Two Knot or not Two Knot that is the question?

Popped to Cresswell today to discover a deserted beach and these two delightful birds on the rocks. These and 1 Oystercatcher were the only feathered friends that I saw on land which is unusual for Cresswell.

Then I was baffled by what they actually were and proceeded to try and get an ID photo to look at when I got home. Armed with a cuppa and a Marks and Spencers Scone I hunted out my bird books and came to this rather long conclusion......

First thought ....Dunlin....they have a bit of a dark patch on the belly, fairly common winter visitor to coastal areas, so maybe....nope wrong...beak to short and wrong shape, only shows dark patch in summer.

Second thought......Grey Plover....hmm maybe but unsure if they are common in the North East in Winter as book says Jul -Nov and Apr - May but a common winter visitor to some areas, so conflicting evidence there. Its a possibility.

Third thought.....Knot....Looks to be the right colour, beak about the right size and shape, didn't get a good enough look at the legs to see if they are Green / Grey but are a common winter visitor, so it looks promising.

Now if they are Knot I have a new tick which would be great but if they are Grey Plover then that's great as well as I've only seen 1 bird before and that had to be pointed out to me, so either way it's OK.

A few Cormorant and Eider Ducks were seen just off the shore and Gulls were dotted here and there. All in all a great afternoon and I've had a cracking time as always trying to ID the little blighters. Even if I am totally wrong still a lovely afternoon.

Hubby didn't get any photo's today despite the weather forecast saying it was to be a sunny afternoon but I was quite happy with my snapshots.

As always comments much appreciated.

Seaside Sanderlings

This morning on the way to Morpeth for my weekly scone trip to Marks and Spencers (highly recommended) a huge Buzzard landed on the fence just in front of the car, pitty I didn't have the camera with me as it was really close by and quite some size with all the feather marking clearly visable and quite stunning.

Later in the day hubby and I popped down to chilly Blyth Harbour to be met by some Mute Swans looking for something to eat. Redshank and Oystercatchers were in large numbers on the Cambois side of the harbour and a group of 6 Eider ducks 3 females and 3 immature males swam by.

We later headed to Blyth beach for a quick walk along the shore and spotted a few Sanderlings at the tide line despite the number of dog walkers disturbing the peace they hung around for quite a while. At least 20 Cormorants passed by and landed just inside the harbour mouth and started to fish, which was quite fascinating to watch. Loads of Gulls were here and there and I spotted at least 3 Black Backed Gulls amongst the Black Headed variety. With my cheeks starting to freeze and Marks and Spencers scone calling me to go home we headed off home after a canny trip to the seaside.

Tick - 111

A Fieldfare has been spotted visiting my garden in Ashington, Christmas Tick and a real delight. After several days with the camera poised on the kitchen window sill and hours waiting patiently for a positive ID this lovely bird stayed long enough today for me to catch a quick photo. Not very good as it was taken through my window but still a delight and a thrill to have this beautiful bird visit us for a quick snack on the nuts and seeds we put out daily.

Bird List to date 111

Rare Garden Delight

With the snow really thick in our garden plenty of seed and apples have been put out daily to help our feathered friends.
To my astonishment and a garden tick some Reed Buntings popped in for lunch. I have never seen Reed Buntings in the garden before and they stayed quite a while. The resident Black Birds didn't quite know what to make of these strange visitors and let them have their fill of Christmas goodies.

Other birds hanging around for lunch this week have been Robin, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Sparrow, Starling, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren and of course Black Birds.
The Buntings definately put a smile on my face today. I normally catch sight of them at Cresswell so a real delight to have them come to me for a change.
Merry Christmas

St Mary's Delight

Hubby and I popped down to St Mary's this afternoon...mad I know in the freezing weather we have had lately, but a cracking hour was spend scanning the fields and pond.

First thing we noticed on arrival were these poor birds sheltering behind tufts of grass I think they are Purple Sandpipers, but I may be wrong. There were everywhere in the field opposite the pond and they did look incredibly cold. Unfortunately they all had their backs to us so getting a clear shot for ID was quite a task. Groups of 3-4 birds were scattered through out the field but after a few minutes hoping they would turn around we headed to the pond.

At the first viewing point opposite the field we were delighted to spot what we first thought was a Siskin, but after downloading the photos this afternoon we discovered what we think is a Yellowhammer, a Tick for me. I came to this

conclussion by the colour of it's legs and the lack of black on it's head. If it is a Yellowhammer then Its a cracking feeling when you compare a couple of birds and Id it correctly. A cracking little bird a delight to watch. It hung around for quite a while feeding on some seeds and nuts someone had left on the fence.

Birds spotted from here were Robin, Lapwing, Wren, Goldfinch and an absolute delight Snipe. A few were spotted at the waters edge and 2 took flight and landed in the field beside some Curlew and some more Lapwing.

We were starting to feel cold at this point and headed to the small exposed beach which was in

the process of being engulfed by waves. Ringed Plover were spotted, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Turnstones and a little higher up on the bank Pipits were popping their heads up here and there. The tide was in and Hubby didn't hang around to get some photos for his Flickr site but an excellent afternoon birding. Cold and ready for a hot cuppa we headed for home.

Cambois snow storm

Hubby and I popped down to Cambois beach and Blyth Harbour yesterday to try and get a few pictures for his flickr site and do a bit of birding at the same time. I have just found out that Snow Buntings were at the other side of the harbour...bloody hell I missed them.

Anyway the weather was ok when we started off and saw some Eider Ducks being sensible and staying close to shore, a couple of Cormorants flew over and loads of Gulls were dotted here and there. On the rocks closer to the Harbour Oystercatcher and Redshank were scratching about for food and Sanderlings were spotted running in and around the water line. Pippits were seen on the dunes trying to take shelter from the snow that was starting to fall. To my delight a Turnstone was spotted and also a Heron. On the way back to the car a couple of Curlew had joined the Oystercatcher and Redshanks. The snow storm cleared for a couple of shots for hubby's flickr but as my eye balls were almost frozen I headed back to the car.

Not many garden birds seen today a couple of Starlings, Dunnock and Sparrow. A Magpie popped into say hello and a Blackbird stopped by for some bread. Feeders are starting to get a bit of attention and some squabbling broke out over the fatballs. Hopefully the snow will thaw soon.....not really likely though.

Peregrine and Plovers

Popped to Cresswell for half an hour at the hide to find out I had just missed a Peregrine Falcon, what a shame if I hadn't chopped the veg in preperation for my soup making later today I could of seen it, never mind plenty of other birds to be seen from the hide.
Loads of Gloden Plover were on the sand bank along with Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank. I would of probably guessed they were Golden Plover but a guy pointed them out which isn;t quite the same as discovering them for yourself. Along with the Plover there were very cute Dunlin, now these I did need help on as I thought they were Sanderlings but then again I am often wrong.


















Off in the distance I spotted some Golden Eye which were a delight and a couple of Heron were perched at the waters edge. A little Grebe swam out of the reeds and Teal were abundant. Widgeon were dotted about and I spotted 1/2 dozen Snipe near the sand bank which were a delight to watch. A large colony of Whooper Swans dropped in and a first of the season for me which was nice.

All in all a very productive half an hour and with the soup making beckoning I headed home with a smile on my face.