Migrants!

Bit of a mixed week really, been birding pretty much everyday and nearly all day! Feel a bit guilty as I have a few things I need to catch up on which I need to do for various people (I know your reading!). Monday was a bit of a full on day, finally managed to see a Painted Lady butterfly while disgracefully twitching a Barred Warbler in Northumberland, I then headed down to Teesside for an evening stint but little of note was seen. Tuesday was also generally quiet but I did manage to get out on the evening I did miss the Broad-bill but saw it the next day, so on Wedensday I successful twitched the Broad-billed Sandpiper at Seaton Snook and then later saw the bird from Seal Sands but little else of note in the Teesside area so a visit to Bishop Middleham was more then fruitful; juvenile Mediterranean Gull moulting into 1st winter was more then welcome, as was the Red-crested Pochard first spotted by Michael M he was rather happy when I confirmed it was indeed a Red-crested Pochard, interestingly it means I have seen 2 in Durham in the same day after having seen 1 on Saltholme East earlier in the day. I went back to see the wader roost on the evening and it was quite spectacle with an extra 2 Black Terns thrown in for good measure and later on after I had left a Roseate Tern was seen. The Broad-billed Sandpiper departed high south around mid-evening but thankfully everyone had seen it by this point so there were no unhappy faces present.

 (Painted Lady - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Broad-billed Sandpiper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Broad-billed Sandpiper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Mediterranean Gull - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Mediterranean Gull - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Black Tern - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Thursday I was being 'idle', though popped out to check the local Lambton Flash and little was noted apart form good counts of Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Friday was another day down Teesside but little of note; 3 Black Terns were nice as was the single Little Gull. On the waders side the best I could do was 10c Grey Plover but they were in summer plumage so all in all pretty good.

This weekend was more than productive, seawatch in the morning was really excellent! One of the best I have ever had, there was a constant movement of birds. Highlight was a Long-tailed Skua which flew in from the south, had a mess around offshore and flew north again, later on a Pomarine Skua was fantastic; a full on adult with 'spoons'. Interestingly little in the way of Shearwater passage with only 1 Sooty and a handful of Manx Shearwaters. Roseate Terns were on the move and there wast  good passage of Redshanks. A check of Lambton Pond was quite fruitful with a handful of Green Sandpiper and Greenshank being noted; then I headed down to Teesside for some more filthy rotten twitching. A rather showy Barred Warbler (for the species anyway) was excellent but it went to ground later on in the day and wasn't really seen again much just brief glimpses. A check of the Jewish Cemetery produced little other than 2 Wheatears and a rather vocal Willow Warbler.

Today Jack Bucknall text me to say he had what he thought was a Greenish Warbler early morning, so I headed up and by the time I had arrived it had been confirmed he played his recording made and showed me the pics. I was gripped, then some 4 or so hours later the bird gave itself up and I had really good views for about 30 seconds or so before it disappeared and I didn't see it again despite searching. Ohh, it's also good to know that a certain well known biking Northumberland birder is an avid follower my blog despite his very public hate for me because I won't give him a lift to see birds, nice one! Great week and great weekend.

 (Greenish Warbler - copyright Jack Bucknall)

(Greenish Warbler - copyright Jack Bucknall)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Bonaparte's Gull Returns...

Thursday evening and a bit of a mad dash to Whitburn to see the Bonaparte's Gull, its not back for its third year. Great views were had on Thursday evening and I went back today for some more and some Gulling, the local farmer has been ploughing in his field and so the chance to study some gulls was high, of course the hope was I would get to watch the Bonaparte's Gull feeding in the ploughed field but it was not to be. Mark rang at around 4ish to say he has just located it on Whitburn Steel; where it has been most of the day remains a mystery. Yesterday it took a liking to the ploughed field but today no sign at all in some 5 hours; I can assure you it felt longer waiting in the hope it would drop in.

The dates and state of moult is fairly interesting.

In 2010 it was first noted on the 28th of August, it had moulted all its head feathers and was in full winter plumage, however there was active moult in the primaries so presumably this bird has been in the general area a little before the 28th of August. During its stay until it was last noted on the 11th of September it had obtained all its primaries and was in winter plumage.

In 2011 it was first noted on the 5th of August, it was mainly in summer plumage but in active moult with its head feather moulting and active moult in the primaries. By the end of its stay it had yet again undergone its moult, got all its winter primaries through and again it was last noted on the 11th of September.

In 2012 it was first noted on the 16th of August, it was in mainly full summer plumage and in active moult yet again; this time its head was a bit more 'full on' summer plumage but again it was in active primary moult. Who reckons it'll last be seen on the 11th of September then?

Fascinating bird, Mark Newsome managed these shots of the bird yesterday and today, seemingly its moulted one of its primaries since yesterday.

