Yesterday after spending all day covering my son in his computer shop I spent the evening at Druridge. Worked out well with plenty of highlights as reserve is in excellent condition. Drake Garganey still present with one Wood Sandpiper (another apparently found later) also 14 Black-tailed Godwit and a handsome drake Scaup which came close to south facing hide. On traveling home after an excellent meal at the Widdrington Inn (Janet away in Kent again & cooking not my speciality!) I went back to the pools and came across a Barn Owl on a post. Photographing from inside the car always a good way to cause the least hassle to the bird and pleased with the result. We forget how much detail there is in a Barn Owl’s plumage. Today I spent in the Harthope Valley with most of the expected specialities seen. Good views of a pair of Ring Ouzels, four singing Whinchats but surprisingly only one Redstart plus two Cuckoos. Single Tree Pipit plus plenty of other upland species. Definitely more peaceful than Holkham dunes in Norfolk which must have been bedlam as a male Citril Finch found today. Did consider the Red-throated Pipit at Seaton Common but did not expect it to stay (which of course it did !). Holy Island starting to warm up apparently with a Wryneck found today on Crooked Lonnen. P.S. As an extra I couldn’t leave out a Goldeneye chick photo from the breeding site in Northumberland. Has to be the cutest of all ducklings and taken from a hide so no disturbance again. TRD
