October 13 2010

Not quite the scoter-fest that we had in mind, but we did get three of the four. First up, Common Scoter, easy as there were lots of them. Next up Surf Scoter, adult drake, a bit harder as there was only one and from our view point on the beach, the waves it was behind were about eight feet high. And lastly, Velvet Scoter, two. This was easy as they were in flight over the big waves. I had a nano-second view of a scoter with large yellow bill, before a long sequence of the big waves got in the way and when a clearer view arrived there was no sign of the bird!

There were loads of geese up at Goswick, Pink-feet and Barnacle, an Arctic Skua chasing gulls over the beach, a Black-throated Diver in with the scoter and a single Twite in flight.

So we left here and went onto Holy Island. There was a steady passage of thrushes over the village; Mostly Redwing, with smaller numbers of Fieldfare and Blackbird in with them. Two Brambling were seen and another two heard. The vicars garden was very quiet, only two Willow Warbler and a Goldcrest in there.

Over the village were five Swallow, it’s getting late for them, and an adult was still feeding at least one of them.

We left the island before the tide got too high and went around the Fenham le Moor, but we had left it too late as the tide was too high here, all of the foreshore was covered. A Wheatear was seen and a flock of 60-ish Tree Sparrow.

On the way down to Budle Bay, we had an excellent view of a Merlin, sitting on top of a hedge,  just off the road.

At Budle Bay the tide was all the way up. A Little Egret was flushed by a birder walking north along the bay, as were all the geese and duck roosting up in the corner!

So, for our last stop, we had a first look of the winter at Stag Rocks. For sea duck it was very poor; none. But the Purple Sandpipers are back, at least 40 today. And a couple of Snow Bunting flew in off, heading inland. Canny day!