Sightings for October 2009
30th & 31st October, 2009
(Northumberland)
A family visit to Haggerston Castle gave me the opportunity to view the reported Snow Goose at Monkhouse Pond near Seahouses.
A 1st winter Black Guillimot was seen off Stag Rocks during a ten minute seawatch. A quick stop at Budle Bay produced the usual species to be found there.
Two Pied Wagtails and two Rock Pipits were seen whilst checking a small bay at Berwick.
We decided to explore more of the local coastline and we soon found a field containing approximately 200 Pink–footed Geese, with at least thirty Barnacle Geese amongst them.
Red–throated Diver (1+), Red–breasted Merganser (1), Eider (20+), Mallard (1), Common Scoter (100+), Common Redshank (2), Turnstone (7) and Purple Sandpiper (1) were seen close to Cheswick.
25th October, 2009
(Teesside)
A Lapland Bunting was at South Gare, showing very well. Other than that, South gare was very quiet. A Blue–winged Teal, a Slavonian Grebe and a Greenshank were at Back Saltholme. Five Whooper Swans were at Dormans and a Merlin was at Seaton Common.
23rd October, 2009
(South Shields)
The reported Eastern Crowned Warbler was seen at Trow Quarry (thank you to the finders and identifier). A Little Owl and a Sparrowhawk was seen during a brief visit to Marsden Quarry.
18th October, 2009
(Teesside)
Being greedy, I decided to go and see if the Bluethroat was still at the headland. No joy with the Bluethroat, but did see two Velvet Scoters with at least twenty Common Scoters from the seawatching point. No joy at North Gare when looking for Snow Bunting, but did get a very quick view of what looked to be a Lapland Bunting from the North Gare car park. A Reed Bunting and two Meadow Pipits were also there.
Also had no joy when trying for the reported Blyths / Richards Pipit at South Gare, but did see four Snow Buntings (flew over heading south), a Merlin (flew over going towards Seal Sands) and a juvenile Gannet (fished briefly on the estuary side of the gare).
17th October, 2009
(Teesside)
The reported Bluethroat showed well at Olive Street, Hartlepool Headland. A Mediterranean Gull was at Newburn.
17th October, 2009
(Etherley Moor)
Five Fieldfares, at least one Redwing and approximately two hundred Starlings in the field behind our feeding station.
11th October, 2009
(Teesside)
First stop was Hartlepool Headland. A Firecrest, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff were seen in and around the putting green. A Peregrine flew overhead with a fresh kill (possible Starling). A Mediterranean Gull, six Rock Pipits, a Purple Sandpiper and at least ten Pied Wagtails were seen whilst having a quick walk around the headland.
Next was the bottom ank at RSPB Saltholme. Highlight here was a Jack Snipe which was seen on the far bank, showing very well.
10th October, 2009
(Kibblesworth)
The reported Common Crane was seen in a ploughed field off Ouslaw Lane.
9th October, 2009
(Low Barns)
The feeding station was quite busy with three Nuthatch, one Great–spotted Woodpecker, four Coal Tits, two Great Tits, two Blue Tits, three Robins, two Dunnocks, one Treecreeper and three Pheasants being seen in a twenty minute observation.
The west pond was quiet with seven Mallards, four Cormorants, two Moorhens and one Kingfisher being the only birds seen.
A Kestrel and twenty Goldfinches were seen close to the boardwalk. Two Grey Herons were seen on the River Wear.
A Barnacle Goose was amongst approximately 100 Greylag Geese at Marston Lake. A female Goldeneye was seen amongst the regulars which included ten Tufted Duck, several Mallards, two Little Grebes, two Mute Swans, five Black–headed Gulls, two Herring Gulls and at least ten Cormorants.
4th October, 2009
(Low Barns)
At least twenty eight Siskin were in the tree tops around the feeding station. Two Nuthatch, three Goldfinch, two Coal Tits, one Marsh Tit and two Pheasants were also seen here. the feeding station was once again very quiet as there was no food on the feeding station.
Twelve Mallards, three Grey Herons and two Moorhens were on the west pond. A single Jay, two Magpies and two Carrion Crows were seen flying over the west pasture.
Three Cormorants, a Little Grebe, a Tufted Duck, two Coots, two Mute Swans and three Black–headed Gulls were on Marston Lake. Five Swallows flew over the visitor centre.
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