Simon and Karen Spavin: October 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Donna Nook Seals

The two bulls had a right set to, both drawing blood. The female just looked calmly on and let them get on with it.

New born seal

Just a few hours old, with its umbilical cord still attached and magpies happily grazing on the placenta!

Donna Nook was so much better when it was a secret, we didn't have a fence, the hoards of people, the burger van and the fluffy seal shop.

Ring Necked Duck and Spoonbill

Had a good morning at Kirkby on Bain with a distant spoonbill that flew as soon as the guns started. Main star was this ring necked duck which came relatively close. I didn't know that Elvis was a birder??!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Eastern Crowned Warbler

Spent an afternoon at South Shields to see this Eastern Crowned Warbler, a first for mainland Britain. It showed very well, although the distance and the speed that it flitted about, didn't make photography easy. It only stayed around for a few days so felt very lucky to have seen it.

Cape May

Just returned from a very disappointing week in Cape May led by Peter Kennelly from Limosa. The guide was a replacement, and was absolutely useless. After complaining bitterly many times to Limosa we were given compensation. We wouldn't recommend them at all and would certainly never use Limosa ever again. Birdfinders do exactly the same trip now for £400 cheaper and I know that their guides call all the birds and have significant 'people skills', something that our guide was definately lacking.
Anyway, managed 140 species with 110 of those being new to Karen. Humming birds and monarch butterflies were certainly the highlight of the trip.