Late Tern

Having seen the Long Billed Dowitcher at Cresswell the bird distant and the hide full , I was very interested in the report of Black Tern at Druridge Pools , the bird soon appeared doing a circuit around the pond ,passing the hide into the wind  it did not make it any easier to get shots as they have such a buoyant   flight . Not seen such a late bird hence the interest from me and others to see this bird .

 Even the long range of the SX50 could not pull in  a decent image of the LBD

 It could get the more obliging Snipe though

Druridge Pools - Chibburn

A run up the coast first stop the flooded field at Lynemouth still plenty water in a couple or Redshank and Pied Wagtail with about 20 BHG, the field itself looks like a right tip with discarded wrappings from hay bales they never seem to pick anything up . Cresswell I only stopped at the top end 3 Avocets where nice to see 3 Pintail near the causeway , again just a couple of Redshank and 2 Pied Wagtails , I went on to Druridge Pools , just several Tufted on the main pool but the flooded fields held again 4-5 Pintail , Egyptian Goose, about 10 Shoveller , with a good scattering of Gadwall, Teal & Wigeon , 2 Marsh Harrier over  and later 5 Buzzards soared overhead .The afternoon was rather dull so  I went for  a walk over to the Ruins of Chibburn Priory its well documented History is online , it's worth a visit in one section of the walls a WW11 machine gun slit is incorporated such was the fear of invasion during this dark time in our most recent history . Oddly lots of WW11 sites have  been  destroyed  over the years the future will see millions in Lottery money being spent to save them , Blyth Links had numerous Pill Boxes made from sandbags only a few  remnants now remain .

 Pintail a very elegant duck

 View across the flooded fields to the Budge Screen in the distance

 There was some restoration done some years ago hence the joint in the beam , that is a very large piece of Sandstone across the fire , how they moved such large and very heavy items in those days is amazing

 WW11 Gun slit in the corner on the left, if you not yet been over it is only a short walk from the track at Druridge Pools

Marsh Harrier over

Cresswell to East Chevington

Monday 10 Feb
A run up the coast first checking the geese at Woodhorn no sign of the Whitefronts Cresswell water levels was no too bad given the water everywhere Dunlin,Redshanks and a few Curlew on the sand bank with several Snipe on the reed edge the Pinkfeet where very restless and constantly took to the air landing at one stage in view of the hide not sure of the numbers involved seem to me like 6-7 thousand in the air in 2 groups, a lone wader had me intrigued as it fed in the field north of the causeway turned out to be a Knot when I wen t along to view it . Druridge Pools had plenty of wildfowl I scanned as much as possible from the open hide and the main pool had a few duck including a LT, talking to a guy who had been to East Chevington  it seemed like a visit would be worth it, drove around via Hadston Carrs way and went down to the North hide a feeding station has been set up and is visited by at least 12 Redpoll a good opportunity to have some close views of this common but at least in Blyth valley elusive species , checked the pool from the hide which  has got to be at least 200 yds from the water alone they are without doubt the worst hides I have ever been in stand to view you cant see out , sit down to view and you can't see out . I gave up and headed back outside onto the east track and scanned from there could pick out the 2 Slav Grebes and at least 3 LTD , a white shape on the south bank had me intrigued it looked like a dead swan which would probably have a Darvic ring on so I walked all the way around to find it was a dead but fresh Whooper Swan but no ring. I was waiting for dusk in the hope of a SEO, watching the gathering flock of Starlings to the west again several thousand strong 8 was my guess  as the wheeled back and forth across the reddening sky till finally they had dropped out of sight .

Cresswell to East Chevington

The first of November already and I had a run up the coast passing Cresswell Pond the car park had six cars there I thought thats the hide going to be full , so stopped at the north end instead  couple of hundred Wigeon feeding in the field edging the small pond off the causeway but also further up about 60+ Golden Plover hundreds of Starlings  Lapwings  Corvids and Black Headed Gulls , there always seems to be more feeding on grazing pasture than seeded crops . A walk over the dunes , a dead Seal on the beach eyes gone but no signs of injury Grey Seal I think it's always a surprise just how large they are and a fearsome set of teeth to back them up. Druridge Pools had the usual ,Tufted Mallard  and 4 Shoveller from the main hide it's such a dismal hide to sit and awkward to view from so I did not stay long , kestrel flushed on the track so I hung back and it settled again feeding on something , it finished it off and was soon hovering for more, had a walk along past the turning circle 150+ Goldfinch with a few Greenfinch in made an impressive sight  walked over the dunes where 15 Snow Buntings flew over but I could not relocate them .Only went as far as East Chevington outflow a quick scan of the sea , 5 Mergansers, 11 Red Throats ,45 Scoter ,had a good scan along the shoreline for Buntings  none seen but up to 20 Pied Wagtails working the area oddly one avidly chased a Ringed Plover flying around  for several circuits it looked very odd  .Two Stonechats on the way back and one near the car they always pose for you so why waste it !!!

Forgot to mention a Hawker species at Druridge so thy are still around . 

 I forget to set the camera back to quality fine so it was only on basic very evident when I zoomed in

 I have know idea what its eating  but it made short work of it and must have been hungry to stay on the track

 Not sure if  I like the date and time on or not but it's handy when you look back in the future must set the right time though

 Back in the air and looking for more

 Lots of Fungi in the dunes most trampled it has a very short life span

If you can I D these as Goldfinch from this then good on you , the wings look surprisingly long in this shot

 They settled on the ground to grit and back on the Thistles just north of the turning circle , the area looks brilliant for something

 When is close too close when you cut of part of it's head !!

 Dead Grey Seal on the beach at Cresswell north end car park , seagull crap on it's back so they have been down , it's one of my dreams to go along Ross Links find a carcase with an Ivory Gull in attendance , 1st Winter or Adult ,either would suffice.

Given there size and diet , the mouth seems rather small but those teeth don't

Druridge Pools

I am a bit behind with my photos for the blog of late,partly due to the lack of storage and the processing speed of my computer it's time for a complete reboot I think but boy what a task that is . While on the way for an evening visit to Coquet  Island( for another post) the end of last month I called at Druridge Pools 

Black Headed Juvenile drops down and chases the Common Tern away I used one of the shots for my header this month

 Fortunately for us birders, birds do like to have a bathe in front of the hide even if you have to stand up to see out the window and between the grass stems . The classic Tern wing stretch now there's a design for flight , pity we cant get someone to design a hide you can actually see out of without having to stand between seat and shelf. One of the best hides in the area is at Hauxley the wader hide and I must confess I did see the Greater Yellow Legs from there .

Taking a bath now those wings just don't look real at all !

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail also drops in for a bath

 Presume from the same same brood but very individual

 One of the Little Gulls drops in to the shore

 They always look so delicate the ones observed at Blyth earlier in the year would often paddle on the water surface as they fed in the surf zone.   Fab birds.

I do like Little Gulls would love to see them on there breeding grounds in large numbers

 Here with a Common Sandpiper I did also have the Yellow Wagtail in with them just as I pressed the shutter its head went down behind a stone spoiling the threesome shot.