Friday 14 February 2014

In between the storms!

I was another goose counting day on the coast.  In and around Budle Bay there were 180+ barnacle geese, 450+ light bellied brent and small numbers of pink-footed and greylag.  In the Elwick area, there were up to 45 barnacles, 70+ light bellied brent and 70+ greylag.  From the Elwick hide, there 2-3 slavonian grebes, 8 grey partridge, 1 female goosander, 5 red-breasted merganser, 2 red-throated divers and good numbers of shags.  There were good views of parties of tree sparrows and yellowhammers close to the farm buildings.

Lunchtime was spent at Stag Rocks, Bamburgh.  There was no sign of the grey phalarope.  Common scoters were much in evidence with at least two flocks of 400+ birds.  Other highlights included 6+ red-throated divers, 1 black-throated diver, 1+ velvet scoter, 1 slavonian grebe, 1 guillemot and a puffin.  A small party of twite were in the field behind the car parking area.

On the way home, there was a flock of at least 15 brambling feeding on the road at Fowberry Tower.

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