Friday 9 May 2014

Lesser Yellowlegs at Beadnell. From the beach car park go through the Caravan park to the end, continue quarter mile and it is with a Ruff on the flooded field to the right,

Monday 5 May 2014

Holystone Woods 5th may

Holystone Woods 5th may
Wood Warbler
Bank holiday Monday and we decided to get as far away from the coast as possible so we headed to Holystone Woods. When we arrived the air was alive with bird song; we could hear Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Redstart. The ground was carpeted with Violets and Primroses but as we reached the oak woodland we could hear the distinctive call of Wood Warbler and soon we were in the middle of his territory, as he sang every part of his body shook. Moving on we left the oak woods and headed for more open Birch woodland where Tree Pipits called from the tree tops and parachuted from the sky. A few more species were added including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cuckoo and Jay but nothing could eclipse the sheer magic of the little sprite of the woods.

Harthope Valley in Spring - the place to be!

For anyone in the Wooler area a visit to the Harthope Valley will not disappoint. Today, a chorus of Warblers (Willow, Chiffchaff & Blackcap), Robins, Wrens & Yellow Hammers held forth. Other migrants included Redstart, Whinchat, Sandpiper, and the 3 Hirondines species (Sand Martin, Swallow & House Martin) & Cuckoo were all evident. Whilst nesting waders, Oystercatchers & Curlews had established their territories. Residents included Pied Wagtail & Kestrel, and the early breeding Dipper was seen feeding its well grown juvenile.
I'm sure we would have found other species had time allowed!

Thursday 1 May 2014

More in the pipeline ?

More in the pipeline ?
While we were on our early morning dog walk around the west pond at Branton, the air was thick with Sand Martins as they skimmed the surface, a group of male Tufted Ducks squabbled and pairs of Shelduck flew around protecting their territory from intruders. As we walked along the pipeline Blackcaps and Garden Warblers piped out their similar calls and Whitethroats sang from the bushes.
We were about half way along when a ghostly shape came out of the mist in the shape of a Barn Owl hunting for its breakfast, or optimistically a nest full of youngsters. We watched for a few minutes before it glided off towards the east pond. At this point we happened to look up and there above us heading east was a single Common Tern- a great sight so far inland and a first for the site. After a spring Arctic Tern last year what will be next, we can only hope.