A mild,sunny,still morning greeted me on arrival at Budle Bay today. The bay was full of birds, with duck, waders and gulls all in good numbers out on the mud ,as the tide receded. Hundreds of Shelduck,Teal and Wigeon counted ,a small number of Pink Feet among 250 Grey Lags. Bar tailed Godwits,Dunlin,Knot ,Grey Plover,Oystercatchers and Lapwings all feeding,as a large, female Peregrine looked on from it’s rock perch,the waders giving it a wide berth. Along the southern shore, a Little Egret darted about chasing prey items. In the roadside bushes Tree Sparrows called and several Yellowhammers and Skylarks flew over.

Earlier,near Old Mousen, I stopped, recalling a fabulous Red footed Falcon there 24 years ago,. How time flies. 40-50 Skylarks rose from the fields,with Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers ,and a Hare raced away as 4 hunters with dogs approached.

On to Fenham le Moor, where a nice,mixed flock of Linnets,Goldfinches,Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers dropped from bushes to feed on the edge of the saltmarsh. Out on the mud, thousands of Wigeon fed,with around 1,800 Brent Geese. The latter keeping up a constant chatter to each other. More Shelduck here with Pintail ,Teal and Mallard. Knot,Dunlin,more Godwits and a flock of Golden Plover also noted.  To the south in fields, I counted ,with the ‘scope 422 Barnacle Geese and 500 Pink feet. A Buzzard and 2 Kestrels also here. 27 Collared Doves on wires was noteworty.

At Elwick, four Whooper Swans flew by and a weedy field held more Linnets,Goldfinches and 30 or so Skylarks, and 15 Yellowhammers. A female Sparrowhawk glided down the road  , keeping below the hedges.

Holy Island next. Very quiet,as expected given the weather. 15 Rock Pipits noted in the harbour and a walk from Chare Ends to the Straight Lonnen produced only, a Kestrel, Skylarks,Curlews and 5 Roe Deer. I’ve seen these in the same area over the last three years. The flats held more Brent Geese, Golden Plover ,Knot,Dunlin and Godwits,with the latter numbering 1,000 plus. 11 Whooper Swans preened nearby.

ASJ

Pallas’s Warbler still at Marden Quarry this morning with tit flock. Showed as the rain stopped , but elusive in the strengthening wind at the west end. Also noted were Siskin,Chiffchaff, Skylark overhead,Sparrowhawk,2 Bullfinches,5 Chaffinches and a Redwing.

ASJ.

Our first stop was Arcot Pond, which is a site we usually very rarely visit.  As we approached the pond, 42-45 Fieldfares flew past.  The pond itself was quiet, but water levels looked good for birds.  There was plenty of mud for visiting waders or wandering Water Rails and lots of water for visiting wildfowl.  We deffo plan to keep any eye on this site this autumn/winter.

Arcot Pond

Next we made the short journey to Big Waters.  We always find a visit to Big Waters a rewarding experience and the hides are always so comfortable and relaxing.  The pond was alive with the activity of ducks today.  These included 440+ Wigeon, 20+ Gadwall and 45+ Teal.  Also present were up to 4 Little Grebes, 2 Great crested Grebes (including one still in summer plumage) and up to 6 Canada Geese.  There were also four Cormorants sitting in the trees on the island in front of the 1^st hide.  We didn’t see any Herons today. In the log there were reports of Whooper Swan.

The feeding station was unusually quiet today; however there were lots of berries etc. around and the temperatures are still unseasonably higher. We didn’t see any Woodpeckers or Coal Tits today.  Birds present included Blue and Great Tits, Dunnock, Robin, Moorhen and the ever-present Tree Sparrows.

We were very lucky to experience great views of an Otter.  This was swimming at the back of the pond, across from the 2^nd hide.  Also nearby was a large hawker dragonfly, which frequently flew past the hide.

