Boxing Day Sunrise

Christmas Day in and around Whitley Bay

A mid morning visit to St Mary's and the Skylarks and up to 8 Snow Bunting were still present, occasionally spooked by a Kestrel.

A flock of 17 knot were joined by a couple of Purple Sandpiper

Next stop was Marden Quarry to see what the feeding station has attracted:

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Chaffinch (male)

Chaffinch (female)

Plenty of Rats

Bunting & Lark Fest

Can you spot the Buntings & Larks?

Thanks to a constant supply of seed from local birders, St Mary's is still pulling in Skylarks, Snow Buntings, Lapland Buntings, Reed Buntings and Twite. And the Black Redstart is still on the beach at Hartley just north of St Mary's Island.

Heads down for the feast

Skylarks are less confiding now they have a good energy source

Seasons Greetings

Seal Pup visits Whitley

Grey Seal pup on Whitley Bay beach this morning.

The one morning I leave my camera in the house this fellow turns up on the beach. Mobile phone to the rescue.

Northumberland Park

Northumberland Park

30 mins in Northumberland Park, next to Tynemouth golf course was very productive this afternoon:

Woodcock, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Mallard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Creeper, Coal Tit, Blue Tit , Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Black-header Gull, Tawny Owl.

Almost forgot - Firecrest :)

Lapland Bunting at St Mary's

The seed is drawing quite a crowd at St Mary's and that's just the birding papparazi. The Skylark numbers have swelled along with Reed Buntings, Redshank, Turnstone, Snow Bunting and a very confiding Lapland Bunting.

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

Reed Bunting

Snow Bunting

Redshank

Snow Buntings & Larks

Went to Blyth first thing to find John (Howdon Blogger) photographing Snow Buntings. Seven birds in all including a cracking male. Then it was onto St Mary's where the Skylarks were feeding on the seed that was put down on Friday, a Black Redstart was feeding at the base of the cliffs at Hartley and a procession of Song Thrushes moved south. Enough words, here's some pics:

Male Snow Bunting

Female Snow Bunting

Sky Lark

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Ten Grey Partridge in the fields at St Mary's

Icicles adorn the cliffs at Hartley

Skylarks in HD

Filmed at St Mary's yesterday

Reed Buntings return

At least three Reed Buntings came to my garden feeders today

St Mary's - Skylarks in the snow

St Mary's in the snow at -3 deg C all day

I went to St Mary's with Tom to photograph and feed the Skylarks that have arrived overnight in large numbers. Here's some pictures.

Wader wise there were a couple Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Golden Plover and Lapwing. Ducks on the sea included Gadwall, Goldeneye and Wigeon.

Lapwing

Pink-foot Geese heading south

A Robin worked it's way along the stream at St Mary's

Reed Buntings in my garden!

Reed Bunting - garden tick :)

You know it's exceptionally cold when these fellas turn up on your garden feeders. Two appeared this morning.

Skylarks Head South

It was -7.5 deg C here in Whitley Bay at dawn and several hundred Skylarks moved south. A single Song Thrush was on the sea front, presumably a new arrival.

Cold!