A long day delivering record cards for the NTBC bulletin authors plus memory sticks with rarity descriptions for the County Records Committee. Luckily these people live near birdy places ! Hence a summary here of sites visited & highlights.
Alnmouth – No Roseate Terns on the beach as high tide but always worth checking the tern gathering here on the S side of the burn. Warkworth Gut – Again quiet due to high tide but should have some wader interest from here on. Foxton Bends – Looking down on the fields from the high viewpoint near golf club. two Common Sandpipers
Hauxley – Surprise Red Kite drifting slowly over fields viewed from Ponteland Hide. Only visible for ten seconds. Apparently one at Red Row ten days ago so maybe keeping to Druridge Bay. My first Red Kite sighting along the coast. One Knot from Ponteland hide but again scope for waders here. East Chevington – One adult Little Gull in full summer plumage amongst terns. Water level nicely dropping and waders can now wade !
Two Common Sandpipers Druridge Pools – Reserve apparently left to grow into a rushy field.The female Mandarin showing well from Oddie hide. Has been present for some weeks. Also one 1st summer Little Gull. Cresswell Pond – One adult Little Gull. Little scope for waders as sandbank blocked again. One Common Sandpiper & 40 Dunlin Snab Pt, Cresswell – One summer Mediterranean Gull Lynemouth Flash – Dry
Newbiggin – Ten adult Mediterranean Gulls in S bay , most with full hoods. Worth checking the Beacon Pt tern roost for Roseates. Bothal Pond – Little of note Castle Island – Looks very good for waders. 7 Black-tailed Godwits & 1 Greenshank here. No sign of recent Ruddy Shelducks Arcot Pond – Little of note St Mary’s – Ditto TRD