Adriana and Paul Buskin

Over the past few years my Cullercoats garden has attracted a good variety of species through the various times of the year. Ring Ousel has occurred in autumn twice before, but the third occurrence today came as no less of a suprise as a first winter male bathed in a puddle yards from my kitchen window,with several Blackbirds and a Fieldfare. I grabbed the camera and fired off a few shots through the closed window as it splashed in the water. It then began feeding on fallen apples with the other thrushes before flying off. What a nice bird to see from house!

Along to St Marys,where things were quiet with a Chiffchaff,4 Goldcrests and a Blackcap being the only migrants noted in the mild unseasonal weather. The fields however ,remained filled with a variety of feeding flocks.

A.S. Jack

Returning from a trip north I stopped off briefly at Beal Point for a driving break though I knew the tide was in. A single Rock Pipit fed 100m north of the car park while a Little Egret was on saltmarsh just to the south of the causeway. A couple of hundred Pale-bellied Brent Geese mingled with Pintail, Wigeon and and Mallard.

A Tilmouth

My daily visits to St Marys over the past few days have produced a good variety of birds, without there having been anything resembling a fall of migrants. One highlight was a Short eared Owl which I almost stood on in the grass before it hurriedly took flight. Another was seen coming in off the sea a couple of days before. 3 Woodcock have been seen to fly inland and on 14th and 15th  2 or 3 Meally Redpolls feeding at very close range on seed heads. 2 Stonechats have been frequenting the area ,1 watched bathing in a puddle . Goldcrests have been a recent feature,with probably a maximum of 20 noted and a Firecrest has again been seen up to this Monday to my knowledge. 2 Brambling noted on 14th ,with another 8 in the nearby cemetery,more Goldcrests there too. Nice to see yesterday (15th) were 4 Swallows which spent a few hours feeding in the lee of the bushes ,before heading off south. 4 Blackcaps,2 Fieldfares and around 25 Redwings also noted. Good sized flocks of Green and Goldfinches are feeding on the Rosehips and seed-heads in the wetland area.

The fields have been alive with birds and today a Peregrine was filling the air with flocks of Linnets,Starlings,Lapwings,Curlews and Golden Plover (c 2,000), Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.

Recent seawatches have proved very productive, with highlights being record numbers of Great Skuas, a Long tailed Skua juv., several Pom. Skuas, a Leaches Petrel,(MHS). 4 Black throated Divers, Great Northern diver and Red necked Grebe.

A.S.Jack

Today was somewhat different to the previous days, must birds having now worked their way north, heading back to the Atlantic after being displaced by the strong Northerlies last Thursday, however there were a few stragglers.   Highlights were a leach’s petrel at 9.38 and a storm petrel at 9.52 – both woring north and seen well just outside the breakers. Single manx and sooty shearwater, together with two arctic skua and eight bonxies made it a really good seawatch. Petrels are still being seen to the south in Yorkshire, so worth a look if you get the chance.   Nick

Having thought the 10th was the best seawatch day of the year, today blew it away!   some of the highlights were:   354 great skua (plus long-tailed, pom and arctic), 171 sooty shearwater (plus balearic and manx), 22 velvet scoter (inc one group of eight) plus a juvenile sabine’s gull, two red-necked grebe, four great northern diver, scaup, three long-tailed duck etc etc.   Nick

Little to show for a couple of hours break, 17 Barnacle Geese in with Greylags at the church pool at Woodhorn were gone as I made the reverse journey. A 1st-winter male Stonechat sheltered from the wind along the beach-side weeds.

A Tilmouth

A full day seawatch (7am – 6pm) produced the following sightings:   63 sooty shearwater (including a group of seven), 60 barnacle goose (in a number of small groups, most of which were less than 100m away), 3 long-tailed duck, 6 velvet scoter, 5-9 pomarine skua (a group of four initially went north, then probably south again an hour later hence the count range) plus a whole range of other ducks, skua, waders and other seabirds.   Nick

October 9th was bright and sunny and some Skylarks were singing briefly at St Marys. The best weedy edged ,stubble field has now been ploughed and the large flocks of feeding birds have now dispersed over a wider area. Around 100 Linnets and 35 Skylarks, 25 Meadow Pipits remained. In the willows a Yellow browed Warbler was perhaps the last of the recent influx,calling frequently it was joined by 2 Chiffchaffs. 30-40 feeding Greenfinches and a similar number of Goldfinches fed in the wetland area. A Little Grebe remained here,but was quite alone. At Tynemouth, 5 Purple Sands ,4 Rock Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtails fed along the pier base and butterflies included 21 Large Whites,a pair of Commas and a Red Admiral  on flowers below the priory.

