Another quick visit today  so not much seen , so here goes
The resident Moorhen family are doing well with the parents and previous brood all feeding the chicks.

 

The pair of Mute Swan still on the wetland whilst plenty of Swallows and a few House Martins were off South. A Kestrel put in a 20min appearance  it just sat preening but was enjoyable to watch.

 

too quick for me to get decent flight shot.

Some Sandwich Terns still lingering offshore and last week I had a single Roseate Tern here. In previous years these birds used to be here in numbers but have dropped off quite a bit lately.

 

And and a few days ago I had the pleasure of a Common Darter landing on my hand + arm. It was fantastic seeing it so close and a fox ran past at the same time, what more can you ask for..

 

Hello again all,
It's been awhile since my last post so a quick update and some waffle...
My new budget scope Vivitar Terrain 18-36X 50mm  arrived this morning so I nipped down to patch to test it out, only had a 20 min test before it rained. So my first impressions are good with it having a bright field of view at 18X and  its even usable at 24X. Of course with it being only a 50mm objective lens the 36X is like looking through net curtains and there is very distinct chromatic aberration. I looked at a fishing boat offshore and it looked like it had it's shields up as it had yellow glow all around it. This is barely noticeable at the lower end zoom and for the price it's to be expected. I was able to see Bar tailed Godwits (18X)  at a distance which would be difficult with my 8X42mm bins, and the view was crisp and I was able to see plenty of detail. I mainly bought it for its size as I can't carry my camera and a scope at the same time as its far too heavy. It fits right into my camera bag spot on so overall a handy bit of kit and all for the bargain price of £19.99 online, complete with carry case and desktop tripod. A Budget Birder 10/10

Here it is in all its glory...

With TV remote for comparison

 

 

 

 

Carry Bag

Birds noted today were 3 Bar Tailed Godwit, Oystercatchers, Curlew, 100+ Lapwings, 3 House Martins,
GBB Gulls, Herring Gulls, Starlings, Wood Pigeon, Turnstones, 2 Mute Swan, Moorhen, Black Headed Gulls, 5 Cormorants, Eider,

Wetland

Payed a quick visit this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see some more work being done to the wetland by some of the local birders. A big thank you for taking the time to do something which should have been done by North Tyneside council years ago. Its looking much better already as the main island has been cut and cleared ( you cant really see the difference in photo). I wont name you but will thank you in person next time I bump into you all.

Ongoing Work

 A bit of seawatch this morning with a few Guillemots and young noted, Gannets, 6 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar and a few Eider offshore, I gave up as visibility was terrible. Another of the local guys had had 3 Storm Petrel past and he's also had adt Mediterranean Gull and juv Roseate Tern here during the week.

Lighthouse Panorama

A quick visit to patch late morning and wow what a visit. I bumped into a good friend of mine and whilst doing more chin wagging than seawatching ,he spotted a large fin just next to the yellow buoy. He said it looked like a Basking Shark and as I've never seen one I was glued to my scope. I'm glad I was as a few minuets later I spotted it  YES!! my first ever Basking Shark and on patch. GET IN.. I picked it up a few times in the general area.Whilst watching for it I also picked up a small pod (3-4)  of Dolphin SP. I'm not sure what species as seen briefly breaking the surface a few times but they seemed quiet large.
Birds noted today 3 Red Throated Divers, 2 DP Arctic Skua, 14+ Teal, 20+ Common Scoter, Gannets, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and 8 Shearwater Sp probably Manxies but due to range cant rule out other species.
Also the Common Lizard back on the bottom rung of the wooden stye next to the main carpark. It looks like this is it's favorite spot.

I had a mini seawatch yesterday late morning which produced plenty of Gannets, Guillemots, 25+ Eider and a dark phase Arctic Skua9year tick). On the point a few waders had returned with 20+ Redshank, Turnstone, Golden Plovers and Lapwing noted. I picked up Arctic Tern for a patch year tick which is very late for me. I was also surprised to see the Common Lizard back in the same spot and if your interested in having a look, it's getting on the bottom rung of the 3 bar stye (near the concrete view point) which leads to the wooden viewing point. Great Shearwater reported on the east coast this morning. I wonder if it's spotted in Northumberland today??

Had a quick visit late morning and glad I did. I had my first ever UK reptile which was a Common Lizard and at patch pure magic!!! Ive seen a dead one here before but that doesn't count. Also had a Great Northern Diver fly south which was a year tick. Some butterfly's about this morning Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Skippers and some Blue Tailed Damselfly's about. The Common Lizard really brightened my day..

Common Lizard

 

Soldier Fly

 

Blue Tailed Damslefly's

 

Robber Fly????

 

Small Skipper

A brief visit this morning but not much about with a few singing Whitethroats, Reed Bunting and Skylarks. The wetland grass high again so all I saw were a Mute Swan and a drake Mallard. An eclipse drake Eider just offshore but no Terns noted..