Spotted Sandpiper

Got back from a weeks holiday in Scotland on Saturday (I will be posting the pictures over the next couple of days) and found out that the Spotted Sandpiper was still on the River Don at Jarrow. It was still showing really well on Sunday too and it‘s a lifer me. A rather wet and windy South Shields pier produced nothing more exiting than a couple of Sandwich Terns however, it was great to catch up with Stu.

Spotted Sandpiper

Sandwich Tern

 

My target bird…

…metaphorically not literally on Thursday was a duck, a lifer for me. Now quite a few people know where this duck was or indeed is but I am not going to mention it here just in case something happens to it suffice to say it was a Ruddy Duck in the ruddy rain. Another lifer was at Cresswell in the form of Little Gull. By now, the rain had stopped and a Barn Owl was hunting. Reed Warblers were nest building and Common and Sandwich Terns were on the pond. Another canny day out.

Rubbish pictures of a Ruddy Duck

Having a splash around

Getting into a bit of a flap

This GCG took exception to it

And a Coot was wondering what was going on

A pair of GCG with humbugs

What are you looking at?

Little Gull

Sandwich Tern and Little Gull

Common Tern

The Common Tern did not like the Sandwich Tern being on its post so chased it off

Barn Owl

In hunting mode

It flew straight towards the hide with its prey but unfortunately, the reeds were getting in the way

Reed Warbler

 

Out with friends…

…last Friday to Northumberland and a great day out it was too.

Starling leaving the nest.

Song Thrush

Swallow having a good scratch

Then a bit of a preen

Thrush at Bamburgh

Swallow, again at Bamburgh

Sandwich Tern off Stag Rocks