Circus! Act!

Never thought I would get to see a Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus).  This year, as others have commented, has been a bumper year but many miles from here.  So yesterday's BirdGuides report, and only 45 miles away, was a real appetite whetter.

And so at 07:57 when it rose this morning, and a short while later when it hit t'interweb, it had to be done.  A small deviation from the working day (time off, of course) had to happen.

Some of the 280 on my life list have been really special.  Some still draw my attention and I would travel to see them.  Red-backed Shrike, Redstart (bit of a red theme here) and Green Woodpecker to name but three.  BUT, I have never seen a bird as majestic, breath-taking, stunning, beautiful (need I go on?).

I arrived at 11:30 and left 40 ornithogasmic minutes later, with some superb views (but NOT through the camera!!!).  To those who criticise their own photographic endeavours, I offer the following to the competition entitled, 'Tell me what that is again, please'!!!

Eh, Jack - you're late!

15:00 hrs today, Cresswell, and after a wee wait....................

Birding Tips

March 2008, my first ever Jack Snipe (after some assistance from Boulmer Birder) at the old tip at Widdrington.

I fancied another go so off I trolled this afternoon and it was not how it was then.  The entire site, once a snipe-fest due to expanses of muddied reed beds, is now a wee wood, with hods of birch and other trees and so nowhere for my quarry to hide.

I did not stay long.

RVP No. 2 was the River Blyth in the region of the A189 bridge, with expanses of mud feeding Redshanks, Dunlin, Curlew, B-h Gull and on the east side of the Spine Road bridge, a Curlew Sandpiper.  Nice!

On the west side, after some guidance from two very likely lads in camo gear and with 'holstered' air rifles (corroborating intelligence from The Guvnor yesterday), a Little Egret fed on the north shore.

And after some interesting dialogue with another local, the first bird flew east and out of sight, but he then spotted another in a tree on the north shore.

Any photographic tips gratefully accepted, as these birds were washed in Persil and were whiter than white in the falling sun.  How do I get rid of the glare?