We started the day with a boat trip around Coquet Island. Arriving at the harbour, a female Eider Duck and two chicks were lifers for both Emilie and Kayte.
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| Female Eider and chick |
We soon set sail, and it wasn’t long before we were seeing hundreds of Puffins flying around the island, with a raft seen bobbing on the water and a cluster of birds perched on the grassy cliffs on the island. The island is famed for its colony of Roseate Terns, and we were pleased to be able to pick out some of these birds on the walls close to their nest sites.
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| Roseate Tern |
Sandwich Terns, Arctic Terns, Kittiwakes and male Eiders were also seen roosting around the island. Offshore, literally hundreds of seals watched the boat progress with their heads poking out of the water. It was a great spectacle and we loved it, although poor Michael was freaked out by the unexpected noisy engines as we pulled out of the harbour.
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| Puffins |
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| Kittiwakes |
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| Eider, male |
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| Seal |
After such excitement and so many new birds, Hauxley nature reserve was a little tame in comparison. However it was good to see Tree Sparrows and a gorgeous male Bullfinch around the feeders. Plenty of warblers sang around the footpaths, and with persistence we all managed to actually see a Willow Warbler. There was nothing unusual found on the pool, with Oystercatcher and Lapwing the only waders and a mix of regular ducks, geese and gulls present. A Sedge Warbler was heard, and again with perseverance we all had views as it swayed on the reeds. A Reed Bunting was also present in the same small patch of reeds.
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| Willow Warbler |
With news of a Pectoral Sandpiper at Druridge Pools, we moved on here and walked to the south facing hide. We quickly found two waders, one an obvious Wood Sandpiper, the other I suspect was the Pectoral Sandpiper, although Tim was not convinced. I had a full on view of the breast which looked v shaped, but the light was not great and in profile it sometimes looked similar to the Wood Sand. My conclusion was I lack experience of Pectoral Sandpipers to be 100% confident, but…
I was however very confident on the lovely male Garganey which swam into view, another new species for Emilie and Kayte who both enjoyed scope views. A Little Ringed Plover was here too, another new bird for the trip, and in the fields at the back Tim spotted a Barnacle Goose, a new year tick for him!
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