No sign of the shore larks the last couple of days, just plenty of optimistic photographers...
Ring-tail hen harrier was quartering the reed beds at Chevington north pool and drifting off towards DBCP both yesterday and the day before.
The crossbills at DBCP decided to show themselves in conifers by the visitor centre car park.
Excellent!
Need to time my visits better.
There's been a very mobile escapee hanging around the coast for the last year or so, moves down the coast as far as Teesside as well.I took a few photos from near Lynemouth flash at 11.00 am this morning of a very large Falcon. I am not techy enough to convert them to the right size for this forum. More information on Yellowbellyinexile.blogspot.co.uk
A Buzzard sized falcon with this patterning etc must be a Gyr, but I have never seen one in the flesh (feather).
My inclination is towards escaped bird from a Bird of Prey collection. A man I met suggested a tagged bird from a breeding site.
I would appreciate sage observations.
I took a few photos from near Lynemouth flash at 11.00 am this morning of a very large Falcon. I am not techy enough to convert them to the right size for this forum. More information on Yellowbellyinexile.blogspot.co.uk
A Buzzard sized falcon with this patterning etc must be a Gyr, but I have never seen one in the flesh (feather).
My inclination is towards escaped bird from a Bird of Prey collection. A man I met suggested a tagged bird from a breeding site.
I would appreciate sage observations.
Wow! Not worth posting my crappy Pacific Diver pics after that! :-OThe Diver showed very well this afternoon on Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay Country Park. It showed down to 5m at times. Unbelievable!!
Wow! Not worth posting my crappy Pacific Diver pics after that! :-O
The 7 Shore Larks still on the beach at the burn mouth, also some Twite around there. Also a few Scaup on East Chev, and a Willow Tit in the bushes on the way in.
I also had good, close views of the Pacific Diver. Looking at the various ID comments on the web, it seems as though the lack of white on the rear of the flanks, the size and the smaller pale patch below the eye are diagnostic. As for the vent stripe, which I did not see, there is a photo of a Black Throated at http://bretteeblahblahblah.blogspot.co.uk/2014_01_01_archive.html which shows a strip above the vent. The Druridge bird showed a steeper forehead than on many web shots of Pacific. However, it looked smaller than a BT. I suppose we now await formal 'approval' of the sighting from the experts.The Diver showed very well this afternoon on Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay Country Park. It showed down to 5m at times. Unbelievable!!
I also had good, close views of the Pacific Diver. Looking at the various ID comments on the web, it seems as though the lack of white on the rear of the flanks, the size and the smaller pale patch below the eye are diagnostic. As for the vent stripe, which I did not see, there is a photo of a Black Throated at http://bretteeblahblahblah.blogspot.co.uk/2014_01_01_archive.html which shows a strip above the vent. The Druridge bird showed a steeper forehead than on many web shots of Pacific. However, it looked smaller than a BT. I suppose we now await formal 'approval' of the sighting from the experts.