Birding St Mary's
Island
18/10/09 Mostly Cloudy 12c Wind W 9 Mph
A check of the willows today saw no sign of yesterdays Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat but a phone call from NT alerted me to a Pectoral Sandpiper on the wetland. Another new species added to my patch list after dipping a couple of times. It showed well but at a distance feeding amongst a group of Common Snipe. 20+ Wigeon, Teal, 6+ Moorhen, 2 Mute Swans and a Fox also on the wetland.
The worst Pectoral Sandpiper shots in the world.........
16/10/09 Partly Cloudy 11c Wind N 16 Mph
A bit of seawatching midday produced 4 patch year ticks, which were Long Tailed Duck (juv) Goldeneye M, Great Skua, Whooper Swan( 2 adt + 5 juv) . Other birds noted were Red Throated Diver, Common Scoter 8 N, Great Crested Grebe and loads of Gannets. No sign of anything out of the ordinary in the top willows.600+ Golden Plovers around the Lighthouse, 10+ Sanderling and Ringed Plovers in the North Bay.
11/10/09 Partly Cloudy 12c Wind NW 12 Mph
I went straight to the willows at the North of the wetland today to look for yesterdays Yellow Browed Warbler. I bumped into a few birders who informed me their were 3 Yellow Browed Warblers ( one in the cemetery) and a Firecrest here, Blimey !!. All I found were a Wren, Magpie and 2 Reed Buntings. So I dedcied to check the top willows on my way back to the car. Just as well as I did as the Yellow Browed was calling here and I caught a quick look of it as it bombed past my head. No luck with the Firecrest mind........
8/10/09 Partly Cloudy 13c Wind N 12 Mph
The W.B.R.C reformed today for a quick trip up to Druridge Pools for the long staying Glossy Ibis. On arrival it flew past the hide window and landed out of range for a decent photo, Yeah a lifer!!!! I watched it feeding for awhile as 2 Otters were showing on and off to the far right off it.Also a couple of thousand Pink Footed Geese overhead with a few Barnacle Geese mixed in. What an absolute cracker of a bird, well worth the trip. Then we nipped back down to Cresswell Pond to see if the Buff Breasted Sandpiper had returned since it flew off this morning. No such luck so another chance of a lifer gone. Dont you just hate dipping??? Back to St Mary's Island via Longhurst Flash and Bothal pond where just Gadwall, Mallards, Mute Swans,Coots, Lapwings, Teal noted. St Mary's was quiet with a few Teal past, 10 Moorhen, 2 Mute Swam, Curlews, Redshanks, Common Gull, Black Headed Gulls, GBB Gulls, Cormorants, Gannets, Stonechat and my first October record of an Arctic Tern. A few Silver Y Moths, Red Admiral and Painted Lady's about too.
Best I could get at long range...
4/10/09 Partly Cloudy 10c Wind W 12 Mph
Here this morning were, 2 Mute Swan, 12 Moorhens and a few Linnets on the Wetland, 2 juv Mute Swans were in the South Bay also 2 Red Breasted Mergansers. The top willows were quiet with only a few common species seen i.e. Robins, Blackbirds, Wrens, Dunnock, Reed Buntings. Birds reported here today from SP were adult Med Gull, 1 Pomerine Skua, 44 Manx Shearwaters and 52 Ringed Plovers.
1/10/09 Partly Cloudy 11c Wind NW 8 Mph
Another wander round this morning saw in the West Field along the margin were 50- 60 Linnets, Goldfinches, 15-20 Skylarks, loads of Meadow Pipits, Lapwings, Reed Buntings, 2 Grey Heron and a Kestrel was being mobbed by Meadow Pipits. 60+ Barnacle Geese flew South past the Lighthouse and the adult Mediterranean Gull was on the rocks with the Black Headed Gulls. For me the best of the day was a Common Buzzard at the back of the cemetery, my first here in nearly 10 years of birding St Mary's. I've had Rough Legged and Honey Buzzard here before but never Common Buzzard till today. I watched it gliding overhead till I lost it in the glare of the sun. Buzzard's aren't they brilliant.....
30/9/09 Mostly Cloudy 14c Wind W 9 Mph
A visit this morning looking for migrants in the willows produced a Whitethroat, Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Wren, Dunnock, Reed Buntings. Over the West field were 10 Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Grey Heron, 100+ Golden Plover, Curlews, Carrion Crows. A local birder reported 2 Grey Partridges and a few Wheatear here also. A male Sparrowhawk over the wetland chased up a few Linnets other than that nothing much out of the ordinary seen.
