Bothal, Woodhorn & Wansbeck Valley – 2nd May 2013

A short 14 mile round trip on the pushbike today in a cool south-east breeze at first, then later warm sunshine.

Bothal Pond

No sign of yesterday’s Scaup, 2 Great Crested Grebes still.

Woodhorn Flashes

Three singing Sedge Warblers were the first of the year at Woodhorn. Seven Wheatears were east of the south pool and a single Oystercatcher was present.

Newbiggin

A little time around the sewage works produced Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat as well as 3 Song Thrush.

Wansbeck Valley & Castle Island

I counted 23 Shelducks in a 1.5km stretch of the Wansbeck around Castle Island, 4 Chiffchaffs and probably the same number of Blackcaps sang between North Seaton and Riverside Park. A Marsh Tit was at Riverside Park in mature woodland.

Cooper’s Flashes

Two Yellow Wagtails today along with 9 White Wagtails. A good gull flock were present commuting between nearby fields to bathe and drink, including 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 138 Herring Gulls, 122 Black-headed Gulls and 34 Common Gulls. A Buzzard flew south.

A Tilmouth