All Weather Birders Go on a Seawatch

6^th Aug.  Tom and I decided to put in a little sea watching from the Tower Hide at Seaton Sluice.  I have to say that ‘sea’ watching was what we did much of the time we were there!  It was a nice evening however and not totally without reward as very soon after arriving we found a very distant Sooty Shearwater flying south.  My thoughts that this was setting us up nicely for some exciting sea watching were some what dashed by the time we left at 8:30pm.

As it was quiet we decided to go for our tea and return later.  At this point having spent some time attempting to lock the hide door and eventually being successful we bumped into BB also sea watching from the headland.  This was quite fortunate because after chatting for a short time we had our best sighting of the evening when a dark phase Arctic Skua appeared and harassed the terns.  It gave us a very close sighting at one point.  Tom had initially picked it up on the sea.

We returned to find that BB had recorded Manx Shearwaters and Velvet Scoter.  Afraid we saw neither species all the time we watched.  Commoner birds seen included some variable sized flocks of Common Scoter both on the sea and in flight.  I’d estimate the largest flock contained about fifty birds.  Gannet is one of my favourite sea species and we watched them on the water and flying north and south in some numbers during our watch.  Both Guillemots and Razorbills were seen with young.  Fulmars were quite numerous as were Kittiwakes.  Common Terns out numbered Sandwich Terns this evening.  A few Teal were seen and a single Shelduck and the Eider Ducks of course.

Waders seen included Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Knot in summer plumage, Golden Plover, Redshank and Curlew.

So a quiet evening but a pleasant one never the less with the rocks and waders been lit by the sun at one point, Blyth looking almost picturesque in the pastel colouring, Seaton Sluice Beach just begging to be photographed in stunning light (I didn’t have the gear tonight) and St Mary’s Island and lighthouse being lit by the sun as it dropped in the west.

Photo courtesy of Tom M.

 

We noticed lots of standing water on our journey.  Backworth Pond overflowing almost to the road and the Bee Hive Flash full, as were other temporary flashes along the Beehive road.  Someone had recently told me that the Beehive Flash and been drained and was no more.  Well it was certainly extant last night!  I do know the plan is for drainage of this flash eventually.  Sooty Shearwater is an addition to my year list.  I did feel a bit of a chill during the evening, perhaps for the first time in some weeks.

7^th June.  I was pleased to look out to day and see so many butterflies on the garden ‘butterfly bush’.  These included numbers of White species, Peacocks (which I haven’t seen at all for a while) and Small Tortoiseshells.  The bush is part of my offering a ‘home for nature’ as per the RSPB campaign.  It’s a bit difficult to offer a home for nature around here with all of the killer cats around, but it won’t stop me trying.  I intend to put up some homes for bees ready for next year.  Can you imagine what a difference this would make to nature if everyone in the UK actually took some interest and did their bit for wildlife?  Sadly this won’t happen as there are just too many folk who don’t understand and worse than that, simply don’t care.  Thankfully some of us do.

After Torrential Rain

5^th Aug.  I’d planned to visit the lake today to check on the nesting Great Crested Grebes but decided against, especially when the rain came down in torrents around tea-time.  I was told the lake had flooded.  By mid evening the skies were clearing so I reversed my decision again and went to check things out.  I’m so pleased I did.  Eighty to one hundred Swifts flew at various levels in the sky so as to take advantage of the feast of insects out after the rain and a Grey Heron stood at the corner of the larger lake un-phased by occasional passing traffic.  Thankfully the last fifth and last egg in the grebes nest appeared to have hatched and the family were in the safest of positions in the centre of the lake.  The nest was still intact.  Lake water spilt over the adjoining land.

As I retraced my steps on the way home I found the sky as attractive as I have ever seen it over the lake.  I decided to hang around a take and series of photographs as did another photographer.  My images are below.  No adjustments have been made to any of them so they are as taken.

Aye Aye Skipper!

3^rd Aug.  Having spent an hour by the lake whilst on patch today, I visited the productive insect area and was pleased to be able to find a good number of Small Skipper Butterflies.  Images are shown below.  The only other butterflies seen were a handful of White species and Meadow Browns.

I took the chance to capture images of two or three other insects.  Again images are shown below.  I find Bumble Bees probably the most difficult to photograph as they are on the move constantly.  Macro photography makes you really work, but is very rewarding at times.

I have the New Naturalist book on Bumble Bees and thought the photos let the book down.  I now have some sympathy for the photographer!

