I always make an effort to visit Druridge when I’m on holiday. Cresswell was alive with Spring visitors which included Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. On the pond, a single Wigeon remained. I was lucky to find a handsome male Stonechat, standing on a post close to the dunes.
The morning started cold and dull and as I’d only brought some refreshing Kiora Juice with me, I stopped at the café in the Druridge Bay Country Park for a hot coffee and a pastry.
After only a short walk I was at East Chevington. Common and Sandwich Terns noisily announced their arrival. On the ever expanding set of bird feeders, Goldfinches were enjoying the millet seed, whilst nearby Chiffchaff’s and Willow Warbler’s could be heard.
On my drive back from Druridge, I stopped off at the Rising Sun Country Park as there had been reports of a visiting Mandarin. After half an hour of searching I found the Mandarin standing on a post on the fringes of the pond, preening. It looked like something straight out of a David Attenborough rainforest documentary. It certainly didn’t look like a captive individual.
Paul Buskin