Today,with the big drop in temperatures and very rough seas , seawatching was the order of the day at St Marys. Highlights were a Red necked Grebe, 4 Pomarine Skuas ,a single Storm Petrel, 5 Velvet Scoters, 3 Pintail, a juv Little Gull,3 Sandwich Terns making their wind-assisted southward migration, 3 Arctic Skuas,70 Common Scoter,12 Barnacle Geese and 3 Brents which rested ,fed and drank in the car park and grass verges allowing very close approach. 8 Purple Sandpipers seen too and a migrant Short eared Owl flew in off the sea.

On the wetland, 125 Mallard, 10 Gadwall , 9 Wigeon and 3 Pintail had joined the Little Grebe.

AS Jack

          Two days birding covering Druridge Bay on 7th & Bamburgh to Holy Island on 8th. Mostly quiet after a frenetic September. Walked from Druridge to East Chevington with the South Pool now low enough for waders. 19 Ruff flew in and settled with Lapwings. On North Pool conditions still ideal but few birds seem to know hence 30 Dunlin & 19 Golden Plover the only passage waders. 14 Pintail though were of note. On to Cresswell Pond and the Little Stint still showing by the hide with 11 Snipe & 5 Bar-tailed Godwit. Best sighting was undoubtedly the immature Peregrine hunting Duck on the Eastern edge. At one point it managed to nail a Mallard but dropped it as presumably too heavy !  Finished off the day at Hauxley where a female Scaup has now joined the drake. 15 Tree Sparrows were showing well on feeders seen from the ‘sea watch’ hide.      Next day up to Bamburgh where a productive spell saw a variety of species but not the hoped for Velvet Scoter. Janet is now only 3 species behind me for the year with one of her missing birds being Velvet Scoter !  Any amount of grilling the nine Common Scoter present proved unsuccessful.  Also close in to shore though was a fine drake Scaup. Otherwise highlights included 14 Common Tern still present on beach off Budle Point plus single Arctic & Sandwich. An Arctic Skua was constantly harrying them. Three late House Martin were a surprise especially as they were heading North ! 34 Knot, 20 Kittiwake and up to 50 Shags also seen here. On to Fenham le Moor where the tide was still well out. Distant views of impressive Wigeon numbers with maybe 5,000 gathering. Budle Bay & Holy Island causeway also proved quiet. Tim & Janet Dean

Today I decided to visit two of my favorite birding sites. First stop was Holywell Pond. There was no sign of any wintering Geese yet. I was lucky however to experience some impressive views of two Buzzards not far from the trust hide. There was a third Buzzard flying near the Obelisk at the back of the pond. On the pond itself, there were 125-130 Teal, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Tuftie and a pair of Gadwall and Wigeon. There were also reports in the hide log of Kingfisher, Little Owl, Pintail and Med Gull for the past week.  I also enjoyed regular views of a large Hawker dragonfly.

Next stop was the Rising Sun Country Park, including Swallow Pond. There was no sign of any wintering thrushes such as Redwing, however Blackbirds were out in large numbers enjoying the plentiful berries. There were also lots of Carrion Crows, Rooks and Magpies today. The pond itself was unusually quiet, with only Gulls and Moorhens in sight. Elsewhere there were three groups of 5-7 Goldcrests and 1 Grey Heron flying over the trees.

The highlight of my visit was a beautiful Comma, which is one of my favourite Butterflies. On my way back to the car I also glimpsed the resident Red Deer, which was absent it’s antlers.

Paul Buskin

An early start to see the Subalpine Warbler at Druridge. On the way 2 Swallows seen at Lynemouth ,along with 60-70 Meadow Pipits feeding where the flash pool was.Here too were 60 Greenfinches and 50 Linnets.

