Northumberland Coast

 A few images for a trip to Cresswell, Druridge Pools and Buston Links Dunes last month.

The Dotterel was showing well if a little distant.

A first for me, the American Wigeon was too far away for any decent shots.

The only (rubbish) shot I got of what was thought to be a Cinnamon Teal which I think turned out to be a Blue winged Teal and Shoveler hybrid.

Sedge Warbler.

Whitethroat.

Red-legged Partridge.

Lapwing.

The Lapwing didn’t like the Canada Goose getting to close.

Lapwing doing what Lapwing do.

Little Egret.

Shelduck.

A pair of Gadwall.

Mallard.

Avocet.

A pair of Avocet.

Goldfinch.

Willow Warbler.

Pochard.

Linnet.

Over the border…

 …into Northumberland at the start of (I can’t believe it) last month. I haven’t been up to Northumberland in ages so to put that right my wife and I had a drive up to see what we could see. Some birds were very distant (so big crop) some were quite close but it was just nice to be out and about watching them. Oh, and we had a very nice lunch up there in the Widdrington Inn.

A very light Snipe in among the hundred or so that were there. I have never seen so many together.

One having a stretch of the wings.

Little Grebe coming in to land. Once again, I have never seen so many in one place.

It then stretched its wings.

Fly away Teal.

Curlew.

Something spooked these Pochard

However, they soon came back and settled down.

A distant Little Egret.

An even more distant male Hen Harrier (honestly there is one there) with a Crow.

The male was hunting over the fields.

As was this distant Ringtail.

An equally very distant Marsh Harrier was also hunting over the same fields.

A couple of Buzzards were a little closer.

Reports of a…

 …Firecrest at Druridge Pools had me driving up there last Sunday (I also called at Cresswell on the way up) unfortunately however I didn’t get to see it but it was still a canny day out. I once again took far too many pictures (I have only just finished going through them) so I have split them into two Blogs.

A passing Marsh Harrier put the birds up including these Snipe

Teal 

And Mallard.

Common Scoter.

Long-tailed Duck.

Red-breasted Merganser.

I thought at first this was a female Scaup but I now think it’s a female Tufted Duck.

Marsh Harrier.

Buzzard.

I don’t know what spooked it but you don’t often get a Pheasant flying over Druridge Pool.

The sun brought the insects out including these Gorse Shieldbugs

Ruby Tiger Moth Caterpillar along with a small spider

And a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly.

Red-throated Diver at Queen Elizabeth II Country Park.

Cormorant.

Tree Sparrows.