u/342197930

My gut says female linnet… my lack of confidence in ID’ing birds says wrong! TIA

Northumberland Coastline

Amble, Northumberland.

Merlin was picking up Linnets. This bird was observed on the rocks at the beach, however immediately behind me in vast dunes and farmland with brambles, gauze bushes, various trees/bushes etc.

Reddit reduces the video quality unfortunately, but it appeared to have a greyish head and black in the wing tips. Thanks!

After around 2 hours of staring into reed beds with my brother, we were able to positively ID both Reed and Sedge warblers as we could see them performing their songs, which were then also backed up by Merlin.

We were finally in the right area for a Cetti’s Warbler. Its explosive call was only a few metres in front of us in the reeds/bushes. Merlin was confirming it to be a Cetti’s each time.

We repeatedly saw this small bird in that same area, but could never seeing it making the Cetti’s call to 100% ID it. It had a very deep chestnut back, had the distinctive eyebrow marking and quite a long tail. Just wondering what people’s opinions were?

Apologies for the footage, shot on an iPhone while trying to frantically find where it kept jumping around to. TIA!

Wearside, North East

Merlin was picking up Reed Warblers, Cettis Warblers and Sedge Warblers

First one for my list, very cool little bird!

River Wear, Durham

First noticed lots of Sand Martins flying around. Then noticed several larger birds with much more exaggerated, sickle like wings. It was very hard to get a good image of them.

It didn’t have the streamers like a barn swallow, nor could I see any white underside/rump like house martins. There were lots of them, are they Swifts?

Sorry if it’s obvious, I’m still new to birding! TIA