March into April

Avocet back at Washington

Feeding Station pulling in the birds.

Bullfinch and Siskin

Skylark

Good numbers along the Leas, South Shields but frequently disturbed. Shame there are no fenced areas to protect them.

Snow Bunting

Think these might be Tawny Mining Bees. There was a huge emergence along the Whitburn cliffs on 29th March. Haven't seen another since.

.

Wheatear

Gradually the summer visitors started to put in an appearance and continue to arrive in small numbers into April.

Willow Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Ring Ouzel, Swallow, Sandwich Tern.

Also some movement of the winter visitors. Fieldfare, Redwing, Whoopers and Pink-footed Geese still moving through

Click and Zoom to see the Crooked neck of one of the Whoopers.

 

March

A couple of trips to Derwent reservoir and the surrounding moors this month. Always difficult birding new areas; where to park where to walk etc. You can't beat local knowledge and with the area containing some sensitive species it can be hard to get information.

So my visits weren't that successful. However I now have a key to the hide at the reservoir and I did manage to see 3 Ring Ouzels. They are early arrivals and don't always drop in on the coast.

White-fronted Geese

These geese are becoming harder to see in the North East so I was pleased to hear IH had found a family group at Boldon Flats.

Nearby a Glaucous Gull had been sighted regularly on a flooded field but I failed to catch up with it , so I was very happy to stumble across this one near Souter Lighthouse.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Roe Deer

Newbiggin

Stonechat

After many years of snapping these beauties, I still can't resist the opportunity to photograph yet another one.

Whoopers on the move Northwards.

As always March promises much but rarely delivers. Wheatears, Sand Martins, Swallows and Willow Warblers pepper the coast as far as Yorkshire and then we have to wait until mid April for our turn. I did manage to see one Sand Martin and good numbers of Chiffchaffs so March has not been a total disappointment.

April should see the migration season kick off and for me will be helped with a week on the South coast. Fingers Crossed!

 

Rutland Water

Sparrowhawk

An unexpected Journey. Ended up at Rutland Water and enjoyed a good 4 hours birding. Probably could have spent twice as long but the access to some of the 35 hides was restricted due to the water levels and seasonal closures. It is also exceptional value at £7 (or £6 if you are as old as me).

Scarlet Elf Cup

Great White Egret

Green Woodpecker

Birding highlights included this woodpecker. It is quite some time since I saw one in the North East. Red Kites are now very common in the area. Smew (including a distant drake).

My favourite of the day was when a Cetti's Warbler exploded into song within a couple of feet. Although now widespread and common in the North East, every time I hear them it reminds me of seeing and hearing some of the first colonisers at East Chevington.

Aaaah!

Red Kite

Most of the views were much closer but tended to be when I was driving down the lanes with traffic preventing a sudden stop.

Lovely Reserve and I will make a couple more visits this year and combine my trip with stops at other reserves over a few days in the area.

 

Saltholme

This gorgeous Blackcap greeted me in the Car Park. Still enough berries to feast on even if they are a little shrivelled/

Ducks are in full breeding plumage like this drake Gadwall

Great White Egret

Well quite a day. 2 GWE, 6 Little Egrets, 7 Grey Herons, 1 Spoonbill and a Cattle Egret.

Moorhens

'Spring' is in the air.

Spoonbill

Cattle Egret

 

February ... and yet more rain

Northumberland seems to be the place to be at the moment. Lots to see and Enjoy!

This Barn Owl decided to check out the Sparrowhawk. It started 15 posts away and in a couple of flights it decided to land on the adjacent post. After a bit of preening it decided to go off hunting. The Sparrowhawk remained on the same post for over an hour.

Bittern

Despite my poor photography this Bittern was very close to the hide when it flew by. Great views a real treat. Marsh Harriers and Cetti's Warbler were good to see along with a brief flight view of a Water Rail.

The morning started with a Woodcock at Newbiggin and as the mist cleared it turned into a glorious day. Sadly its back to rain again to day so not much birding will be done today.

Shorelarks, Hooded Crow, Smew, Twite and Long-tailed Ducks all still present in the area but I didn't go searching for them yesterday. Good numbers of Wigeon, Goldeneye and Little Grebes at Chevington. Plenty Of Pink-footed Geese and the chance of a White-fronted Goose must be a possibility.

Plenty of Stonechats already setting up the territories. This fine (if damp) male attracted the attention of two squabbling females.

Also some early flowering plants to look out for ...

 

January 2024

New Year

I have been wondering about changing my approach to the blog this year. 23 days in and I haven't come up with any ideas so for the moment I will just post a few photos each month. Hopefully I'll get around to a change in approach soon. Of course you can always use the previous posts to find out about birding in the last few years. So far my birding has been limited to the local coast and the odd trip to Northumberland and Teesside. The birding has been wonderful though not spectacular as one expects from January in the North East but there could always be a surprise?