The warbler showed well at times down to 10-15 metres ,debate ensued as to it’s precise race. Overhead,several skiens of Pink Feet moved south as did more Swallows and a few House Martins . Here also were good numbers of pipits ,with around 100 in the fields and along fences. 120 Linnets,and Goldfinches formed a mixed feeding flock in the dunes, and many Skylarks noted too. 2 Kestrels and a pair of Stonechats were in the dunes.

Up to East Chevington , where around 2,000 Pink Feet came in to the north pool from the south,noisily wiffling down to the water. 11 Pintail, a Little Stint, 3 Ruff and a juv Curlew Sandpiper, 49 Dunlin, 600 Lapwings and 120 Golden Plover were seen.

Hauxley next, where a drake Scaup was among many Gadwall and Wigeon. 9 Bar tailed Godwits rested on a bank with 55 Oystercatchers. 5 House Martins and 2 Swallows flew south at Hadston.Another Stonechat seen here. At Cresswell, another Little Stint, 3 Ruff ,3 Stonechats and a R.B. Merganser were the highlights and a late Yellow Wagtail noted.

A.S.Jack

This morning at St M. the 2 Firecrests were still present,though proving somewhat elusive for the steady trickle of birders. Yellow browed Warblers were also still evident ,with 3 , possibly 4 seen and heard well. A migrating flock of 16 Tree Sparrows was quite unusual for the site ,although an annual occurance in autumn. 2 Brambling , a Blackcap,6 Robins and  a Redstart seen in the trees and bushes, and a few Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs noted.

In the fields at least 120 Skylarks, 300+Linnets and 150 Meadow Pipits present,with the larks continuing to sing on and off. A juv. Wheatear perched on a fence and strangely, 3 Pintail fed in the middle of a harvested  field. 14 Reed Buntings here too.

A.S.J.

At a wild and windswept St Marys today, a Yellow Browed Warbler continued to frequent the main block of bushes on the north side of the wetland. It was difficult to see but called 15-20 times on one occasion. 2 Goldcrests seemed to be the only other migrants present.

Around 150 Linnets were feeding in the wetland and in the fields a Skylark sang amongst the 30-40 noted there. A suprise was a passing juvenile Common Tern over the fields,really struggling to make any headway in the strong s.e. wind. A Wheatear also noted. On the beach/rocks were 4 Rock Pipits and 6 Sandwich Terns. A flock of 11 Pintail flew south over the wetland and 3 Arctic Skuas seen,one chasing waders . Offshore 9 Common Scoter and a single Red throated Diver seen.

A.S.J.

      A day on Holy Island. Not the right day of course hence no Thrush Nightingale , Blyth’s Reed Warbler or Little Bunting (all seen in recent weeks) but still atmospheric as always. Two Little Egret by the causeway. Started at Chare Ends & walked round to Emmanuel Head. Gannet passage south in full flow. After counting 150 in first five minutes I estimated 1,000 in the hour there. Also 1 Great Skua, plus a few Kittiwakes , Guillemots & Razorbills. Nothing at the lough & on to Crooked Lonnen where the Golden Plover flock was encamped , no American unfortunately. Look at Straight Lonnen but all quite in the stiff S/E breeze. The village proved more productive with a smart male Redstart at the back of the school plus five Brambling. Thrush movement was noticeable all day with many Song Thrush & Redwing dropping out of sky into bushes. Back to car park & drove to Snook. Also fairly quite here but did have single Redstarts at Snook & Half Moon Slack with a Ring Ouzel also at latter site. Even with lack of migrants the numbers of waders & geese were still a fine sight with the wader roost of Oystercatcher & Bar-tailed Godwit on St Cuthbert’s Island impressive. Also the whole Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock of at least 1,500 birds were close to the road. TRD

Light easterlies and fog have ,as predicted, brought in migrants to the east coast. Yesterday a nice juv Red Backed Shrike was found by John Malloy in bushes along the dunes at Seaton Sluice. At times elusive, it did eventually give good views. Also here were 5 Stonechats ,spread along the dunes. Several Redwings could be heard coming in off the sea ,but were hidden in the thick fog.

