Double Day...Ducking, Diving and Plodging at Druridge and Lindisfarne

7^th Mar.  The road down to East Chevington North Pool has been done no favours by the recent severe weather.  More potholes than ever and pre-existing small ones have grown.  The whole area looked badly hit by the weather.  Happily spring was once again in the air and the sounds that greeted us on arrival was the calling of Reed Buntings, a pair was seen in the hedge by the flooded car-parking area, singing Skylarks and calling geese, in the main Pink-footed Geese.  We walked to the mouth of the Chevington Burn which has once again changed course in the forever moving sand and no doubt melting snow accounted for the fact that it was running deeply and fast towards the sea.  The sand banked up at the sides of the burn was every now and again crumbling and it felt that we were watching geological change in action, which of course we were.  Surprisingly not even Pied Wagtails were feeding on the sea litter on the beach, but we did watch a large raft of Common Scoter directly in front of us and close to the tidal edge.  Ringed Plover and Sanderling were on the shore at the tideline and Eider Duck, Red Throated Diver and Guillemot were amongst birds seen and there was also a possible sighting of Black-throated Diver, but that is surrounded with some uncertainty.  Watching from so low down did not help with identification, nor did the waves and the diving and the diver quickly disappeared.  Flocks of Oystercatcher flew by.  We both agreed how good it was to be out again in relatively mild conditions.  As we walked back and along the path between the dunes and North Pool a single Scaup was seen on the otherwise quiet pool that did not appear to hold anything out of the ordinary, although numbers of Goldeneye remain.

On our way to Druridge Pools we watched five Common Buzzards as they displayed over the fields south of North Pool.  One of these birds was especially active.

We were to have another try for these Water Pipits at Druridge Pools.  As I joked that we might not get to the hide we found just how true that was to be the case.  The place was flooded.  We were aware of floods, especially further north and so should have known better and taken out Wellington Boots.  At least we could hear the whistling Wigeon and watch through the trees from the road side.  I took some comfort in a fellow birder telling us he had visited 10 times before seeing the Water Pipits.  The other path was also flooded, and in any event, we were feeling hungry so made off to the café, but not before being reminded about the two Great Northern Divers on the pool at Widdrington Moor and being told that a Marsh Harrier had shown there today too.

Well fed we moved off to the hide at Cresswell Pond.  After having passed here several times in recently in conditions not conducive to birding, it was good to find the place a little more settled, in sunlight and with even a bit of mud showing.  Also, good to see a knowledgeable youngster in there with his mum, both avidly watching.  By now we had seen large numbers of Pink-footed Geese, Greylag Geese and Canada Geese and here we found my first Lesser Black Backed Gull of the year and large flocks of Teal and Wigeon.  No sign of an Avocet when we were there.  I enjoyed the time in the hide which I had not visited for some time.  I remember reading that a judgement was to be made by the 5^th March about the proposed plans for the Banks Opencast Site.  Have I missed something or have things been bogged down in the usual red tape and delays? 

Great Northern Diver courtesy of Samuel Hood (Scoped)

Anyway, we didn’t forget the Great Northern Divers and took a drive to the moor where we had an excellent sighting of what turned out to be bird of the day.  It was like spring now as we stood at the side of the road and enjoyed the sunshine as well as the divers.  An excellent day as per usual, but no sign of a Marsh Harrier for us.

Colourful Lapwing.  To many folk see things in only black and white!

11^th Mar.  After the dismal weather of yesterday it was good to see the sun shining as we left for Lindisfarne.  The usual wonderful light was met as we arrived at the island and oh how different it was from the freezing conditions of our previous visit.  We set off along the lonnen and possibly because of the flooded conditions had the area to ourselves for most of the time as we tried to dodge the puddles.  A plodge was occasionally necessary, the waterproof boots going a good job.  We’d been met at the car park by a stunningly marked Lapwing and the sound of Skylarks, Curlews and Oystercatchers.  The song of Skylark was to accompany us for much of the walk, although in general it was a very quiet day in terms of bird numbers.  It was nevertheless an excellent walk and having completed it I felt I had earned my bacon sandwich, piece of cake and bottle of a type of coke that tasted more like ginger beer, very nice.  The walk had ben enhanced by the sight of a group of 14 Roe Deer (I honestly don’t remember having seen such numbers together in Northumberland before), my first Rabbit and Frogs of the year.  Best sighting was of the Brent Geese with the priory in the background.  The island is one of my favourite places in Northumberland and I enjoy the fact that no matter how many visitors are converging it is always possible to get away from the maddening crowd and find one’s own space.

