Uni/Patchwork

Moved into Northumbria Uni on Friday, and as feared, my birding has becoming fairly reduced, but after news of missing an absolute mega in the cemetery yesterday (WOOD WARBLER!!), I couldn't resist a trip down this afternoon for the Red-Breasted Flycatcher. Thankfully it hung around for me and became my 265th Northumberland bird, and more importantly, a new bird for the patch! Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Garden Warblers also around today.

Curlew Sandpiper

Waders, and a PATCH TICK!

It's been a wader week with Little Stints and Curlew Sandpiper at Cresswell on Wednesday, then a mental patch twitch on Friday morning, a LITTLE STINT AT ST. MARY'S! Huge patch tick! While we were there, we picked up another one with the original bird! 2 LITTLE STINTS ON PATCH! Superb!

 Curlew Sandpiper from Cresswell

 Patch Little Stint!

Ruff from Cresswell Pond

Outer Hebs/Speyside Trip

 

Yes, unfortunately we dipped Harlequin and Snowy Owl, good start to the post. I'll let the photos do the talking:

Corncrake at Balranald

Curlew Sandpiper in Stinky Bay, Benbecula

Dotterel on Cairn Gorm

Golden Eagles Everywhere! Taken on North Uist.

Hen Harrier on North Uist

Little Gull at Stinky Bay, Benbecula

Ptarmigan on Cairn Gorm

Corn Bunting at Balranald

Short-Eared Owl

Yorkshire Trip 30/8/10 - 1/9/10

I have been busy lately so I haven’t had time to do a blog of the holidays! But I do have time now.

Me and my dad went down to Yorkshire during the holidays to visit some of the reserves there. We left early on Monday and went straight down to Fairburn Ings RSPB. My membership had run out with the RSPB so I went and got it renewed while I was there. While we were waiting, the warden showed us some of the best sights on the reserve. The hides on the reserves didn’t produce a lot, so we went to the place where the warden had told us there had been some rare waders seen. We went along and just on the roadside was a pool, we stopped and got out. When we looked at the waders I saw a new bird for me, 3 curlew sandpipers, a ruff and greenshank. After a while, they flew over to our side, producing the best view I have ever had and some great photo opportunities. After spending an hour there, we went onto Far Ings. We went straight to the main hide which had had reports of water rail, bearded tit and marsh harrier. When we got there, we were told that the water rail had been out earlier but not seen since. But after about 20 minutes, we saw a little red beak pop out of the reeds, and soon it was walking around, brilliant photos again! It wasn’t long before the next bird showed up; a bearded tit appeared just under the reeds. Eventually showed a bit better but not great. Still good to add to the list though! The next hide was good too, another new bird, a lesser whitethroat in the trees next to the hide again, great views! So many great views on this trip! We were staying in South Cave, next to North Cave wetlands, so just before going the B&B, we went to see what was around. Not a lot on the reserve, although a first-winter male redstart in the trees was a bonus. Not such great views but not bad! We went to Blacktoft Sands for the last day. Not a lot here, spotted redshank was the highlight, 7 little egrets and a few ruffs. But the marsh harriers were out and there was a few, 6 in the air at a time! One came very close, never seen them that close before! A nice male showing off the grey wings! Fantastic! Spurn Point and Bempton Cliffs on the way home were good as well. Thousands of waders at Spurn, whimbrel was the highlight on the beach reasonably close, and grey plover flocks were around but very timid. There was also a nice roe deer on the hill quite close but was scared by a dog just as I was getting close. Bempton was just the usual really but some fulmar were coming close on their way past which was a very good end to the holiday. In total, 97 different species, well worth the visit! Curlew Sandpiper - The Highlight! Ruff Lesser Whitethroat Fulmar Cormorant from Far Ings Marsh Harrier Bearded Tit Whimbrel Water Rail

Redstart Roe Deer