Durham Birding (7 Viewers)

[vivster]

thanks very much derek..i had a look at your fotos..thay are brill

vivien x

 

[seggs]

Know what you mean Stevie, I went to see the firecrest up at West boldon a couple of weeks ago - it thought I was early but there were 6 other cars there - i had a walk around the said area - but there were so many people there I just gave up - I dont think the firecrest had been seen since. Not my idea of comfortable birding.
Posting sightings on here should be encouraged, but it is a double edged sword.
Saw a Barn Owl last night at the Zinc Road - not sure where they are roosting but cant be easy to flush birds there surely - Power Station police were watching cars there all the time.

GS Woodpecker and nuthatch in particular - Low Barns is good and you can always jump into the hides or centre for a warm up in this weather, - Also Treecreepers there but need to watch carefully and listen for them.

hi colin
the firecrest was reported 2 days ago on the rba. site( by text to me).
i know what you mean with the crowded venue..been a few times for the bird and parking here is very dodgy as its on a main road roundabout...(best bet is to park to the left of the roundabout in the trading est. and walk over..) .

 

[degsy_safc]

thanks very much derek..i had a look at your fotos..thay are brill

vivien x

Vivien, Thanks for the nice comment and good luck photographing the birds..

Nuthatch & GS Woodpecker are common at Thornley Woodlands on the A694 heading towards Rowlands Gill from just past the Metro Centre. I've seen a Treecreeper there once but didn't get a shot of it. Thornley Woodlands is free whereas Washington charge about £6.50 if you are a non-member..

Hope this helps

 

[IanF]

An interesting find on my local patch today was a Woodcock being chased by a brown juv Sparrowhawk. A dog had disturbed the Woodcock a couple hundred meters to my left. By the time it flew by me the Sparrowhawk was on it's tail though I'm not sure whether it was trying to catch the Woodock or maybe it was distrubed by the same guy with the dog. It veered off when it saw me.

Also noteworthy here was a Redshank and a pair of copulating Goldeneye on the main pond. Little Gull and Scaup still present.

 

[joe1969]

croxdale and estate
grey wagtail,jackdaw,rook,dipper3(1 carrying nesting material),nuthatch4,fieldfare,redwing,l/t/tit,great tit,blue tit,treecreeper4,c/crow,wren,robin,chaffinch,blackbird,w/pigeon,g/s/w 2,common gull,b/h/gull,siskin,greenfinch,goldfinch,bullfinch,tree sparrow,song thrush,goosander2,mallard,dunnock,little grebe,goldcrest,cormorant.still havent managed the hawfinch

 

[will@bill]

croxdale and estate
grey wagtail,jackdaw,rook,dipper3(1 carrying nesting material),nuthatch4,fieldfare,redwing,l/t/tit,great tit,blue tit,treecreeper4,c/crow,wren,robin,chaffinch,blackbird,w/pigeon,g/s/w 2,common gull,b/h/gull,siskin,greenfinch,goldfinch,bullfinch,tree sparrow,song thrush,goosander2,mallard,dunnock,little grebe,goldcrest,cormorant.still havent managed the hawfinch

join the club
try the ybw again this morning seen 3 goldcrests this time:-O

 

[NeilF]

Decided that, as it was such a pleasant morning, to walk from Durham City upto Brasside Pond (NZ2945).
On leaving Durham heading North in a field just before reaching the farm were a mixed flock of 70+ Fieldfare, Redwing & Mistle Thrush, whilst in a hedge nearby was a single female Bullfinch.
Beyond the farm 35-40 Yellowhammer were encountered along with the first of four Jay sightings.
At Brasside the smaller pond was mostly frozen but the large pond held 7 Pochard (6 drakes), a pair of Goldeneye, a Little Grebe and the regulars included 19 Mute Swans.
The trees & bushes that surround the ponds contained groups of 9 each of Long-tailed Tit & Goldfinch 2 Treecreeper, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch and a pair of Willow Tit in the South-West corner.
On the way back another seperate flock of c40 Redwing were ground feeding.
In total 46 species seen/heard in the 3 hour walk.

