plover

This is even longer ago than my last post  the American Golden Plover at St Mary's Island 20/9/2013 where does the time go it just seems like last week I was lucky enough  to see it on the 19th just before it got dark thankfully as you all know it was still present the next day roosting on the rocks before they where all flushed  and it re-settled on the small near rocky island nearby till again flushed by a dog walker.

I have had to take the sound off as there are lots of comments in the background  which is a pity as the bird is seen and heard to call , this was a good bird for the finder how many of us have looked through the flock over the years in the hope of such a bird ! 

The past week or so !!!

Thought it about time I updated my blog although few photos of late.

I forgot to mention that I added American Golden plover to the bus list with a visit to Whitburn area the bird  located on the fields with the shooting butts a very windy day only one digi shot which was rubbish,had intended to return but the bird only reported once there after.

Also went down to Greatham Creek for the Sharp- tailed Sandpiper but alas it had gone ,10 Curlew Sandpipers on the small pools ,with 4 Ruff and lots of Dunlin and Ringed Plover but again the wind very strong despite the birds being reasonably close I could get no photos. A walk along to the hide which I had not been in for years gave some welcome shelter from the wind, thousands of birds seem to be feeding here ,but it's a vast  area, out of some of the nearer birds where 12-15 Black Tailed Godwits one of which was in difficulty floundering around trying to avoid the rising tide, a group of 25+ Grey plover and a single Avocet, back along the creak a Hawker patrolled over the seaweed. later at home a Swift circled over the garden .

13th a visit to Hollywell Pond only produced 3 Pied Wagtails , 2 Bar-tailed Godwit with a few Common Gulls in with the numerous Black-headed.

14th A Cycle along to Blyth Estuary for the rising tide saw numerous waders among which a single Ruff and 3 Curlew Sandpiper, with a Guillemot well up the river , 2-3 Speckled Wood Butterflies out. A brief walk to the old railway line near to my house produced 48 Speckled Wood  with as many as 6 together in one spot.

15th  Back along the estuary on the way north at least 3 Curlew Sandpiper still with the numerous waders feeding on the muddy shore. Stopped at Snab Point for a seawatch which produced 25 Manx, 4 Sooty , 2 RT Diver, 1 Velvet Scoter, 15 Teal, 9 Brent, 8 Arctic Skua  & 3 Pomerine Skua which came over high before descending to sea level where they caught up with and Arctic, all heading North with 4 RTD south.

Cresswell turned up 2 Scaup in with the Tufted and a Curlew Sandpiper briefly.

16th   A brief Seawatch from Seaton Sluice only produced Teal North and South and 9 Brent North.

17th

A reasonably early start at the Sluice with some good numbers of duck moving totals from 7:30 - 11:00, Teal 400,Common Scoter 542, Wigeon 60, 1 RTD, 1 Manx,1 Sooty, 45 Curlew, Gannet 260hr,1 Pintail, 1 Red -necked Grebe, 4 Brent (North)

20 RTD, 3 Velvet Scoter, 4 Little Gull (South). I realise these numbers are small compared to other sites but a good few hours nevertheless ,the highlight being one of the longest strings of Scoter I have ever seen . Hollywell for the afternoon and a Spotted Redshank dropped in  ,Two Ruff didn't  but a Med Gull also dropped in. 

The famous Seal Sands NR it's huge you definitely need a scope just to see the birds never mind I.D. them, as expected plenty of Seals loafing around .

This Common Gull moulting to 1st Winter , 2 Bar -tailed Godwit  on the shore

One of 48 Speckled Wood counted near my home on a nice sunny morn, and I discounted  ones I thought I might be counting twice.

Graffiti this is down on the estuary not your usual rubbish with a spray  can , but still Graffiti  !!!!!

This is Perennial Sow Thistle sucking the life out of a Ladybird  :)