4 th April Up the coast just for a change !!!!

I had intended to go back to Harwood on the bike,not heard any more on the GGS, but the weather was not looking too good and as it happened it poured down. Stopped at Woodhorn area the 4 Whitfronts still around and a couple of Pinkfeet, also 3 Chiffs, then I stopped at Cresswell to look over the top field, 2 Swallows over , a look on the sea found about 70 Common Scoter , 3 RTD,3 Shag and a Sandwich Tern. Druridge the Great White Egret still in the same pool very overcast now , a very heavy shower so I sat in the car then went onto the hides , it was looking rather grim so I called it a day.

Theres always one larking about , get back in line !!!

Another couple of digi shots.

March 4th East & West Chevington etc:

March 4th Thursday I drove up to East Chevington passing a flock of Swans towards Linton I stopped and scoped them thinking they may be Whoopers alas all were Mutes , drove passed the huge flock of Pinkfeet but it was hard to see them with the hedge, not wanting to spook the lot I scoped them from the parking area no sign of any Bean Geese, gave the area about an hour or so spending more time talking than birding , yet another sunny day yet not much around, eventually decided to move on driving back down the track I couldn't believe what I saw , a car parked in one of the gateways where birders usually stop, so I glanced over and there they where a couple "at it". Why on such a nice sunny March day would a couple be "at it" down a track to nowhere, she was in the back seat and he outside both had dusters in hand she was polishing the inside and he buffing the outside pointing out bits missed !!!!! I ask you !!! where I live car cleaning is carried out at the privacy of your own home and only on Sunday.

Anyway checked out the West Chevington area and picked up a Buzzard sitting on a post not to far away so I tried to digi it, just got set up and off it went to sit in a tree , picked another up along the main road got a couple of shots before it went and sat on a treetop, passed Cresswell and stopped at Woodhorn flash to get the Whitefronts , they all took off but just circled and landed on the water
One minute it was just overhead the next sitting on a tree, at least I think it was the same bird

Whitefronts at Woodhorn South flash


Some digi shots as they milled about on the water eventually walking back over to the field.

Holywell to Shields...........31-10-09

Had a run to Holywell Pond, Goosander at the east end ,3 Whoopers over turned and landed but where chased off , a group of Greylag dropped in and in with them a Greenland Whitefront Goose and a few Pinkfeet they did not stay long the Pinkfeet left first then the Whitefront left on its own, Jays again along the north hedge ,Migrant Hawker along the pond edge again.
Sabine's still showing at Shields so I headed off,arrived to see it drift across the river mouth turn along the north shore then drop on the sea by the prom, here it stayed for some time till it eventually went over to the haven , I took a chance and headed to the quay, and about 1/2 hour later it just appeared in front of us and plied back and forth , eventually it headed over the river high up but turned back towards Sandhaven again . I have taken many shots of this bird but for some reason I just cannot get any top shots given the bird has showed so well, and today the light seemed ok in the late afternoon but still not got any shots I should be proud of, so if it stays beyond Sunday ,it looks like its back to the quay for me next week !!!!!!
Whoopers over the pond

Greenland Whitefront heads off

Larus sabini , now here for a full week

Just picking from the surface