A Green Evening

1^st Aug.  Sam contacted me this morning to tell me that four other photographers were at the lake watching the Great Crested Grebes.  More about them in a later post, as Sam and I have been watching and studying them regularly this year since March.  Watching and studying the grebes that is, not the photographers.  I’d noticed that the Mute Swans had been slowing down the traffic yesterday and today Sam informed me that there had been a three car shunt as Mutes Swans crossed the road.  Mute Swans have crossed between the lakes for years, but I think since the fences have been put up at the other end of the lake in an attempt to prevent access there, this situation has not surprisingly become more regular.  The birds where on the road again today (2^nd Aug) as I passed by.  Anyway, Killingworth Lake Park, as people seem to like to call it, has now won Green Flag status!  I mention this simply because of a green theme to the blog today.  I’m watching with interest to see how things around here progress.

I'm wondering if this was placed in the lake to celebrate the awarding of a green flag!

 

Later in the afternoon Sam and I again set off from St Mary’s Island to walk to Holywell.  A walk that always brings something new!  After watching juvenile and summer plumaged Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling and Dunlin, plus Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew (unfortunately missing the passage Whimbrel) we bumped into mutual friend BR and had an enjoyable chat and heard that there was a reported Quail at Holywell.  When we eventually set off again we found the flock of Golden Plover north of the island, Eiders. Kittiwake and the odd Guillemot.  Time wasn’t really given to a long sea watch.  The highlight of the coastal stretch was the 11+ summer plumage Knot at Seaton Sluice.  Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins were watched along the route as were growing numbers of Sandwich and Common Terns.  The song of |Linnet was enjoyed.

Rested and fully sated we set off through the dene finding more joggers and cyclists than birds!  However we did find singing Chiffchaffs and a single Common Whitethroat near to the dipping pond.  Still no sign of odonata around this area, at least not for us.  We did find a single Common Hawker hawking in exactly the same spot as we had found this species last week.  Yellowhammer song and Linnets broke the silence as we approached Holywell Pond.

We noticed that the heavy overnight rains had seemed to make  for ideal conditions in east pool.  Well ideal conditions for waders, but I don’t suppose the land owner is so happy!  We had lacked a scope on our last visit and Sam’s instinct had told him we might need it today and as it turned out I’m pleased I agreed.  We soon found a single Green Sandpiper and then four Common Snipe.  We were amazed by the length of the bill of one of these Common Snipe.  Definitely far and away longer than the norm.  We took our time watching these beautifully marked birds.  Sam got his eye on another wader disappearing into the reeds which turned out to be a juvenile Dunlin.  We then decided to walk on to the public hide where we chatted to BD who had recently seen a Greenshank fly off to the south and heard the Quail calling.  We’d missed both.

We’ve not been disappointed on our recent Holywell evenings and tonight was no exception.  We had Green Sandpipers showing well and flying to and fro between the scrape and East Pool.  We only ever had two together, but I’m pretty well convinced that there is still three in the area.  The scope enabled us to enjoy these birds far better than last week.  A summer plumage Dunlin was also present as was a lone Mediterranean Gull.

Taking a quick walk back to East Pool we found nothing new here, but watched the Green Sandpipers fly back to the main scrape and Lapwings drop down there too.  Lapwing numbers where around the one hundred mark and as the evening went on they were joined by Oystercatcher and Curlew.

I commented to Sam that this is the type of birding that I really enjoy.  Is there a better way to pass a very warm summer evening than quietly watching an area as the sun drops in the sky and all the time the scene changes with birds flying in and out of your view?  I think not.  We watched as juvenile Common Terns struggled to take fish from the adult birds, the stronger of the youngsters winning the catch eventually.  A Grey Heron flew in very majestically and perched on the fence.  One of my favourite naturalist artists is Keith Brockie.  He often draws and pains Grey Herons.  I can see why.  Such attractive birds which are also large and cannot be missed and often giving plenty of time for study.  There were numbers of Pied Wagtails about the area.  Little Grebe showed on the water amongst the regular waterfowl.  Three Greylag Geese flew into the area.  Several Linnets came down to the waters edge to drink.  We waited for quite some time hoping that perhaps the Greenshank would return or perhaps some other passage wader would fly in.  After chatting to a couple in the hide we decide to move along to the member hide, bumping into CS and friends on the way.  After another chat we went our separate ways.

We hadn’t been in the hide long and Sam was marking down our sightings in the record book when I got my eye on another wader flying around the pond area and seemingly being mobbed by growing numbers of Swallows.  To his credit Sam identified it immediately as a Greenshank.  It seemed to look to head for the scrape so we did too.  As we approached a txt came through and I assumed it was Cain telling me that the Greenshank had returned.  It gave us a great showing for the rest of the evening (at times struggling with a small fish) as did the now two summer plumaged Dunlin and Green Sandpipers.  We watched as the Lapwing lifted and the Swallow numbers continued to increase before they flew over to and above the reed-beds to the west where they seemed to be planning on roosting for the night.

