I'm continuing the theme of rare waders on my blog with the arrival of a fine adult American Golden Plover. This time, not way up in Northumberland but just across the city where the Humber estuary leaves the industrial dockland area behind and flows past a flood alleviation area known as Paull Holme Strays. Above, the estuary flows past a breach where the incoming tide now runs in and provides mud banks and creeks for feeding waders and wildfowl. The American Golden Plover is in view, in the narrow channel above the grass bank. Clearly the distance and, dare I say it, a slight heat haze has ruled out detailed photos but I am pleased to have some images of this spectacular summer plumaged bird. I have only seen one previous 'American' and that was a juvenile wader in 2007 so this bird was a real stunner. A good number of 'summer' Grey Plovers are looking equally smart and three of these were close to the 'American'. A little distraction on the river was a Roe Deer having a swim. I've seen this happen more than once before. An interesting few hours watching the American Golden Plover. The car park area and surrounds had some migrants in song - Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and a Cuckoo passed through several times.
The Grey-headed Lapwing. Across the fence in the furthest wet meadow, local birder Gary Woodburn found this unbelievable Asian visitor. I don't know Gary personally but having read extracts on Twitter, he cultivated the wet scrape in the field himself to attract passage waders!! Finding this Grey-headed Lapwing created not only the first record in Britain but possibly only the fourth record in Europe! This Lapwing species is more at home in China and Japan as well as large parts of Asia. It has travelled an incredible distance to finally cross the North Sea and land on the Northumberland coast. Due to various engagements at home, a tense three days had gone by before we were able to pack a bag, bundle 'Ellie the dog' into the car and point it North up the A1 towards Northumberland. By the time we arrived, the Lapwing had re-located a little to the South end of Long Nanny and was feeding placidly and alone, apart from a couple of Greylag Geese. My first impression was certainly of a lapwing/plover type of posture and the bright yellow bill and legs were certainly an outstanding feature. I was able to watch the Lapwing for a good while albeit at a fair distance. It remained on the ground the entire time and the only images I have reflect this. I felt quite privileged to have seen this long distance vagrant and to enjoy the spectacle being shared by a reasonable number of birders, coming and going throughout the day. I didn't feel the excitement with this bird as I'd expected or perhaps would have, a good few years ago. Some twenty years ago in the Algarve, I couldn't believe my eyes as to the birds I was seeing. Now those birds are here in Yorkshire - Black Kite, Black-winged Stilt, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Spoonbill ..... the list goes on. Perhaps birds are identifying with our changing climate faster than we are and may adapt better than we will, time will tell. We couldn't leave Northumberland without popping into Seahouses and checking the harbour. The local Common Eider ducks are always a favourite with me! A small flock of both male and female Eiders around the rocks on the incoming tide. A drake Eider pushing along quite a 'bow wave' and yet looks bone dry - fully waterproof!!
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