Low Newton

We were a bit concerned about the weather this morning bearing in mind we were leading a Bird Club walk at Low Newton. It was cold and very windy at the point, foam blowing over the rocks and looking south towards Dunstanburgh Castle the scene looked more like the South Atlantic around Cape Horn. However the birds were there Brent Geese, Wigeon, Red-breasted Mergansers, and finally what we had been looking for Little Auks, coming through in small groups adding up to at least 40 birds. From there we headed off to Newton Scrape where there was a flock of about 100 Golden Plover, at the hide the highlight was a stunning male Hen Harrier hunting over the reed bed followed by a very close encounter with a Short-eared Owl, a day of quality rather than quantity.

Little Auks...

Low Newton

On the beach at Low Newton yesterday were masses of birds feeding on tide washed seaweed. Sanderling flocks swirled around and Purple Sandpipers scurried here and there, while Eider and Goldeneye dived in the small waves. I had a very pleasant hour sat on the beach in the sun taking pictures...click on the pictures for a better view - try and count the species in the top photo!

On the Newton flash 3 White-fronted Geese were with the local Greylags...

Sanderling