As the light began to fade after 9.00pm we decided, perhaps rather reluctantly to call it a day.  Everyone I had spoken too seemed to agree that the conditions look very favourable at Holywell Pond.  Much will depend upon the weather I think but it looks good for more passage waders in the coming weeks.  We walked back to Holywell Village in the warmth and humidity.  Both Sam and I agreed it had been one of our best evenings of the year so far.  We took home a bird list of sixty species and a new year tick in Greenshank.  Unusually I don’t think either of us had had our cameras out of the bag.  There are times it just pays to watch and listen.  Not enough people do that in this world!

Addendum.  If you want to enjoy some flight shots take a look at these very professional ones on Sam's Blog.  More than one way to enjoy flight!  More to come I believe.

Birds in Northumbria

Birds in Northumbria

31^st July.  Well another month ends having provided some very nice highlights (often in the sun) including my only lifer of the year so far, the Bridled Tern on the Farne Islands, a great day a Smardale surrounded by butterflies, probably my best ever Nightjar experience and great evenings at Holywell watching waders and the juvenile Marsh Harrier.

During the past couple of days I’ve been sorting out literature that I have collected over the years from the Natural History Society of Northumbria and I came across an annual report, Birds in Northumbria 1978.  I must have been sent that by the society I think, as I had no link to the bird club until recent years.  It was interesting to note the names of contributors, several who are still around, although a little more mature!  Even more interesting, was to compare some of the comments about species and try and balance the losses and gains.  I’ve noted down some of the comments and sightings below;

Little Egret.  An extremely rare visitor.  It was seen at Holywell on 6^th May and was only the third record for Northumberland.

Whooper Swan.  90 were at Holywell on 1^st January and this declined to 18 by 1^st April.

Goosander.  None reported at Killingworth Lake.  (A regular wintering spot now for a number of years)

Red Kite.  A rare visitor.  One seen at Woolsingham 0n 4^th March and a second bird was at Holywell for three days and then seen at Gosforth Park from 17^th December.  These were 6^th and 7^th records for the county.

Common Buzzard.  A rare breeder and uncommon visitor.  A handful of sightings of single birds.  (I do still occasionally come across folk who are shocked to find Common Buzzards in the east).

Osprey.  A rare visitor.

Purple Sandpiper. Populations of 150-200 and 250-350 early and late in the year.

Mediterranean Gull.  A rare visitor.  Records of single birds only.

Roseate Tern.  17 pairs nested on the Farnes and 29 pairs on Coquet Island.

Nightjar.  A rare summer visitor which breeds irregularly

Hawfinch.  A rare resident breeding species and passage visitor.  Never the less up to 6 reported in Jesmond Dene.   Other breeding season reports from Stocksfield, Morpeth, Corbridge, Hulne Park, Plessey Woods and Meldon.  Winter reports included 10 at Stocksfield on 30^th March and 20 on 11^th October.  Birds were present in Kielder where a juvenile was taken by a Sparrowhawk and 2 were seen on Holy Island on 6^th and 7^th May during passage.

Snow Bunting.  A well represented passage and winter visitor.  Reports included 150 at Hauxley/Druridge, up to 50 at Chevington, 50 at Derwent reservoir, and three flocks of up to 20 were at other coastal sites.  30 were at Killingworth 13^th and 15^th December!

Corn Bunting.  A well represented resident breeder.  The decline in this species was noted, but 30 were reported at Chevington Burn, 21 at Amble and 15 at Druridge.

I’m sure I can pick out many more interesting points, especially amongst the warblers, but I won’t bore you anymore.  I’m passing on my report and several others to someone I know will look after it and find it interesting.

I checked out the lake again today.  The traffic was being held up the whole time I was down there because of Mute Swans crossing the road in Mute Swan time i.e. their own time.  Most drivers if not all, seem to take this with a smile.:-)  I counted 116 Canada Geese and probably missed a few.  I suspect a few local inhabitants will not be pleased as I note that the geese do not understand that they are meant to keep off the grass! :-)  Several Common Terns were active and the lone Goosander remains.

The sun was long gone by the time I was around to the insect patch so there were few butterflies about, although I did see the odd Meadow Brown, Small White and Green Veined White.  Earlier in the day I had seen several white species in the garden including a female Orange Tip.  I had to check on this latter species for dates, but see that there is sometimes a second emergence in July and August.

