White-Front

Its wasn't until late yesterday afternoon I managed to get down to the East Pool to see the reported Eurasian White-Fronted Goose, reported by SP and BD in amongst the Greylags.

In the fading light I grabbed this record shot.

I've been back to back with star stuff for the past couple of days, including a radio appearance with BBC Newcastle, you can listen to the clip HERE (from 50.12)

I had a Barn Owl over the car heading back from Hadrian's Wall this morning, and a Short-Eared Owl flying over Killingworth this afternoon.

East Pool

Went along to the pond for a break from writing up a documentary proposal this afternoon, started off at the members hide. On the pond there was 12 Tufted Duck, a pair of Pochard, 5 male and 3 female Gadwall, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Canada Geese (one on nest), 1 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swans (one on nest), 5 Mallard, 8 Coot, 2 Moorhen, and a fly by of a single Redshank. A couple of Chiff Chaff could be heard singing in the North Wood, along with a few Finches and Reed Bunting in the feeding station.

At the minute the East Pool has a substantial amount of water in it, attracting quite a bit of bird life, today there was 1 Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 4 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Mute Swan, Lapwing and a single Drake Shoveler, who was getting some stick from the Coot pair.

A further wander down to the Obelisk produced 2 pair of Grey Partridge and the same of Red-legged , as well as 2 Swallows.