Rowlands Gill Birder: 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.