A bit of a repeat of last week’s route,as a bright,crisp, sunny winter’s day saw me on moors enjoying great views towards the Cheviots. Three Buzzards were on the wing at first light,scanning the ground for prey,with a brief interaction between two of them. A pair of Crossbills flew over , calling and Redpoll and Siskin seen too. Coal Tits sang from nearby woods , as did a Mistle Thrush, ten more fed on a fell ,with a single Fieldfare among them. A female Kestrel scanned the ground from a hedge-top , allowing close approach for photographs. A few Yellowhammers and Skylarks foraged in one weedy area.
Moving on, I drove to an area I knew holds Hen Harriers, and after a bit of a wait, one ringtail appeared quartering the fell before heading off.
Later arriving at Budle Bay, a Little Egret patroled the shallows and a Peregrine perched on a large rock . The fields here held many grazing Geese, with over 200 Barnacles among Pink Feet and Grey Lags.
Stag Rocks, and a Great Northern Diver was again seen , 20 Long tailed Duck and a large raft of Common Scoter dived offshore. On the rocks a few Knot with 26 Purple Sandpipers. In fields behind a small flock of Goldfinches foraged ,but no Twite noted.
A favourite walk ,I hadn’t done for some years , was down to the shore at Elwick . The hedgerow here held 50 Yellowhammers, the largest group of the winter for me and 15 -20 Fieldfares and a few Redwings. The adjacent fields to the south flooded in parts, contained a large mixed flock of Lapwings and Golden Plover – 1,000 and 1,500 respectively, suddenly erupting into a blur of wings , as a female Merlin shot through, twisting back but failing to connect at this attempt. The birds settled once more and 65 Curlew joined them on the ground. A pair of Whooper Swans fed nearby. The shoreline here,at high tide, was alive with hundreds of Shelduck, Brent Geese, Wigeon and waders,these including Grey Plover, Bar tailed Godwits, Curlew and Dunlin. A few Eiders and Mergansers noted offshore.
Other birds of note this week, include 3 Snow Buntings at Blyth, the Lesser Whitethroat (probable Blythi ) at Tynemouth and a jaunt across the Tyne for 30 odd Waxwings at Jarrow near the Ped. tunnel entrance.
A S Jack
