North'd Coast Up to date info Required.

[StevieEvans]

Having a day up on the coast on Sunday 18th Jan, starting from the Fish Quay at N.Shields.
Is there anything about which isn't on Birdline/Birdguides ?
ANY info would be gratefully recieved, (our coast aint too good!)
Thanks in anticipation.
Stevie.

[seb salas]

Hi Stevie, Michael Frankis is your man. He knows the place inside out. Dont send him a Private Message though, cuz I want to know whats around as well!
Seb

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stevie & Seb,

In theory, an adult Glauc Gull at the Black Middens / Fish Quay (but its never there when I am :-C)

Black Redstart on the rocks at St Mary's, mobile between the north side of the causeway and the steps down from the Hartley clifftop car park

2nd-w Iceland Gull reported came in to roost at St Mary's (south bay) yesterday evening

Green-winged Teal probably still at Woodhorn Flash NZ 299 887, also a few Ruff there

Black-necked Grebe at QEII CP best viewed from Museum (south) end NZ 284 887

Bewick's Swans with Whoopers in the Linton area - check fields in the NZ 25 89 area; and also at Widdrington Flash NZ 260 965

Barn Owl at Cresswell Pond (behind the hide) often hunting in daylight (presumably desperate to find some food after the vole crash)

Barnacle Geese (c.40) with Greylags & Canadas at East Chevington; also one or two European race Whitefronts in with them too.

5 Shore Larks and 20-30ish Twite at the Long Nanny NU 228 272

Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Scoter, RB Mergs, Slav Grebes, several RT & 1-2 GN Divers, auks, shag, etc, off Stag Rocks NU 175 359; Purple Sands on the rocks. One or two reports of a BT Diver (not seen by many though)

Peregrines & Merlins around Fenham Flats & Holy Island; the usual Brant Geese (roughly 10:1 ratio of pale:dark bellied race birds, about 2000-2500 in total). Five Black-tailed Godwits on Holy I Harbour Pools, RN & Slav Grebes etc off Holy I Harbour. GN Diver & Gannets off Holy I North Shore. 300 Sky Larks on Holy I Snook saltmarsh (searched for Lap Buntings among them but no joy)

No reports of any Hawfinches at Hulne Park yet this year (tho' the gatekeeper had 2 on his birdtable just before new year); Marsh Tits etc there as usual.

Think that's about everything . . . any other spp you want info on?

I'll be out somewhere up the coast tomorrow too, exact itinerary not decided yet, depends on what my lift-giver wants to do

Michael

[Michael Frankis]

Forgot to add: very easy Med Gull at Newbiggin - throw out some bread on the seafront below the Banktop Social Club NZ 311 876

Michael

[StevieEvans]

Nice One MF !

I was going to send this as a PM to you....

Theres some great birds up there.....spoilt for choice realy....

SCAUP would be a nice bird to see..... Stag Rocks perhaps? or is there a single kicking about on one of the pools at Druridge ? (can you remember the drake on the tiny 'puddle' adjacent to the car park at Low Newton @12year ago?)
SMEW / VELVET SCOTER (got them on year list, but allways good birds)
WATER PIPIT.

Thanks for Your Time & Help Michael.
(there will be a few of us up 2moro i think- i'm the one with the Red Vaux Samson Woolie Hat....no jokes please..)

PS...Is Your Information Service Free of Charge :bounce:

Stevie.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stevie,

Scaup - there's been one in the Hauxley area this year, but it's not been seen in the last week or 10 days. Seems to appear only during rough weather, suggesting it's on the sea most of the time?

Smew - the only ones at the moment are inland, a 'redhead' at Whittledene Reservoirs (also American Wigeon there), and a drake at Caistron; also a one-off of three at Greenlee Lough 3 or 4 days ago but gone the next day

Velvet Scoter - again, some reported at the start of the year off Stag Rocks, but not in the last week or so

Water Pipit - quite a 'mega' up here, no reports at all this winter (and probably less than annual in the county, once all the mis-identified littoralis Rocks are discounted . . .)

Hmmmmm service charges . . . now there's a good idea ;)

Will look out t'morrow

Michael

[StevieEvans]

OK MF.
Give me a shout if you see me
i think i will recognise you , so long as you STiLL have that TERN on your HEAD! (lol)
S.

[StevieEvans]

A very enjoyable & successful day out, thanks to a bit of help.

(#yearticks#)

Met up @ N.Shields (drove past the Jarrow Waxwings in the dark!) little of note except Ad LBB & #Ringed Plover#.
The consensus was to start at the 'top' & work down...

@Budle Bay.
#15 Whoopers#, #male Peregrine# over scaring Lapwing & Goldie Plover flocks on the incoming tide #BarWits#, #GreyPlov#, #40+Brents#,
also
1 BlackWit, 1 Grey Wag, 1 Rock Pipit, 1! Pinkie, Kes, possible ? Buzzard along with good no's of all the regular species.

@Stag Rocks. (poor, v.strong wind & rain)
#Long tail Ducks# with fine males close in flight, #Fulmar# birds north over the sea, plus 8 or so on the Castle (early?) #Guille & Razor# #2+SlavonianGrebe# #2Red throated Diver#
also
3+Rock pipit, 8+Mergs, G'eye 1maleN, 25+C.Scoter, 6 Purp.Sand

@Seahouses (dinner)
fem G'eye in harbour, gulls checked.

@Long Nanny (cold, wet & V.Worth it!)
5 Shorelark & 17 Twite at close range (30') Outstanding birds of day so far, but not year ticks.
also 30 pbelliedBrents on saltmarsh, 1 Sanderling, 1 M.Thrush
NB. (Our 3 cars....only 1 got parking penalty ticket......?)

@Hauxley (v.poor)
B.Tit, Stock Dove, Coll Dove.

@Druridge Country Park/Chevington
male Ruddy duck, Goldcrest, # 25+BarnacleGeese# 5 Snipe & 1 Jack Snipe Greylag, Canada, Pochard.

@Widdrington Flash
1 Heron

@Cresswell (final site for Me, untill dark 16:50- Excellent)
#13 Ruff# (one with white head, others 'plain' plumage.
13 Bewick's Swans (8ad & 5juv) came in from the West to roost, beauties!
Water Rail on call only, 500+ Wigeon, 1pairPintail, 1pr Shoveller, 1prGadwell, femSparhawk, 1Kestrel.
1 Barn Owl ;)

Havn't worked out Day list total, But i added 14 to my Year List (135), & had 'Only' expected 10 new ones.....
The only bird i didnt see, but expected was GNDiver....
Once Again Many Thanks MF.

Steve.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stevie,

Well done!

Comments as relevant. Could I beg you to send in record cards for the ones starred * below?

@Budle Bay.
* 1 BlackWit

@Stag Rocks. (poor, v.strong wind & rain)
Fulmar plus 8 or so on the Castle (early?) - Not especially early (at this time of year, visits to the colony are erratic, but they can start as early as late December)

@Long Nanny (cold, wet & V.Worth it!)
* 30 pbelliedBrents on saltmarsh

@Cresswell (final site for Me, untill dark 16:50- Excellent)
* 13 Ruff
* 13 Bewick's Swans (8ad & 5juv) came in from the West to roost, beauties!

I went inland instead today, to get the American Wigeon.

Michael