2-01-07/4-01-07

1-1-07 St Mary's,Blyth Harbour,Woodhorn Flash,QEII,Linton,Cresswell

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Started the day off at St Mary's as there was a report of Pintail & Water rail a bright day but very strong cold wind Teal.Mallard,Shoveller Heron,Coot,Moorhen on the pond Stonechat nearby,Dunlin Oystercatcher,Purple Sandpiper,Sanderling,Turnstone,Golden Plover,Eider, Cormorrant,Pied Wagtail,next it was on to Blyth Harbour area for the Snow Buntings,there is a small carpark near the caravan storage compound from here you have to walk to the actual harbour ( disabled badge holders can drive through) a male hopped on to the wall as we walked past so I thought it best to check the harbour & river for Divers etc.but nothing else to add other than Shag.

Woodhorn Flash was the next stop park at the church and walk through to the pond area it is a puplic path,no sign of Green Winged Teal one reason being I had to hold on to the tripod & scope to stop it blowing over only added Pochard , Tufted,Mute , Greylags & Curlews with Goldcrest,Robin ,Dunnock in the church yard.

A quick stop at QEII lake for a look through the gulls and to check the pond at the North end ,only part of the lake can be viewed from the carpark , I find most duck prefer the South end it is worth a walk around the lake if time allows,there is also a carpark at the newly reopened museum but I think there is a charge of £2.Only Common Gull ,Goldeneye to add.

Linton was the next stop Bullfinches at the road end and I spent some time trying to get some photos before they left,through to the West pool with nothing to add through the copse and only Gadwall but a Water Rail flew into the reeds in front of the hide ,much the same at the East hide not as many gulls in the field no Lesser Black-backed just 250+ Canadas. So from here it was a drive past the Whoopers and onto Hauxley for the feeding station but the barrier was down so we had to walk to the small hide and feeding station with another Bullfinch on the way up but none of the expected Tree Sparrow ,this all took time which at this time of year is in short supply or rather daylight is ,decided to miss out East Chevington and go for the Twite & Shorelark for easy ticks but no luck on the Shorelark as the flock seemed to have split taking it with them ,by this time the light is fading fast and with the strong wind I thought the chance of a Barnowl at Cresswell was unlikely and by now the GN Diver had left so although not a bad day given the weather I only managed 60 for the start of the year list

BULLFINCH AT LINTON

30-12-06

Today I went up the coast to Woodhorn Flash to try for the Green Winged Teal,passing through the church yard a well spread party of Long Tailed Tits where feeding some going on the ground included was one Goldcrest,on to the pond area I find it easier to go up the path and look back over the pond thus birds are not flushed as when you walk along the shore,the Teal which was on show at the northern edge of the pool sitting on the bank with a female Teal,this trip was sort of a recce for the 1st of the year I like to start the year of as best as I can.The usual other species where here,Tufted,pochard,Redshanks and in the field Mute Swans,Greylag & a couple of Pinkfeet.From here a quick stop at QEII lake with nothing to add but its always worth looking at for Duck & Gulls.
Next stop Linton here we went left first through the copse usually find Bullfinch here but not today Redwing & Great Spotted Woodpecker nothing special on the pond always a large amount of gulls bathing its a great little hide but not much to keep you there for long,back on the road up to Warkworth Lane Pond or the roadside nearby here the Whoopers have gathered I checked for Bewicks and gave a quick count of about 125,doubled back and drove to just beyond Cresswell for the Shorelark in with a flock of Twite, it showed as we pulled up the flock being very mobile the Shorelark looking much larger and keeping on the edge of the flock they eventually settled and gave great views one of my favourite winter birds

Long Tailed Tit

Whoopers at Warkworth lane

29-12-06

Not a very good day weather wise so I thought I would go to Holywell at least there is shelter if it rains heavy,the gulls where collecting as I arrived but not much else seen from the hide,I did catch sight of a Water Rail on the edge of the rushes and it eventually came in to the open and looked as if it would come towards me the light was improving very slightly so I reset my cameras iso, the bird came into the open again edging nearer as I pressed the shutter release "bleep bleep bleep" went the camera as I had caught the self timer button and the bird was off ***** & **** I thought my best chance so far of getting a Water Rail lost, it did come out again later and flew in front of the hide but to dull for any good shots.
The Pinkfeet came over in a large flock and a couple of hundred settled on the water briefly and left,Wigeon ,Teal,Tufted,Pochard,Goldeneye & Mallard at the far end hide but no sign of the Yellowhammer/Reed Bunting flock.

26-12-06

Hope you all had a very good Christmas,wanting to get some fresh air and also hoping for a white winged gull at the local harbour,I headed for Blyth docks also known as South Harbour I had hoped some fishing boats would have docked here for the Christmas holidays and brought some gulls in with them but alas not more than a handfull of gulls and the same for Eider.There was a report of three Snow Buntings and as I checked out a few gulls on the shoreline they flew across my field of view and into the dunes I took a couple of shots as they sat on the wall but they are not very confiding and rapidly took flight.