Some plonker plodging along the lonnen

A look across one of the bays and out to see brought sightings of Great Northern Diver, Red Throated Diver, Eider Duck and Red-breasted Merganser.  It was noticeable by now that mist was encroaching from the sea and it wasn’t long before temperatures plummeted considerably.  We noticed that a good deal of work has been done to protect the pool on the island from Otters and Foxes.  Sadly the only birds on the pool at the time we were there was one Coot and one Red-breasted Merganser.  Behind the pool ducks could be seen and included Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler. We continued our walk and enjoyed watching the Brent Geese before making back to the village and preparing to set off for a stop at Fenham Flats.  The sun was still breaking through at times, but it seemed that the weather was on the change.  A number of Common Buzzards had been seen during the day.

This colourful guy was was better equipped for the conditions.

The birds at Fenham Flats gave in the main only distant sightings, the best of them being many Brent Geese strung out along the shore.   Both black and pale bellied seen today. I reflected that the period from October to March has provided us both with some wonderful experiences with geese, both in Dumfries and Northumberland.  In fact, over recent years I’ve seen geese in habitats that I once thought I’d never see when I used to look at Peter Scott paintings in books I have.  This winter has been the best I’ve had watching geese.  Deciding to give Stagg Rock a miss we now made for home more than happy with our trip.  By the time we were nearing home it almost looked as if the darkened sky held within it a storm, and the rain has come today.  Bird of the day?  Brent Geese.

Brent Geese

A Vampire Rabbit

6^th Mar.  I was on a pilgrimage of sorts with a friend today, our plan being to explore the interior of St Mary’s Cathedral and St Nicholas’s Cathedral in Newcastle City.  Nothing at all to do with wildlife I know, but its strange how things turn out.  First, our entry to St Mary’s Cathedral was impossible as there was funeral service about to begin.  We instead looked at some of the interesting buildings in the area between the two Cathedrals before taking a quick look inside St Nicholas’s.  The city has changed a lot since I was a lad, but there is still much of interest to explore and who would have thought the centre of interest would be a Vampire Rabbit, or is it a Hare?

Vampire Rabbit

The Vampire Rabbit, which I believed to be a hare, (just look at those ears!) is above the decorative doorway of one of the buildings to the side of St Nicholas’s Cathedral and only yards away from the site of what had been the workshop of Thomas Bewick, one of the great historic figures from the Northeast of England.  No local will need to be told who he is I hope, but it is surprising how many non-locals haven’t a clue!  I won’t go into detail that can in any event be found on the internet, but I will mention some tributes to Bewick that exist in Newcastle upon Tyne, not to mention the fact that the Bewick’s Swan was named by William Yarrell in Bewick’s honour.  There is of course Bewick Street in the city centre and several portraits of the man including, in the Laing Art Gallery, Literary and Philosophical Society and the Natural History Society of Northumbria.  The Bewick Society was responsible for placing in 2003, a copy of the Bewick ‘Chillingham Bull’ into the pavement near to the central station.  The bronze bust pictured here in my blog can be found at the site of the workshop I mention above, and I believe it is a copy of the marble bust held by the Lit and Phil Society in Newcastle.  There is also a statue of the man at a site which was once Boots Chemist on Northumberland Street (alongside Bewick here, there is Harry Hotspur, Sir John Marley and Roger Thornton).  There is more I know.

Bust of Thomas Bewick at Workshop site,

It is perhaps fitting that the Vampire Rabbit is found near to the site of the workshop of Bewick, a man so inspired by nature and wildlife.  I believe some think there may be some kind of link or tribute to Thomas Bewick, but the Vampire Rabbit seems to pose a bit of a mystery.  I have delved into this a little and found the following information, quite easily as it happens.

