Abbeystead Lane - Dotterel - 30th April 2010

Yes you have probably read other blogs reporting the Dotterel at Abbeystead Lane, well now it’s my turn. I was on my way back from Northumberland when I decided to call in. I text Mike for directions as he has visited the area several times as written in his birding photos 2010 blog and after a brief chat I was heading for the area. Finding the field along Abbeystead Lane was the easy part, there where 2 birders already there and a field full of Golden Plover but no sign of the Dotterel. I climbed out of the car and swept the area but apart from the odd passing Curlew, Meadow Pipit and Lapwing oh and the Golden Plover but no Dotterel to be seen, did I also mention it was raining?
ABOVE MEADOW PIPIT HAVING A SHAKE DOWN IN THE RAIN, BELOW MEADOW PIPIT
It was then that Margaret Breaks drove past and suggested that we watched from the car rather than standing by the fence where we in full view, at which point it stopped raining! She had checked in on the area several times in recent days and found viewing from the car gave a better view of the birds as they seemed to come in closer, makes sense when you think about it. Within five minutes she spotted 2 Dotterel in the next field and passed the information on. I then spent the next hour or so watching them as they fed across the field to the left of the Golden Plover.
ABOVE DOTTEREL TAKEN WITH K20D BELOW MOBI-SCOPED
Thanks again to Margaret for pointing the Dotterel out and advising us to return to our cars.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Am glad you found the spot ok. It's a nice area for many birds. The photos have come out very well. Perhaps you've invented a new technique: i.e. mobiscoping? Mike.

Robs Birding said...

Hi Derek , nice photos of the Dotterel , they really are sunning birds in summer plumage . atb Rob

Stuart Price said...

Wow, I'd love to see a Dotterel........