Last Day of Winter

And don't we know it!!  Out sharp-ish with the dog and the year's first Chiffchaff heard in the trees to the SW of the WHBP r/about.  Did not see it, so no tick.  After a quick poo/pee stroll (the dog, not me!), out up north for a few hours of feathers.  And then the heavens really opened.  Great.  Four, care-free, conscience-free hours ahead and p*ssin' down and cold. 

You know when you're a sh*t birder when you are looking over the north pool of East Chev and Birdguides tells you you should be seeing two Sand Martins and a Jack Snipe and you see nowt.  Plenty of other waterfowl and gulls tho', just no year ticks.  I know, there's more to life than bloody lists.

Druridge Pools - Snipe all over, never seen so many.  Plenty of ducks too, the best being a pair of Pintail (Crammy Birder - get there fast).

Cresswell was Dodos-ville - dead!

Linton Ponds were both quiet, apart from a Goosander (dare I say, a year tick!).

Bothal Pond was so full it was nearly over the road, and had the usual ducks and a few Canadas too.

And a quick trawl through the woods where the Chiffchaff had been showed nothing to eye or ear.

And now Birdguides shows TWO Jacks.  I give up!!!!

Jiz Moment

Back to the double entendres, at last! 

Mrs M was dealing with the dog's pre-bedtime ablutions last night, walking east on the north side of Horton Burn towards Horton Drive.  She heard a gull-like screeching from the trees at that location.  I have just had the old bird calls website on and she is 99% certain it was a Little Owl.  I will be there this evening at 21:00 hrs (Crammy Birder - get 'orf moy larnd!).

ALL QUIET AT 21:30!  BOO, HISS!! 

Osprey, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Avocet, LRP, Ring Ouzel and Swallow

All seen in more southerly parts of the country today, and a Sandwich Tern at Bamburgh,  Thank God it's Spring on Sunday!  Bring it on!!

What a T'wit!

Tawny Owl calling at 18:40 hrs from the middle of the roundabout o/s the WHBP.