NORTHUMBRIA SCOTER AND PIPIT

Jenna and I were on the road by 4.00am, heading north to Goswick Bay, Northumberland, to look for a Black Scoter that had recently been found offshore. It was a long-anticipated target for my England list, having previously encountered the species just once before, many years ago, in February 2003 at Llanfairfechan, Gwynedd.

Llanfairfechan bird 

We arrived shortly after 8.30am and crossed the golf course and sand dunes to reach Goswick Sands, scanning the bay as we went. It took the best part of an hour to finally pick out the bird amongst a large raft of Common Scoter, and although it remained distant, the identification was eventually secured.

Goswick Sands

While searching, there was no shortage of interest. A Black-throated Diver and a Red-throated Diver were both present offshore, along with two Red-necked Grebes and a group of eight Long-tailed Ducks, adding quality and variety to the morning’s seawatching.

Shocking photo, but it's on the England list

With the Black Scoter finally in the bag, we moved on to Ross Back Sands, where an American Pipit had been present for around a month. The walk in was a steady one—around 2.5 km from the car—but taken at an unhurried pace, it was an enjoyable way to soak up the coastal scenery. Skeins of Brent Geese passed overhead along the shoreline, and a Great Northern Diver was visible out in the bay.

On arrival, the pipit was immediately in view, feeding actively along a seaweed bed. We were able to sit quietly on the beach and enjoy superb views as the bird gradually worked its way closer, eventually approaching to within just a few metres—an exceptional and memorable encounter.

It was a highly rewarding day’s birding on the Northumberland coast, and by 7.00pm we were back home in Cheshire, tired but very satisfied.