Clive Saunders
@warkworthbirder.bsky.social
Northumberland Birder based in Warkworth.
Siberian Chiffchaff - Warkworth Beach Car Park - prob same bird as a few days ago. But this time it was calling !! And a bit easier to get some photos. #NEbirding
November 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Siberian Chiffchaff - Warkworth Beach Car Park - prob same bird as a few days ago. But this time it was calling !! And a bit easier to get some photos. #NEbirding
Not sure these photos show the paleness of this bird. Siberian Chiffchaff (??) at Warkworth Beach Car Park this afternoon. Very pale and monochrome but unfortunately it refused to call. Opinions welcome. #NEbirding
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Not sure these photos show the paleness of this bird. Siberian Chiffchaff (??) at Warkworth Beach Car Park this afternoon. Very pale and monochrome but unfortunately it refused to call. Opinions welcome. #NEbirding
Yellow Browed Warblers have been hard to come by in Northumberland this year. Delighted to find this one at Warkworth Beach Car Park. this morning- calling it's wee head off - which is always a help in finding them. #NEbirding
November 2, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Yellow Browed Warblers have been hard to come by in Northumberland this year. Delighted to find this one at Warkworth Beach Car Park. this morning- calling it's wee head off - which is always a help in finding them. #NEbirding
Hauxley NR - Buston Links hybrids?? I think the bill on these isn't quite right for Shoveler and there is a little hint of Blue winged Teal ?? I presume these are two of the offspring from the female BWT x Shoveler and male Shoveler from a bit further up the coast. ??? #NEbirding Comments welcome.
October 19, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Hauxley NR - Buston Links hybrids?? I think the bill on these isn't quite right for Shoveler and there is a little hint of Blue winged Teal ?? I presume these are two of the offspring from the female BWT x Shoveler and male Shoveler from a bit further up the coast. ??? #NEbirding Comments welcome.
Another day, another Caspian Gull. Amble Links Beach this morning. 3cy/4cy ?? Don't see one for ages and then... #NEbirding Yesterday's 1cy was also still present making it my first ever 2 Casp day.
September 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Another day, another Caspian Gull. Amble Links Beach this morning. 3cy/4cy ?? Don't see one for ages and then... #NEbirding Yesterday's 1cy was also still present making it my first ever 2 Casp day.
After a couple of "is it or isn't it" birds this week. Finally, I got a Caspian Gull that I was happy with. Amble Links Beach this afternoon. A double gull day with the YLG this morning. Apart from PKCS, this is my first patch Casp this year (and it has not been through lack of trying)! #NEbirding
September 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
After a couple of "is it or isn't it" birds this week. Finally, I got a Caspian Gull that I was happy with. Amble Links Beach this afternoon. A double gull day with the YLG this morning. Apart from PKCS, this is my first patch Casp this year (and it has not been through lack of trying)! #NEbirding
A couple of pics of the adult Yellow Legged Gull at Warkworth Weir this morning. My good year on patch continues - another new one for the year list. #NEbirding Even on a dull wet day the legs were glowing!
September 20, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A couple of pics of the adult Yellow Legged Gull at Warkworth Weir this morning. My good year on patch continues - another new one for the year list. #NEbirding Even on a dull wet day the legs were glowing!
Wagtail Research! - Amble Links Beach today. This one looks like a White Wagtail to me. #markaeaton.bsky.social This was the most obvious of 20 wagtails with 2 others maybe Whites but probably not. (That was a good way to spend an afternoon!)
September 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Wagtail Research! - Amble Links Beach today. This one looks like a White Wagtail to me. #markaeaton.bsky.social This was the most obvious of 20 wagtails with 2 others maybe Whites but probably not. (That was a good way to spend an afternoon!)
Thank you, but I think you over-estimate my abilities. These are the two September birds that you mention in your initial post (2023 and 2024). It is almost like I am looking out for a completely different bird! A bit more reading for me, I think!
September 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Thank you, but I think you over-estimate my abilities. These are the two September birds that you mention in your initial post (2023 and 2024). It is almost like I am looking out for a completely different bird! A bit more reading for me, I think!
Always exciting finding a small wader. Juv Little Stint at Hauxley Beach this afternoon. My first of the year and one I missed on the patch last year. Another good one to get. #NEbirding
September 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Always exciting finding a small wader. Juv Little Stint at Hauxley Beach this afternoon. My first of the year and one I missed on the patch last year. Another good one to get. #NEbirding
Black Tern at Birling Carrs. (Cheers Neil for the WhatsApp). A bit of local knowledge and my hunch that it would move a little further down the coast on the rising tide proved correct. A difficult one to get on the 5km patch - only my second in 7 years! #NEbirding
August 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Black Tern at Birling Carrs. (Cheers Neil for the WhatsApp). A bit of local knowledge and my hunch that it would move a little further down the coast on the rising tide proved correct. A difficult one to get on the 5km patch - only my second in 7 years! #NEbirding
This set the pulse racing today. I know it is an escapee, the transmitter wire is clearly visible, but it still knocks you off balance when you first see it! Saker or Gyr or hybrid ??? Boulmer this morning. #NEbirding
August 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This set the pulse racing today. I know it is an escapee, the transmitter wire is clearly visible, but it still knocks you off balance when you first see it! Saker or Gyr or hybrid ??? Boulmer this morning. #NEbirding
Help needed please? Seaton Point, Boulmer today. ???? #NEbirding. And please don't say its an Eider! The other one!
