Lucky Dip

Having dipped on the Pectoral Sandpiper at Backworth, a potential garden tick had I ventured onto my roof, I choose to have a wander around the patch to see what I could find.....

Golden Plover in their finest summer suits

Reynard looking bright eyed and bushy tailed

Summer arrives 55 deg N

I picked the right day to do my BBS (Breeding Bird survey). Clear skies, warm sun, light winds. First stop was Earsdon cemetery for a few sunrise snaps then off to Widdrington Station to do the survey.

Fox just before sunrise

Swallow - an early riser

Back home and the moth trap had three moths of three different species.

Twenty-plume Moth

Hebrew Character

Scalloped Hazel

Play spot the fox

A dusk visit to Earsdon cemetery to look for Little Owl drew a blank but foxes were everywhere. There were two in the field to the immediate west of the churchyard, one to the north and one opposite the Beehive pub. The east side of the cemetery is a brilliant vantage point as it looks down across the fields to the Brierdene, Holywell and Whitley golf course. If it walks or flies you have a good chance of spotting it.

Can you spot the fox?

Bay Watch 11/02

I picked up two patch ticks today; a Kingfisher at the mouth of the Brierdene and a Med Gull in the adjacent car park. The latter has evaded my gaze for the last 3 months and I was starting to think it was an elaborate wind-up.





The tide was high so the last leg to St Mary's was along the cliff top. Not the safest of routes as it is retreating at an alarming rate.

My patch is shrinking by the minute!

The south beach at St Marys had 3 Purple Sandpiper, a number of Knot and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit.







The wetland had 3 snipe showing well, a pair of Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and a Fox.



The fields to the west by Feathers Caravan Park were populated by over 200 Golden Plover, a good number of Curlew and a solitary Grey Heron.

The tide had started to recede on the way back so I took the route along the bottom of the cliffs. This wasn't too safe either with a couple of landslides witnessed. It can only be a matter of time before the council extend the sea defences as the loss of the pitch and putt could be the final nail in the coffin for Whitley tourism :)