Blue-Headed Wagtail 27/4/13

Went to patch this morning and on the way along bumped into Gary who pointed out a yellow wagtail in the south bay, which he suspected to be blue-headed, and he got it spot on! Was a patch tick for me and only my second ever. Also got a male yellow wagtail, 3 wheatears and about 15 white wagtails. Hoping for shearwaters and skuas tomorrow!

 Beauty!

 White Wagtail

 Wheatear

Yellow Wagtail

Weekend Birding

Yesterday, me and my dad went up the coast in search of the Pectoral Sandpiper at Bamburgh. However, we could not see it, so we moved to Stag Rocks, which held a Long-Tailed Duck, 30-odd Arctic Terns, and large numbers of sandwich tern, fulmar and shag. We then moved onto Druridge where we stopped at Druridge Pools first, where I yearticked common tern. Bumped into RF and PC Wanderings who informed me of 4 Snow Geese that had just moved north over Druridge towards East Chev and as they were lifers for both me and my dad, we went straight up! After some looking, my dad spotted them in the fields south of the south pool and we soon got on them.

Today, I visited patch again in the hope of yellow wagtails but no joy, I did get a patch tick in the form of Black-Tailed Godwits on the wetland, 4 summer plumage birds showing well (thanks to MH). Willow Warbler singing his heart out in the willows and a whimbrel flew south this evening. Brings me patch year up to 106.

Black-Tailed Godwit

Migrants!

Great day on patch with Daniel Mcgibbon, started with a seawatch with a patch tick in the form of a Slavonian Grebe (96), 2 Sandwich Terns, a Velvet Scoter and a few Canada Geese. We then went along towards Old Hartley and got a yeartick in the form of sand martin (97). Then on what we thought was the way out, we headed for the cemetery were Dan found a cracking female-type Black Redstart (98) and a male wheatear, however just as we were about to leave, we found ourselves racing along back towards Old Hartley after a male ring ouzel (patch tick) that was reported, and just got it as it flew from the fields across the path and down into the bay (99). A really good day with 2 patch life ticks and 4 patch yearticks.

 Black Redstart

Wheatear

Weasel

Sizergh Castle 4/4/13

Finally made it over to Cumbria to look for the hawfinches at Sizergh yesterday. From 7 o'clock onwards, with patience, we saw a total of 4 hawfinches in the car park, both on seed and in the trees. They were all calling loudly and regularly so were fairly easy to keep a track on! However at about 8:45, they gradually left the car park and we didn't see them again. A lifer for me that is well overdue, great birds to watch providing great photo opportunities!

Hawfinch