@gary-woodburn.bsky.social
Full time carer, a little bit of local patch birding and photography to keep things sane(ish).
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialThere was a dribble of birds arriving in off the sea at Low Newton this morning, 16 Redwings + a handful of Blackbirds, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Chaffinch and 5 Dunnocks !
Barnacle Geese were still moving north in reasonable numbers + 3 groups of Whooper Swans south.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialThanks. Here... have another !
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialCorrect, by the scrape.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialThis late Cuckoo has been at Low Newton for the last few days. A fearless juvenile, more concerned with finding caterpillars than the people stood nearby watching it. At one point it landed right at my feet to pluck a caterpillar out of the grass, amazing !
@gary-woodburn.bsky.social@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialThousands of Barnacle Geese pouring north past Low Newton this afternoon. In amongst them a leucistic bird and a Ruddy Shelduck !
@markaeaton.bsky.socialReposted by @gary-woodburn.bsky.socialSee that red ring? That’s our very distant view of the Northumberland coast, across which have just flown 3 Cranes, giving a 10 second view at something like 4-5 mile range. House mega! With thanks to @gary-woodburn.bsky.social for the tip-off 🍾🙂🏡✅ #NEbirding
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialJust driving into our village this afternoon when I got seriously distracted by 3 Cranes flying overhead ! Pulled over as quickly as I could and got some really nice views. Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialAnother day, ANOTHER JAY ! Only my 4th ever patch Jay, hot on the heels of the 3rd (7 days ago). This one was flying steadily north along the coast.
A little trickle of birds this morning, 2 Redwings and a Chaffinch in off the sea. 2 Wheatears and a Cuckoo still at Low Newton.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialNot what I expected to see today... Surf Scoter north past Beadnell Point !
Thanks to those seawatchers at various spots further south for tracking its journey northwards.👍
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialDespite the blue skies and westerlies a few birds were arriving this morning, 2 Brambling, 2 Chaffinch and 4 Siskin in off the sea + 6 Wheatears between Football Hole and Low Newton. Whooper Swans were on the move, 40+ south, 1 north + the Cuckoo was still at Low Newton
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialYellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed at the Tin Church (Low Newton) this morning.
A few other birds were dropping in here, mainly Chaffinches and Siskins but also 2 Redwings. A fair number of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Robins and Song Thrushes still around the scrub too.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialNo sign of the Subalpine Warbler at Newton Pool this morning. 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatears and a handful of Swallows and House Martins drifting south.
Here's a couple more pics from yesterday.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialIt's great when birding throws nice surprises your way, today was certainly one of those days. Uninspiring westerlies and then... Subalpine Warbler ! No dropped feathers but a poo sample recovered from the bag so🤞.
Then in the evening... Cuckoo !
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialThink I'd keel over.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialI saw that Stoke Nutcracker. I was 19 years old and it was just 30 minutes from home, didn't have a car so I blagged a lift over with a mate ! Think there's only been a couple since and I don't think either of those hung around for the twitchers.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialHad a walk around the patch yesterday, still loads of continental Song Thrushes about. At the bird crops, no sign of the Little Bunting but some lovely views of Reed Bunting. 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Brambling at the Tin Church.
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialI've had a couple here before but not in off the sea, so that was pretty cool !
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialWe can dream !
@gary-woodburn.bsky.socialI agree, more likely to be a local bird coasting. It came straight in off the sea and flew directly west, which I have never seen before, previous birds were both inland, high altitude and flying south. Who knows ?! 🤷🏻♂️ Really cool to see tho...
