Planning our visit to the Isle of Mull

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With less than two weeks until we go to the Isle of Mull, thought I would start planning for our week on the wonderful Isle.

Big Waters & Prestwick Carr (Sun 21st April 2013)

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Noddle, Mrs Y & I nip out for a couple of hours birding to take advantage of the decent weather. First up was Big Waters followed by a quick trip to Prestwick Carr.

St Mary's Island (Sat 20th April 2013)

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The sun has finally arrived so Noddle, Mrs Y & I take a trip to the seaside.

St Mary's Island - Whitley Bay

Grey Seal - Photo by Stephen Wales AKA Noddle

In search of migrants (Sat 13th April 2013)

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Noddle picked me up at 7am on the mission to see the return of the spring migrants.

After a quick stop for breakfast, we head up the coast to Cresswell Pond.

Cresswell Pond  Hide

The first migrant of the day flew by in the distance, a SAND MARTIN. Plenty of Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Redshank along with a pair of Long Tailed Duck & a Brown Hare running along the fence.

Next was a trip to Newbiggin-by-the-sea (Church Point) to walk along the beach looking for migrants.

Newbiggin-by-the-sea

In truth, just a male WHEATEAR could be found on the migrant front along with regulars such as Grey Heron, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Turnstone & plenty of Gulls.

RSPB Saltholme & the surrounding area (Monday 1st April 2013)

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Mrs Y & I picked up Noddle for a trip to one of our favourite reserves, RSPB Saltholme.

On  arrival we watch a fox on the bird feeding station for a good 10 minutes helping itself to the welly full of sunflower seeds. Once the fox had gone there were plenty of Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch etc to help themselves to the food on offer.



After a coffee & bite to eat we headed towards Greatham Creek & Greenabella Marsh. No sign of the Spotted Redshank but a group of 20+ Avocets could be seen huddled together on a pond from the A178 road hide, with a couple of other pairs feeding in the pools of Greenabella Marsh.

Overall a good day out even if it was freezing cold.

QEII Country Park & Linton Lane (Sunday 31st March 2013)

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After the excess food consumed on Saturday night at a friend's house, Mrs Y & I decided to pop out for a couple of hours to try & walk some of it off.

Mobbed by a large group of Mute Swans as we left the car, the lake was half-frozen with a pair of Mute Swans determined to break the ice as the head for the edge.

Four Goldeneye on the pond & a Goldcrest calling from the trees were the highlights.

Linton Lane NR

Then it was on to Linton Lane, which had nothing out of the ordinary (Goldeneye, Canada Geese, Teal, Little Grebe, Tufted duck etc) but it was nice & peaceful way to end our little trip.

Big Waters & Preswick Carr (Friday 29th March 2013)

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A 7am start on a freezing cold morning saw Noddle & I fit a couple of hours birding in at the start of Easter weekend.

Big Waters had the usual suspects with the highlight being a pair of Pintail on the water.



Plenty of tits (Willow, Great & Blue), finches (Gold &Chaff) & sparrows (Tree) on the feeders along with a GSW.