Twitch, Eat, Sleep, Repeat!

Twitch, Eat, Sleep, Repeat!

We arrived at Whitley Bay at around 8:00am (after a 3hr drive) in hopes of seeing the recently reported Pied Wheatear. We parked along the side of the road and walked towards the Panama Dip. Upon arrival, we met Phil, who let us look through his scope and directed us to the Pied Wheatear. It was arguably one of the easiest twitches. The beautiful Pied Wheatear was tame and not bothered by the runners or us! It is always great to see a pretty bird without bins and I enjoyed watching this bird, as it flitted around! It sat in plain sight, on the side of a wall, and came closer to us, on his own accord. It was great light too, making for one of my best record shots!

We then drove 8 minutes to St Mary's Island in hopes of seeing, what was reported as a showy Water Pipit. When we arrived, we walked down to the promenade and scanned all the rocks and kelp. We met and chatted with a great birder named John, who said the bird was in a single spot, chasing around the Rock Pipits. We saw multiple Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits, and Pied Wagtails, yet no Water Pipit.

image from Andrew Edwards, not the same bird

We then did a 30-minute journey to Widdrington Moor Lake for two reported ringtail Hen Harriers. When we arrived, we saw a load of cars parked up on the grass verge and a mob of birders. I ran out of the car, before it was parked and ran to the birders. We asked a couple if they had seen the Hen Harrier. They told me to quickly look through the scope and I finally saw my wanted Hen Harrier. This bird has been in my Top 4 since I started twitching in late March. I have now seen all 4 of those birds, which were Dipper, Yellowhammer, Hen Harrier, and Wheatear. I still need number 5, the Cuckoo, though (which has been evading me for years). I enjoyed the harrier, looking through the expensive scope, as it soared low over the moor, hovering a few times before dropping back down. I was absolutely elated, and it did not disappoint with its acrobatics. I had finally seen my Hen Harrier.

The same couple then directed their scope to the two Red-necked Grebes on the lake. They showed much better than when I last saw one, at the same site on 16/10. I also enjoyed a Marsh Harrier hunting and 4 Great Crested Grebes on the lake.

image from eBird

We then drove a further 2hrs to Fisherrow Harbour, Musselburgh. We met a couple who said they had seen many winter plumage Long-tailed Ducks as well as a few RT, GN, and BT Divers and some Slavonian Grebes. They then let me look through their scope, which was directed at a beautiful, winter plumage male Long-tailed Duck, showing very well. I then scanned with my scope and found a big flock of Velvet Scoter. There were a few Slavonian Grebes in the flock of scoters which was a year tick for me. Unable to see if any of these scoters were the White-winged Scoter, I directed the couple to the flock. They then said that the one at the back, with the bold white patch behind the eye and reddish bill, was the White-winged Scoter. I was very happy with this lifer as it was a mega from North America. We then made our 3.5 hr journey home. 

Overall, an exceptional day birding, with 3 lifers, Pied Wheatear (which was my first rare wheatear), Hen Harrier, and the White-winged Scoter.