A nice still,sunny morning at Holy Island with the glass-like water of the causeway and flats making for great views of the birds present. 16 Gooseanders, including a fishing party of 13,diving in unison, were a good, close sight. Eiders, in small numbers noted ,as were Teal and Mallard. 3 Little Egrets fed along the shore at Beal. Several Sandwich Terns fished the shallows,then around 300 were gathered on the beach at the Pinnacles. Here too were 500+ Oystercatchers-a cracking count. A walk out over the flats near the Pilgrims Way, enabled close views of 130 Bar tailed Godwits,some in summer red, 32 Knot and 25 Dunlin and 100 Golden Plover. Feeding over sheep in a nearby field on the island were 60 Swallows and 20 House Martins. A few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks noted .
In a weedy field in the village, over 100 House Sparrows fed with Goldfinches and Linnets,then 3 Redpolls flew in joining them. Not much of note in the village trees.
Heading on down to Fenham le Moor,a good flock of 130 Linnets gathered in the bushes and fields and at the forehore, a decent selection of birds could be seen. 90 Teal, 19 Shelduck, over 200 Mallard made up the duck species and waders involved good numbers of Curlew,Dunlin,Redshank and Ringed Plover. On to Budle where 3 Little Egrets were feeding in the south west corner,with 3 Greenshanks and 3 Common Sandpipers. 8 Gooseanders diving here too. A Buzzard noted overhead. A Yellow Wagtail seen at Elwick and another large flock of House Sparrows here. Druridge and Cresswell were quiet, with 7 Avocets at the latter and 11 Ruff and a Yellow Wagtail at Druridge Pools. 3 Little Egrets were on the Wansbeck Estuary.
A.S.Jack.