Holywell Today

Firstly this morning went down to the hide at 10:00, on the way down I clocked a House Martain flying low over the field backing the houses, also a Great Spotted Woodpecker overhead.

On the water there was a group of 11+ Greylag Geese in amongst them was a hybrid possibly Canada X Greylag, it was the size of a Greylag but colouration of Canada with an orange beak with a black tip and orange legs with Canada markings on its face, strange looking bird. At 10:20 a Drake Garganey showed itself in the reeds to the right of the hide, this was my first for the year. Also on the water were 7 Canada, Pair of Teal, Pair Mute Swan, 19 Tufted, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 8 Lapwing, 6 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 1 Shelduck, and 1 Male Shoveler. I was joined by Tom Tams a bit later on, a Willow Warbler was heard in NE corner. Around the pond was 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Swallow, Feral Pigeon, 1 Common Buzzard soaring above wood opposite hide, the feeding station was fairly quiet with Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Skylark and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.

Tom's pager beeped with 37 Waxwings at Shiremoor metro so though I'd stop in on way home, they were feeding as I got there in the bushes just at entry, my Grandad just lives round the corner so I thought I'd pick him up for a look. We watched them for a while, before the flock moved off over the road.

Next was kayaking on the Wansbeck a few Chiff Chaff about but not much else.

I went back along the Holywell at 16:30 a female Sparrowhawk was on the soar over obelisk, and a Snipe was just to the right of the hide. Something put the Teal up out of the reeds which were quickly scanned and the Drake Garganey was spotted, it landed on the water and swam in the reeds exposing the female Garganey, they proceded to emerge from the reeds giving brilliant views. I took a walk down past the obelisk and back up the dene, the area around the obelisk produced a female Kestrel and the usual suspects were down the dene counting 9 singing Chiff Chaffs and 2 singing Willow Warblers, the resident nesting Kestrels were calling and copulating at there usual site. Good day in all, Washingtons Avocets tomorrow.