20/9/909 Partly Cloudy 14c Wind W 12 mph
A quick visit this morning saw my first Speckled Wood Butterfly here and my first ever. Bird wise it was very quiet with just the usual suspects hanging about. A few Meadow Pipits and 25-30 Linnets over the West Field and a singing Chiffchaff in the willows. Still a few Swallows about over the wetland, 2 Mute swans, 3 Grey Herons and 4 Moorhen here too.
15/9/09 Partly Cloudy 14c Wind NE 9 Mph
A bit of a seawatch between 09.00 and 10.30 produced 1 Bonxie, 1000's of Gannets, 7 Manx Shearwaters, Puffin, Guillemots, 8 Common Scoter,12 Teal, 3 Red Breasted Mergansers, 4 Wigeon, and a juvenile Sabine's gull (09.40) North. And before you all start NO it wasnt a juv Kittiwake 
, I watched it for a few minutes as it drifted steadily North about half way out from the prom. The adult Med Gull was still in the Briar Dene carpark roosting in with the local Black Headed Gulls. I also had a large Shearwater heading North at 09.33 but it was too far out for me to call it.From what I did see I was thinking Cory's Shearwater but I'm not claiming it....
14/9/09 Mostly Cloudy 13c Wind NE 8 Mph
An hour seawatching till midday produced 75-80 Manx Shearwaters, 50+ Gannets, summer plumage Grey Plover, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, 18 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 10+ Fulmars North and a Whimbrel South. Fox on the wetland along with 1 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 8 Mallard and 2 Mute Swan
11/9/09 Partly Cloudy 17c Wind E 6 Mph
A round up of today's sightings which were, 50+ Teal,7 Wigeon, Gannets, 14 Cormorants, GBB Gulls, Sandwich Terns offshore, Willow Warbler and a Migrant Hawker in the Willows with a Chiffchaff and 15-20 Skylarks nearby.Golden Plovers, Turnstones, Redshanks and 200+ Starling on the point. The Wetland was quiet again with just 2 Mute Swan, 4 Moorhen and 5 Black Headed Gulls on. Med Gull seen in the car park this morning, Thanks to BR for the info...
10/9/09 Fair 14c Wind W 5 Mph
In the North Bay this morning were 44 Sanderling, 4 Ringed Plover, 20+ Sandwich Terns, Roseate Tern, Turnstones, Curlew, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Common Gull, Black Headed Gulls, Cormorants, Golden Plover 200+, 8 Wigeon, Pied Wagtails, Starlings, Carrion Crows, whilst on the Wetland were the family of Moorhen and a Mute Swan. 100+ Swallows were over head with a couple of House Martin mixed in.
9/9/09 Partly Cloudy 15c Wind WNW 14 MPh
An hour and a bit out this morning and no my bed wasn't on fire produced, 50+ Common Scoter N , 3 Teal and a few Gannets, 4 Roseate Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, 20+ Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 15-20 Sanderling, Turnstones, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Redshanks in the North Bay. A Great Crested Grebe was also fishing close inshore here. The Wetland Held 2 Mute Swan, Canada Goose, 6 Mallard and a family of 4 Moorhen. A pair of Sparrowhawks harassing the local Starlings but they both flew off without catching anything. A Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Dunnock were in the top willows.Just had an email back one of the Sanderling was colour ringed in Iceland this May. A canny distance for such a small wader to travel.
2/9/09 Partly Cloudy 15c Wind S 8 Mph
On the point today were Redshanks, Turnstones, Oystercatchers, Curlews, GBB Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Cormorants, 400+ Starlings nearby and 4-500 Golden Plover overhead. 5 Wheatears were at Hartley Cliffs with 12 being seen earlier by one of the regular birders, a scattering of Pied Wagtails seen about the patch and Swallows were feeding their young below the prom. A Whinchat was on the Wetland along with 2 Mute Swan, Moorhen and 2 young, Black Headed Gulls and a Redshank. 3 Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Pigeons, Curlew, Starlings, Carrion Crows in the field next to the masts.
