There's no God.......

.......wits around today. An early trip to Holywell pond and no sign of yesterday's 30 strong flock of Black-tailed Godwits. On the Beehive flash, the Avocet remains along with a dapper Shelduck.

Avocet

Shelduck

In Tynemouth, at least two female Ring Ouzels were showing well behind the Coast Guard Cottages, and Tom Tams had brief tree tops views of a possible Hawfinch.

Ring Ouzel

With rain and easterly gales for tomorrow, Monday might just throw up a few surprises. A Wryneck in my garden would be nice!

A day of firsts

The first task this morning was the daily checking of the garden moth trap. On the walk across the garden the first Swift of the year flew over. In the trap my first Rustic Shoulder-knot of the year.

2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot Apamea sordens

And at Cresswell, Northumberland's first nesting Avocets.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Worra corker of a day!

Work took me to Rothbury this morning and on the way back I headed for the coast to see the reported Shorelark at Druridge Pools and the Avocets at Cresswell.

A quick look/see at Hauxley gave me two singing Willow Warblers and my first Swallow for the year, nice!

At Druridge the Shore Lark was briefly seen but disappeared as I grabbed my camera. Never mind, the Wheatears, Twite, Sand Martin and House Martin kept my face straight :)

Twite

Wheatear

At Cresswell there were now six Avocets, two by the causeway - too far for a decent pic and with the sun behind them - so here's a 'record shot':

Avocet

A nice surprise was a Yellow Wagtail that appeared briefly before being lifted by an aggressive Meadow Pipit.

On returning home I had a call from Tom Tams to come and see the first V-Pug for Northumberland for 32 years, caught in his garden last night. As I arrived an Osprey flew over!!!!!!!!

If I score a hat-trick at footy tonight it'll have been a perfect day.

(All I got was a dead leg)