Cresswell Pond Jack Snipe

Another visit to Cresswell Pond nature reserve Jack Snipe still on show although at first very hard to see with it's head tucked in but eventually it started to feed and again show us it bobbing action very curious and presumably energy cost expelled must be high but out weighed by the benefits ?

Long Tailed Duck also still present spending 95% of the time diving I got a couple of digishots  just for the sake of it plenty of Wigeon and Teal still around but no Geese in the nearby fields they seem to have abandoned the area for now .

Jack Snipe Cresswell Pond

This is some video of the recent Jack Snipe that spent a few days in front of the hide at Cresswell Pond  ,it's three short clips merged into one as it spent most of the time with head tucked in , one clip had some nice background calls of Redshank and lapwings  but then voices spoil it so I have taken all the sound off . Another great opportunity to see one of these cracking little birds , it bobs occasionally which is most curious to see it's almost an innate action ,  the usual following of birders keen to see it  , but unable too despite the most detailed directions given and the fact it was only  about a foot away from a large square block of wood and a purple wrapper on the other side ?  surprised it did not fly off  given the noise emanating   from the hide .

Around the Ponds , looking for something Smew !!

A run up the coast last week starting at QE11 lake which was heaving with wildfowl , 10 Gooseanders (7 male) , and the redhead Smew was still around but more to the south end  good numbers of Goldeneye also around  I did not count everything it would have taken all morning. Next stop the east side of Ellington to have a look through the Whoopers (92) no sign of any Bewick but they where reported there later in  the afternoon , I did have a colour ringed Whooper which till now I forgot to send in . On towards Maiden Hall Lake 2 Buzzards low over the new plantation, still huge numbers of Geese on the and at one stage the surrounding grass ,Pinkfeet , White-fronts, Greylag and some Bean Geese where noted but not counted ,3 Kestrel and a SEO in the distance. East Chevington was the next stop with three SEO being of note one sat on the steel pole for awhile but the news of Jack Snipe showing at Cresswell had me heading that way as it was now getting late in the afternoon , Snipe noted but well hidden , I got a few digi shots before the light went, another 2 SEO also  here made  a good end to the day.

 Goosanders QE11 lake

 Smew also QE11

 Just a couple of lucky shots as it stretched

 PD4 amongst the Whoopers it has probably  already been recorded but I will still send it in.

 Short -Eared Owl East Chevington one of three

Jack Snipe Cresswell pond

Whoopers are here !!!

Sunday late afternoon saw me at Prestwick Carr started down the sentry end 20 Fieldfare well over by the wood , 3 Kestrels, 4 Buzzards, and a single Sparrowhawk ,also around M and  F Stonechats  and back down the track two Whinchats  more Buzzards a Fox  2 Curlew and 3 Jays with a single SEO lifting form a small copse a Long Eared owl picked out but I could not see it, but just on dusk several SEO's where either on the wing or sitting on the fence line with at least ten before it was too dark to see.

Monday I travelled up to Cresswell Pond it was nice and sunny at home but the Westerly wind rapidly picking up strength by the time I got to the reserve , it was good to see the arrival of 31 Whooper swans it looked as though they had just arrived and toured the pond with the resident Mutes looking on, I took a short video just left in in place as they swan through the shot. In front of the hide I picked out a Jack Snipe it lay tucked up for most of the time so the photos I took where of no use besides the camera wanting to focus on the moving vegetation , so another short video the only way to capture the curious bobbing motion. Two Brent Geese at the North end , and the by now huge flock of Pinkfeet seemed restless as they swirled around landing before again taking to the air ,a Hawker still on the wing despite the wind , I just could not get an I.D. on it, my intended look at the sea for Divers was a non starter given the white horses you could see from the hide.

