No More Lattes?

Regular readers will note my Saturday usually starts with a Maccy D's latte with an extra shot. Today, as I thought I would give North Tyneside a bash, I omitted the drink and went straight to the area around The Haven, Priors Park and North Pier. It was all very quiet but at least it was dry, cooler than of late and the sunrise was spectacular.

Whitley Bay Cemetery was equally sombre, and I was saddened to see that my caffeine-related hero was no more:

Onward and upward and off to St. Mary's next.  Hods of Skylarks over the stubble field on the way in, and the ebbing tide had exposed a load of sea weed that was awash with Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank and Starlings.

And these guys just off-shore:

Along the path to the west of the wetlands, singing his wee lungs out was this chap:

The rest of the path was quiet save for Reed Buntings, and the willows and the north end of the wetlands were the quietest I have experienced.

On the ploughed field, the three wise..........

N, N, N, N, N, N, Nine......

Sadly not nineteen (yet), but tonight's SEO tally at PC Wandering's patch escalated to nine.

I squeezed an hour in from about 6pm and there were four quartering the two fields near the rusty five-bar gate as the light faded.

And then there was a wee melee above the main field as vulture-like (in the cowboy films), five rose on the thermals and were joined by a sixth and a seventh and the whole group lifted ever skyward. 

Another two were located at ground level and the maths is now easy.

I have never seen more than two SEOs at once, as far as I can recall, and I have never seen this breathtaking behaviour where whirlwind-like, a few birds 'suck in' others and they all amicably gather.

Nice Day Out

Early start today following a weekend at work, and after the obligatory Maccy D's Latte with an extra shot, at St. Mary's Wetlands for half seven.

It was very busy, with a GSW back and forth between the north end of the place and the willows near by, and Chiffchaffs, Linnets, Greenfinches and Reed Buntings, and on the fence running west, this:

The photo does not do the bird justice.  And there was probably a second one too.

The ploughed field nearby had Linnets, Skylarks and Reed Buntings again but no sign of any Laps (Buntings, not Dancers!).

Royal Newbiggin was very quiet.  The Ash Lagoon area was likewise.  Linnets (again), Robin, Blackbirds, Goldfinches and few of these:

Between the mess fence and the burnt gorse was a male Stonechat with a metal ring on his right leg.

Arcot this pm - Teal, Mallard, BHG, Snipe, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard (with many a Chiffy calling).

West Hartford - BHG, HG, CG, LBBG (500 the other night and building nicely this afternoon).