Durham Birding (6 Viewers)

[sless]

hi ray
looking forward to seeing your short eared owl photos from today,looks like you were getting some great shots

 

[Ray.Scott]

Not the best of Light Sless, but managed a couple.

South Shields today, not much about the pier/beach area other than Eider, Guillemot, turnstone, cormorant and shag.
No sign of the Lapland bunting during my visit to the Leas but the two owls put on a show, only other birds were goldfinch and 2 robin.

 

[IanF]

RSPB Saltholme - am - Waxwing x11 moving between bushes beside entrance road and workshops.

Cowpen Marsh - Short-eared Owl.

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - car park feeders - Tree Saprrow x12, Yellowhammer x1, lots of Blue Tits, Coal Tit, Great Tit.

Lake - Cormorant x1, Heron x2, Goldeneye x4 (1 male), Mallard x1, Tufted Duck x15, Canada Goose x1.

RSPB Saltholme - pm - Waxwings by Calor Gas again plus a group reported in the hedges by the Wildlife Watchpoint.

Saltholme Hide - BN Grebe, Goldeneye, Barnacle Geese. A fox was wandering along the path back to the visitor centre hunting for voles as it went.


Waxwing video - http://youtu.be/kdRF38iMQWQ

Fox video - http://youtu.be/TeRn9yfsonc

Black-necked Grebe video - http://youtu.be/-Sp1cjx36q4

 

[vivster]

South Shields and Whitburn

Up and out early see if i could find snow buntings today..didnt find any till after 3 oclock thanks to nice guy who Point Me In The Right Direction.heres Some fotos from today

 

[vivster]

More Photos

I was Surprise when came across Kestrel

 

[stefan.zait]

Winter sun at RSPB Saltholme and Greatham

Frosty but great sunlight for most of the day. SEO at Greatham at dusk.

 

[seggs]

I was Surprise when came across Kestrel

Thats some capture Vivien. :t: never seen a Kes take out a Sanderling, wonder if it was ill or dead before the Kes grabbed it..???
Nice to see you again today.:t:

 

[vivster]

nice guys

Thats some capture Vivien. :t: never seen a Kes take out a Sanderling, wonder if it was ill or dead before the Kes grabbed it..???
Nice to see you again today.:t:

Thanks Seggs.It was nice seeing you again too and also nice to meet Ray..

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from South Shields today, thanks Vivien :t:.

 

[MalR]

Had a look in at the mound today for the short-eared owls. It was chucking it down when we arrived, but after sitting in the car for twenty minutes, the rain cleared and the sun came out. We eventually had decent views of a couple of owls.

Thanks to Steve (Seggs) for getting the news out initially.:t:

Malcolm

 

[vivster]

Snow Buntings

Well I went back for Snow Buntings today with Sue.

 

[TimG]

Spent today on teeside firstly at Saltholme then at Greatham Creek. At Saltholme 11 Waxwings were causing quite a stir flying between the visitors centre and the berry covered bushes by the Wildlife watchpoint and alighting in the bushes flanking the path within four metres or so of the awaiting cameras. At Haverton area there were 3 Long-Eared Owls hidden amongst the vegetation which you could approach to within 10-15m without any sign of them even deigning to open their eyes, clearly at ease with the impassable frozen pool between us. these in particular gave great sightings with two being clearly visible in a gap on the sunward side of some privets.

At Greatham it was fairly quiet and no sign when we were there on the North side of any owls, however 7 Twite flew in onto the power lines then down to the pools to drink.

No news as far as we know of the Black-Necked Grebe today.

 

[IanF]

RSPB Saltholme - am - Water Rail showed briefly from the Phil Stead Hide as it made a dash across the open area in front of the hide.

Wildlife Watchpoint - Waxwings x9 giving close views. Another couple were by the workshops.

Water Rail video clip - http://youtu.be/03QeP18Vfw0

Waxwing video - http://youtu.be/M_6PmBLkHC0

 

[sless]

loving the waxwing photos,it was nice to bump into ray,viv and seggs and dan,had a great day,bit nipy likie

 

[dannyboy]

loving the waxwing photos,it was nice to bump into ray,viv and seggs and dan,had a great day,bit nipy likie

Cracking shots of the waxwings Ian I thought I had taken some good ones at the same place on Friday but when I look at mine now they look a bit sad.

A bit gutted about missing the owls but it was good having a chat with everyone and putting a few new faces to names - I hope Max has defrosted|8|||=)| Might have to try for the owls again on Monday so I would not bother going down if I was everyone - they are guaranteed not to show if I'm there :C

 

[seggs]

Had a look in at the mound today for the short-eared owls. It was chucking it down when we arrived, but after sitting in the car for twenty minutes, the rain cleared and the sun came out. We eventually had decent views of a couple of owls.

Thanks to Steve (Seggs) for getting the news out initially.:t:

Malcolm

Nice shots Malcolm, you managed where many of us failed on yesterdays visit. :t:

 

[MalR]

A quick visit to Saltholme today. It was very busy with families coming to see the reindeer which were on show. However, the waxwings were still around and gave excellent views.

Here's a video of some of the waxwings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGPIbIV9HVE&feature=plcp

I then made my way to Hartlepool Marina, where the great northern diver was showing well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmLEdCQJlnU&feature=plcp

Malcolm

 

[IanF]

Margaret spotted a Brambling in the garden this morning. First one we've had this winter.

It was much easier to view than it was to photograph as it seldom stayed in one place long enough, at least until it found a spot in the sun to warm itself.

The only other location I got to today was the marina at Hartlepool where a Great Northern Diver was still present. It spent most of the time under water feeding though towards lunchtime it settled down a bit and spent a while preening.

Brambling video - http://youtu.be/duvNQr-qhPg

Great Northern Diver video - http://youtu.be/PHe2MMccgFc

 

[DCJ]

Waxwings.

In Durham.

.

 

[A W Gregory]

In Durham.

.

The Master Strikes
Stunning shots Davy Lad 8-P