Saw Throat

Took a day off yesterday.  Mrs Liverbirder working from home, so dog well tended and 'Cry Freedom'!

Rather than a north to south sortie into coastal watercourses, I did the reverse (extreme birding or what!).

Cresswell - north of the causeway, a Mute Swan, two Shelduck young 'uns and a BHG.  To the south, two Greenshank and little else (three Pintail excepted).  Nothing to test my pacemaker there then!

Druridge Pools?  Or rather, From The Oddie (as my autobiography will be entitled) as the other observation points look out onto long grass and little else.  In fact, I am changing the adage 'like watching paint dry' to 'like looking out from the Budge'!!

Anyway, camera poised, I opened the Oddie windows and voila - barren shoreline.  Somewhat saddened by the lack of wee terns and gulls after last week's obvious slaughter, and no Egret, I was eventually warmed by the arrival of adult Common Tern plus 'beligerent teenager', who sat on a rock and, Kevin and Perry-like, demanded food.

A Common Sandpiper also appeared, and on the water, a young GC Grebe, more Mallards than you can imagine, and at least two female Scaup.

East Chevington next, and a Roman Forum-like gathering of birding wisdom sat outside the hide (no names, no pack drill, but tales of European visits and birds seen over the years made my exploits of the day somewhat mundane), with no room for a Little 'un, and ahead, the usual mix of Lapwings, commoner terns, commoner waders and commoner ducks.

Off to the sea in the hope of a year list addition.  Not a chance.  Gannets feeding (excellent to watch), terns all over, two RT Divers and even better, a juvenile BT Diver.

And then off home for tea 'n' sticky buns!  Wiz-ard!