Northern Loon

The sun was shining this morning so off to East Chevington I went with Tom Tams to see if the Cetti's Warbler was being vocal. By the time we arrived it was overcast and bloody freezing (6 deg C). After half an hour of freezing our nuts off a loud burst of notes came from the phragmites to our right - the Cetti's :) A first for Northumberland!

Slavonian Grebe was another quality bird at Chevington.

With hypothermia setting in it was time to move on so off to Cresswell to see our 5th Heron of the week, the Bittern. And within 10 minutes of arriving up the Bittern popped and flew a short distance. Other birds included the resident Barn Owl, Long-tailed Duck and Green-winged Teal (drake which we didn't see).

Next it was onto Blyth to see the Great Northern Diver and Snow Buntings. No snowies but the diver was showing well at distance.

Great Northern Diver - Blyth

St Mary's Lighthouse as seen from Blyth

Barn Owl

Off Hunting

Mission Accomplished

Ring Ouzel - Prestwick Carr

I've just got back from Prestwick Carr where I managed to stumble across a Ring Ouzel amongst a flock of Fieldfare at about 8pm. It was passed the sentry box in the field to the west of the track at the next gate along.

Ring Ouzel & Fieldfares

On the way back down the track a 'hairy' cow bolted out of the bushes in front of me and scrambled back through the fence into the field where it had escaped from. A quick change of underwear and I headed towards Prestwick village where a Barn Owl was hunting.

Something this colour and size (small cow) moving fast with a long hairy tail...........

I thought I'd been ambushed by a Lion!

Barn Owl near Prestwick village