Triple Green

25^th July.  Leaving Killingworth just after 3:00pm saw the temperatures reaching 27C so I was pleased to reach St Mary’s Island and find a cool refreshing breeze bringing down the heat.  As Ella Fitzgerald would have said it was just ‘Too darn hot’.  By the way, for younger readers Ella was a singer and star of the past, and not a member of the BBC weather team.

Terns caught the attraction as much as anything else today with large numbers of Sandwich, the odd Arctic and numbers of Common Tern making an appearance.  No Roseate Terns seen, but I’m sure it won’t be long before they are showing up on the rocks.  Sam and I caught a brief sighting of two Arctic Skuas chasing after the terns.  I understand that there had been three skuas present.  We were unable to locate the summer plumage Knots and by the time we got to Seaton Sluice the tide was high so the rocks there were covered.  We did find summer plumage Turnstones and Dunlin.  Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew were also noted before we spotted the flocks of Golden Plover flying in.  Skylarks were heard over the fields.  The overgrown wetland was very quiet.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

 

After a meal (fish and chips as tasty as ever) we once again set off for Holywell.  The heat was building up again.  I managed to photograph Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly, although butterflies had been quite scarce.  I seem to remember that we recorded Small White, Green Veined White  Small Skipper and Meadow Brown.  I have read in one or two places that this has been a great year for butterflies.  Not sure that I agree with that, and in any event it'll take far more than a few hot summer days to make up for past losses!  So I for one ain't getting excited!  There had been numbers of Burnet Moths in flight in the grassland by the cliffs.  I did notice that the salt-marsh area was as flooded as I can eve remember seeing it.  The dene was very quiet once again.  I suggested to Sam that we needed to find something interesting and I mentioned Green Sandpipers.  I was reminded later that I had mentioned this three times which turned out to be an omen of good fortune.

Well, what should we find at Holywell Pond, but Green Sandpipers, three of them in fact!  A very nice find, following our successful visit last week.  I note that Green Sandpipers seem to be popping up in a numbers of spots in Northumberland.  The birds showed really well from the public hide.  Together in a group at times and calling.  We also found a summer plumage Knot which made up for any missed at the coast.  There were about twenty-five Lapwing present along with a couple of Curlews.  The only blot on the evening was the stink caused by the hide having been used as a urinal (any self respecting person would simply find a tree to go behind in my opinion).  Last week it was a bag of dog crap!  Goodness knows what we are going to stumble across in there next.  Perhaps I ought to carry a bottle of disinfectant with me when out birding!  Anyway, I wasn’t going to let it spoil the sightings.  Sedge Warbler was heard.

With the place to ourselves once again, we stayed at Holywell until about 9:00pm and it was another wonderful evening.  The heat and humidity of the day has become a bit tiresome, but the evenings are definitely to be enjoyed.

Common Tern

 

26^th July.  I had inside information from Sam as to exactly what time the Red Arrows were arriving today so I took a walk down to the lake hoping to catch a glimpse.  I practiced a few shots of Common Terns in flight as I waited.  They were bringing food to juvenile birds.  I also noticed the Shoveller.  I watched a few aircraft in the distance before watching the Red Arrows fly in as a group and then individually.  So if yesterday was green, today was red.

A Red Arrow flypast for Killy Birder.  I can say with some certainty if you keep a look out there will be far better images on the way, but not from me!  Very nice to see though, none the less.

 

Earlier in the week Sam and I had attended a very nice evening at the Hancock for the two hour presentation on the Tyneside Kittiwakes.  We really enjoyed the talks especially that from John Coulson who has studied the Tyneside Kittiwakes for over sixty years.  Now I reckon anyone who puts that time and interest in, has certainly earned the title of ornithologist.  John’s years of work are recoded in his book, The Kittiwake.  I did think it unfortunate that there wasn’t more of an audience for this one.  I had thought that there would be far more interest shown in our local bird colonies.  We’d earlier enjoyed a look around the Hancock.  We had our tea as the rain hit the city flooding the road outside.  Afterwards it was another wonderful evening and I made one or two discoveries as we walked around the area of the Civic Centre.

Just Another Evening at Holywell

17^th July.  Despite the cold and sometimes icy conditions, I confess that I prefer bird watching in winter.  I have a passion for geese and waders and winter is often the best time to watch them in what is often better light.  I also take into account that there are often fewer people about and therefore it’s simply more peaceful, even if standing in gale force winds and cursing the freezing cold.  I do have to admit that British summer evenings do have a good deal of appeal too, especially when the weather has been as it has for the past few weeks.  I was out again this evening and was well rewarded on my St Mary’s Island to Holywell walk.

