Heedless in Druridge

After a count on Prestwick Carr yesterday morning which produced 41 species including two singing Chiffchaffs and at least ten Stock Doves met Crammy birder for a chat about Teesside then off up the coast where it had turned dull and not much was stirring. After an hour in the Ponteland hide at Hauxley went down to Druridge where a gentleman in the hide was hoping for a repeat sighting of the Otter he had seen last time he was there. He left after five minutes and of course, giving sufficient time for him to disappear out of sight, the Otter appeared and fed at a distance for the next half hour.

The long staying Greenshank flew in close to the hide and started to feed with success just about every other attempt. No wonder it's staying. If it feeds any more it'll be too fat to migrate any further! The ghostly apparition above was shot last week but don't fear there's not magic in the ether.. just poor timing and wretched blades of grass blowing into the shot!

Back home about six and out to look for Owls. The last two nights have been fruitless I think because there are so many voles the birds are again very well fed and don't need to hunt. Chatted to two blokes for an hour or so and after watching a passing flock of twenty Long tailed Tits with two Willow Tits in tow and numerous false alarms caused by Buzzard, Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, a bird finally appeared at 6.50 being mobbed by crows who eventually departed leaving the owl to perch a while before hunting briefly and disappearing into the gathering gloom. I hope the late appearance did not cause friction with the missus nor reduced performance in the half marathon chaps.

Noticed the changing weather again this morning on my webs count where after ten minutes I wished I'd brought some gloves. Need to pack the winter kit into the car. Normal count up the Tyne with Plover flock beginning to grow (179) and good numbers of Redshank and Lapwing. As I counted the calls of Chiffchaff, Long tailed Tit and Bullfinch accompanied me through the Business Park. At Lemington Gut a Kingfisher was perched in the distance and a Green Woodpecker flushed from its usual spot opposite the Board Inn. Pleasant morning and now just considering whether that Pied Flycatcher will still be at Druridge....I can't traipse up there again can I?

Cor..y ippee

With reports coming in of seawatching found a meeting in my diary later this week that possibly required some pictures of a building in Cullercoats, No further excuse required off I headed to St Mary's Island where surprisingly no one seemed to be gazing seaward so I set up using the toilets as wind break and started. Loads of Gannets and three small birds passed one of which was an Little Auk the others probably Puffin. I must admit to very limited seawatching skills. Manx Shearwater and Arctic Skua no bother but then the problems begin mainly due to scale reference so was glad when another chap joined me who put me onto three Sooty Shearwaters along with another eight Manx. Three Red throated divers fed offshore and a heavy bellied Skua chased a gull in the bay but no positive ID.

On leaving the birder mentioned that the yellow buoy was much closer from the island so with half an hour remaining on my parking ticket I headed on over. As I entered the hide the gentleman already set up announced 'there's a Cory's passing' and after a fumble with the scope I got a brief view as the large shearwater banked round and disappeared north..............dead jammy. Continued watching while more Manx shearwaters passed and got excited about a Kittiwake that I thought was a Sabines. Thanks to the man in the hide I didn't fancy donating another £25 to North Tyneside for the pleasure of being there so headed back to do my work.

Having read Whitley Birders blog the other day checked the car park at Briar Dene and got these pictures of the wintering Med Gull. Was driving round it trying to get a shot without white lines and the two ladies in an adjacent car were a bit baffled by my actions but wherever I parked the bird seemed to move nearer to a line. Eventually some old geazer drove through the flock of Black headed gulls and it flew off west into the estate.

Interesting that the Cory's was followed right up the coast. Modern communications eh....helped by whoever lives in the hide at Whitburn!

Pictureless Post

Have spent six hours over the weekend fieldwatching instead of seawatching. Did manage to get a smidgen of the latter at Cambois on Sunday and a Velvet Scoter for the pleasure but, other than a brief five minutes at 6.30 on Saturday evening, myself and the others who turned up, some with youngsters in tow, saw nothing of the Short eared Owls.

If they are still there I would say that the combining and grass cutting has either moved them onwards or has disturbed so many voles that the birds are stuffed full and don't need to hunt. Anyway no owls but Saturday saw a Chiffchaff singing at the golf course, numerous Pied Wagtail and Buzzard although I couldn't turn any of the birds over the wood into the passing Honey Buzzard and on Sunday evening Stonechat, Whinchat and a Redstart that I missed (thanks DaveyT).

The change in the weather will likely bring in more birds so here's hoping.

Coming closer

to get some better picture thanks to some obliging Short eared Owls. Waited half an hour last night till at 5.50 a single bird started hunting, suddenly appearing from the middle of the field as if beamed down from above. Bill joined me and we watched it making repeated dives and turns flying across 20m in front of us.

