Yesterday,after missing the Black Kite, I headed to Arcot in the hope it might appear there,only to find a Purple Heron feeding along the s.w. edge of the pond. A couple of pics taken ,before a Grey Heron went for it and it flew low over the pond,then over the trees towards the golf course.

It was seen again in the afternoon,so may well ,still be in the area.

A.S.Jack

Spotted Flycatcher,  Great Spotted Woodpecker , Nutchatch. Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers calling.

J Inglis

A quiet morning with little in by way of new migrants. Four Wheatears in the horse grazing fields, a new reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the hedge line between Iron Bridge and Summerhouse Lane and a pair of Shoveler on Summerhouse Lane (first record on ‘land’ here this year for me).

A Tilmouth

With the sunny morning only set to last a short time, an early start saw me at Allenbanks in search of Wood Warblers among the migrants newly arrived.  Within five minutes of leaving the car, two birds were singing against each other, from opposite sides of the river. They were totally unconcerned  by my presence, allowing very close views, as they sang and fed .A third bird sang 100 metres upstream, with two more noted as I walked further. Numbers seem up on last year’s showing. Also seen and heard well, were four male Pied Flycatchers ,then my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year. Plenty of insects were on the wing, as , at last leaves were coming out in force. A male Redstart seen next, and a pair of Nuthatches indulged in some courtship feeding, as a Buzzard called above. Treecreeper and Redpoll, Bullfinch,  Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper were among other species noted. The Dipper singing from a mid-stream rock.

As the rain arrived from the west, I headed up to Roman Wall country, and Grindon Lough where a dozen Dunlin, in summer plumage now, fed along the muddy edge with 9 Ringed Plover. Curlew, displayed, as did Redshank, but sadly no Lapwings. At Whittle Dene, 50-60 Swifts had gathered . Yellow Wagtail, and a pair of Common Terns noted.

Yesterday,at Holywell 2 Marsh Harriers and a single Avocet present.Then perhaps one of the same harriers seen at St. Marys later. A.S.Jack.

        Yesterday (10th) I checked on the Bradford Kaims flood at Hoppen Kiln (NU159318) in the hope of a Wood Sandpiper. On arriving I scoped the flood and was pleased to pick up two Wood Sandpipers together. Then panned further right and found another and another etc !   In all TEN Wood Sandpipers present, an all time Spring record for the county. Well pleased I continued to view and picked up a Pectoral Sandpiper as well ! It seems unlikely that the one I found here on 19th April would have stayed here unnoticed as last seen to my knowledge on 24th. Hence more likely a new bird as a noted movement in the UK at the moment with three together at two sites. Also present on the flood were two Greenshank , 3 Dunlin & 3 Ringed Plover. Hopefully with more people watching this area now a real rarity may turn up. I fancy a Lesser Yellowlegs myself !   Today (11th) I gather the Pec Sand is still present with three Wood Sandpipers left. TRD

After a relatively fruitless visit to Newton this morning with only really a Lesser Whitethroat near the hide at Newton Pool as evidence of any migration I adjourned to the pub for fish & chips & a pint. On venturing forth again it was tipping it down and looked set in. Hence thought it prudent to cut the day short as watching in rain always difficult. Should have stuck it out ! On getting back home I received a call from Gary Woodburn to say that I should get back here quick. A stunning first-summer male Collared Flycatcher on view near the tin church where it was keeping to the gorse cover on the edge of the horse field. 25 minutes later I was watching this apparition. A stunning bird to say the least and a few photos as well. it behaved admirably with people able to view from the road. A typical early evening twitch in Northumberland with only 20 people at any one time even when I left at 18:30. Hopefully it will stay though evening looks clear. Another stunning find for Gary on his home patch and a first for Northumberland. TRD

A run up as far as Hauxley today,calling in at Hartford on the way for Wood Sandpiper. The Great White Egret showing well still at Hauxley. A single Bar tailed Godwit also on the reserve and Common Sandpiper. Offshore a Roseate Tern and 2 Little Terns seen. Gannets moving north. At East Chevington 2 Little Gulls feeding with Arctic,Common and over 40 Sandwich Terns   Singing were Reed ,Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers. Also seen were 2 Whimbrels and a Yellow Wagtail. The council were at last,filling in pot-holes on the track to East Chevington. Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears at Cresswell,where a walk around revealed 15 singing Sedge Warblers,  2 Reed Warblers and 12 Reed Buntings. A.S.Jack.

