St Mary's - Duck Central

A very distant Long-tailed Duck in the North bay at St Mary's

A second Long-tailed Duck was with a group of Goldeneye also in the North Bay. The tide was out and there were a few waders.

Redshank snoozing

Ringed Plover

On the Wetland were Teal, Mallard, Gadwall and a single Shoveler.

The low winter sun lit up the head of the drake Mallard beautifully.

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