As with many of the county’s birders , I twitched the Holy Island Cattle Egret today. Whilst there a 1st winter Kittiwake flew around the assembled throng and Black t. Godwit on the Rocket Pools. A female Merlin glimpsed near the castle, as were 75 Dark bellied Brents and offshore, a Long tailed Duck and a few Mergansers. An unconfirmed report was heard of a pair of Bewick’s Swans with some Whoopers in the Lindisfarne area.
At Fenham 3 Perergrines were on show,causing havoc among the many waders and duck.
Stag Rocks produced a Great n. Diver ,Slavonian Grebe ,several Long tailed Duck and Common Scoter.
At Beadnell a flock of 80 Linnets were noted. Several hundred Golden Plover fed in a field.
Down to Newton where the Black Redstart performed well at the village/beach. Here also, were around 20 Rock Pipits, 20 Chaffinches on the beach and 27 Purple Sands.
35 Whooper Swans fed in fields just north of Warkworth as dusk fell.
Throughout the day, Fieldfares and Redwings could be seen near the snow free coast.
AS Jack