At St. Marys, 2 Brambling were new for the autumn . 2 Yellow browed Warblers were found ,one on the island. The fore-runners to a big arrival today, with probably ten present. The largest influx for many years. Another at Briar Dene later,and a pair of Snow Buntings flew south along the Links. Another good find came in the form of a juv Bluethroat ( N. Dales) along the cliff top at St Marys.Then a Black Redstart was reported on the Island. Offshore, many Wigeon and Teal flying south,as was a single Sandwich Tern  and a Little Grebe on the pond.

The fields were alive with Skylarks,Meadow Pipits and Linnets ,a flock of 150 of the latter was noteworthy.Several Whinchat perched on fences.

ASJ.

With good conditions suggesting grounded migrants along the east coast I headed to Newbiggin post-school run. Chiffchaff called from the plantation beside the Mound as I donned waterproofs. Arriving at the first ash lagoon scrub I was joined by Tim Cleeves and Maurice Hepple then a few minutes later by Andy Mclevy and Mark Welfare.

A couple of Redwing calls in the mist along with Blackbirds and Song Thrushes rushing around the scrub set the autumnal feel, first decent bird was a smart looking Lesser Whitethroat, quickly followed by 2 Blackcaps. A flash of bright green and a Yellow-browed Warbler zipped across the back of the scrub, eventually showing well. At least one Chiffchaff was here too.

As conversation turned to elephants and India, a loud croaky bugle call had everyone looking skyward, at first distant and then almost overhead a Common Crane moved over us calling but remained unseen in the heavy mist.

ADMc/MW and I headed north, more Chiffchaffs and a female/1st-winter Brambling dropping into the scrub were the highlights at the gorse, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap here too.

Beacon Point produced a single male Snow Bunting flying north and later a phone call from Alan Priest added a second Yellow-browed Warbler just to the south of Beacon Point.

A second circuit alone added nothing more exciting than a female-type Stonechat around the gorse and 12 Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach.

Alan Tilmouth

Just as we thought the hot weather had gone, and we were all starting to wrap up warmer, this weekend it returned.   A drive down to St Mary’s proved very popular this Saturday.

There were lots of bird watchers around today as amongst the large flocks of Golden Plover there was a visiting American Golden Plover.  In the morning this was on the rocks to the right of the island, however as the rocks become more popular with families looking for crabs etc.  The Plovers split into 3 or 4 smaller groups.  The American Golden Plover could still be seen early afternoon however at the front of a much smaller group on the rocks to the left of the island.

There was no sign of any warblers and the willows were very quiet, but they are always worth a good look as they prove very popular with autumn migrants.

Paul Buskin

Out to the coastal north today starting at Bamburgh. We were pleased to find a Black Tern on the rocks with 60 Common Tern. Also present were at least 5 adult Roseates & one juvenile. The rocks also held 3 Purple Sandpipers & offshore a Great Skua was harassing terns. The Gannet feeding frenzy was quite a sight with 500 strung out in a long line from the Farne’s to Ross. Fresh in were at least 90 Pinkfeet coming in from N/E & heading inland.

On to Budle Bay where the Pinkfeet numbers were substantial , maybe 2,000 birds mostly feeding on fields to N of Budle Bay & then flighting to the bay itself. A Greenshank was present there along with other common waders.   Next was Fenham le Moor but the tide had beaten us to it so few waders but more Pinkfeet arriving plus 20 Pale-bellied Brent.

Decided on a mini twitch up to Berwick to look for the juvenile Red-necked Grebe. This juvenile was first reported on 13th between Spittal & Berwick and again yesterday. On arrival no sign & we had a look at Berwick Little Beach.  An excellent throng of waders in the seaweed at high tide with 2 Curlew Sandpipers joining the Sanderling, Dunlin,  Ringed Plover & Turnstone. Part of the Gosander flock seen with 59 at Little Beach, just a small group of the 300 now present on the Tweed. An Arctic Skua made steady progress N. Back to look for the grebe & managed from the pier  to distantly (one kilometre!) pick up a grebe by the south shore. Drove around & off by the Berwick Shellfish building past the pottery was a very obliging juvenile Red-necked Grebe (NT996523). It kept about 50 metres away and provided excellent scope views plus a few photos. Popped in to see Malcolm Hutcheson to thank him for the sighting, tea & cake to end the day !

