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.

Pond life

Had a full morning out at a few sites on Thursday 1st April. Nice warm day with plenty to look at - it actually felt like Summer was round the corner. Highlights were:

LINTON POND
3 Chiff Chaffs singing in the woods and one 1st Winter Glaucous Gull on the pool.

DRURIDGE POOL
Firecrest in the willows near the Budge hide screen.

CRESSWELL POND
Smew (f) still there, a Dunlin and 4 Red breasted Merganser (2m, 2f) + the usual Yellowhammers (12), Tree Sparrows (3/4) etc feeding near the sheep troughs.

No Martins or Swallows anywhere though.