Swallow
Whinchat
31/8/09 Partly Cloudy 20c Wind SSW 13 Mph
A quick visit today with the family saw 40+ Sandwich Terns, 2 Roseate Terns, GBB Gulls, Cormorants, Oystercatchers, Redshanks all roosting on the point. A few Gannets seen passing but a nice surprise was an adult Black Tern flying South with a Sandwich Tern. Another addition to my very small year list here. 500+ Starlings were over the West Field and a few Curlew were roosting here, till a female Sparrowhawk flew over and put them all up. The Wetland held 2 Mute Swan, Canada Goose, 4 Moorhen and a few Black Headed Gulls bathing.
29/8/09 Partly Cloudy 14c Wind W 20 Mph
I didn't make it out today so a big thanks to BR for the information. 20 Roseate Terns, 5 Whinchat, Whimbrel, Arctic Skua, Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and a Wheatear all seen here today.
22/8/09 Mostly Sunny 20c Wind W 10 Mph
At last an update I hear you all cry.. Still have the spacing problem at the mo.Nothing much on the Wetland except a Mute Swan and a family of Moorhen.Loads of Swallows passing through today with a few House Martins too.20+ Sanderling, 15+ Oystercatchers, Redshanks, BH Gulls, GBB Gulls,2 Fulmar, 6 Cormorant, Sandwich Terns, 3 Willow Warblers, 8 Goldfinch,Wood Pigeons, 500+ Starlings, Carrion Crows, Eider F noted todayIt's good to be back after having suspected Swine Flu, more than likely Man Flu......
30/7/09 Partly Cloudy 18c Wind W 22 Mph
A few returning waders noted today with 4 Turnstones, 3 Ringed Plover 3 Redshanks 23 Sanderling, 10 Oystercatchers60+ Golden Plover and a Dunlin.Terns seen today were Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns including an Arctic Tern
with the biggest sand eel I've ever seen. I watched as it tried to feed it to its young one. It took it but flew off with it so
I never knew if it managed to scoff it. A female Gooseander was swimming just off the the point, where 4 Cormorant,
GBB Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black Headed Gulls were snoozing in the sunshine.
A few Sand Martin were still about amongst the Swallows and a family party of 4 Pied Wagtails put in a brief appearance.
25/7/09 Partly Cloudy 18c Wind WNW 9 Mph
A very low tide today so not much about,
A Peregrine Falcon scared the sh*t out of the local starlings in the South bay
as it half heartedly tried its luck for a meal. It then flew off towards
Hollywell Pond which may have been it's next port of call.
A few Sandwich Terns were fishing offshore and a Arctic Tern flew South
being chased by it's noisy youngster.
The usually Gulls noted and again the Wetland is dead due to it being overgrown.
I caught up with N&M today and had a chat whilst we watched the distant planes
from the Sunderland Airshow. A canny visit overall....
Believe it or not it's a Peregrine falcon.....
Chinook
Red Arrows over the Wetland
20/7/09 Partly Cloudy 19c Wind W 16 Mph
After a long absence I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here today,
The Wetland held 2 Mute Swan, 3 Moorhen , Swallows, Sand Martins
2 Redshank and Black Headed Gulls.
On the point were a few Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns, Greater Black Backed
Gulls and a couple of Cormorants.
Loads of Starlings hanging about the car park, with Carrion Crows,Rooks and Jackdaws.
Butterflies noted today were, Small Copper, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell,
Large and Small White,Wall and Meadow Browns, also 6 spot Burnet Moths seen.
I also bumped into the photographer who taught me all about using camera setting
and had a good natter.
Cormorant
Sandwich Tern with Sand Eel
Juvenile Sandwich Tern
2/7/09 Fair 23c Wind SE 8 Mph
Not much on the Wetland apart from a pair of Whinchat, a pair of Mute Swan,
Moorhens, 3 Black Headed Gulls and Swallows hawking for insects.
An adult Roseate Tern was sitting near12 Sandwich Terns and 50+ mixed Gulls
on the Point, my first Roseate of the year here.
St Mary's used to be a great place to see these birds, but numbers have dropped
here in the last few years.
Loads of Swallows and House Martins were over the cut grass in the west field
and Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Skylark an Meadow Pipits all in song.
Some Burnet Moths, Painted Lady, Wall and Large White Butterfly's about today.
25/6/09 Mostly Cloudy 16c Wind ENE 9 Mph
This time of year is always quiet here and I usually spend it
chasing beasties trying to get some photos. But as the Wetland
is vastly overgrown and has been left to rack and ruin. Ive started to
not enjoy my visits here, hence the reduced updates.
