Druridge Walk

This morning seemed just right for a stroll from Druridge Pools to Dru CP and back.
Dru Pools is nicely flooded again with lots of the usual birds about.
Along the track there were many new water flashes in the fields with large numbers of Curlew and Lapwing making the best of them. Stonechats appear on the bush tops every hundred yards or so, and it was nice to see  a few Twite. The Druridge dunes Goldcrest flock also contained a few Chaffinch.
At E Chev burn outlet there was a strong flow of water turning it into a stream all the way to the sea.
About fifteen Ringed Plover with a few Sanderling were resting beside the burn.
In the NE corner of the East Chev North Pool an otter went about its hunting.
Numerous geese flocks went back and forth and a diver, unable to ident, flew north above sand dune tops
Walking back along the beach small groups of Sanderling scurried in the waters edge.
Back at Dru Pools a Short Eared Owl hunted.
Very nice.

Where's the birds

Have acquired and installed a new set of bird feeders and topped up supplies but the variety of garden birds is poor at present.

 However I can always rely on a pair of Great Tit to put in an appearance

200

This is the first year that I have kept a list of birds seen, prompted by friends asking how many I was likely spot.
This morning I was on 198 so with weather promising much I went to St Mary's Island wetland where there were loads of thrushes in the bushes. When I approached one of the wetland viewpoints a Woodcock (199) burst out of the hedge then provided a nice side on view. A further wander a Seaton Sluice brought more Fieldfare and Redwing and also a tweet re Black Redstart ( not on the list) at Tynemouth Pier.
So along to Tynemouth Pier and in the small triangle area of rocks between the pier and cliff were Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Robin, Pipit and finally as I was starting to give up hope, a Black Redstart.

Then there were two in sight, with the rain tipping down.
So that got me to 200 for the year. I know its nowt compared with the pro's totals but I'm quite pleased that its my total.
Later learnt that I had just missed Brambling at both SMI and the Pier.

PC Bridle path

This afternoon's wander up the Prestwick Carr bridle path was enjoyable.
There were about a dozen Redwing making the best of the Hawthorn berry crop in the area of the old ruin.

A couple of Redpoll were nice to watch and as I neared the second gate  Mistle Thrush, Kestrel and Buzzard were seen

There were good numbers of Blackbird, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Goldfinch all trying to make themselves scarce.

A single Small Tortoiseshell flew in the sunshine

Plenty to see

First of all this morning was a wander along cliff top at Newbiggin north bay. Nowt oot the ordinary
but plenty of the regular Pipits, Wagtails, Linnets, Goldfinches and of course Stonechat.

After bowl of soup with a massive cheese scone at The Drift I walked the road from the end of Druridge Pools to Chevington Burn. There were similar sightings but many more Stonechat.
At the Burn a Kingfisher flew upstream and a large flock of Pinkfoot flew over heading north.
Lots of Common Darters were busy outside the Budge hide, while Red Admiral and Speckled Wood made the most of the sunshine.

Shorelark

It was late this afternoon that I saw there had been some Shorelark activity at Blyth south bay adjacent to the Yacht Club. So off I went to locate the bird feeding amongst the blue containers next to the access road. It was not at all put off by a number of vans going past.

Lapland Bunting

Having spent a couple of unsuccessful days pursuing a Lapland Bunting on The Leas, South Shields I was up and out with the news of another at St Mary's Island this morning. After assuming the wrong location I eventually got there and was over the moon to see the bird feeding along the gravel path between the two car parking areas. My camera, or me,  was unable to cope with the poor light so I had a go at creating my own brighter image.