1st of February – Stag Rocks
When we arrived there was no sign of the Grey Phalarope, but plenty of other birds were present including an adult Black-throated Diver and a very close Red-necked Grebe. A Little Gull arrived from the north, and there were a few Slavonian Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks offshore.
We then went to Budle Bay, where a few Grey Plovers were out on the mudflats and Brent and Barnacle Geese were in the distant fields. Similar birds were from the hide at Fenham-le-moor.
Back at Stag Rocks the tide was in and the Grey Phalarope was immediately visible feeding in the surf. I spent the next hour or so getting very close views of the bird. it could at times be quite mobile, but if you let it come to you it would approach to less than a few metres. 2 Little Gulls were also undisturbed by our presence and also showed brilliantly with Black-headed and Common Gulls on the shore line.
2nd of February – Druridge Bay
First up was Woodhorn, and the 3 White-fronted Geese were again in the field behind Church Pool. Cresswell Pond was quiet with the highlights being a female Scaup and a Bar-tailed Godwit. An Otter was also catching fish at the back of the Pond. There were 2 Slavonian Grebes at Chevington along with a pair of Long-tailed Ducks.
J Farooqi
