Foggy and freezing

Some of the 52 Redshank at Longhirst flash

Summer plumaged Ringed plover.....majestic even in the fog!

The Wheatears were active and difficult to get close to

It was mid morning by the time I left the house to do a round of the local ponds. The temperature in the car on the way to the other side of Morpeth was only reading 5.5 degrees and the fog was quite dense in places. A circuit of Pegswood moor was quite good again even though you couldn't see very far ahead. The 3 Ringed plover were back, if they are the same ones and 3 Wheatears, 2 males and a female. Other birds here were Oystercatcher, Lapwing and a Snipe. At Longhist flash I couldn't see the other side but a count of 52 Redshank (there may have been more)! was a record count away from the coast. Bothal pond was fogbound so I will have a look later in the week.

Yesterday we had a family outing to Cragside. quiet at this time of year for wildlife but 2 Crossbills were a nice surprise. These are the first I have seen this year anywhere.