Sam and I welcomed the cooling breeze as we set off from St Mary’s Island just before teatime when there were still numbers of bodies lying about the beach.  A Kestrel immediately caught the eye.  It wasn’t long until we were watching summer plumage Golden Plovers flying in small flocks.  Perhaps just arriving back to over winter we wondered?  Only the odd Lapwing, Oystercatchers and Turnstones added to the wader list here.  Sandwich Terns flew over the sea and Skylark and Meadow Pipit sang above the fields.  The buildings on the island were at times covered in Starlings.  Insects in the meadow land above the cliff included large numbers of Burnet Moths and Soldier Beetles, but surprisingly few butterflies, which were in the main Meadow Browns and the odd Small Tortoiseshell.  A four spot Ladybird was also found.  The occasional Fulmer flew along the edge of the cliff and one Fulmer appeared as if still on a nest on the cliff side.  Sand Martins were seen, as were Gannets as we watched from Seaton Sluice.  There were lots of House Martins flying near the cliffs.

A few of the Starlings gathering on the island.

Soldier Beetles doing what they do.

 

We had our tea before setting off to walk through Holywell Dene.  We found white species of butterfly along with single Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Ringlet.  I don’t remember seeing Ringlet here before, but I’m aware that it is a species that is spreading its range.  Once again the majority of butterflies were Meadow Browns.  The burn was low and the walk tiring in places, as in this direction it tends to be uphill.  I couldn’t help wonder why people want to run in such heat (can’t be good for you), but obviously many do!  If I had been as red in the face as one of these guys running I would have taken it as a sign to lie down and rest.  There was little bird life found, although a few Chiffchaffs continue to call and Stock Dove was seen.  It was a pleasant walk as always.  A Common Hawker Dragonfly hawked around us, coming up close to suss us out at times.  I heard its wings buzzing around my head on several occasions.  I’d been a little surprised once again to see no sign of odonata near to the dipping pools.

We eventually arrived at Holywell Pond and a sit in the hide was more than welcome.  We spent the rest of the evening until about 9:00pm in this area.  We saw no other bird watchers.  A small wader took me a little by surprise until I worked out it was a juvenile Dunlin (no telescope with me).  There were three Oystercatchers in the same area, which were enjoying a bathe in the pond, and a family of Pied Wagtails.  Sedge Warblers sang from the reeds.  The Common Terns were active and appear to be successfully raising young.  Black Headed Gulls were numerous and there was one or two Lesser Black Backed Gulls.  Birds on the pond included Little Grebe, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Coot.  Grey Herons called and were eventually seen.

Sam and I eventually moved to the members hide.  This had been a decision taken at a good time as it wasn’t long before we were watching a juvenile Marsh Harrier that had risen from the reed bed.  A beauty of a bird in pristine condition, with that cream head showing so well in the clear light.   It flew over the edge of the reeds at the west end of the pond for a time before flying down the edge of the reed-bed almost the length of the pond, then returning and flying off behind the hide.  It did return again and showed very well as it was mobbed by gulls.  It eventually flew at tree top level on the north side of the pond before flying behind these trees.  We saw no more of it.  At this point in time we heard Curlews calling and watched as they appeared to land at the other rend of the pond.  They were soon followed by two Black-tailed Godwits.  We decided to return to the scrape as it seemed there might be some action there.  We found the juvenile Dunlin was still there along with seven Oystercatchers and the two Curlew and two Black-tailed Godwits.  The Godwits, one of them seeming much larger than the other, stood together in full summer plumage.  Their reflections showed well in the still water of the pond.  It would have made an excellent photographic image, but sadly just too far away for our equipment to do that justice.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier makes an appearance.

 

By now the sun was turning the sky red and we decided to take a quick walk to the open field just to check for owls.  Unfortunately we didn’t find any.  We did find the Common Nettles were covered by caterpillars.  Black and spiky caterpillars of the Peacock Butterfly.  I estimated that there must have been over one hundred of them in a small area.  On close inspection you can se that the spikes have smaller spikes along their length, so I assume they are very well protected from predators.  I’m sure something must eat them and would like to know how they manage this.  The caterpillars were busy munching their way through the Common Nettles, the regular food for these larvae.

Peacock Butterfly caterpillars show their defences!

 

By now the air was humid and heavy and attracting clouds of Midges.  Walking through these clouds they were getting into our eyes and we kept our mouths shut!  When we retraced our steps I noticed these clouds were even denser and covering the fields on both side of us.  Thankfully by the time we were back near to the pond the clouds had thinned out.  We took one last look at the pond before making for home.  Once again Holywell had delivered.  We’d had another great evening in a wonderful area.