(Bonaparte's Gull - copyright Mark Newsome)

 (Bonaparte's Gull - copyright Mark Newsome)

Still with P10, P9, P8, P7. But inner primaries dropped.

(Bonaparte's Gull - copyright Mark Newsome)

Now some from today:

Undergone some moult on head since yesterday, note the now white area on the forehead compared to the above shot. Though not changed all that much.

 (Bonaparte's Gull - copyright Mark Newsome)

 (Bonaparte's Gull - copyright Mark Newsome)

Clearly visible here, bird has not dropped P7 whereas it had it yesterday. Its out there somewhere! £5 to the finder, so long as I can have one of the feathers! Start looking at the Steel and work your way from their.

(Bonaparte's Gull - copyright Mark Newsome)

Great bird! Hope it comes back next year, though have a feeling I'll be seeing it before then.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Just another manic Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!

I don't have time to write about all I have been up to in birding as I have been up to other things as well as birding and so haven't had time to really update my blog.

Monday was pretty quiet but I decided that a seawatch from Whitburn Obs was definitely on the cards; a big success with the following birds being noted during the time period of 06.10 - 08.20: 1 Balearic Shearwater (N), 2 Manx Shearwater (S), 2 Arctic Skua (N), 1 Sooty Shearwater (N), interestingly not quantity but quality. Very little else on the move, a lone Balearic Shearwater was indeed rather strange (in my experience).

Tuesday was a wader day with Rainton Meadows being the place to be; 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, and 1 Greenshank being the highlights. Was really great to see all 3 species standing together on more than one occasion with a Snipe thrown into the mix for good measure. John Bridges kindly allowed me to have a go of his lens and take some shots, I was more than happy with the results!

(Green Sandpiper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Greenshank - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Wood Sandpiper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

On the evening I visited South Shields and to Sandhaven Beach, no birds on the beach so I headed along the pier where a small flock of terns produced 1 adult and 1 juvenile Roseate Tern. 

(Roseate Tern - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Wednesday was quieter with the main highlight being my first visit to Lambton Flashes, a flooded field which is currently really pulling in the waders! I had an afternoon and evening visit, the highlights being; 2 juvenile Spotted Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Green Sandpiper , 3 Greenshank, and a whole host of other species. This site has really great potential to pull in the birds, lets hope it remains flooded for the foreseeable future. 

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Memories as sweet as Honey...

Yesterday was yet another Wykeham Forest spectacle! I was there last year and those of my long time loyal followers (I thank you) will remember that I had a pretty spectacular time with Honey Buzzards flying over my head on several occasions just feet above my head; one bird appearing to actually look down the barrels of my bins from above. This year was equally as fantastic, views were not as consistent as last year with birds constantly overhead but instead my view of the day was brief but unforgettable; more on that later. 

The day started off with the typical distant views of Common Buzzard, but raptors were up in the air so that kept the hopes up. We had to wait for maybe 1 hour before the first distant Honey Buzzard came into view, views were poor but adequate to assign the bird to a Honey. Smiles all round! We then had a spell of inactivity with nothing but buzzards for ages, then from the viewpoint just over the trees to the right a hawk appeared, Michael who picked the bird up stated Sparrowhawk and switched his attentions back to scanning the distance. I lifted my bins and the bird turned; "That was streaked....wasn't it?" was my reply. A few seconds later it came back around and sure enough I was right; but it was joined by a second bird also a juvenile. Then shortly after another bird; 3 Goshawks! 3 juvenile Goshawks at close quarters showing superbly, I won't be forgetting that any time soon! We didn't have to wait long before the shout went up someone had picked up a distant Honey Buzzard which I struggled to get on for a few seconds. When on it I have no shame in admitting I was quite taken back; it banked to the side and was extremely white underneath. This was the palest Honey Buzzard I had ever seen, but still clearly a Honey Buzzard. Great, but not as great as when you realise there are 4 raptors having a go at it! There were numerous shouts going up and we had what appeared to be a Hobby, 3 Kestrels, and 1 Sparrowhawk at different times mobbing the Honey Buzzard! Mental! We also had a cream crown Marsh Harrier distantly before it went down into the Forest, I needed that for me "Birds seen going down into a forest from a raptor viewpoint" list. As if I would keep such a list *cough*. 

Later on in the afternoon we had yet another distant Honey Buzzard over some caravans, then shortly afterwards we had an absolutely incredible moment. People got very excited as they had picked up a Honey Buzzard, I was scanning distantly then was told it was coming toward us. I scanned and found the bird; it was seemingly very close, it then got closer, then ridiculously close. So close it passed at eye level some 30ft infront of us. In scope and bins the whole time....yes, it was rather good! Now that is what you call MEGA VIEWS!!!!!! 

Yes, it was close!

