31.10.15
A day in the life [of a birder]
Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Then set off in seconds flat...
Back in fact to South Gare - with Barry this time. We had a plan too: grey phalarope, general birding round Hartlepool/Saltholme then shorties at North Gare road. What more could anyone wish for? Well, in fact, we did all that and more...
On arrival we could see a cluster of birders down on the shoreline south of the green cabins. Here's old coot-feet! [Phalaropus being Greek for having coot-like feet. Hardly anyone knows that!]
Grey phalarope
They're like spinning tops!
Grey phalarope
So tiny compared with the black-headed gulls.
Grey phalarope
Grey phalarope
Grey phalarope
Grey phalarope
Sanderlings kept flying past. I tried to pan the camera and fast shoot at the same time.
Sanderling
Sanderling
Sanderling
We walked round the boatyard and harbour and spotted a grebe out on the estuary. Slavonian grebe: although we were the first to spot this bird it was soon featuring on BirdGuides and on the pagers. One to us!
Slavonian Grebe
It was always distant.
Slavonian Grebe
Nearby a chiffchaff and a dunnock were hiding in bramble scrub by the rock armour.
Dunnock
Chiffchaff
At the end of the gare we failed to find a reported red-throated diver but an eider drake, escaping the attentions of a seal, provided a few nice shots...
Eider
Eider
Eider
Eider
Eider
Eider
A pair of stonechats were near the wall bushes.
Stonechat
Stonechat
A break at Saltholme produced brief views of a water rail - and a rat!
Rat
Last of the year's dragonflies were on the fencing by the dipping ponds.
Common Darter
Another stop at Newburn Bridge produced the obligatory Mediterranean gull. It was now time to go and see if the shorties would come out to play along the North Gare road...
A few birders were already waiting. Canada geese came in to roost on the marsh.
Canada Geese
Someone spotted an owl but it disappeared instantly. But the action did begin...
The fading light, into the sun, was tricky!
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
Things got stirred up a bit when a crow started to mob the owl. Exciting stuff!
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owl
Short-eared Owl
Golden crow as the day fades.
Short-eared owl
Teesside birders
A crowd of people stood and stared.
Somebody spoke and I went into a dream...
Apologies to and thanks for the memories: Lennon & McCartney