As it returned to the first tree line, two other birds joined it and they spiralled together around a small hawthorn tree when Bill spotted another bird in the distance. Four in the air at once.....Carr heaven!

Moments like this don't last long and a passing Heron started to squabble with one of the birds, then two Crows joined in forcing the Owl up high to be joined by a Kestrel. Eventually the Crows and Kestrel took the argument North and the owl slowly glided down over our heads to begin hunting again, landing behind a tussock and staring full face at Bill. Of course when I leaned over to get the shot it took to the air but no worries, there's going to be plenty of opportunity.

After half an hour or so the darker bird was the only one hunting. Young and inexperienced perhaps but for the first time it perched about fifty meters away and I got some fantastic views through the scope. Fantastic striated plumage and vivid yellow eyes. Very intense and as good as a come on from a beautiful woman in a 'I want to eat you alive' sort of way!!

Chatty

Went down to the Carr yesterday at 3.30 in glorious weather to see if the Short eared Owls had stayed but on walking along the bumpy road past the goats the first thing that grabbed my attention was a group of birds flycatching from the east boundary fence of the paddock. Stonechats immediately sprang to mind but there were ten or so birds. Got the bins on them and counted six young Whinchats, 3 Stonechats and Meadow Pipit. Watched them for an hour or so with bicycle Bill and another birder whilst still keeping a keen eye out for the owls. Lovely sight and of course...

98 Whinchat

The owls looked like they were a no show and the other two departed. I contented myself snapping away at a passing Willow Warbler then saw a Warbler in amongst the Whinchat. Got a quick pic and believe it to be a Grasshopper Warbler but any comments welcome.

Just as I was packing up to leave a ghostly white shape difted down the far hedgerow and out into the middle of the field. The owl was hunting shortly to be joined by another from the central hedgerow. Little buggers had been there all the time but I think the food supply is so good they don't need to hunt that often. Standing waiting I heard numerous squeaks from the grass suggesting many voles and have seen quite a few dashing across the road recently. Moved location and joined by Bill enjoyed the two birds hunting for about an hour, frequently going down on presumed kills. One bird is distinctly smaller and darker plumaged than the other, possibly a juvenile and gave us a good head on view off its yellow eyes as it checked us out. Finally the light went flat and we packed up .

Where are the owl pictures you may say. Took plenty but on review most were distant and poor so I'm hoping for better opportunities in the weeks to come. Best view currently from the gate in the hedgerow on the right hand side of the road leading down from Prestwick to Mayfair Cottage.

You wait for months.....

...then three come along all at once. Not buses but Short-eared Owls. Hadn't seen one on Prestwick Carr since last October when a single bird was driven up high and away by Crows so was delighted last night when one was hunting near the goats at Mayfair Cottage. Watched a while and got lots of useless long distance photos when moving eastward another bird rose from the ground and they started sparring. As I moved into the field one bird hunted eastward while the other went west and yet another individual rose from the ground. Briefly all three were in the air and then the police helicopter flew overhead and they went to ground.
Chatted to bicycle Bill for a while who regaled me of the Marsh Harrier he had two weeks ago and a Yellow Wagtail in the horses field last week. Unfortunately not on my list although I was sure I heard a Yellow Wag last Saturday... even has a question mark next to it in my notebook. Anyway.....

97 Short eared Owl

Battling with fading light and autofocus we were both being bitten to death by flies so left with two birds in the air hunting. I hope they stay for a while and some better images will be in the offing.

Distant Views

With the chaos of last week forgot to update the Prestwick Carr list with two new birds. On Monday two female Wheatears graced the horse field but stayed well into the middle whilst on Saturday a Spotted Flycatcher was hunting from the hedge bordering the golf course. So that's

95. Wheatear

96. Spotted Flycatcher

If we get some wet weather may just scrape the hundred this year.

On Sunday after looking in the overgrown wetland and finding two singing Chiff Chaffs, spent a pleasant hour or so seawatching at St Marys Island with another birder. He had found two Red throated divers offshore and when we eventually re-located them there was three, then four, then at least six. Still a good deal of grey on the head and hint of red on the throat. A Sandwich tern was doing Roseatte calls and as we confirmed this ID a dark bird flew south in front of us. It was a dark phase Arctic Skua and after pestering a tern, carried on south. Lots of juvenile and adult Gannets passed by and lost track of time till the weather started turning so headed back to the car. Bloody parking ticket. Eight minutes after the expiry of my allotted time the buggers had given me a ticket. Payments to be made to North Tyneside Council Team Revenue..................money grabbing ******** team more like.