Second Opinion

Spent two hours at N-b-t-S from 7:00am with Crammy Birder, both looking for a Lifer, the Y-l Gull.

Beautifully sunny and still, with terns and auks a plenty inshore and loads of gulls to pick through, especially on the two breakwaters - Herring, GBB, Kittiwakes, LBB, BH, Med.

And in the bay, the one below, that I am/we are convinced is the Y-l G.  In flight, the tail was very clean, as was the undertail area.

Go ahead, make my day!

Just Feckin' Brilliant!!

N-b-t-S this evening, in search of Lifer 276 - the Y-l Gull recorded this afternoon by Sir Alan of Morpeth. 

Arrived at where I though it was, the very south end of the bay (behind and south of the Couple and the beach with the promenade along its western edge).

Loads of gull and terns and Guillemots - it was manic - but all at sea and not beach-bound.  It was clearly the Newbiggin Chava Invitation Sea Angling Contest 2011, where inappropriately clad 'types', recently released from incarceration somewhere, drag their 'nearest and dearest' to the shore in the pouring rain to catch a few salties.  The catch was hauled in, thrown alive up the beach, and whilst thrashing about, was kicked further up by the sand by the delightful WAGs and all this observed by a similarly aged male in-law who had a tab in one and and a can in the other!!!  Isaac Walton would be turning in his grave!

All that was missing was dog licking its balls...........................

No gull seen - wet through - but back tomorrow.  Cracking pale Arctic Skua north tho'.

What a Rail

Some have been to Arcot 13 times this year and not connected with it.  Some have done so straight away (and have the photo to 'prove' it!).  Others have made it third time lucky!

Rallus aquaticus has eluded me twice in recent weeks since Steve H captured his shot that mirrored one of those distant Loch Ness monster/tyre/otter/tree photos of the 70's.

But tonight, having planned a return to see Sometimes' Hobby at West Hartford, I bumped into Crammy with little to show for 90 minutes of hard observing as he left the place.  Being a kindly soul, I dropped him off at his Des Res, my reward was a well soiled car mat with two muddy welly prints on!!!!

At Arcot, nice to see one of the Magnificent Seven, Sir Dee of Southfield Green with Dee Jnr and Poppy the derg.  After a wee chat, back to the scope and the 60+ Mallards that had replaced Sunday's 60+ Greylags (David Blaine, eat your heart out!).

And then in the far NE corner, tippy-toeing over the shore, in and out of the reeds, young Water Rail.  After 8:00pm, the sun going down over the golf course's club house, and in the quiet bliss, one man a crackin' bird(ooo-errr!).

Even Worse!

Church Point - 13:00/14:45 - apart from the usual 'bulk' species, one Bonxie south at 13:57!

Arcot 15:00/15:30 - no Lapwings, nor Water Rail, nor Dunlin.  Greylags now numbered 60+, Moorhens remained at 13, Mallards at 8 and B-h Gulls nearer 20.

Woop-dee-feckin'-do!