In Search of a Firecrest

There has been a Firecrest caught and re-trapped 3 times in the past month down at Far Pasture. I thought I would head down and try and get a glimpse of the beauty. The bird has been trapped on 20^th of February and the 14^th and 15^th of February. The reports don’t specify the sex nor are there any photos of the bird in question. I am not saying there lying but I am sceptical about it.

Anyway I headed down to the car park where a few other birders were searching for it…without luck. I was down there from 11:30 – 14:30 and all I got was half a dozen Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit. One of the birders at around decided to call it a day and headed off but sharp came back and said no one will be going anywhere anytime soon?!?! The birder said that a lorry had come off the track and is blocking anyone getting through. Fantastic, how am I meant to get to work?

Well as you can see the Lorry driver mad an absolute hash of going down the road, Numpty! The lorry had 8000 litres of Caustic Soda on board and if that spilt there would be big problems. So a recovery truck was ordered to tow the plonker out…that didn’t work so they ordered an offroad forklift ruck to empty the goods and then tow it out like that.

I didn’t have time to wait so I had to get a lift to work. When I went back to the car park the other birders just put a cherry on top of the cake! “The Firecrest has just been showing.” Ahh Feck, I had to get walking home so didn’t see it.

I went down again today in search and spent 2 ½ hours down there. Still no joy today however I did get a photo or two of some wildlife that was kicking about most of the time I was there. Bird of the day would at best be a Female Sparrowhawk or the singing Reed Buntings on the pond.

One of Four Bank Voles

Willow Tit

Female Chaffinch

Rocky Robin

Oh, and the mystery bird answer for the photo a couple of weeks ago was of a Male Pheasant.

A Trip Up the Coast was not Disappointing!

Organised a day trip up the North East coast with Ewan "The Useless" Miles to go see some birdies. Ewan has gained this nickname as he is absolutely pants at organising. I mean he couldn't organise flies to fly round dog doo!

Anyway set off mine at around 11am and headed for Longhirst Flash in hope of a lingering Bewick’s Swan. Arrived to find 36 Whooper Swan on the fields behind the flash and in the foreground a Magpie and a Carrion Crow were tucking into Brunch! Ewan also had a Sparrowhawk over the pond.

Bit of Brunch for the Boy's

We then moved further up the coast stopping off at Hauxley NR. We moved into the main building after getting Tree Sparrow in the car park. On the pond there were a pair of Red-breasted Merganser, a few Goldeneye, Gadwall, Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal. We then proceeded to the far right hide looking onto the pond with the outlet to the see at the back. A few Wigeon were scranning the grass and 2 Greaylags were honking all seemed pretty normal and quiet…then Ewan shouted “Weasel no Stoat chasing a Rabbit” got about a 8 second view of it chasing the rabbit effortlessly to the left of the hide, then they both ran into the tree scrub never to be seen again. Real British Wildlife in action there just like on Nature’s Great Events!

Phone Scoped shot of a Greylag Goose

We headed further north up towards Alnmouth where a couple of Bewick’s Swan were reported earlier. We pulled up in a lay-by opposite a group of Whooper and Mute Swans were. Got out the car and spotted one Bewick’s Swan just before moving into a dip in the field. Walked further along the road and got some better views of it and got a video or two of the little beauties. A long awaited Lifer for me and was well happy with the birds. After scanning a bit longer another appeared with the Mute swans to make 3 altogether.

One of 3 Bewick's!

Short clip of the Swans

We then trundled back in 5th gear through Warkworth looking for a café for some grub as we were both Hank Marvin. No joy so ended up going to East Chevington to look at the Geese there in hope of a Tundra Bean Goose or two but it wasn’t meant to be. So, a swift move to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea was the next stop. A quick stoparoo to a bakers and couple of pasties and a healthy wholemeal bread bun later and we sat in the coastal car park. Mediterranean Gulls were defiantly on the cards and a few crumbs later we had an Adult winter Med Gull and a 2nd Winter Med Gull feet away from us! I love these Gulls and are a favourite of mine. Reeled a couple of Dodgyscoped shots off and here are the results.

1st Winter Med Gull…Yawn

Final stop was Rowlands Gill to a Red Kite roost site. Got 3 red kites in the trees and one Common Buzzard.

A great day out all in all and a few year ticks and lifers on the side with a good pal!