I'm still alive !

No posts for ages - just been busy I guess and found it tough to keep on posting. I still haven't got my pukka camera kit yet to illustrate my blogs but this should change soon.

I'm going to try and post more this year so here's a retrospective of stuff I've seen in 2009:

New Year's Day
Highlights were 13 Waxwings near Druridge Bay Country Park + Bean Goose and a Whitefronted Goose at Hauxley.

I also paid an early visit to see the Glaucous Winged Gull on Teesside and joined the scrum of cold birders. Wacky races didn't do the twitch justice as someone informed the throng that the bird was seen down the road. The whole mass decamped and sped off along the road to park up and sprint to a viewing point where fine views of the Gull were had by all.

I've seen this species before in Canada but it was great to have another UK tick. I missed the Caspian Gull there also but I'm sure there will others at, or near the newly opened Saltholme Pools (about bloody time too - the RSPB should be ashamed of their record in the NE).

Long time no blog

Well I feel I've been away for ever from Blogworld. Work commitments have simply got in the way and a holiday in Majorca for 2 weeks in mid-May took me away from computers (and work thank God).

I'll start with the Majorca holiday first then retrospectively post about a few things as soon as I can. We stayed at my Uncle's place just outside Cala D'Or and we had the nipper so it wasn't full-on birding like previous visits but I had a few successes and added a couple of bits to my Majorca list.

I saw loads of stuff around the Villa and here's a selection of the best Villa bits:
Wryneck (several singing daily from visible perches)
Stone Curlew (in paddocks around the property)
Booted Eagle (overhead)
Bee Eater (overhead)
Crested Lark (first view of one in this area)
Golden Oriole (f or juv m) (a Majorca tick but brief views as it passed through)
Scops Owl (singing close to the villa most nights but no sightings)
Nightingale (lots singing nearby)
Cirl bunting (breeding nearby)
Ravens (breeding nearby)

I also visited the nearby Salt Pans and had a day trip to Albufera Marsh but I'll post about that later. The major success at the Marsh where I finally caught up with Orchis Robusta (Robust Orchid or Marsh Loose Flowered Orchid), the rare endemic. More later on this.

Beacon Hill

Dropped into Beacon Hill on Sunday PM after a visit to the Heighley Gate Nursery to get some veg. List as follows: Cuckoo, Garden Warbler x 2, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Red legged Partridge, Green Woody (heard), GS Woody (seen), Treecreeper x 3, Goldcrest, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler + Common Buzzard.

No Pied Fly, Wood Warbler or visible Tree Pipit but it may be a bit early although this site isn't what it used to be for the first 2 species.

Black Terns

Couldn't resist the sight of 3 Black Terns at Shibdon Pond so responded to a Birdguides email alert and drove down to get some great views. Haven't been to Shibdon for ages and I forgot what a canny little spot it is. Last visit was for a singing Golden Oriole several years ago.

Spring in the Bay

A cheeky day off work with some nice Spring stuff around at last at Druridge Bay. Highlights below.....

CRESSWELL POND
Quiet and too full of water - Whimbrel, 6 Tree Sparrows and 2 Sandwich Terns being the highlights.

DRURIDGE POOLS
Some great stuff around.... Long eared Owl (hunting in ditches next to Budge hide) + 8 Whimbrel on the flooded field. 5 Black tailed Godwits and a Peregrine overhead.
Lots of Willow Warblers around with Swifts, Swallows and Sand Martins overhead.
ALSO no less than 4 Otters seen together on the main pool !!

Common Sandpiper's at Longhirst flash and Bothal pond but not much else.

Pallas no show

Tried for the Pallas's Warbler at Swallow Pond on Sunday but the little blighter decided to lay low for a while (well it is Wallsend after all and the locals were out in force). Typically it showed the next day right next to the screen - par for the bloody course.

It's been a long while since I visited but there was a good grebe selection there as well as a massive Red Deer lurking around in the willows at the back of the pond (where's that come from?). Plenty of Chiff Chaff's singing too.

Just heard a Red breasted Goose is up at the 'Bay'. It's ringed but may still be a good'un so I may dabble after work!!

Garganey in the snow

Got the male and female Garganey and a couple of Snipe at St Mary's wetland on Sunday en route to Tynemouth. Stood there in a huge blizzard until the birds showed but worth the wait.
Cracking birds - I haven't seen one for a year or two so nice to catch up.