December Northeast (1 Viewer)

[DrRich]

I am driving from Newcastle to Edinburgh on December 12th (visiting from the US). I was hoping to spend the non-driving time birding, and was wondering where to go:

UK birds I haven't seen include: the eiders, velvet scoter, whooper swan, storm petrel, the grouses, Arctic Loon, red-necked grebe, but 'things that are hard to see' and 'things that are mainly in the north'.

Any suggestions of local blogs to trawl would be great.

Thanks a lot,

Richard

 

[martin kitching]

Hi Richard

Have a look at Druridge Pools, From the Notebook, the sightings page of the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and my own blog

Try Stag Rocks, just north of Bamburgh Castle - turn right along The Wynding just after the cricket pitch and park before you reach the small white lighthouse. Common Eider, lots of Common Scoter (with a chance of Velvet), Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe, Purple Sandpiper, occasional Red-necked Grebe and Arctic Loon. Check the blogs I've listed for sightings of Whooper Swan and Red-necked Grebe.

cheers
martin

I am driving from Newcastle to Edinburgh on December 12th (visiting from the US). I was hoping to spend the non-driving time birding, and was wondering where to go:

UK birds I haven't seen include: the eiders, velvet scoter, whooper swan, storm petrel, the grouses, Arctic Loon, red-necked grebe, but 'things that are hard to see' and 'things that are mainly in the north'.

Any suggestions of local blogs to trawl would be great.

Thanks a lot,

Richard

 

[DrRich]

Wonderful - thanks!
Richard

 

[DrRich]

I wonder if the Ivory Gulls will stick a week?

 

[DrRich]

Excited for tomorrow. Is anywhere in the area a particularly good bet for Siskins?

Richard

 

[Andy Atkinson]

Excited for tomorrow. Is anywhere in the area a particularly good bet for Siskins?

Richard

Anywhere with a feeding station and pine would be good. There's a feeding station at Druridge Bay Country Park just off the main car park, adjacent to the visitor's building here:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=druridge+bay+CP&ie=UTF-8&ei=pgWrUpKrLOi57Ab8vQE&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg

Siskin might be seen here.

You can also scan the sea not far from here for divers although Stag Rocks
further up the coast is usually the best for sea birds + waders like Purple Sandpiper too.
Cheers, Andy