Birding Undercover

Watching the birders was more exciting than watching the birds today (having read this opening phrase agin, it sounds a bit pervy, but what the hell.............).

A couple of hours around the golf course at N-b-t-S yielded little of note, except Crammy Birder and his 'assistant' near the Ash Lagoon and later at Church Point.

This pm, an hour looking east over the north bay at St. Mary's was very pleasant, this time it was Killy Birder and his side-kick who was spotted and on this occasion, chatted with.

One Sooty north, and one pale Arctic Skua south, seen again near the lighthouse, and two Darctics north along with four Little Gulls made it all a rather enjoyable 60 minutes.

Right Tern

Had a round of golf this evening, or rather a walk around one of the next Open venues - Royal Newbiggin.

Dead.  Not a passerine in sight.  Anywhere.

Beacon Point had Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, GBBG, HG, BHG, Turnstone, Redshank, Sanderling, Dunlin, Curlew and some very vocal Whimbrel.

The highlight was a Black Tern that flew in from the sea, took a sharp right turn, and headed north (the one seen later on Druridge Pools' beach?).

Near Miss

With only 10 minutes before it flew over the embankment at the north edge of the golf course at Newbiggin this evening and out of view, my first Greenish Warbler.

Dizzy

Travelled south this morning to see my first adult Woodchat Shrike.  What a belter!  It was in Trow, with a small throng of optic-laded birders, and was either in the middle of a bush;

Or occasionally on the top of it;

And a couple of Whinchats too!