Widdrington tip

A Heron rises above the new plantation

The boggy and wet Alder wood that was once a refuse tip

Yesterday afternoon with a bit of spare time I went along to Widddrington tip. This was my first visit since the snow disappeared but despite the lack of small birds with only 2 Wrens and a single redpoll it was quite productive. It is a proper welly job and you almost need waders to walk across the flash in the centre as more than once the water was over the brim of the wellies making my feet very cold and uncomfortable. Although wader numbers were low there were at least 12 Common Snipe, 1 Jack snipe and 4 Woodcock. The only other birds were Pheasant, Carrion Crow and Grey Heron. Bennyboy flushed 3 hares and ran after them, he caught up to the 3rd one only to bark and jump over it. He's only a chaser not a hunter thankfully.