A dawn bike ride to Holywell this morning, and Whitethroat numbers continue to swell,with 16 seen along the waggonways. Highlight was what appeared to be two scrapping males, trying for the attention of a watching female. They tried to out-do each other with song and much wing quivering. Other males were song-flighting in the calm,warm conditions. Then not a common sight as a Lesser Whitethroat also song-flighting 3-4 times. one of 3 seen.

A Song Thrush was nest-building,probably about a month behind normal schedule. 6 male Yellowhammers sang and 3 Blackcaps noted. 2 Sedge Warblers seen at the pond.   Later in the day, I stole an hour at Beacon Hill,which at last, is beginning to show some signs of spring. A new addition to the year list was a singing Garden Warbler,showing on and off from deep in a bush. Perhaps 12 Willow Warblers seen , a Sedge Warbler and 6 Whitethroats. A few Yellowhammers here and several Redpolls. Two Tree Pipits displayed on the fell and Nuthatch,Treecreeper and 2 Jays seen in the woods. Three singing Redstarts were nice to see. Then ,as last year, 4 Whimbrel feeding in a field. The hill seems to be a migration rest-stop now for this species.

A.S.Jack

At last, a lovely,warm spring morning saw me out early  and again at the Blanchland/Derwent area. At the first stop at 7 a.m. 3 Tree Pipits were song flighting,allowing close views. A Hare and a Roe Deer close by too, and sadly  road casualties included a Badger, a Fox, a Lapwing and a male Chaffinch!  A Cuckoo answered my imitation,and flew closer, Redpolls,Siskins ,Crossbills and Willow Warblers, several singing Mistle and Song Thrushes were among species enjoyed. On the fells, around 25 pairs of Lapwings noted,with much display seen. A few were incubating eggs now.  Snipe drummed and called ,at least 14 displaying birds counted. Curlews too were much in evidence,as 14-15 birds displayed. Golden Plover too in good numbers as were Red Grouse. 2 pairs of Swallows were nesting under road culverts here.

As I watched, 4 Ravens flew west over my head. Following them, I saw them split off into 2 pairs, one pair turning n.w and the other s.w. 3 Buzzards circled nearby. Skylark numbers were well down ,with only one singing and another seen on the ground.

Later a bike ride to Holywell, and a drake Garganey on the pond. 3 Lesser Whitethroats and now 14 Whitethroats seen, as numbers gladly continue to grow.

A.S.Jack

     A day in the north of the county. First stop was Bradford Kaims (NU159318) but only 5 Ringed Plovers noted amongst commoner species. This flash is still in excellent condition & well worth a stop if cutting across to Bamburgh from the A1. Hence on to Stag Rocks and 200 Common Scoter in a tight feeding group were more than recently seen there. Otherwise 15 Purple Sandpiper still on the rocks. Budle Bay was quiet at low tide. Still 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Fenham le Moor. On to Holy Island causeway and timed well for a change on the rising tide. At least 300 Ringed Plover & 250 Dunlin with 5 summer plumaged Grey Plover & a summer plumaged Sanderling. Worth checking for rarer waders getting in the flock as per last year’s White-rumped Sandpiper & Kentish Plover. A walk out to Beal Point saw two Little Terns feeding off the point. TRD

A call from Steve Holliday this morning to say he had found a drake Green-winged Teal at Castle Island. Half hour later and I was stood beside him watching a long overdue and expected bird on my former patch. On the south side of the river it fed with a female ‘Teal’ that after some rummaging around for images on the net we eventually agreed was a Common Teal.

At Bothal Pond the drake Scaup had returned and a 1st-summer drake Goldeneye was a new addition.

A Tilmouth

May  4th;  Good views of the Purple Heron found by Dave Elliot (his 2nd at this site) in flight and then preening/fishing along the reed edge of the south pool. Only the 4th county record in most local birder’s lifetimes. Also showing well,with a food pass, were three Marsh Harriers. The male calling as he flew. Over thirty Common Terns and one Arctic fished the north pool,with a few Sandwich Terns.  Several Swifts noted and many Swallows and Sand Martins. In a field overlooking the south pool a Whinchat foraged with 2 Wheatears ,as several Skylarks sang above. A Cuckoo (my 3rd this week) looked for food from a fence – line. Sparrowhawk and Buzzard also noted.

