Widdy Redpoll

Went to Widdrington to see the Artic Redpoll but without success. Several birders who had been there for a couple of hours hadn't connected either.

Plenty of finches, hundreds in fact.

Alder festooned with finches

Mealy Redpoll

Widdrington is one noisy place!

Summer arrives 55 deg N

I picked the right day to do my BBS (Breeding Bird survey). Clear skies, warm sun, light winds. First stop was Earsdon cemetery for a few sunrise snaps then off to Widdrington Station to do the survey.

Fox just before sunrise

Swallow - an early riser

Back home and the moth trap had three moths of three different species.

Twenty-plume Moth

Hebrew Character

Scalloped Hazel

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.