Author: martin

…if the rapid decrease of the seed levels in my bird feeders is anything to go by. Long-tailed Tits are visiting the garden again and Blue, Great and Coal Tits are almost ever present. It’s a long time since I was a small child but I can still remember vividly the excitement when we first had a bird table in our garden. Educational, exciting and a helping hand for our feathered friends as frosts arrive and natural food sources become scarcer. What could be better?

No, not a blog entry about the current economic crisis that is gripping most of the world, but rather the thought that arose when I listened to a talk by Ian Kerr at the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club AGM yesterday. It made me think about the phrase attributed to Isaac Newton “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”. Ian’s talk was about the ornithologists who have been influential/instrumental in Northumberland, since the time of John Hancock, after whom the Hancock Museum is named. Sadly, the renovated museum is to be named the ‘Great North Museum’ when it re-opens. As a graduate of Newcastle University, I recall the many times I visited the museum, and wonder if the company employed to re-brand the museum have any real appreciation of who John Hancock was and what he did?

Our otter safari proved very successful today (almost too much for one participant – but more of that later…). The first site we visited was enlivened by the stunning electric blue of a Kingfisher as it zipped back and forth along the river and a very cute weasel played peek-a-boo with us as it poked it’s nose out from under a bramble bush. Heading north we encountered a concentration of waders, including Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits and Golden Plover. This concentration had also attracted the attention of a juvenile Merlin which caused chaos as it flushed all of the waders. Eventually it settled on a fence post and everyone enjoyed excellent ‘scope views of this smart little bird. A Barn Owl hunting over the dunes was a highlight of the day. No Otters though, so moving on we settled to our positions at one of the best otter sites I’ve ever visited. An hour passed by and still no sign, although a male Sparrowhawk became the second well-watched raptor of the day, so we were starting to pack telescopes etc away ready to embark on a dusk search for foxes and badgers. Then, as is so often the case, it happened. A shriek of “Yes”, followed by “Oh, yes, oh yes, oh yes” (think Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally) and there it was – an otter swimming around by the edge of the pond. Getting better by the second it then swam straight towards us and we were able to watch it for nearly 10 minutes. A family of Mute Swans were also watching it and, as it headed in their direction, failed to live up to their descriptive name as the adult produced several very angry growling sounds. The otter seemed to get the message as it slid under the surface and didn’t reappear in the open water. Walking back to the Landrover, we enjoyed a fly-past by a Long-eared Owl as darkness began to descend.

Although I’ve now led well over 100 hours of pelagic trips off Northumberland, I still enjoy being a passenger rather than trip leader. So today, with a real sense of anticipation, all three members of the NEWT team (Martin, Sarah and Andy) boarded Glad Tidings V in Seahouses harbour for a pelagic trip organised by Billy Shiel. The weather was glorious, the sea was like a millpond…and there were hardly any birds to be found. Eventually a Minke Whale was spotted and all on board obtained good, even excellent, views. Most of the Gannets we found were loafing around on the sea – none of the feeding behaviour that would reveal the presence of the sought-after shoal of herring. At least two more Minkes were hanging around and photo opportunities presented themselves regularly so a few of the images from the trip are in our gallery. And the good news? We’ve spoken to Billy and arranged a further trip, on October 4th, again concentrating on a search for whales and dolphins. Further details are in our news section.

The cetacean expert on the NEWT team, Andy Tait, ‘phoned this morning to ask if I was busy and, if not, would I be able to go up to Cresswell and identify a dead whale that had washed up on the beach, as he couldn’t get there until later in the day. Heading down the steps behind Cresswell Ices I could see several members of the Coastguard about 1/2 a mile N, next to the whale. Although rather decomposed it was identifiable as a subadult male Minke Whale, about 25ft long. A roving cameraman from Tyne Tees was there and asked if I could return later to meet with one of their camera crews. Mid-afternoon saw me return to the beach and be interviewed as the whale floated behind us on the rising tide. Not a pleasant experience, particularly when I think about the breathtaking views I’ve had of these majestic creatures from boats off the Northumberland coast. The one positive aspect is that it will raise public awareness about cetaceans in Northeast England.

The rain may have fallen incessantly as we led a Prestige tour in Druridge Bay but a day list that included no less than 16 Mediterranean Gulls, Merlin, Peregrine, Otter and Harbour Porpoise was guaranteed to lift the spirits.

Most impressive location of the day was Cresswell Pond; now with extensive areas of mud, after the flooding of ten days ago cleared the sand bar that was blocking the burn. Since then Buff-breasted, Pectoral and Curlew Sandpipers have all turned up, along with a host of other wading birds. Now, if only the water levels could be kept like they are now…

Another trip to Druridge this morning to assist Iain with the second day of the Druridge Bay Bioblitz. Had to take a fairly convoluted route to get there due to the number of flooded roads. The sea looked incredibly impressive as I drove up the coast. There were new arrivals chirping and calling in the bushes but the rain was so heavy that it was impossible to see anything. Underwater birdwatching tours anyone? The weather seems to be clearing now (maybe only temporarily though) and the lads at Newbiggin have turned up a few goodies – Dotterel, Wryneck etc. Early start tomorrow, and I’m sure I’ll be glad that we use a Land Rover.