We never tire of visiting the coastal area of South East Northumberland as there is so much on offer to those interested in nature, and fortunately the area is generally not overcrowded. The favourable conditions today did see folk around in some number and several of them were bird watchers. Our first short stop was at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Country Park to look at the reported Whooper Swan. We thought it would be an inured or sick bird and it did seem to lack some balance on the water. The morning air and wind carried a chill and we were soon back into the car and off.
Next stop
was at Widdrington Pool where it is rarely warm. Oddly enough, today it was warm and
without wind. The birding highlights
here were two Ruddy Shelduck, two pairs of Great Crested Grebe,
one of the pair displaying, Common Buzzard overhead and a distant high Sparrowhawk. Numbers of Reed Warblers were singing,
and their song was to be with us throughout our visit. Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler
and Chiffchaff were also present.
A Water Rail was heard. Ruddy
Shelduck are especially attractive birds in my opinion. I well remember watching one of these birds
at Prestwick Carr. This bird was even
discussed on the BBC Bird Forum which has not existed for years, so this
sighting must have been at least sixteen years ago. Time flies as well as Ruddy Shelducks. This bird was recorded at various sites in
the region and spent some time on Killingworth Lake before disappearing south
into Durham. I wonder if any readers
remember seeing it? Ruddy Shelducks
are of course more often as not, escapes from captivity when seen in western
Europe. Very nice birds all the same,
and I am pleased to have recorded truly wild birds in Romania. To return to the BBC Forum, it was a very
disorganised affair and although attracting some very keen naturalists who were
keen to learn, it also attracted it fair share of keyboard warriors simply out
to wind folk up. It was an
introduction in my case to this type of media and where I learned quickly how
to deal with troublemakers on the internet.
Social media in the main is not my thing. Give me personal face to face chat or a good
book anytime.
As our birding had been rained off on a previous visit to the area, we next made for East Chevington. The northern pool was quiet, but still held an odd Goldeneye. There were plenty of warblers about and the unmistakeable burst of a call from a Cetti’s Warbler was the highlight. We managed to see the bird briefly as it flew into the reedbed and eventually back again, continuing to call from different areas. There were few terns about during our visit but we did see Common Tern and eventually Sandwich Tern. We walked to Chevington Burn and enjoyed a brief sighting of Marsh Harrier and enjoyed the song from Skylarks. A nice male Stonechat was seen along the way as was Reed Bunting. We took note of botanical interest and returned via the dunes which we have down for a later visit when more botanical interest will be on show. A short break was taken at the car for lunch. I had remembered the sandwiches this time!
Our next stop was Druridge Pools. We were noticing during our trip a general lack of Hirundines, although a few Swallows were seen. Highlights at Druridge Pools were Egyptian Goose, Avocet, Dunlin, a white semi ruffed Ruff and a sighting of Grasshopper Warbler. Sam Had been picking up the distant reeling of the latter species throughout the day, but my now less sensitive ears had missed that. It is always nice to see the Exmoor Ponies at Druridge. I have asked Sam to ensure that if he ever buys me a pony, that it is an Exmoor Pony. Curlews were heard.
We made a
brief stop at Cresswell where it was incredibly quiet. We didn’t bother walking to the hide on this
occasion, but noted the Avocets and a few other species before we made
off towards home. A planned stop at
Newbiggin was postponed until a later date.
A
particularly good day in good conditions, and with some unexpected sightings.
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