 (Honey Buzzard - copyright Sam Viles)

(Honey Buzzard - copyright Sam Viles)

Being content with that view we left for The Marshes, nothing much of note apart from a Whimbrel on Greatham Creek. Still, it was an 'OK' bird. 

Great end to a truly memorable day.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

West Coast Butterflies

A few weeks ago I was over in Cumbria and Lancashire in the hope of seeing one of my last quarries the High Brown Fritillary, I had missed these last year but still had a good day over there. I won't give you the full list of what I saw but will just stick up some of my best pics of a particularly bad bunch. I thought I had dipped High Brown Fritillary again, however on reviewing my pictures it became clear I hadn't! I had snapped one of them in Lancashire are a particularly well known site for them.

 (Dark Green Fritillary - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Dark Green Fritillary - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

 (Gatekeeper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

 (Grayling - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Scotch Argus - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(High Brown Fritillary - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Blogging from phone

This is my first go of blogging from my phone, an excellent way to talk more absolute drivel no one is interested in! Won't be posting pics on these posts for obvious reasons.

Seems to be a movement of Pied Flycatchers today, yesterday I went back for seconds of the Stilt Sandpiper and had mega views, on way back Sandhaven Beach in Durham (where the Garden of Eden was, don't ask me that's what the archeologists say) I had 4 Roseate Terns; 2 adults and 2 juveniles. Great to see the juves, not seen one for about 2 years! Beach looking good for a vagrant Gull-billed....we can all dream.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Terns and Waders

I really like this time of year, gatherings of post breeding Terns allows for the change to find/see Roseate Tern in Durham and the movement of waders gives hope of finding something a bit species. Both happened, just neither to me! I kind of half found a Roseate Tern on Friday after seeing one a few days previous here but 'Stringer' turned up platinum with a Stilt Sandpiper in the neighbouring county to the north.

Friday was a day spent out looking for anything, I love this time of year as movements of waders always brings hope of finding something a bit out of the ordinary and I also couldn't resist the Terns. Nothing much happening amongst the Terns whilst I was at Seaton Snook but the obvious highlight was a single adult Roseate Tern, unsurprisingly baring 2 metal leg rings; one on each leg. Good change to study these truly stunning Terns, I am always taken a back when I realise how pale they can be when good views are had. Sunday saw me down Teesside yet again but this time I have the Terns a miss and switched my sights to the Waders, a full check of Greatham Creek/Long Drag/Seal Sands yielded little in the way of exciting but some quality stuff was about. 4 summer plumage Grey Plovers undoubtedly the highlight, with a few summer plumage Knot and a Whimbrel thrown in for good measure. An attempt briefly to string a mega distant juvenile Redshank into something good I soon have up on. Castle Lake DBC didn't turn up much either, on the Friday a call in saw the Pectoral Sandpiper back in front of the hide after going for a wander for a few days and a Greenshank, on the Sunday much less but the Greenshank remained and evidence of some movement with a Green Sandpiper in then out, as always here Common Sandpipers were just that. Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, and Small White butterflies noted here on the two visits. Castle Lake DBC is due a mega, just when remains to be seen!

(Roseate Tern - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Yesterday I was up at dawn, I say up at dawn but I didn't sleep on Sunday night so I was just up out of bed before dawn. I was standing overlooking Stringer's Scrape at Low Newton in Northumberland hoping to jam in on Stringers top find here; Stilt Sandpiper. I've already placed my next order of Black-winged Pratincole, though a one at Castle Lake DBC would be good! A scan produced little more than 2 Greenshank and I started to fear the worst so I started scanning amongst the Greylags and to my relief I picked it out in the gloom feeding beside a Lapwing. Relax! I was there for a good few hours, I love waders and so this was a good change to study the species and take notes, I of course got some as usual terrible photos and a pretty poor video but overall I was happy. Great bird, great company, and good to catch up with a few folk I hadn't seen for a while. Cheers Stringer!

(Stilt Sandpiper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Please view the video full screen and in 720pHD as it isn't too bad:

(Stilt Sandpiper - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Durham Butterflies

Over the past few weeks during birding I have been visiting some of the butterfly sites in Durham to pursue my enjoyment of butterflies, I'm not overly keen on moths and doubt I ever will be but I do have a thing for butterflies. I already made a post with photos of the Marbled Whites but I did revisit the site yesterday, I also visited a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary site a few weeks ago. So here is a selection of some of my shots, not the greatest but I'm still working on getting the perfect shots. Most of the butterflies are all in focus but sometimes I focus in on a particular section of the butterfly such as the 'heed' (head - in Durham accent). Also I had a few Grayling butterflies while birding Seal Sands/Greatham Creek which were a bit of a distraction on an otherwise relatively quiet day.

 (Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

 (Marbled White - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

 (Marbled White - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

(Grayling - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Until next time, Foghorn out!