Swampy and other bits!

4th September

Second look plus 4 ruddy shelducks on river.

Here's the big bird! Western Swamphen Western Swamphen Western Swamphen Western Swamphen Western Swamphen Western Swamphen

I was pleased to see my photo of the Bonaparte's gull on the Wansbeck estuary, Northumberland in the August issue of Birdwatch magazine... Bonaparte's gull in Birdwatch magazine Aug 2016 ...and amused to be asked if a local village magazine in Kent [!!] could use my much copied turtle dove photo. It was a pleasure to say yes!

Parish magazine featuring turtle dove photo Parish magazine featuring turtle dove photo

I snapped this tiny instar grasshopper with my phone in a hide at North Cave on August 26th!

Grasshopper Thornwick Pool - 6th September

After a quiet seawatch with a red-throated diver and one arctic skua to add to the innumerable gannets, gulls, terns and fulmars [plus some common scoter flocks], Barry and I went to Thornwick Pool to watch some waders. Here comes my dunlin portfolio! Dunlin Little Stint Dunlin & little stint Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Little Stint Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin September 8th: South Gare and Skinningrove

A fairly early start at South Gare hoping for a roseate tern or two. Reed buntings were about... Reed Bunting ...along with many meadow pipits sheltering in the marram grass. They shot up as I walked down towards the fenced off area. Meadow Pipit

There was a mixture of terns on the beach. Common Terns Roseate Tern

At Skinningrove I struck lucky with wheatear, stonechat... Stonechat Stonechat Wheatear Stonechat Wheatear Stonechat Wheatear Stonechat Wheatear Stonechat

and a few fulmars [about 9] were still on the cliffs. One of them was very vocal as it flew around me. Fulmar Fulmar Fulmar I was thrilled when a little stint came in off the sea and landed on the weed by the car park. What a gift. Here's my little stint portfolio! I've mixed a few dunlin pictures so be sure to spot them! [A juvenile grey wagtail got in on the show too!] Dunlin Little Stint Dunlin Little Stint Dunlin Grey Wagtail Little Stint Little Stint Dunlin Little Stint Grey Wagtail Little Stint Little Stint Little Stint Little Stint Little Stint Little Stint Little Stint Dunlin Dunlin Little Stint Little Stint Dunlin Dunlin Little Stint