Only three Juveniles in with this group which failed to pass through the video

I have tried an edit to the video adding another couple of clips to the original

St Mary's Island 8-12-10

Now that's cold !!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday was such a bright sunny day , I headed to St Mary's Island , some grey Partridge in the stubble field, a Woodcock flew over and dropped near them trying to feed ,2 Snipe lifted from the stream  and dropped straight back in, another  Woodcock  as I went up the track   a total of four over by the time I got to the top , another two when I went down the dead end, I realised they seemed rather lost as where to go , so I kept away from the stream not wanting to flush them for the sake of it , standing in the open they just seemed to be all over with birds dropping in then just lifting again. Standing on the cliff edge birds dropped into the open grass area, I counted a total of 28. Skylarks about 60 coming to seed near the carpark with a  Snow Bunting , Reed & Lapland Bunting and the ever resourceful Turnstone present also, some open water on the wetland attracted Mallard ,Teal and a Water Rail seen through one of the wooden screens  the Grey Partridge even nearer the road but flushed as I walked past.

Woodcock by the cemetery as I got the car and again about 12 Grey partridge in a school field along Blyth links and about 100 Pinkfeet  just over the wall from the road they must be really desperate  to get that close to the road , one field seems to be attracting  a lot of waders and gulls .

 Woodcock just seemed to pop up and dash overhead

 Caught one or two but they where just too fast.

 A Bird drops in along the cliffs in front of me

 Plenty of Skylarks on the seed

 Lapland Bunting

Water Rail through one of the lower openings in the screen 

Greys fly further into the field

20th April Jack Snipe & more Wags

The message of a Jack snipe showing at Cresswell saw me arrive at the hide with all my gear including the flask ready for a long session, I have seen many jack Snipe but never had a really good look at one , to my surprise it was showing although at first very hard to pick out it did come more into the open very briefly, what a cracking little bird as it worked the ground bobbing along like a clockwork toy .

The Black headed Wagtail was reported as being at the north end again , long with the Blue-Headed /Yellow Wagtail hybrid, they both showed well although to distant for my lens, at least 8 Yellows along with White & Pied also 2 Common Sandpiper ,it was another windy day and very cold exposed on the causeway ,the strong wind caught my tripod and the lot tipped into the pond , I grabbed it quick the water gushing from the sun shade and open case, what a disaster !!! tried to get the case off but you have to take the eyepiece out so I dried it best I could hanging it on the fence to let the wind help,I used it again later and it seems OK .Thankfully Kowas are a well made scope.

Went on to Druridge to have a look at the 90 Black tailed Godwits quite a sight in the afternoon sun more dropped in and I got to 115 before some left again , later 20 dropped into Cresswell , where apparently the Black headed had again went out of sight, a bit frustrating for those that had yet to see it.

White Fronted Geese along with a few Pinkfeet still in the Woodhorn area as I drove up.

Cryptic with a capital "C" that's Jack Snipe for you
crop of the above
a few seconds in the open then back to feeding in cover , a bobbing dazzler !
I dont shoot in RAW but wonder if I could have improved these if I had
A tiny bird still some way off so another very heavy crop
Just another quick shot as it dropped on the path
part of the Black Tailed Godwit as they wheeled around 115 in total
Taken through my scope not long after being fully immersed in Cresswell Pond !!!!

Where's your fatballs ....Please !! !!

Blyth Estuary

Doing a bit of shopping the other day (fatballs only 49p for 6) I left the car in the carpark and had a walk along to the estuary fist birds I saw three Mistle Thrush , Song Thrush, and a Fieldfare, but further on a large patch of those orange berry bushes (Pyracantha ?) had attracted a flock of about 50, not the most confiding birds and I could not get anywhere near them, save for one or two while chasing Blackbirds would land briefly on a fence post or bush.

Golden Plover on the grass banks, and a few loafing gulls but on the farthest pool which you can only see birds that sit near the top of the bank, several small flocks of Skylarks over , several Snipe flushed even one or two on the exposed mud, I got a brief view of Jack Snipe and took a photo but it was rubbish I have yet to get a decent photo of one .

Reed Bunting , and a couple of Water Rail calling ,also loads of Moorhens with several Redshank and a couple of Oystercatchers again on the grass banks with A couple of Gadwall and afew Teal on the pool, a single Meadow Pipit working the fence edges in the long grass, usually a few around, more Song Thrush along the track on the way back.

As I have already posted the area is fenced off and in the process of redevelopment, so not sure what benefit or detriment the housing etc will bring could be a good patch for some birder moving into the area !!!!

P.S. I always take the netting off .


I seem to have lost the plot just lately three shots of Fieldfare was all I came back with