Prestwick Carr

This evening sunshine was just too good to miss so off to Prestwick Carr with a stroll up the bridle path in mind. Fortunately the floods had reduced to the point where the bridle path was just passable.
The horsey fields held quite a collection of birds
Whimbrel, Curlew, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Gadwall, Canada and  Greylag geese, Wheatear, White and Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush with Swallows skimming the water.
Further up the bridle path a couple of Short -eared Owls hunted and a pair of Grey Heron moved around the flooded fields.

Both ChiffChaff and Willow Warbler called from high

The haunting Buzzard cries and a fox bark were heard from the wood

Weetslade Ring Ouzel

This afternoon's stroll around Weetslade was quite productive. First bird seen on the North slope, east end this Ring Ouzel.

A Wheatear covered the ground just behind.

There were lots of Skylark, Pipits and Linnet around the slopes of the hill

Onto the reed beds where a Great Spotted Woodpecker occupied a dead tree and a Grey Heron took flight.

A Little Grebe was spotted on one of the open water areas and a Tawny Owl called from the nearby small patch of woodland

A couple of Roe Deer scampered across the hill face

 and a Buzzard circled overhead.

Two trail bikes and ten dogs together completed the sightings

PC Godwits

Following PCF blog post on the arrival of Black-tailed Godwits I took my first opportunity this evening to have a look and was not disappointed. With the ditches now overflowing into the fields.

There were 66 Godwits presents in their glorious summer finery. Even though the light was poor their colours shone.

Prestwick Carr

Yesterday afternoon was dull, cold and breezy at Prestwick Carr. A small flock of Golden Plover were showing off their summer  'toon tops'

I spotted a  very distant Godwit as reported earlier by PCF , but even with the scope on it, I was not  entirely sure which one, although Bar-tailed is my favourite selection. At first it was among seven Curlew, but after all took  flight it returned with a single Curlew settling near a pair of Oystercatchers.

Several Pied Wagtail darted here and there.

Seaton Burn Otters

A wander alongside a short stretch of the Seaton Burn, a few days ago, presented a surprise sighting of two otters feeding in one of the open area ponds. I was able to watch them for around twenty minutes before I backed off and left  them to it. I wasn't aware that they frequented this particular spot so it was a very enjoyable experience

Whittle Dene Wagtails

Quite briefly - there were none. Last year at this time produced Yellow and Pied but this afternoon not one of any kind. Only the 'Tern on the buoy', a pair of Great Crested Grebes and a Buzzard over. The lack of birds was offset by the dense clouds of midges.
However the bankside on the way to the hide was colourful as was this fly on the hide step

Weetslade

A short wander around the west end of Weetslade started with a Sparrowhawk gliding in circles then suddenly downward like a rocket and out of sight. A Grey Heron stood to attention in the corn field. Barn Swallow numbers are building.

and a few Small Tortoiseshell butterfly flew in the field margins.

A buzzard flew over and came to rest on top of nearby tree. Mute Swan and Canada Goose were seen as well as a pair of Little Grebe. 

Water levels in this whole area are well up on normal.

Three Lapwing were present near one of the man made ponds.

Pipits and Skylark were in abundance around the hill slopes

and a Mistle Thrush stood high and handsome