Out of the Fog came the Scandinavians....

Hundreds of migrating Redwings dropped onto the North East coast today. Quite a spectacular sight as I checked the coast from Seaton Sluice to Tynemouth. And a stunning Brambling too.

Flocks of Redwings dropping from the sky

Redwing

Goldfinches joined by a Brambling

Bet there are a few interesting migrants grounded along the coast tonight. Let's see what can be found tomorrow!

Bitterns, Berries & Ice

There were up to three Bitterns at Gosforth Park Nature Reserve today.  Not the attention seekers that others have seen, strutting naked in front of the hide, wings akimbo. Oh No! These were the coy shy type, hiding amongst the phragmites like their supposed to.

The lake was frozen, bar an area opened up by the Wigeon. Further holes appeared as several swans 'crash landed' on the ice, only to be turfed off by the resident pair.

On the way home a large flock of Fieldfare and Redwing were found by the roadside, so a quick park and camera out the window..............

Red-flanked Blue Tail, Dusky Warbler & Redwing Tragedy

Red-flanked Blue Tail

When I visited Tynemouth Haven yesterday afternoon it was clearly going to be a matter of time before something rare turned up. Goldcrests, Song Thrushes and Redwings were raining in thanks to the strong easterly winds and low cloud. So why did I pub it last night?

When I rose late Saturday the pager was going mental. A quick breakfast and off to Tynemouth Haven with Tom for the Dusky Warbler. After a short while a brief but good view was made and a lifer duly ticked. A wander round Priors Park turned up a couple of Redstarts but no sign of the reported Great Grey Shrike.

Then Tom got a call of a Red-flanked Blue Tail at St Mary's so off we went. A crowd was already on the case and again brief views were made and a photo obtained to record another lifer. Time to go home.

Redwing

Sadly, on getting back home a Redwing had smashed into the kitchen window. It's now in the freezer awaiting a trip to the taxidermist, unless I get peckish (pardon the pun)!

High Speed Recon

I visited my BBS (Breeding Bird Survey) square, NZ2494, for the first time yesterday to see how I can best tackle it surveying wise. Despite being popular with flytippers and having the east coast mainline running through it, it has good potential for birds with a good habitat mix of woodland, hedgrows, fields and housing. I counted 18 species on my visit including a mixed flock of 100+ Fieldfare and Redwing.

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The village here is called Widdrington Station. Nothing stops here.

After my recon mission I headed south on the A1068 towards

 Ashington and came across 38 Whooper Swans.