Tim & Janet Dean

A strong north west wind made for poor birding today, four Wheatears along the north beach as well as adult and 1st-winter Med Gulls and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. Highlight of my morning was a Willow Tit that moved along the ash lagoon fence and into the gorse. Only my second record at Newbiggin, the last was in August in the early nineties in almost exactly the same location, presumably both individuals have been dispersing juveniles.

A Tilmouth

St Marys this morning,and flocks of southbound Meadow Pipits headed out over the sea. Most will winter in Iberia,where huge numbers can be seen , in some areas every bush and grassy verge seems alive with them in winter.  6 or 7 Skylarks chased each other over the west fields and a few Reed Buntings noted. Small flocks of Linnets,Greenfinches and Goldfinches fed in the bushes. A few Chiffchaffs called here too.

The Island held a good high tide roost of waders,gulls and terns,with Golden Plover dominating with around 600-700 present. 145 Sanderling, 90 Dunlin 41 Ringed Plover, 68 Oystercatchers and 120 Redshank made up the roost ,with my first Purple Sandpiper of the Autumn seen. Several Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns were among the gulls.

On the pond, 6 Gadwall,4 Wigeon and 9 Teal noted and 30 Swallows ,mainly youngsters, perched on the promenade railings waiting to be fed .

Later a bike ride near Ponteland in the warm sun and around 220 Swallows were gathered on wires near Milbourne with smaller groups at most farms prior to their departure for the winter. A pair of Buzzards drifted south , calling and another young bird called from woods. At Ingoe a large flock of Common Gulls followed tractors in fields,at least 1,200 birds. Tree Sparrow flocks were much in evidence too,with the largest around 100- 120 birds ,indicating a very good season for them. Chiffchaffs were calling in good numbers along the roadside hedges and a few Yellowhammers seen , having finally stopped singing ,the last one I heard was the prevoious week. One suprise which was still singing was a Treecreeper near Stamfordham.

A.S.J.

Starting today at St Marys, the Golden Plover flock were disturbed from their island roost, in the air there looked to be easily 600. A second year Med. Gull noted and now up to 200 Sanderling. A pair of Common Terns rested on the rocks with a few Sandwich Terns. The bushes were quiet ,with only a few Chiffchaffs seen . The nearby fields held 15-20 Skylarks and 25 Meadow Pipits.( Yesterday, a juv. Wheatear and Marsh Harrier passed through).

On up to Druridge ,where a juv. Cuckoo was seen near the Budge hide and a Marsh Harrier rested on the ground. Two juv Kestrels also here. Walls,  Large Whites and a single Small Copper were the only butterfly species seen.

At East Chevington ,with water levels remaining very good for waders,the White rumped Sandpiper showed very well in front of the south hide for it’s 7th day. Here too were 3 Little Stints, 5 Black tailed Godwits and 4 Bar tails. 26 Ruff and decent flocks of Golden plover and Lapwing – 600-700 of the latter. An adult female Marsh Harrier flew through heading south,causing brief alarm. 2 Reed Warblers seen briefly.

A small falcon shot through off to the left ,chased by a Kestrel, in view for some observers for a mere 2 or 3 seconds , not enough for I.D. to be clinched sadly. One that got away!  The dubious Bar headed Geese remained with Grey Lags on one of the islands. A few Pintail noted and Great crested Grebe with accompanying large young.

Woodhorn fields continue to attract feeding Med. Gulls, with 16 present today of varying ages.

A.S.J.

I found this bird in dunes north of Chare Ends on Holy Island. It was very skulking and only showed briefly a few times over the next three  hours. Views were often obscured, however photos on birdguides show some features of Thrush Nightingale. This was my best photo but there are a few more record shots on my blog

J. Farooqi   http://jonnysbirdingblog.blogspot.co.uk/