Family holiday based in seaside town of Amble, 27 Oct to 3 Nov 2012 Managed to get out to a range of sites (National Trust, Wildlife Trust, Kielder Forest, etc) Only one day with persistent rain. Decent total of 112 bird species noted (probably would have been more if wind hadn't changed from NE to SW on day of arrival!): Little auk (my target species and long-awaited British tick), a single bird seen flying up the River Tweed at Berwick. Long-tailed duck 3 Slavonian grebe 1 Great northern diver 1 Red-throated diver 20+ Scaup 1 Common scoter 2000+ Eider 500+ Guillemot 50+ Razorbill 1 Kittiwake 5 Gannet 50+ Shag 100+ Purple sandpiper 10 Pink-footed goose 2000+ Peregrine 2 Merlin 1 Red kite 3 Crossbill 5 Snow bunting 3 Woodcock 1 in off sea Blackbird 20 + in off sea Dipper 2 Raven 2 Goosander 20+ Red-B Merganser 15 Chiffchaff 2 Blackcap 1 Marsh tit 1 Stonechat 8 Swallow 4
Lindisfarne was particularly quiet for migrant passerines considering a good selection there a few days before.
Mammals probably outshone the birds with my first otter sighting, in Eyemouth harbour (on day trip to Scotland), at least 5 red squirrels in Kielder Forest, 20+ porpoise and several stoats.
Brian
|