Neil

 

[JBee]

To spare myself a recurring bout of the dreaded suppression I thought it best to inform those who are interested that a flock/group/gathering/shoal of 11 snow buntings were on the turf at Hetton-le-hill today I did ring CW but he was in N/castle.
Also 15 mistle thrushes alongside them and 7 grey partridges in the adjacent field (unfortunately like the thrushes a long way off)
A patient wait of almost 5 hours sat in the freezing cold on my little fishing stool was finally rewarded with the snow buntings almost at my feet (and in amongst the snow )
I would have loved the thrushes to have come closer but it wasn't to be.
Strangely on the day the most (I think) buntings have shown the only bird watcher to appear was Julie who after watching the buntings at a distance was eventually rewarded with brilliant close up views (after 30 minutes )
Just about to see if I have any pictures in focus and if so I may post a couple later.

 

[Paul Mc]

Think I'm very lucky to have a few fields etc to kick around and indulge my hobby. The Leamside railway runs right throu here and over the last few weeks I have noticed guys in the line scratching about in the hedge area. They were there this morning about 10.00, about ten of them. No idea what they were up to so this afternoon I decided to go into the line to look for myself. some evidence of digging (place is overrun with rabbits) but still no idea.
Continued to walk the line and over the old pit heap at Bowburn. Well off the beaten track but must be some good birding here.
Back on to our farm is a good area of set aside surrounded by woods. No access to it unless from our farm - anyone fancy a walk?
Back up to check BO box, pellets under it. Little dark ones Stevie?
Good flock of 40 plus fieldfares and our usual tree sparrows etc.

Paul Mc

 

[geordie graham]

Just received the latest edition of the LEK.Excellent publication and well done to all those involved.

Graham

 

[craigthirlwell]

Weardale and hetton bogs

I went up to see the black grouse today. Easy to find against the white background. 16 it total. Other birds to note was a single snipe and a buzzard with next to no primary feathers. I really seemed to sruggle whilst in flight.

Popped in to Hetton Bogs on the way back. What was perhaps most surprising was that lack of water rail. I spent nearly an hour there and nothing!!

 

[JBee]

Popped in to Hetton Bogs on the way back. What was perhaps most surprising was that lack of water rail. I spent nearly an hour there and nothing!!

We tend to put them back in their pens when the weather is cold

 

[StevieEvans]

Houghton area Local Patch _ Hen Harrier again today !

...<snip>....
Continued to walk the line and over the old pit heap at Bowburn. Well off the beaten track but must be some good birding here.
Back on to our farm is a good area of set aside surrounded by woods. No access to it unless from our farm - anyone fancy a walk?
Back up to check BO box, pellets under it. Little dark ones Stevie?
Paul Mc

Paul, Certainly some good birding there - Yaffle, Leo, Willow tit are some in that part of Bowburn.
Pellets variable in size, BO ones are very dark almost black, but even the smaller rounded ones tend to be larger than a £2 coin (will attach image of evidence below a roost from PC later).

Houghton area Local Patch
x1 Hen Harrier & 10+ Shorts hunting & ranging around the whole RM's site late morning ( J.Wa ) Now 3 Oystercatchers around.
Red throated diver on IV briefly in decemeber ( CR )

4 roadside Waxwings this morning between Kaysburn & Malton ( A691 ) ( GJB ).

 

[matthall]

me and my dad went off to hartlepool today . we somehow managed to get to a nature reserve with a strange name next to a cemetry . notable species include ringed plover , redshank , knot . moved on to the heugh battery. notable species : common scoter and black throated diver another birder was there . he said he had reports of the red necked grebe but he said no joy. a few lifers. no photos . havent got a good enough camera. we went to a chip shop just down the road . produced the best chips i've had for ages !