Heading inland to leafless central Northumbs, 2 male Pied flycatchers sang at Nunnykirk,as did Treecreeper and Nuthatch. At Wingates, 2 Tree Pipits song-flighted and a Buzzard was mobbed by a pair of Kestrels. Lets hope they avoid the enormous wind turbines now here. The wind was cold and getting stronger at a very strangely quiet Holystone,with Nuthatch possibly the only noteworthy bird! The Coquet at Hepple held several Common Sands, and Redpoll and Siskin in the trees. 6 Mistle Thrushes seen and a solitary Lapwing on a fell,where thre are usually c12 pairs nesting, with 20+ Meadow Pipits and 11 Wheatears feeding. The latter clearly not yet paired up or on territory.

May 5th; An early bike ride to Holywell,at 6.45 I was beaten to it by plenty of dog-walkers Much warmer today. Whitethroats on the increase,with 10 seen ,also 6 Blackcaps, 2 Sedge Warblers and 6 Reed Buntings. A few Yellowhammers sang and some Large White butterflys seen. 2-3 pairs of Lapwings, Sand and House Martins with the local Swallows. A pair of Common Terns had returned today,inspecting the island ,and a single Swift seen.   A.S. Jack.

At Linnels today, my first Pied Flycatcher of the year,a nice singing male showed well, despite a local shooting nearby in the woods.    Acton Fell, Blanchland  held it’s usual nesting waders, with 25+ Lapwings, several Snipe,34 Golden Plover ,and a few  Redshanks and Curlews. Display seen from all these species.   On to Derwent Reservoir and a calling Cuckoo was seen well. Also 2 male Redstarts,Willow Warblers in good numbers, 4 Common Sandpipers , and lots of feeding hirundines. 3 Goldeneye also noted. Several Lapwings displaying here .    A Common Tern was at Whittle Dene. Also Goldeneye and 2 Yellow Wagtails.   A.S.Jack

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

A bike ride to Holywell today ,with the pond holding 16 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard and 2 pairs of Gadwall. At the feeding station, a Gt. spotted Woodpecker, 9 Tree Sparrows, 3 Reed Buntings and 5 Chaffinches.A Sedge Warbler sang from a reed stem. One Yellow Wagtail was at the pool east of main pond. A feeding flock of 35 Linnets near the waggonway. Also here were,4 male and 1 female Yellowhammer, another Reed Bunting , a few Willow Warblers and 5 Whitethroats.(numbers of the latter appear well down so far). 3-4 Skylarks sang and 5 Lapwings ,with one displaying.   A.S. Jack

Today, a run up to Harthope,calling at Branton on the way. Here a Cuckoo was hopping on the ground looking for food and several Sand Martins and Swallows hawked above. Perhaps eight Willow Warblers were in song and several Yellowhammers did likewise. In the Ingram Valley a Common Sandpiper was seen and more hirundines. Also 5 Wheatears fed in a field   On to Harthope, looking very much like a March day, with barely a bud on the trees . Birds noted included Dipper, 24 singing Willow Warblers, 15 Mistle Thrushes,and 2 Buzzards. A Great spotted Woodpecker,calling and a few Red Grouse. Then a nice male Whinchat, followed by 3 more . Also, 5 or 6 Wheatears and a female Ring Ousel. On down to Paperhaugh, and 5 Crossbills drank at the river and Nuthatch seen. At the coast, 7 Avocets were at one site.  On to Druridge Bay, and Sedge  and Grasshopper Warbler and Stonechat noted as well as at Cresswell, 8 Yellow Wagtails, one of which was a blue-headed bird. The Long tailed Duck duo were still present. A.S.Jack

A fine drake Scaup at the south end this morning picked up by Ian Douglas, also 3 Great Crested Grebes present.

Nearby on Cooper’s Flashes (big field 1km east) a single Ringed Plover and 4 White Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats sang from hedges between the two.

Alan Tilmouth

Started off with a walk near Edlingham & a singing Whinchat was in cracking plumage , our first this year. Decided to have another look at Bradford Kaims or Hoppen Kiln as sometimes called (NU159318). The flash to the north of the road just before Hoppen Kiln Farm is in an excellent state for passage waders and some success today. Janet picked up a Greenshank & I countered with a Whimbrel so honours even. Certainly the first passage Greenshank I have heard of this year in the county. A number of other commoner waders & a small group of Teal. Only a matter of time before a Wood Sandpiper found here, maybe something even better.

On to Stag Rocks and surprisingly little with 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 20 Common Scoter & a few Sandwich,Common & Arctic Terns. Further stops at Budle Bay, Spindlestone heugh, Elwick, Fenham le Moor & Holy Island causeway were all pretty birdless , hardly a wader in sight at extreme low tide. The flash though at Elwick is still in a fine state for feeding waders with 5 Redshank & a few Teal present.Back via Doddington & a Redstart en route plus a female Wheatear at Doddington.

