At the coast today, we were snow free at last, with the white stuff having melted to around a mile inland. At St Marys, a male Pintail,35 snipe and 30+ Teal were on the wetland. Offshore, an adult Med Gull noted and on the rocks, 100 Knot counted.
Up to the Blyth estuary,where a male Peregrine chased a group of 30 Bar tailed Godwits, failing to catch any. He then joined his mate , and the pair flew to a nearby pylon . 17 Shelduck, 7 Goldeneye and a pair of Gadwall on the river. In the nearby trees,were 30-40 Fieldfares .
At Woodhorn, opposite the old windmill, 2 Greenland Whitefronts and 1 Eurasian fed not 50 metres from the roadside hedge , affording close approach. They were totally unconcerned by my presence. A Short eared Owl hunted over the Alcan Lagoon, then around 100 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings flew out of a small conifer wood nearby.
On up to Cresswell, where 2 pairs of Stonechats noted and at the pond 4 Knot with 150 Dunlin and a single Grey Plover. Also 3 R.B. Mergansers. The road past the pond was well flooded ,with several cars not attempting to drive through .
The pair of Long tailed Duck seem to have relocated to Druridge Pools.
Back down to Seaton Sluice next, and the Tundra Bean Goose was feeding with around 200 Pink Feet in the roadside fields. While watching it, a female Merlin flew in and landed on a fence post. Presumably the goose that was at Holywell recently?
Up to Swallow Pond and a Jack Snipe seen in flight, attracting the unwanted attention of a local Sparrowhawk,which later seemed to briefly show an interest in some Teal on the pond, they quickly scattered. A Short eared Owl noted and a Stoat crossed the path ahead of me. A Crossbill heard calling ,then a few Siskins and Redpolls overhead.
Near the visitor centre, a singing bird flew towards me ,I recognised the song as a splendid Lapland Bunting flew overhead and turned s.w. over the wood. Great to hear it’s song in the depths of winter. Goldfinches and Robins were singing, but this song capped off a very good day.
AS Jack