 

[will@bill]

good days birding

me and my dad went off to hartlepool today . we somehow managed to get to a nature reserve with a strange name next to a cemetry . notable species include ringed plover , redshank , knot . moved on to the heugh battery. notable species : common scoter and black throated diver another birder was there . he said he had reports of the red necked grebe but he said no joy. a few lifers. no photos . havent got a good enough camera. we went to a chip shop just down the road . produced the best chips i've had for ages !

hi matthew sounds like a top notch day never seen a scoter/b t diver/knot this year yet going to have to update your lastest lifer!!:t:sounds like you got a great dad as well taking you birding all over can,t be bad.sounds like you need a camera upgrade as well now you know what you want for your next birthdaylooking forward to your next report:t:

 

[Paul Mc]

Pellets variable in size, BO ones are very dark almost black, but even the smaller rounded ones tend to be larger than a £2 coin (will attach image of evidence below a roost from PC later).

That's them exactly Steve! Will check the other box on Croxdale estate tomorrow. Fingers etc crossed.

Many thanks (again)

Paul Mc

 

[matthall]

hi matthew sounds like a top notch day never seen a scoter/b t diver/knot this year yet going to have to update your lastest lifer!!:t:sounds like you got a great dad as well taking you birding all over can,t be bad.sounds like you need a camera upgrade as well now you know what you want for your next birthdaylooking forward to your next report:t:

i think birding is a cheap hobby compared to others but he enjoys taking me .

 

[IanF]

me and my dad went off to hartlepool today . we somehow managed to get to a nature reserve with a strange name next to a cemetry . notable species include ringed plover , redshank , knot . moved on to the heugh battery. notable species : common scoter and black throated diver another birder was there . he said he had reports of the red necked grebe but he said no joy. a few lifers. no photos . havent got a good enough camera. we went to a chip shop just down the road . produced the best chips i've had for ages !

Pretty much the same for me as well. I was there this afternoon.

The reserve you mention is Spion Kop nature reserve and the Jewish Cemetery - a good spot of migrant watching.

Starting at Marine Drive - Oystercatcher c.50, Knot c.40, Redshank c.40, Sanderling x8, Common Scoter x12 30yds from beach, Cormorant and Ringed Plover.

No sign of any divers when I was there nor the RN Grebe - glad it's not just me Shag x2, Eider c.20, Guillemot x3, RB Merganser c.12 were in the harbour mouth and another Shag, Cormorant and RB Merganser c.12 were in Jacksons Landing.

Med Gull at Newburn Bridge.

Seaton Carew Golf Course - Black-tailed Godwit x4, Redshank 40+, Oystercatcher 40+, Turnstone and Knot.

North Gare road - Lapwing 200+, Curlew c.50, Teal and Wigeon.

Zinc Works Road - Lapwing 300+, Curlew c.30, Golden Plover c.100, Mallard, Stonechat, Robin, Starling c.300, Greylag Goose c.30, Pink-footed Goose x1, Kestrel x1, Mistle Thrush x2, Song Thrush x1, Goldfinch c.7, Linnet 50+.

Approaching dusk a Fox wandered across the common and at 4.50pm a Barn Owl appeared by the first layby. Other birders on the power station road also saw SEO x2 and a Woodcock. Apparently one of the power station police has been taking photos of the BO on his mobile - it just sat on a post whilst he put the headlights on it and took a photo - at around 3:00am mind you!

 

[StevieEvans]

Pellets variable in size, BO ones are very dark almost black, but even the smaller rounded ones tend to be larger than a £2 coin (will attach image of evidence below a roost from PC later).

That's them exactly Steve! Will check the other box on Croxdale estate tomorrow. Fingers etc crossed.

Many thanks (again)

Paul Mc

very good Paul , looks promising.....
keep a hold of any pellets please, i have a couple of school groups who use 'em ( plastic money bags that you get from the bank for coins are handy to have in your pocket..... although i usuallly have the wrong coat on - no bags & end up finding them squashed in my pockets weeks later......!.)
happy hunting, catch up with you soon.
Ste

 

[IanF]

Back in the garden this morning - three visits so far!

The first two weeks of the year we only saw one a couple of times, but this one is back to being a regular daily visitor.