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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Not particularly exciting... And I definitely wouldn't go out of your way when heading to Cumbria. There haven't been any Roseate's seen here yet (but a little on the early side) and Common/Sandwich Terns are only in small numbers; holiday makers don't make it easy for terns to rest. Whitburn...
  2. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    The original Bewick's tweets did not mention '@Birdguides'. As you say Adam, a little unfair to criticise. @Birdguides follows 3455 other Twitter users, and it is expecting them to monitor all tweets through the day and notice some local news of a county (not national) scarcity (not rarity)...
  3. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Out of interest, when did the the finders/observers pass the news on to Birdguides? Mark
  4. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Nice record on Birdguides from Prudhoe yesterday: Rose-coloured Starling, Northumbs, Prudhoe one near woods in Oakland Estate at c.NZ105627 late afternoon then flew to roost Good chance it'll be utilising garden feeders nearby. Mark
  5. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    It was great to get them at Whitburn last weekend. A fantastic sight. Not sure about on the north side of the Tyne, but the Marsden area has some very suitable seacliffs for nesting, as well as a working quarry with further suitable habitat. Since Durham's Ravens are still seemingly persecuted...
  6. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    If you struggle in Northumberland, numbers in Durham are the best they have been for years. It's easily possible to see 50-70 in a couple of hours around Upper Teesdale, and you can watch them lek from the car without risk of disturbing them. Quite a few other sites in Weardale and Teesdale also...
  7. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Bluethroat at St Mary's hasn't been seen since Fri 27th. Yellow-broweds - just find any area close to the coast with sycamores and/or willows. There are plenty of YBWs around, and you'd probably waste more time in chasing other peoples birds. It'll be easier (and much more satisfying) to find...
  8. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Gordon, you might be better putting any further shots on the ID thread, especially as they're also out of Northumberland. Photo 1: one of the most striking parts of Long-legged Buzzard is the pale tail, so this a bit of a non-starter... Its a dark phase juv Honey-buzzard. Photo 2: definitely not...
  9. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    A bit the same around here, a sign of the times. On the occasions I've been looking for Whitburn Bonaparte's in last few days, I've not seen another birder (although I know other locals have been out checking their patches). I know gulls aren't everyone's cup of tea, but it can be good fun...
  10. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Some people have all the luck... ;)
  11. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    A quick Google search for Colin Simms shows that he also found the first ever breeding Lapland Buntings in England (but not sure if this was in Northumberland...) http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/2.2961/features/colin-embraces-life-naturally-1.861159?referrerPath=home/2.3307 Quite some guy is...
  12. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    And no doubt discovered by Mr Colin Simms...
  13. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    via Twitter; Hexham Courant (page 9) reports Red-backed Shrike as having bred in Northumberland this year. Would be rather nice if they have, but perhaps unsurprising considering the large spring influx. Mark
  14. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    A bit like not buying an NUFC season ticket for years, slagging off the manager and team at every opportunity, but expecting to walk into St James' Park for free when they play Man Utd and have front row seats. Mark
  15. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Assume nothing, check everything. Whimbrel is only slightly down on Curlew (17-19" in length compared to 20-24" for Curlew). If it was half the size, maybe it was an Upland Sandpiper, or a Little Curlew? :eek!: Or maybe a Ruff. Mark
  16. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    There is a North Tyneside Council website with info about the park and also has visiting details: http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/browse-display.shtml?p_ID=27698&p_subjectCategory=523
  17. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Try: http://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/07/identification-of-cackling-and-canada-goose/ and: http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=11 and: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html A good few references on taxonomy & identification given in these articles, but the ID of...
  18. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Also to put it into perspective, there have been no modern day records of Raven in the South Tyenside area, just a few miles to the south. Still a very rare bird in Durham away from the uplands. Mark
  19. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    It is very easy to see them in Upper Teesdale without leaving the warmth and comfort of your car. The famous Langdon Beck site held 40+ males this spring and you can watch them lekking from the road, whilst a drive around surrounding roads (eg at Harwood) can bring views down to under 20m. One...
  20. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    The foraging distance of breeding Gannets is quite remarkable and the birds seen off the north-east will, like you say, be a mix of Bass Rock and Bempton birds. Here is a link to some study results from Bass Rock showing the maximum distance logged was a massive 540km...
  21. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Confused me a little too, as middendorffii is linked with Taiga Bean, not Tundra. But as Martin is often talking from the pulpit, not stuck in the pews like the rest of us, it seemed rude to correct... Mark
  22. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Hi Alan, The Spurn bird looked a really interesting individual - mentioned as a possible eastern Tundra on Martin Garner's blog. http://birdingfrontiers.com/2012/05/17/big-bean-goose/ It'd be good to see photos of the Holy Island individual and to track the movements of the bird. Mark
  23. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    But on that basis, everything is 'tickable'?! Bar-headed Goose, Wood Duck, Budgie, Hooded Merg, Red-breasted Goose, Eagle Owl, Cockatiel all seen locally 'in the wild' in last few years... All free-flying, despite originally being in captivity at some point in their lives. But like you say, each...
  24. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    Fine if you can spare the money! Washington WWT is a bit closer though and you'll drive past there - nice views of RBGoose, along with a good selection of other rare wildfowl.
  25. Mark Newsome

    Northumbrian Birding

    The Snow Geese have been around Northumberland since the back end of August, so didn't arrive with the masses of Pink-feet. There are a good few feral Snow Geese at large in the UK - breeding takes place in Argyll and Hampshire, at least. See page 4 of RBBP report at...
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