Short eared Owls have been arriving from the north in large numbers this autumn all along the east coast, with birds seen at St.Mary’s,Whitley Bay since September. At the moment four remain, hunting the fields and affording excellent close views for many birders and photographers, with many fine images taken. At one point yesterday,15th, one owl was enjoying a rodent meal sitting in the field, when a second flew in an pounced down attempting to snatch the meal. A short tussle ensued before the owls parted. Hunting in the Wetland area,one low flying owl flushed two flocks of Snipe from the reeds on two occasions,with the Snipe circling calling above, 42 were counted.
A Kingfisher is being seen regularly on the rocks along the shore and fishing in the wetland lately,with two seen on one occasion. An adult Mediterranean gull preened on the rocks yesterday and a pair of Purple Sandpipers noted among the Redshanks, Ringed Plover and Oystercatchers. Sanderling number around 100 at the moment, feeding with a few Dunlin. Around 1,000 Golden Plover observed on several days. At nearby Hartley,13 Knot roosted on the rocks at high tide and another sighting of a Kingfisher here, perhaps the same bird? A late Swallow hawked for insects below the promenade on Sunday the 8th in incredible temperatures reaching 19 degrees in warm sun and a report of it or another on the 10th.
In the stubble fields here up to 15 Herons have been counted.A flock of Linnets,a few Tree Sparrows and Skylarks feed here too. Six or seven Reed Buntings can be seen as well as up to three Stonechats which range up to Hartley and Seaton sluice. Raptors lately incude Merlin,Peregrine ,several Kestrels and Buzzard ( the latterto the west ,pic. from Holywell Dene).
Alan S. Jack
