Steve

After a canny seawatch at Whitburn (check out the sunrise pic) it was nice to do some birding back on patch at Horden/Blackhall. There's an atmospheric (=rubbish) pic of Whooper Swans flying past rain clouds and a Little Grebe on the beach pool at the mouth of Blue House Gill.

#NEbirding

#NEbirding
#seawatching

Two white-winged gulls past Whitburn OBS this morning: juv Glaucous Gull and adult Med Gull

What do you reckon on these from Hendon last week?

This day-flying moth landed in the scrub, walked up and down with it's wings closed until it found a suitable spot, then flattened down to hug the branch and almost disappear. So cool. Epirrita sp. I think.

#teamMoth

A fun day on the Durham coast - Crossbills and Marsh Tits at Blue house Dene; YB Warbler (found by @dunnock67.bsky.social) and Hen Harrier at Horden; Short-Eared Owl and Great-northern Diver at Whitburn.

#NEbirding

Nice!

#NEbirding 😬

Whooper Swan

Plenty of PF Geese and this chap going south along the coast at Blackhall this a.m.

Also 3 GWE at Castle.Lake but I couldn't see the Am Wigeon.

bah! forgot #NEbirding

Also present were little and large - juv little gull and great white egret; 2 Pintail; 1 Ruff; 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Dunlin.

Was very excited to find this, what looks like it's an eclipse male American Wigeon at Castle Lake today. I've never found one before and I'd be interested if anyone thinks it isn't one!

After 30 km of walking round bushes this weekend, I finally found a migrant or two! A lovely wheatear and Whinchat together in the same spot - not quite what I was hoping for.

It *was* a beautiful day on the coast.
#NEbirding

As well as a Rush Veneer at Horden!

I had a day flying one at Blackhall today.

After 7 hours checking the bushes to no avail I was grateful to see 8 Pintail on the sea at Castle Eden Denemouth with a flock of Wigeon.

#NEbirding

Nice one Andy!

Fantastic pics!

200+ Pink-footed Geese south over Horden in between the showers this morning.
#NEbirding

@dunnock67.bsky.social

Red-throated Diver past Whitburn.

Red-throated Diver past Whitburn.

Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Smaller paler fin is the young one.

Plenty of Red-throated Divers past Whitburn this morning. Also a pic of Bottle-nosed Dolphins with a youngster.

#NEbirding
#seawatching

Marsh Harrier over the sea at Whitburn

One of a 'flock' of 3 Lesser Whitethroat at Blackhall.

One of a 'flock' of 3 Lesser Whitethroat at Blackhall.

Marsh Harrier south over the sea was the highlight of a quiet seawatch at Whitburn this morning. The bushes at Castle Eden Denemouth / Black hall allotments held 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, Willow Tit and numerous Chiffs.
#NEbirding

Well, considering the big crack in my lens, I can't complain! I fancy a new camera now I've got it working better 😂

#Seabirds
#NEbirding

Some seawatch birds from the last week or so at Whitburn. Clockwise from top left: Gannet, Oystercatcher, Kittiwake, Scaup, Cormorant, Gannet, mixed Tern flock (including Roseate), Purple Sandpiper, Bonxie, Pomarine Skua, Teal.

#seabirds
#NEbirding

Cory's Shearwater

#seabirds
#NEbirding

Long-tailed Skua (use your imagination!)

Arctic Skua

Arctic Skua

Arctic Skuas

Pomarine Skua (adult)

#seabirds
#NEbirding

Skuas

Scaup

Teal

Some 'atmospheric' photos from recent seawatching.

#seabirds
#NEbirding

Ducks

Nice one Rob!

@mothiduk.bsky.social

I think this is a Cameraria ohridella. Almost too small to photograph. Have I got it right?

#teamMoth

According to the recorder, this is the first inland record away from the Tees Valley in VC66!
#teamMoth