Second Helpings

Back up to Northumberland this morning for second helpings of the Lesser Grey Shrike at Long Nanny near Beadnell, as it had remained another week Mark and Paz were keen to go for it, I thought I’d tag along and try for better pics. The bird was still being faithful to the small field adjacent to the Car Park and was again showing well right from the off and after another couple of hours with it I think I got some slightly better pics although the light was dreadful today. Late morning we headed off to Stag Rocks but it was different again this week with a strong northerly blow and a rough sea there were less Sea Ducks about and they proved more difficult to see although there was a nice female Velvet Scoter close in and a small group of Pale Bellied Brents flew past, no Grebes today though.  As we headed back we called in at Seahouses Harbour to see if the rough weather had forced anything in but there were only a few Eiders again plus a Shag, we carried on and called in at a couple of places along the coastal route ending up at Cresswell Ponds, good numbers of Wigeon and a few Waders present there plus two pairs of Red Breasted Merganser, then the day was done, a bit short at this time of year.

a Robin demonstrating to the Shrike where it should be posing

a good number of Curlew in the area

Velvet Scoter off Stag Rocks

Shag, Seahouses Harbour