I started at St. Mary’s checking the wetland which only provided Gadwall out of the ordinary, so I went up to check the standing stone field at Old Hartley and to my surprise, found a stunning drake Pintail with 8 Mallards, albeit briefly when they all flew East towards St. Mary’s, and ended up on the wetland. I got some digiscoped shots in poor light, but what a stunner.
I then went on to Killingworth Lake where I had 35 Pochard (27 drakes, 8 ducks) which is by far my highest of the winter. Also 3 Great Crested Grebes, Oystercatcher and 30+ Goldeneye, mainly drakes.
I finished at Howdon Wetlands with 250 Teal (some showing very well close to the hide), 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 10 Stock Doves around the feeders.
Jack Bucknall
