Windhover Haven

Prior's Haven of Tynemouth has been good for migrants of late, with good numbers of Willow Wren, Mavis and Blackies.

Mavis

Willow Wren

If you pay a visit, checkout the Sea Buckthorn and Elders, berryfull, around the Haven car park, south of Prior's Park (or Knotweed Park - badly infested with Japanese Knotweed).

Windhover

The cliffs around Tynemouth Priory are pretty much a dead cert for a 'Windhover' or two. If you want a gripping 'hover' shot then this is the place. I'm yet to succeed :(

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

4 Sand Martins and a Chiffchaff

Got a report of a Common Crane today near Eshott so I fired up the Quattro and spent an hour scanning the fields where it was reported. Couldn't find it but saw 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and got some recordings of Skylark and Lapwings, the latter displaying with some impressive aerobatics. 31 seconds into the following recording you can hear the powerful wing beats of a Lapwing as it displays.



Turns out I was looking in the wrong field for the Crane. Birding Sometimes has a very helpful map here. And Dusted Off Bins has managed some pics.

Next it was a flying visit to East Chevington. I had 4 Sand Martins flying northwards and a Chiffchaff in the trees north of the reserve by the pay and display car park.

Prestwick Carr

Went to Prestwick Carr at about 1pm and parked up by the house and walked up to the sentry point on the public bridleway. There were good flocks of Fieldfare with a few Redwing and Mistle Thrushes mixed in. There was a single Brambling amongst a small flock of Chaffinches - click here for video.

There were a couple of kestels and 3 buzzards (2 juveniles and 1 adult bird). I managed to videoscope a couple of them - click here for video.

Also caught a Willow Tit on video - click here for video.