August 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Help needed please? Seaton Point, Boulmer today. ???? #NEbirding. And please don't say its an Eider! The other one!
Gull season has started. A good gathering on Buston Links Beach this morning. I think this is an Lesser Black Back of Scandinavian origin (probably intermedius). Seems dark enough on the back to me and a shade darker than the LBBG next door. #NEbirding
July 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Gull season has started. A good gathering on Buston Links Beach this morning. I think this is an Lesser Black Back of Scandinavian origin (probably intermedius). Seems dark enough on the back to me and a shade darker than the LBBG next door. #NEbirding
Not many birds about today but two colour-flagged Redshank. CTN at Low Hauxley - (from the Wash Wader Group) and the returning bird to Coquet Estuary, back for a 4th year (originally ringed on the Humber). #NEbirding Two in one day!
July 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Not many birds about today but two colour-flagged Redshank. CTN at Low Hauxley - (from the Wash Wader Group) and the returning bird to Coquet Estuary, back for a 4th year (originally ringed on the Humber). #NEbirding Two in one day!
Green and Wood Sandpipers at Buston Links Marsh today. (ID : If it flies off never to be seen again = Green, if it poses for photos = Wood). Good to get Green Sandpiper on the 5km year list even if it remained out of sight for the camera. #NEbirding
July 22, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Green and Wood Sandpipers at Buston Links Marsh today. (ID : If it flies off never to be seen again = Green, if it poses for photos = Wood). Good to get Green Sandpiper on the 5km year list even if it remained out of sight for the camera. #NEbirding
And this is what her ducklings now look like! At least 4 surviving out of the 8 but others may have been hidden. Good luck with ID when they arrive on your local duckpond!
July 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
And this is what her ducklings now look like! At least 4 surviving out of the 8 but others may have been hidden. Good luck with ID when they arrive on your local duckpond!
Buston Links Teal - 3 months on and this is what she now looks like. Seems to have got a bit greyer ??? The bill still looks big but looking more BWT ??. I thought I had this case closed as a hybrid (BWT x Shoveler) but today's views have put my head back a fuzz. #NEbirding #birdhybrids
July 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Buston Links Teal - 3 months on and this is what she now looks like. Seems to have got a bit greyer ??? The bill still looks big but looking more BWT ??. I thought I had this case closed as a hybrid (BWT x Shoveler) but today's views have put my head back a fuzz. #NEbirding #birdhybrids
Caspian Gull - Amble's famous visitor seems to have returned early to the harbour. I presume this is "PKCS" but it has returned with only one leg! (The colour ring leg is missing!) 'Casper' was first seen in the harbour in July 2013 as a 3rd year, and has been seen every year since. #NEbirding
July 7, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Caspian Gull - Amble's famous visitor seems to have returned early to the harbour. I presume this is "PKCS" but it has returned with only one leg! (The colour ring leg is missing!) 'Casper' was first seen in the harbour in July 2013 as a 3rd year, and has been seen every year since. #NEbirding
Today, the Buston Links Teal brought her babies out for a family photo. Ducklings already developing a big beak and white loral spot. Be interesting to see how they develop further. #NEbirding #birdhybrids Presumably (BWT x Shoveler) x Shoveler hybrids.
June 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Today, the Buston Links Teal brought her babies out for a family photo. Ducklings already developing a big beak and white loral spot. Be interesting to see how they develop further. #NEbirding #birdhybrids Presumably (BWT x Shoveler) x Shoveler hybrids.
Buston Links - The female Blue winged Teal x Shoveler hybrid reappeared today with five-eight, week old, presumably (BWT x Shoveler) x Shoveler hybrid ducklings. Coming to a duckpond near you!!!! She is keeping the chicks well hidden but a couple did make it onto the photos. #NEbirding #Birdhybrids
June 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Buston Links - The female Blue winged Teal x Shoveler hybrid reappeared today with five-eight, week old, presumably (BWT x Shoveler) x Shoveler hybrid ducklings. Coming to a duckpond near you!!!! She is keeping the chicks well hidden but a couple did make it onto the photos. #NEbirding #Birdhybrids
Another striking Stonechat #markaeaton.bsky.social This one has been at Buston Links, paired up and successfully breeding. Bright and with a clear white rump. More continental than average but I suspect within variation for hibernans.
June 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Another striking Stonechat #markaeaton.bsky.social This one has been at Buston Links, paired up and successfully breeding. Bright and with a clear white rump. More continental than average but I suspect within variation for hibernans.
Funny you should say that, Mark! Bingo - Coquet Estuary, Northumberland today.
May 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Funny you should say that, Mark! Bingo - Coquet Estuary, Northumberland today.
Wood Sandpiper at the recently created Buston Links Marsh today. A good one to get on the 5km patch year list. #NEbirding
May 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Wood Sandpiper at the recently created Buston Links Marsh today. A good one to get on the 5km patch year list. #NEbirding
Photo is of the Buston Links Teal. I found this video of Blue winged Teal x Northern Shoveler hybrid ebird.org/species/x00629 Top Video 3. A bird from Toronto in 2022. The similarities are remarkable. Never totally happy with ID as Cinnamon or BWT. FWIW I am now thinking hybrid. #NEbirding ????
May 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Photo is of the Buston Links Teal. I found this video of Blue winged Teal x Northern Shoveler hybrid ebird.org/species/x00629 Top Video 3. A bird from Toronto in 2022. The similarities are remarkable. Never totally happy with ID as Cinnamon or BWT. FWIW I am now thinking hybrid. #NEbirding ????