What can I say?

This is what I've been up to for the last few days, filming the Gannetry at RSPB Troup Head. Internets a bit slow in this neck of the woods, but more pictures will be coming when I get back home on Monday.

Sunny Cumbria

This week Crammy Birder is over in Cumbria to help me with some BTO Tetrads. We woke up this morning to glorious blue skies and 20°C heat, almost too hot! Our first tetrad was little Salkeld where highlights were spotted flycatcher, three grey wagtail, dipper, garden warbler, whitethroat, tree sparrow, and blackcap. After we completed a second tetrad we headed to Powter Howe, wood warbler, pied fly and cuckoo being the highlights Stepping up with technology I recently purchased an iPhone, this post and images have all been taken and published from it, amazing stuff !

Seen a Stunner in Hartlepool

Last minute decision to head down for the reported Red-Spotted Bluethroat that had been frequenting Cliff Terrace on Hartlepool Headland last night. Picking Phil up at 06:00 we arrived at about 07:00 to the news that it was present but hadn't been seen for a good 20 minutes. Not to worry plenty of bits and pieces around, and bushes to search.


Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear, Whimbrel and a deceased ringed Blackbird, in a hedge with a cat, were all present. The Bluethroat soon joined the cast, showing on and off in the gardens of number 14, 15, and 16 of Cliff Terrace. What a stunner ! It spent the majority of its time feeding on the ground, with the occasional alight of a nearby fence, or wall. Despite the wet weather and poor light I managed to capture the above image.

All done...

… University that is, the last assignment was handed in yesterday. With the afternoon now completely free, myself and Ciara headed up to RSPB Campfield Marsh, in search of the reported Spoonbill. On arrival, scanning the large salt marsh pool, where it had been present only 20 minutes prior, it couldn't be seen, instead Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, and a couple of Teal. Heading up the track to the main hide the above Willow Warbler happily sat in the open, staring us out at the sound of the shutter.


On reaching the main hide Ciara picked up the Spoonbill almost straight away, right on the far side of the pool, although you could still see that it was a dapper bird. Curlew, Black Headed Gull and Lapwing were also present. Following the track back we picked up a Sedge Warbler singing, my first for the year. 


The same evening we headed down to the Badgers, have a look HERE.