Seaton Snook, Cresswell Pond [!],Newburn Bridge & Seaton Common

Oh well... I did have a plan and basically it worked just fine. The idea was to go on the walk to Seaton Snook to look for twite and snow bunting to photograph. If the long-billed dowitcher came up on the pager I would go north to Cresswell. And so it came to pass. I went to the snook and saw the twite.

Twite Twite

At least 35 of them in the above photo.

23 on the fence. Twite My favorite shots... Twite Twite

I spoke to Ian Forrest who said there were no snow buntings further on on the snook but he had seen some earlier over towards the North Gare pier. Thinking of heading that way when the dowitcher showed on the pager. Off I went through the tunnel to Cresswell.

Saw the dowitcher - long distance views in the scope but tick 277 nonetheless. Back south to Newburn Bridge [and Tescos for fuel]. Two med gulls present, Medusa the long-staying adult plus an immature  or sub-adult bird. Medusa first with BHG behind. Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull Plan still going strong: end the day at North Gare watching the shorties. Cruised around a bit. A little egret was by the access road, unflustered by me photographing it at very close range from the car.

Little Egret Little Egret

Little Egret

The owls appeared and it became an ISO battle with the light! The darkness won in the end but judge for yourself the fun I had!

Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl I hadn't been watching for long when this noisy transport plane lumbered over us. Transport plane

Owl undeterred. Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl

Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl

By now it was getting pretty dark. All the owl shots were taken at 1000 ISO to get something like a decent shutter speed. Before photoshopping the shots looked like this: very dark but sharp enough although rather grainy. Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl Short-eared owl