Asian Desert Warbler & Beautiful Northumberland,Friday 19th June 2020.

After hearing news that a Asian Desert Warbler had been found on Lindisfarne on the Northumberland coast on Monday 22nd,it was a long few days at work hoping it would stay until Friday when i could make the trip up to see this mega warbler.
 So Thursday night,Tracey and myself checked the bird news and it was still present,being seen around 7pm,so that was it,the twitch was on.
 Next morning we were up bright and early for the long journey north,which was certainly tense until Tim rang us when we were approaching Alnwick to say the bird was present...thank god for that! and that Jacqui & him were on their way north also.
 We arrived at our destination,parking in the car park at the Snook on the beautiful island of Lindisfarne,a place we have been to several times in the past,got the gear together and made our way to where the bird was.
 After a tense few minutes,i was then onto the bird and we both clapped eyes on our first Asian Desert Warbler,what a little cracker and also hearing it singing was superb.The song was totally un-Sylvia like and really unique,what a great privilege to see this lovely little bird which should be residing in Mongolia instead of a foggy and windswept Northumberland coast.
 After watching the bird for some time,we then went to meet Tim and Jac to show them where the bird was and by now it had become more flighty and went missing for a while,until it was thankfully re-found so they could both see it.
 After enjoying our fill of the bird we then went looking for other wildlife on the island,managing to see at least 3 Dark-green Fritillary,a Garden Tiger Caterpillar and a profusion of wild flowers,including Northern Marsh and Common-spotted Orchids and Marsh Helleborines.
 After running out of time,due to the high tide being due,we headed off the island visiting lovely Bamburgh and Seahouses on the journey home.
 The Asian Desert Warbler was a new bird for all of us and puts my life list at a decent 477 species,not bad for a birder who hasn't really twitched that much outside of Yorkshire & Lincolnshire.It also added to Trace's growing list of rare birds she has now seen which also includes Purple Swamphen,Blyth's-reed Warbler and Rosy Starling.

Asian Desert Warbler,Note The Striking Pallid,Sandy Appearance And Piercing Yellow Eye.

You Can See The Distinct White Sides To The Tail In This Shot.

Big Skies On Lindisfarne,With Some Lovely Views When The Fog Cleared.

The Snook Tower & House.

Northern-marsh Orchid.

Northern-marsh Orchid.

Dark-green Fritillary,Found By Mrs R.

Bamburgh Castle,What An Impressive Construction.

Female Eider,Seahouses.