Bay Watch 09/01

The Waggonway today

More spring than mid winter, making a laughing stock of the 'alternative' weather forecasters who had this winter down as the start of the new ice age.

Hazel Catkins

Gold Finches and a Blue Tit taking a bath. No ice age this year.

Walking along the Waggonway towards Holywell Dene, I scored early with four Tree Sparrows by Whitley golf course - my first record of this species in Whitley Bay. A single Goldcrest by Churchill playing fields was also quite unusual. I rarely see these on the coast outside of autumn when they can be found in their thousands on a good year.

Tree Sparrow

Into Holywell Dene and the feeders were pulling in the crowds; Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Robin, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird......... and a Little Grebe on the Dene.

Nuthatch doing a classic pose

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Along past St Mary's Wetland, and I see there are now a number of bird tables. A lone Woodpigeon took advantage.

St Mary's - bird tables!

On passing by the Brierdene Car Park a Med Gull hung around for scraps.

Holywell Pond

Heron

I missed the reported Marsh Harrier but found a fishing Heron, a fine adult Med Gull and a rather smart Ruff in front of the public hide. And I dodged the rain :)

Med Gull

Ruff

Bay Watch 09/03

A walk along the beach to St Mary's and back didn't give me the Wheatear I was hoping for but I did get a year tick with a single Lesser Black-backed Gull on the beach (pics below) with Herring and Black-headed Gull, by the mouth of the Brierdene. The Med Gull was still at the Brierdene car park blagging chips.

At St Mary's there was a single Bar-tailed Godwit (pic below) with small numbers of Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank.

A Grey Heron at St Mary's Wetland

Plantains, Dandelions and other verge plants are now starting to push up a few green shoots.

Wot. No Green-winged Teal?

Er no, but I had a nice walk from Whitley Bay along the Waggonway to Holywell Dene and then onto St Mary's Wetland and home along the beach for Sunday lunch at the world famous Cottage Kitchen. I got home just as the heavens opened - perfect timing.

I saw 43 species including my first Treecreeper of the year and my first on patch Bullfinches. And that Med Gull again (Brierdene car park)- whereas a few weeks ago I couldn't find it, now it seems to be stalking me.

Pied Wagtail in 'paddy field' along the Waggonway

Holywell Dene - White water rafting anyone?

Robin singing in Holywell Dene. Another sings further down the track and a Wren joins in.

PS. If I can shake a leg early tomorrow there maybe some Green-winged Teal action tomorrow :)

Bay Watch 27/02

The highlight of today's walk from Whitley Bay to St Mary's Island was an adult Med Gull by the causeway, with its black hood well developed. This looks like a different bird to the one that has been seen nearby throughout the winter.

There are still two Bar-tailed Godwit present, roosting on the rocks on the south bay at St Marys along with a flock of around 30 Knot and a single Purple Sandpiper.

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 :)