Low Hauxley and Howick

Last weekend my photographer for the day and I went to Low Hauxley for a spot of birding. I met a very miserable birder who complained that all he could see were Ducks n Geese, but if he looked a bit harder through his bins then he would've spotted quiet a nice surprise. Male and Female Red breasted Mergansers were swimming quite a way away but we still managed a decent photo. I spent a while trying to identify a small bird diving and I was hoping it was a Pochard but alas when I popped the photos on the computer I realised it was a female Goldeneye. There were several pairs dotted here and there. Not a Pochard but still nice. Other species spotted were, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Shelduck, Mute Swan, Widgeon, Goldeneye, Heron, Lapwing, Cormorant, Mallard, Curlew, Redshank, and Godwits on the island. The miserable birder ID them as Black Tailed Godwits but I didn't manage to get a good enough photo to get a decent ID. On the path back to the car park I spotted Starling and Long Tailed Tit which was nice.

Yesterday we spent about an hour or so at Howick Hall and got a cracking photo of the Chaffinch. Loads of bird song could be heard and I did spot some Great Tit and Blue Tit. A Buzzard flew over and we also saw some Kestrel. After a cracking lunch at the Gray's Inn at Embleton we headed home, Lovely couple of days afternoons. Must try and get to Howick Scar to see the Fulmar and Kittiwake when they start to nest.

Garden Watch

After a few weeks of house decorating and non birding I decided over the weekend to do a spot of garden watch. Blue Tit, Great Tit, Sparrow, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Starling, Dove, Song Thrush and Wood Pigeon were all regular visitors.
We have two Sparrow families that are nesting in the gutters of the house across the road, they are visiting the Pampas Grass in our garden for nesting material and constantly coming and going. The Two Wrens that are seen every day must be nesting close by and I hope the Black Bird that nests in our tree is successful agin this year with his chicks. I'll keep you informed with any exciting sightings and garden visitors.