Tuesday 21st May 2024

On Lindisfarne sightings included:

Red-Backed Shrike (1) Lifer on UK mainland for me!
Lapwing (2)
Stonechat (8)
Reed Bunting (2)
Eider Duck (10)
Little Egret (1)
Shelduck (3)
Linnet (2)
Kestrel (1)
Whitethroat (1)
Grey Heron (1)
Skylark !10)
Ringed Plover nesting on the beach

There was also a sighting of a Golden Oriole on Lindisfarne today.

Saturday 18th May 2024

Walk from Beadnell to Low Newton-by-the-Sea. Sightings included:

Black Tern (1) Lifer for me at Long Nanny
Temminck's Stint (2) Another lifer for me at Newton Pool Nature Reserve
Little Tern (3)
Arctic Tern (25 plus)
Sandwich Tern (10)
Surprisingly no Common Tern seen!
Turnstone (5)
Avocet (10)
Stonechat (12)
Skylark (25)
Ringed Plover (15)
Gannet (10)
Eider Duck (30)
Gadwall (2)
Shelduck (7)
Oystercatcher (20)
House Martin (5)
Sand Martin (10)
Swallow (7)
Whitethroat (1)
Willow Warbler (2)
Chiffchaff (1)
Greylag Geese (40)
Grey Heron (1)
Buzzard (1)
Kestrel (1)
Linnet (1)
Shoveler (1)
Fulmar (2)

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Bar Headed goose - Probably an escapee!!

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Definately an understatement

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I remember my son a couple of years or so back when he was only 12 saying "Dad, that's a Bar Headed Goose isn't it??" I gave him a pat on the back but politely explained it was an escapee. I did feel bad about it though because he was so eager with Collins Guide in hand.

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 19th of March 2011 09:54:14 PM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 19th of March 2011 09:54:39 PM

Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Bar Headed goose - Probably an escapee!!

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Definately an understatement

Just back from what was essentially a family holiday at a little place called Low Hauxley near Amble. It was a lovely place with the beach of Druridge Bay only yards from the front door and Coquet Island visible from the upstairs window. Doing any birding was always going to be a bit difficult but fortunately, by getting up at 6.00am everyday I managed to get a fair bit of birding done before the rest of the family woke up. Druridge bay was a great place to be in the early morning. Loads of Eider to be seen just off the shore along with all the usual waders, etc. Every morning produced different species. The highlights of the trip were: Bar Headed goose - found on my first day grazing in a field with a mixed flock of Pink feet and Greylag. Probably an escapee!! Red Kite - 3 seen near York on the A1 and one also seen near Druridge NR. Purple Sandpiper - Amble harbour Long tailed duck - 45 seen off Stag rock, Bamburgh Slavonian Grebe - Stag Rock, Bamburgh Nordic Jackdaw - Warkworth 74 species seen over the week. All in all a good week with some changable weather. I'd definately recommend this area to anyone wanting to go birding up here as there are loads of great sites and habitat all within short driving distance.