Today was spent walking up river from Netherwitton to Fontburn Reservoir before the sleet set in. The male catkins on both the alder and hazel are starting to emerge. A brown hare running through some wet woodland caused some amusement. On the bird front it was relatively quiet but marsh tits were seen at two spots (Netherwitton & Ritton), one big flock of siskins (at least 100 birds), at least three flocks of long tailed tits and a 'fly-over' male goshawk.
The biggest surprise was a green sandpiper. I know that they winter on the Breamish but this bird was feeding along the river under the canopy of the trees at South Healey! Has anyone seen this behaviour before? I associated this bird with open habitats not foraging like a woodcock.
Hi George, I have seen Green Sands in woodland habitat before, at Bothal village and at exactly the same spot as you during a green sand survey some years ago.
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