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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Northumbrian Birding (2 Viewers)

Oh dear.

I see that someone on Birdguides must have been reading Ipin's blog on Saturday night. They've reported a hobby today (ie Saturday) flying south towards Hemscott Hill farm.

"one flew south towards Hemscott Hill today"

Oops. If they'd been reading more carefully they'd have seen that Ipin was writing about his observations from the day before, when they'd already reported

"still on Budge fields early morning; also Hobby south at 08:25 ".

Deja vu all over again. ;)
 
No sign of any Avocets at Cresswell today. Does anyone know what has happened to them. Could they have been flooded out?
I was there yesterday and there were only two birds, one feeding on the north pool, the other on the west bank.

The water level had risen by at least a couple of inches after the rain and the bank that had been showing in the pool part-way up the east side was completely covered with water. Since the third nest (the one that started incubating on 31st May and due to hatch in the next few days) was only a couple of inches higher than the water level, I'd say that things didn't look good.

I was there again this morning. No avocets at all and the water is slightly up again.

The sand in the outlet channel has built up since they last came to clear it on 5th May and there is absolutely no flow from the outlet.

Photos from this morning. They show the west end of the outlet. The water is held back by the build-up of sand on the beach, but the silting up of the channel is clear.
 

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First Avocet breeding records for the county and still the Trust cannot be bothered to manage the site properly:C

I find it interesting that differing views can be poles apart. NWT's Conservation Officer Kevin O Hara, writing in his own column in the local free paper we get (Morpeth Herald?) seemed to view the breeding of the Avocets as "testament to the trust's excellent management" or words to that effect.
 
As much as we were overjoyed that WWWT was the most Northern outpost for breeding Avocets, it was superb that they had moved on again into Northumberland. Desperate if the earlier posts are true and potential miss management from a dedicated wildlife group has caused them to fail.
 
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Update from this morning, just after 9 am.

The third nest is immediately below the black-headed gull in this photo, immediately next to the water's edge and presumably within the zone of wetness around the shore and within reach of any wave action from east or north winds.

The second photo shows the same view yesterday late morning - nest below the oystercatcher (11.30).

There were three avocets there briefly this morning in front of the hide, apparently one pair and a singleton.

4 spoonbills (all imm) flew over north at 11.25.
 

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Red Kite

A Red Kite was spotted on Tuesday, between the A1 and Lucker.

Please keep a look out for any kites in the county. We used to have a thriving family in the Powburn area, but sightings tailed off.

Go to our website www.friendsofredkites.org.uk

Please use the webmail for any reports.

June
Press & Publicity Officer
 
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