I started yesterday with every intention of finishing my final species account for Birds in Northumbria 2007…but the great outdoors always has that magnetic pull, so I went to Druridge to assist Iain Robson for a few hours while he ran the Bird and Cetacean Watch as part of Bioblitz. The weather conditions weren’t exactly ‘ideal’ for sitting on top of the dunes so the hides were utilised instead. Despite the driving rain and strong winds we still managed to record some interesting species; Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Cuckoo, Brown Hare and excellent, prolonged, views of an impressive dog Otter. I was cold and wet by the time I returned home later in the evening but will probably go and join Iain again for a few hours this morning (my NTBC pelagic has fallen victim to the weather…).
Author: martin
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A sense of anticipation
Saturday’s pelagic was an interesting trip, particularly as a strengthening southeasterly stared to ruffle the sea slightly…waking up on Sunday morning to a cloudy, misty gloom only reinforced my thoughts from the day before that there would be good birds to be found on the Northumberland coast.
Where to go? Tide times weren’t helpful for Holy Island so we headed to Low Newton…and an excellent lunch at The Ship. A wander down to Newton Pool produced a juvenile Marsh Harrier and, although the weather was deteriorating, I had a gut feeling about High Newton and the Long Nanny. Sure enough, we were only 50m from the car park when 2 agitated Linnets attracted our attention and there, skulking in some rank vegetation, was a juvenile Red-backed Shrike! A couple of ‘phone calls to spread the news and we continued our walk. Whinchat and at least four Wheatears suggested the possibility of even more migrants…then the heaven’s opened and, for the second time in two weeks, I discovered that one of my waterproof jackets isn’t anymore. Who cares? we found an excellent bird and can’t wait for the autumn to arrive properly.
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NTBC Pelagic 30/08/08
Since 1998 I’ve organised pelagic trips for the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club and yesterday was the eagerly anticipated first full-day trip of the year.
Ten cheerful participants boarded the SarahJFK and we headed out into the North Sea in an atmospheric mist. A dark skua seen early in the trip proved to be a Pomarine and the sense of anticipation was building. A few Manx Shearwaters passed by and a group of 40-50 were seen distantly as they headed North. Gannets and Fulmars are always impressive birds close up and we weren’t disappointed as they fed and fought over scraps of Mackerel thrown over the side of the boat. Throughout the day Great Skuas regularly attended the feeding flock of birds close to the boat and launched some aggressive attacks on the other birds. Several Arctic Skuas were seen as well and a Sooty Shearwater performed some impressive fly-bys, repeatedly chasing the boat down before arcing gracefully past us.
Returning to port, on an impressive sea whipped up by a strengthening southeasterly wind, was exhilarating. Now I only have to wait a week before the next full-day pelagic…
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The best laid plans
Friday 29th saw an unplanned visit to Allendale and the moorland of the North Pennines. Several birds performed very well in front of Christina’s camera. Nuthatches sat on a wall in front of us, and a Dipper eventually rewarded some very patient stalking. The real stars though were the grouse; Red Grouse were abundant and close to the road at several sites but the real prize would be close views of Black Grouse. The first site had no birds at all but it always helps to have a Plan B. Sure enough, we could see two Blackcocks distantly on a steep hillside. I suggested that Christina should open the window and get her camera ready. As I let the Land Rover move slowly downhill we spotted a Blackcock hiding next to a clump of grass. And that’s where it stayed as the memory card on Christina’s camera began to fill with images of this magnificent bird. Eventually it wandered out of sight and we headed off over one of my favourite moorland roads, where the Red Grouse on our website and leaflets was photographed. A few Red Grouse were dotted among the heather but two Blackcocks were standing out in the open next to the road! They were on my side so the camera was passed across and I had the honour of capturing the images as they stood and looked at us. The North Pennines in late-August will definitely be added to our itinerary for 2009.
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A first for Northern Experience
A client from Hong Kong! We had the pleasure of welcoming an excellent bird photographer from Hong Kong onto one of our safaris this week. She has a strong interest in seabirds but the strong westerly winds made seawatching an unlikely prospect and we concentrated on the tidal mudflats of the River Wansbeck and the pools of Druridge Bay. Excellent views of terns and waders were had throughout the afternoon/evening, and there were several entertaining discussions about the similarities/differences between the birds recorded in Hong Kong and Northumberland. A Brown Hare in the fields at Druridge Pools was a popular sighting and a bat that flew past us a couple of times was feasting on the swarms of moths and other flying insects.
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And now…
I’m sitting in my office, catching up on paperwork (well, that’s what I should be doing anyway, what’s actually happening is I’m watching a Red Squirrel in our Ash tree and counting Jays as they fly past) and planning tomorrow’s Druridge Bay Safari.
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And we’ve also…
Had several very successful tours with clients. August 11th saw us venturing across to the Farne Islands on one of our Seal Safaris, excellent views of the Grey Seals were had by all, as well as brief views of two adult Puffins flying by and a Puffin chick that had only recently entered the water. The Cheviots were a little damp on August 18th but a break in the rain produced Peregrine, Merlin, Buzzard, no less than six Black Grouse and a Hare. August 19th saw us visiting the Grey Seals on the Farne Islands again before heading up the coast and across onto Holy Island to search for more seals and wading birds, then back down the coast as far as Amble. 20th involved an early start (for some…) and a walk along the Blyth. Heavy overnight rain had left the river as a raging torrent the colour of milky coffee and the highlight of the morning was a Red Squirrel making it’s way through the trees on the opposite bank of the river as Jays screamed at us from their hidden vantage points. Druridge Bay trip later the same day and we were treated to large roosts of Lapwing and Oystercatcher as well as a mystery mammal running across the roof of the hide we were sitting in at Hauxley. By the time we raced outside it had disappeared into the trees…
August 21st and we were back in Druridge Bay. Highlights were a Common Toad that was walking up the path ahead of us, Noctule Bat flying past (and picked up later on our bat detector) and, due to the incredibly clear sky, excellent views of Jupiter and it’s moons through the telescope – leading to an impromptu astronomy extension to our evening. -
Since I last blogged…
We’ve spent three tiring but very enjoyable days working on the Birdwatching Northumberland stand at the British Birdwatching Fair (highlights were a talk by Jari Peltomaki about owls in Finland, and ‘An Audience with Simon King’ was very entertaining as well) where we spoke to an awful lot of people who are interested in birdwatching tours and wildlife watching holidays in Northumberland.
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The Value of Positive Publicity
The recent shooting of a Red Kite (link) obviously had an impact as the number of friends and colleagues who contacted me to express their disgust at the incident was overwhelming.
The Northern Kites release project is a model of community involvement and connection to our threatened wildlife and, without it, it’s questionable whether the shooting would have created such a stir. Other birds of prey are persecuted to almost unbelievable levels but many, many incidents never make the news.
One of my own favourite birds, the Hen Harrier, may well be the most persecuted species in Britain, but community involvement with the birds that have nested in Northumberland this year (link) is raising the profile of this elegant species. After all, we can only appreciate what we know.