Up to High Newton this morning where the very obliging Lesser Grey Shrike showed very well in good light . It perched in trees and on farm furniture ,dropping on to insect prey and occasionally picking mealworms from a kindly provided tray.The second Lesser Grey at this site and particularly unusual in winter. It , at times flew off into the nearby gardens , always returning to the same area.
On the calm sea of Beadnell Bay, 2 Great Northern Divers could be seen among the rafts of Common Scoter and Wigeon together with 75 Eiders and several Red throated Divers and Shags. A single male Snow bunting flew south and a Stonechat noted.
Up to Stag Rocks,where good numbers ,again of sea-duck and Grebes were seen. 4 Red necked Grebes,6 Slavonian,2 Great northern Divers, 20 Long tailed Duck, 6 Velvet Scoter among the 400 -500 Common Scoter in 8 or 9 flocks. 8 Red breasted Mergansers, a single Gooseander and 30+ Red throated Divers and a similar number of Shags. On the rocks ,roosted 80 Purple sandpipers and 76 Oystercatchers and a Stonechat here too.Budle Bay and a Little Egret noted , 8 Whooper Swans and 250 Barnacle Geese.
AS Jack