As to the question of whether this vampire is a rabbit or a hare.  Well, I had initially thought the ears to look more like that of a hare, but it seems that it may be a rabbit that has undergone cosmetic surgery!  It has also been suggested that the ears were replaced back to front.  I have seen a photo of the original and it seems that the ears were extended sometime in the 1980s.  So, if we settle for the fact that it is a rabbit it puts an end to one theory I have come across.  This theory was that the vampire is a hare and that it had some masonic symbolism in that it represented a friend of the architect.  The friend being Sir George Hare Phipson, a local doctor of some importance and Freemason.  It should also be noted that as well as having an ear extension the rabbit was initially the same plain colour as the surrounding stonework.  Everything has changed now as you can see and the rabbit has even been given a splash of red paint on teeth and claws to represent blood.

Vampire Rabbit

Another idea put forward simply suggests that the rabbit represents the coming of spring, much the same as the ‘Easter bunny’.  Or perhaps there’s some link to he tales of local grave robbers.  Or perhaps, did someone just not have much time for religion and placed the rabbit where it is to oversee and control the local inhabitants of the graveyard opposite?  Allegedly, some bodies in this graveyard were found face down.  It is thought bodies were buried in this way to prevent vampires in that when they tried to dig themselves out of the grave they simply dug themselves into deeper earth.

One final thought is put forward that the Vampire Rabbit was there near to the graveyard simply to remind all passers-by that no one can avoid death.  It is known that some Dutch paintings include depictions of dead rabbits to remind everyone that they are not immortal!

Well, I for one think it good that there is no clear explanation for the presence of the Vampire Rabbit.  Life would be less fun if there was an answer to everything.  I do know I wouldn’t like to meet this rabbit as I walked down Dog Leap Stairs in the darkness of the early hours.

Ahhhhh, spring is in the air again and Sam and I have been birding in a rather flooded and weather damaged Druridge Bay, but at least the temperature was up.  More of that to come later.

In Like a Lion

2^nd March.  Yes, it is the 2^nd March!  I must have mentioned that feeling of spring being in the air when I visited Holywell not so long ago, but that was of course before this beast from the east was mentioned.  I had thought initially that the beast from the east might possibly have been a new entrant into the Brexit negotiations, perhaps for negotiations you best read farce!  I now hear that even the waterfall at High Force has frozen up for the first time since 1929.  Do any of my readers remember that I wonder?  Anyway, I don’t intend to visit for photographs, instead I’ll await someone else putting images onto the internet.  I do hope to get out onto patch tomorrow.

Garden bird watching seemed to me to be a good idea over the past few days and I’ve watched the bird seed disappear at a rapid rate.  It reminded me of a comment made by someone some years ago on a forum regarding the feeding of garden birds.  Their thought was that whilst they enjoyed feeding the birds and watching them in the garden, they didn’t believe that such feeding made any difference what so ever to the birds or their survival.  I thought that showed a complete lack of understanding of bird behaviour and needs and I won’t bore you with some obvious facts.  In recent years Song Thrushes have returned to my garden, usually around the end of the year and they or probably best to say it, as it is usually a single bird tends to become more active as far as song goes as the new year progresses.  I remember one of these birds singing in the early hours of a New Years Day not so long ago.  I noticed this year it’s song began in early February.  As per usual this bird is dominated very much by the Blackbirds, but still manages to get its share of feed.  The beast from the east has put a stop to any song and has also made this Song Thrush appear far less nervous, or at least more desperate to get at the feed.  I noticed today that it has taken to coming and sitting near the window as if waiting for more food to be given out and its seems to favour cheese.  At the moment it is looking very healthy and the neighbouring cats have stayed clear, touch wood.  Just as this bird is benefiting by a bit of help during this cold spell, I’m sure there are many species also benefiting around from handouts around the country.  Just in case anyone is wondering, I’m positive that this Song Thrush is the same bird as it is easy to tell by its behaviour pattern.

One thing the snow has done is to help show of this Song Thrush at its best.  I think it is something about the light that is reflected from the snow which has done the same for the Fieldfares which have appeared along the road and in the bushes outside of my home.  They appear to be making the most of a few remaining berries.

Late this afternoon a small flock of six Long-tailed Tits passed through the garden.