Teeside

Louise was on an RSPB Phoenix practical conservation course centred around the RSPB Saltholme reserve on Teeside, so naturally I had to take her down and spend the weekend birding.

Since there was a strong North West wind blowing it seemed logical to spend Saturday morning at Hartlepool Headland. Initially the weather was horrendous and I spent periods sheltering in the car from the hail. Eventually it dried up sufficiently to allow a decent sea watch. Several large flocks of Common Scoter were present both on the sea and passing. 4 Velvet Scoter, 3 Long Tailed Duck and a Goldeneye were about the best but frustratingly I was unable to connect with any Little Auks.

By midday I headed for Saltholme. It was generally quiet with the best being 49 Barnacle Geese in with the many Canada Geese. Ducks included lots of Wigeon and a few Shoveler and Pintail. The Kestrel trail produced an obliging Kestrel:

Goldfinch were frequently seen:

By 4pm the light was excellent from the Saltholme Pools hide allowing some nice shots of various things:

Grey Heron

Little Egret



Golden Plover

Next morning I headed back to Hartlepool Headland and in a 1 hour seawatch connected with c30 Little Auks heading back North. This is only the 2nd time I have seen this species so I was chuffed.

There was also 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Red Throated Diver and still some Common Scoter. There was an adult Med Gull nearer the harbour and after a bit of searching I caught up with 2 Purple Sands:

Purple Sand - a year tick.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - 3rd Time Lucky.

After dipping an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Flamborough 3 or 4 years ago and then the one that turned out to be a Chiffchaff in Fife earlier this year, when one turned up in the same place in Fife at the beginning of the week I was keen to see it.

Being busy at work it did not seem likely that I would be able to go until Saturday. Looking at the weather forecast of continuing Easterlies I was hopeful that it might stay but the element of South Westerly looming for Friday night meant I could wait no longer and with good progress at work I left the office at midday.

I arrived at Kilminning at just after 2pm and as luck would have it there was a wee knot of birders on the bird and it was performing admirably & calling almost continually. It soon however hoped up over the bank and I did not see it again until it was nearly dark. I'm afraid the photos are rubbish, even more than usual:

Autumn Colours - with a blurred Eastern Olly

Autumn Colours - with a slightly more obvious Eastern Olly - note no yellowish tones !

Absolutely no yellow tones, longish bill, sloping head profile, dipped its tail & called "tek" almost constantly.

 

A Red Breasted Flycatcher was an added bonus:

 

RB Fly

Rounded off the day with a fish supper from the Anstruther Fish Bar.

Lerwick at Night

Shetland Day 8

I had passed Clickimin Loch every day but had not checked it until today. 2 Whooper Swan, 25 Wigeon and a few Tufted & Mallard were present.

Channerwick provided my first Redwings of the Autumn plus a male Blackcap. Quendale Mill had a nice view of a Merlin as well as Goldcrests, 3 Swallows and Raven.

In between showers I caught up with the Red Backed Shrike at Grutness and 2 Long Tailed Duck on the Pool of Virkie.

Overall it had been a good trip, bird wise the 1st 3 days were definitely best but once the wind turned into the North it became a bit of a slog. Nonetheless Shetland provides plenty of potential to find your own birds & maybe next time PG Tips & Lancy.

Shetland Day 7

Today was a beautiful day with light North Westerly winds. I spent it in West Mainland not seeing a great deal but in beautiful scenery. Some images from the day:

Great Northern Diver - Sandness

Shetland Wren

Twite - Muckle Roe

Birds of note today included Red Grouse at Sandness, 2 Slav Grebes, 2 Red Throated Divers and 1 male Crossbill at Lower Voe.

Shetland Day 6

By Day 6 the winds had turned into a North Westerly direction resulting in a clearance of any remaining birds. Birding was becoming very slow. Took to trying to photograph Fulmars in Sumburgh Quarry:

Shetland Day 5

Another day of South West winds but coupled with rain from 11am.

Started at Veensgarth where an American Golden Plover was showing well with c15 European Golden Plover:

AGP

From then on the day very much went down hill. I could not locate the drake Surf Scoter at Foula Wick nor the Spotted Sand at Lower Voe although the scenery was nice:

Lower Voe

From there I checked Brae and Busta House in increasingly poor weather and saw nothing.