Clive Saunders
@warkworthbirder
Northumberland Birder. Biology teacher for too many years. Now a gardener.
ID: 963154040459874304
12-02-2018 20:53:12
539 Tweet
478 Followers
104 Following
Bit of Porpoise washed up on Warkworth Beach. This is the time of year that I have found pieces like this before and usually after easterly winds. Grey Seal predation/scavenging the probable cause. The seals always seem to leave the dorsal fin. Alan Thompson MARINElife
Time of year to go looking for Water Pipits. The trouble is some of these Scandinavian Rock Pipits look so similar! I reckon this is a Scandi Rock Pipit (pic 1 and 2).?? Others are already pink (pic 3). 6 out of 15 on the Warkworth saltmarsh were Scandi types. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Arctic Tern on Warkworth Beach this morning. This is the earliest in Northumberland since 2017 and misses the all time earliest by just 5 days. A Common Sand nearby also an early one, Wheatear, Swallow, Sandwich Tern, feels like spring??? Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
This Tufted x Pochard hybrid is still present on Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay CP. Present since 5th December and now looking rather dapper. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the only duck on the duckpond without a partner. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club Not much else to shout about today!!!
Mandarin Duck at the Stanners in Warkworth. OK, so it may be a bit plastic. But it is a full on Warkworth 5km patch tick for me. My wife tells me it has been there for a couple of days - Doh! The speed of the grapevine eh? just like the old days! Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Today, a shout on the WhatsApp group had me running to the upstairs window. (Thanks for the reports.) A Crane circling over Warkworth. My second from the house! Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Wood Sandpiper today at the northern part of the 5km patch at the flash at Alnmouth Dunes. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Curlew Sandpiper on the Coquet Estuary. I usually have to wait until autumn for one of these on the patch. Spring birds are not common, so very pleased to get this on the year list today. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Lots of photos of the Bridled Tern on X so here is the other avian highlight from the 5 km patch this week. The first breeding record for Northumberland (?). Mr and Mrs Egyptian Goose protective of their one littl'un at Warkworth Weir. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Less than annual on the 5km patch, this Spoonbill was a welcome addition at Beal Bank Flash today. (Thanks for the shout Mark Eaton). Spoonbill and Greenshank feeding together with a strangely similar feeding technique. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
The Glaucous Gull that has been hanging about Coquet Island for a few months finally did the right thing and showed in Amble Harbour this morning. Not one I was expecting in June! but a very welcome addition for the patch year list. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Spoonbill on the Coquet Estuary at Amble Braid this morning. This one has been around for nearly four weeks and has been a regular visitor to the estuary. Not sure where it goes between visits. Today, was a rare occasion when it was awake! Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Caspian Gull - PKCS "Casper" - back for another year at Amble Harbour. This is the 11th year in Amble and it is now 13 years old. This year, bang on time! Welcome back old pal! Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club Warkworth & Amble Northumberland NERings
Amble Harbour - Caspian Gull "Casper" on the favourite lamp post this morning. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club From the ringing data, it has been seen each year in Nov-Feb in the Calais area (Normandy) before returning to Poland to breed. This triangle has been regular for many years.
Amble Braid this morning. Yellow legged Gull. Very large size - approaching GBBG, darker mantle than Herring (photo), pale legs and much dark on the wing tips. I think structure is OK but as always welcome other opinions.Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
My first Juv Caspian Gull of the season - Warkworth Weir. Later, it was at the Braid with the adult PKCS. A two Casp day! Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club
Yesterday's Caspian Gull 2cy at Amble Links Beach. My fourth for the year on the 5km patch. It is likely that this is my last posting on X. I have joined the bird migration to bluesky. So long X, time to move on! Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club