A run up to Druridge Bay this morning, starting at Cresswell, where 6 Avocets remained ( 1 adult), 4 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper on the sparse mud and a drake Scaup on the pond. Up to Druridge Pools and a Cuckoo flew south. Yellow Wagtail and Common Sandpiper in front of the main hide and around 150-200 Sand Martins feeding over the pools. Butterflies included 2 Dark green Fritilliaries, a Comma,20+ Large Whites and 5 Tortoiseshells and 3 Peacocks. ( 9-10 Painted Ladies in my garden now).
Chevington held 50-60 Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns . A single Ruff and a pair of G. C. Grebes with one youngster.Yellow wagtail flew over. I had only been gone ten minutes, when the pager flashed with news of a good find -a juvenile White winged black Tern at the North Pool.Neil Osbourne had scored with this one. I returned ,along with a few other guys who had been there earlier ,be-moaning their bad luck. Such is birding. The Tern dip-fed over the pool,showing very well to the growing crowd,livening up what had been a quiet day.
Up to Hauxley,where 3 Whimbrel,a Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and 4 Little Egrets were the highlights. A family group of 6 Little Grebes were close to one of the hides and 172 Curlew, 59 Oystercatchers and 48 Gadwall counted on the reserve.
A.S.Jack