TRD/JD

Late afternoon still 10 Wheatears lingering near the south pool included 7 males.

A Tilmouth

This evening at St Mary’s in a blustery westerly , I hunkered down at the foot of the cliffs and birds just came to me. No less than 17 White Wagtails fed amongst the seaweed on a narrow stretch of beach at high tide. With them was a splendid Blue headed Wagtail discovered yesterday , giving great,close views as in caught insects not 3 metres from me. Also 9 Pied Wagtails, 3 Wheatears and 64 Turnstones shared the feeding, as did 57 Sanderling and 6 Purple Sandpipers and 5 Rock Pipits. Swallows and Sand Martins took advantage of the disturbed insects, swooping very low along the sand.  A.S.Jack.

At Cresswell today, 5 Yellow Wagtails in the field west of the hide ( report of 30 yesterday here), and 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling near the hide, A Sedge Warbler also here. 15 Tree Sparrows at the farm. On the pond, 2 Long tailed Ducks remained, with 2 pairs of R B. Mergansers.

Up to Druridge Pools and the pair of Marsh Harriers again together in the air to the north,with a pair of Buzzards. Another Grasshopper Warbler called alongside the road from almost on the ground and several Willow Warblers were singing. Swallows fed over the pools.

Inland to Beacon Hill where 3 Nuthatches sang . Only 4 Willow Warblers located today in the cold conditions. A Treecreeper inspected nest cavities.

A Great White Egret had been reported at Prestwick Carr and i called in on the way home. Several People had been looking without success and the bird was not seen in the time I was there.

6 Avocets were at two sites today.

A.S.Jack.

Having been stuck indoors all day covering my son in his computer shop in Rothbury I was keen to get out in the fresh air in the evening. A report of a Great White Egret at Prestwick Carr was enough for us to meander down there via the scenic route. At first I wondered whether the bird had ever existed as several birders reported no sightings since mid Afternoon.

The flash N/W of the crossroads at Mayfair House was very shallow and not conducive to an Egret feeding. However we wandered about and found our first Whitethroat of the year further north along the track indulging in some quiet subsong. Also two Grasshopper Warblers singing and single Yellow Wagtail & Wheatear in the horse field. Also at least 48 Pied/White wagtails but even scope views were difficult to tell how many of each. At least ten though were White.

On leaving we were called back by a birder who had just located the Egret !  It was distantly west in the horse field on a different pool that was obviously slightly deeper. Views were often blocked by one of the horses which may have accounted for missing it first time around. News was put out and within ten minutes Pete Fletcher was back on his home patch keen to see the Egret. I presume it was him that saw the bird leave N/E at 19:30 as we had left by then off to the Highlander for a welcome evening meal. TRD/JD

During a beach survey this afternoon (1.25 – 3.15 p.m.) I noted migration in evidence with at least six passing and feeding swallows, eight sand martins and three male wheatears. At the water’s edge were groups of sanderling totalling at least 56. On seaweed of upper shore – several pied wagtails, two or three rock pipits and possibly five white wagtails. Just north of the boat station (south of the St Mary’s promenade) a blue-headed wagtail fed actively and called occasionally (three grainy photos are attached – had short focal-length lens). Beached bird corpses included two puffins (dead about four weeks) and the right wing of a lapwing. D M Turner

A look at Newton this morning. On arriving at Low Newton beach I was looking through wagtails when I should have been looking at Rooks!  Hence Janet’s sift through a few Rooks feeding on seaweed revealed a Hooded Crow in amongst them. Janet’s second Hooded Crow find of the year with the other being at Harper’s Heugh near Budle Bay. I was keen to contact Gary Woodburn quickly as I suspected it would be a patch tick for him. Had to haul myself up a high sand dune to get a mobile signal. He duly arrived hotfoot and was suitably ecstatic. Also on the beach here were three Yellow Wagtails and six White Wagtails.   Elsewhere at Newton we managed our first Cuckoo of the year at the southern end of Newton Pool being hassled relentlessly. Also a migrant Tree Pipit in the dune bushes was a surprise. At least five Blackcaps in the area showed they were at last coming through and a few House Martins on the beach were our only ones this year apart from two at Kielder. TRD/JD

An obvious arrival of common migrants this morning including 14 Wheatears, 5 Yellow Wagtails, my first House Martin of the year and a small group of 4 Blackcaps. Amongst the Wheatears a rather smart male Whinchat stood out.

A Tilmouth