I will still be running this site but not updating it as much as I used to.
It's hard trying to make it look interesting when you've seen bugger all. 
11/6/09 Partly Cloudy 13c Wind NNW 5 Mph
Not much about bird wise yesterday but thanks to two of the local
birders ( M&N) I got two new moth species for St Mary's
Balsam Carpet ( Xanthorhoe birirviata )
Silver Ground Carpet ( Xanthorhoe montanata )
also a few Wall and Painted Lady Butterfly's about.
It just goes to show St Mary's has more than birds to offer.
8/6/09 Partly Cloudy 14c Wind E 8 Mph
Caught up with the Marsh Warbler here today, it was singing and showing
briefly in the top willows. Just walk down the winding view point track, it was
in the willows at the bottom of the track.
Yesterday I saw my first Manx Shearwater of 2009 along with a steady
trickle of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks,
Also saw my first large Skipper of the year today. Which was nice........
30/5/09 Partly Cloudy 19c Wind SE 12 Mph
A pair of Tufted Ducks, Teal and Mute Swan on the wetland
and a Canada Goose dropped in briefly before the Swan chased it off.
Loads of Hirundines were hawking here too.
The top willows held, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroats, Willow Warbler,
Wren, Blackbirds, Reed Buntings, Linnets, pretty much what you'd
expect on a May morning.
13 drake Eiders near the Lighthouse and a few Sandwich Terns fishing,
but the busy beach wasn't a haven for any waders.
25/5/09 Fair 16c Wind Var 3 Mph
This weekend's visits produced...
2-3 Sedge Warblers
3 Whitethroats
2 Mute Swan
Moorhen
Skylarks
Meadow Pipits
House Sparrows
Swifts
Swallows
Sand Martins
Reed Buntings
Wren
Blackbirds
Magpies
Carrion Crows
Rooks
Jackdaws
Starlings
Wood Pigeons
Sandwich Terns
Black Headed Gulls
Fulmars
GBB Gulls
Herring Gulls
Eiders
Pheasant
House Sparrow.
14/5/09 Partly Cloudy 13c Wind ESE 14 Mph
Update from yesterdays visit which was a wander around the Wetland,
2 Mute Swan, Moorhens and loads of Sand Martins, Swallows and
a year tick of Sedge Warbler here.
The surrounding scrub + willows held.....
Whitethroat 2,(showed very well at times) Wren, Reed Buntings, Blackbirds, Linnets, Magpie
whilst overhead were Rooks, Jackdaws, GBB Gulls, BH Gulls,
more Swallows and a couple of Fulmars.
A few Sandwich Terns were roosting on the rocks, along with the
usual mix of Gull Sp.
It's good to be back..
Reed Bunting M
Whitethroat
11/5/09 Partly Cloudy 11c Wind E 12 Mph
A quick visit early afternoon gave me sightings of
Whitethroat 2 displaying
Reed Buntings
Wren
Blackbirds
Magpie
Meadow Pipits
Skylarks
Linnets
House Sparrows
Rooks
Carrion Crows
Jackdaws
Wood Pigeons
House Martins
Sand Martins
Swifts
Starlings
G BB Gulls
Herring Gulls
Black Headed Gulls
Fulmar
Sandwich Terns
Oystercatchers
Moorhens
Mute Swan 2
Shame my photos didnt come out....
8/5/09 Partly Cloudy 12c Wind W 29 Mph
And so I'm back from outer space.............
A quick visit this morning produced my first Swift of the year,
Whitethroat singing in the top scrub bushes, Swallows,
House Martin, Skylarks and Meadow pipits, Reed Buntings noted.
On the Wetland were a pair of Shelduck, a pair of Mute Swans
2 Herring gulls and Moorhens.
2/5/09 Partly Cloudy 11c Wind WNW 13 Mph
Well my dummy is firmly placed back in my mouth...
Family don't you just love em, parking ticket been paid
and new parking pass coming in a week. Magic!!!
A visit to the Briardene yesterday produced
Blackcap M
Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Blue Tits
Great Tits
Chafffinches
Wood Pigeons
Blackbirds
Wren
Grey Wagtail
Long Tailed Tits
Song Thrush
Goldfinches
Swallows
Starlings
