Last weekend I popped down to Newbiggin to see what was on the rocks at low tide. Lots of Gulls were spending time resting and Black Headed Gulls and a few Black Backed Gulls were spotted. Just off the shore a couple of Cormorants were fishing and a family of Eider Ducks were spotted resting on the rocks. Amongst the Eider Ducks I spotted something I couldn't identify and thought I would post a photo. It was far out and the picture isn't that good but I can confirm it had an orange head with a pale grey or white chest and grey back. I can't even guess what this duck is but it was with the Eider Ducks. Any suggestions welcome. 
I was really pleased to see a large flock of Dunlin dotted around the rocks and shore line. I personally love these birds and they looked stunning in their summer plumage. It was a challenge to get a decent shot as they were quite camera shy. I perservered and managed to get a couple worth posting.
Other sightings were Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew. Everytime I go to Newbiggin I spot a Seal and was delighted when I saw it around the corner from Church Point, it obviously likes it here and yet again Lesser spotted teenager misse
d it.....
d it.....While peering through my binoculars I saw what I think was a Sandpiper but it was on the far rocks and I am probably wrong it was a shame it didn't come closer. Quite a few people were out and about and what I really could of done with was a nice quiet afternoon birdwatching...alas not to be, barking dogs and yelling kids don't make a good birdwatching environment.
I was really pleased to see Turnstones and Ringed Plovers dotted here and there and luckily enough to get a decent shot. The Turnstones were still lo
oking lovely with their copper backs and stunning black and white heads and chest a really nice bird. Despite the annoying people and yappy dogs it was a nice afteroon and amazing what you can see if you sit and wait, at first glance you see Gulls but a closer look reaveals some stunning birds, I am soo pleased I bought a decen
t pair of binoculars.
oking lovely with their copper backs and stunning black and white heads and chest a really nice bird. Despite the annoying people and yappy dogs it was a nice afteroon and amazing what you can see if you sit and wait, at first glance you see Gulls but a closer look reaveals some stunning birds, I am soo pleased I bought a decen
t pair of binoculars.
Hi Michelle, your duck is almost certainly a female or juvenile Red-breasted Merganser. There are often 2-3 around in Newbiggin Bay from now till Spring.
ReplyDeleteMichelle I believe your bird is a Goosander. Quite a few moult on our coasts in August. There are about 45 at Boulmer and 4 at Howick at the minute. It can be told from Merganser by the distinct demarcation between the rust head and grey body. Mergs are usually a scruffier browner head that blends in with the grey....as Alan says about Mergs we do get afew from now but it is still a little early for that species on the whole...
ReplyDeleteOh and I forgot the clean white chin, again very distictively seperated from the rust is obvious in your image. On mergansers the chin is not as clear cut as this.
ReplyDelete... and its next to an Eider showing the Goosander to be quite a sizable bird, though not as big as Eider, it is larger and bulkier than Merg...Bye!
ReplyDeleteStewart's eyes are better than mine as I failed to see the 'clean white chin' even when looking again. It is well demarcated but I thought this may have been because of the stretched angle of the head and offered the RBM as it is more likely on the coast than Goosander.He'll be right though.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan / Stewart for clearing that up for me I thought Goosanders were only found on fresh water so I had ruled that one out.
ReplyDeleteThanks again
Michelle
Hi again Michelle / Alan, you are both generally right about the coast thing, but late summer sees our local breeding Goosanders on the sea in large family parties for thier post breeding moult. By September they have usually finished and are back again, as you say, on the fresh water.
ReplyDeleteRBM's don't breed in Northumberland ( well, only very very rarely). By the time we get the wintering ones, most Goosanders have gone inland. Occasionally though an early Merg or late Goosanders mixes things up a bit.
I find the best way to tell females / immatures apart is by looking at the head colour compared with the body. The bright warmth of the rust on a Goosander is a good contrast with the clean cool grey body and whitish chest and underparts. It also has a double shaggy crest on a flat head.
Mergs are always dowdier birds and are a good bit smaller in the field. The duller brown head blends in to the dirtier grey body and grey chest only the lower belly is whitish. The crest is a shaggier version too and is only a single bushy line down the back.
Compare my thoughts above with some photos on Google or in books and you'll see what I'm rabbiting on about . With practice they are quite easy to tell even in flight...
Hi Stewart
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, I have compared pictures and know what you mean the grey on the Mergs doesn't look as fresh amd clean as the goosander. What also stumped me was that the brown head didn't extend to the birds neck, but like you said they are moulting at the moment
Thanks again
Michelle that head to neck thing is posture related, a bit like Alans ringed plover photos. Sleeked up fishing birds have brown further down the neck, than relaxed swimming or sitting birds. By the way I had 12 Goosanders fly south along the shore at home tonight, probably some of the Boulmer flock...
ReplyDeleteCheers