Despite the icy cold weather conditions this weekend, birdwatchers flocked to the coast to witness a good passage of Little Auks. Between work commitments, I managed an hour myself at Newbiggin. I was welcomed on arrival by my first Little Auk of the year, which flew over my head, whilst nearby three more were sitting on the sea. Within the next hour I noted 65 all traveling north.
I also recorded 26 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, Shag, Cormorant, Eider and Guillemot. I was also pleased to find a dozen Purple Sandpipers on the rocks.
No sign for me of any Great Northern Divers , Black-throated Divers or Velvet Scoters, however these had been recorded along the Northumberland and Tyneside Coast by other birders.
Elsewhere over the past couple of weeks a Long-billed Dowitcher has remained at Cresswell Pond. I was lucky to catch up with this on Sat 14th November. My views were distant, but were still canny. I also recorded three groups of Whooper Swan totalling, 10 birds between Cresswell and East Chevington.
Nearby there has also been sightings of Hooded Crow and Twite.
Paul Buskin