Sunday 14 August 2011

A weekend to remember

Yesterday I spent in the company of Tom and Brian (Killy Birder), we started off at Saltholme RSPB looking for a Little Stint that had been present in the area for a short while but had eluded me, sadly after a search for 15 minutes or so it was clear the bird wasn't on view. I decided to maybe return later on but in the mean time a visit to Greatham Creek was on the cards. The hoped for Spotted Redshank eluded us, but Ruff, Greenshank, and 3 Grey Plover kept us entertained. One of the Grey Plover was in full summer suit, what a stunner that was! Thankfully the tide was coming in and this brought some Dunlin onto the tidal pools, a quick check with the bins revealed a Little Stint, cracking views through the scope brilliant!

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 (Little Stint - © Andrew Kinghorn)

(Little Stint - © Andrew Kinghorn)

(Little Stint - © Andrew Kinghorn)

A check of the Little Terns at Crimdon Dene revealed they had all but gone with only a few birds remaining, so from here we headed up to Whitburn Steel. We had about an hour long wait and then 2 birds flew past beneath us, I got on one and it became evident as it disappeared out of view around the corner of where we were standing it was the Bonaparte's Gull. This time was my seconds of this cracking bird, sadly it appears to be undergoing its moult pretty fast and has lots quite a lot of its black hood. Got home to news of a Wilson's Phalarope at Teesside, drat! Decided not to go as it was reported as flown off after I had my tea. Big mistake? Keep reading to find out.

(Little Tern - © Andrew Kinghorn)

 (Bonaparte's Gull - © Andrew Kinghorn)

(Bonaparte's Gull - © Andrew Kinghorn)

(Bonaparte's Gull - © Andrew Kinghorn)


This afternoon I headed down to Teesside with Martin and Adam to try and catch up with the Wilson's Phalarope, we were not disappointed! The bird performed superbly well, a Fox put in an appearance as did 3 Greenshank and 2 Short-eared Owl put on a brilliant display. A check of Back Saltholme and the Causeway produced nothing really of note. I had wanted to see a Wilson's Phalarope for a while now having missed the past 2 in Durham, I dipped one a couple of years ago in Lothian and had never had another chance again until now. On the downside looks like my tripod is on the blink again, oh-oh. Just in time for Autumn!

(Wilson's Phalarope - © Andrew Kinghorn)

 (Wilson's Phalarope - © Ian Forrest)

  (Wilson's Phalarope - © Ian Forrest)

 (Wilson's Phalarope - © Ian Forrest)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

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