At Blyth this morning, no sign of the Great Northern Diver there earlier,but on the river a nice group of displaying,calling Goldeneye drakes and a good selection of waders and ducks,among them 200 Lapwing,a Grey Plover, 27 Dunlin and 9 Shelduck,and several Eiders. Kestrel seen at two sites here.
Up to Newbiggin,where 5 Med gulls of varying ages loafed on the beach,then at nearby Woodhorn a Short Eared Owl ,a scarcity this winter,hunted the ash lagoon. On to Lynemouth next, where the approachable Glossy Ibis fed near the road/ birders a few hundred metres north of the flash.With 3 in Durham too, it’s a bit of an influx up here. A Meadow Pipit calling from the field too.
At Cresswell, around 2,000 Pink Feet fed in fields , and a pair of Stonechats near the north car park. On the pond a large number of Wigeon and around the north end fed 69 Oystercatchers , 14 Dunlin and 5 Knot. 10 Yellowhammers and 15 Tree Sparrows near the farm.
Up to Bell’s Farm dunes and the flock of Twite were very flighty,rarely settling . Counted from a photograph later, there were 84.
A.S. Jack
