Not Quite Spring at Druridge

17^th Feb.  Despite the sunshine and song from Skylarks, stepping into the air at Widdrington Pool today gave the first unsubtle hint that bird watching in tee-shirts wasn’t on the menu.  I was still cold despite putting on outer layers and my hat.  The highlights here were the juvenile Peregrine Falcon and probably the largest flock of geese I’ve seen in Northumberland this year.  In the fields north of the pool, they were mainly Pink Footed Geese, but may have included other species, too far away to identify.  The bleak area held enough birds to keep our interest including a sizable flock of Wigeon, Goldeneye, Red Breasted Mergansers and calling Goldcrest.  A Great Crested Grebe was changing into breeding plumage.  I’m now reading my copy of The Peregrine Falcon purchased when I was in the SOC centre at Aberlady, signed by Derek Ratcliffe in 1980, so I felt that it was apt that we saw the peregrine today.

In comparison to the bleakness we left behind, it seemed almost balmy at East Chevington.  The Pintail on North Pool took little finding as there was little else on the water.  The walk to the burn warmed us a little more and we found Meadow Pipit, a sizable flock of Sanderling and a flock of thirty-five Ringed Plovers.  We chatted about the possible uses of a grant to improve the area.  I’ve always liked this area anyway, but my priority would be to improve control of water levels (very high in North Pool at present), not to bring in rarities, but for birds in general.  The rarities would in any case follow.  Of course, the hides could do with replacing too, but I don’t envy the folk who must put their mind to indestructible hides in this area, probably an unrealistic prospect!  Thankfully I am guessing the grants will not be enough for such things as centres to be built, and that is a blessing in my opinion.  A centre would spell café or restraunt and that the area can certainly do without.

Our next stop was the Drift Café, yeah OK, so I’m a hypocrite!  Serves me right that the place was so packed we couldn’t get in and had to later make do with our sandwiches and crisps up by Druridge Pools.  From the open hide we faced the winds to search without luck for the Green Winged Teal.  I decided that this hide is the worst one I can remember for birding from when it’s windy.  When we moved to the hide at the north end we still had to face winds, but at least here we eventually had a good sighting of the Green Winged Teal that we had been after.  There were certainly plenty of Teal about, Curlews, Shoveler and Black Tailed Godwit et al.  Water Rail was heard.  Druridge Pools were looking more like they ought to, having been very quiet on some recent visits, although the pool at the north end was unproductive.

By the time we arrived at Cresswell Pond the winds were getting stronger and the water was almost up to the hide.  Not looking too welcoming for returning Avocets!  Apart from a Reed Bunting visiting a feeder the hedges leading down to the hide were absent of birds as was the pond, apart from a Little Grebe (there was another on the smaller pool) near the hide and the odd Goldeneye, Mallard and Tufted Duck.  All the other birds present had sought sanctuary on the west side of the pond, and these included Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Curlew, Wigeon and Teal et al.

We’d seen Common Buzzard and Kestrels to add to the raptor list today, and we'd seen a number of flocks and skeins of geese (mainly Pink Footed Geese), but overall it seemed very quiet and the birding was somewhat affected by wind to the extent our day proved rather short.  I’m looking forward to enjoying the warm weather I’m told we are having!