Durham Birding (14 Viewers)

[The Chairman]

Hi Neil,

I was just wondering, which is most likely to be neat and fresh - a Chiffchaff that has just flown all the way from Africa, or one that has been blasted by gale-force winds in Durham all winter ? I'm not sure I could call it either way!
There's been a Chiffchaff in Seaham for the last few weeks and I haven't heard it sing yet. I was hoping to see whether it sang before the migrants arrived or vice versa, but I couldn't find it last time I looked!

Cheers,

Presumably moved on to its breeding grounds and now singing its head off

 

[The Chairman]

Durham Bird Club Indoor meeting

Get your Easter break off to a cracking start by joining us at WWT Washington on Thursday 20 March.

Our guest speak is Ken Shaw. Ken is a former member of BBRC Rarities Committee and has found many rare (and some very rare birds) in the UK. He is talking to us on the following topic "Western Palearctic Birder - a guide to some difficult species". An intriguing title and one which will certainly appeal to the migrant hunters among us but promises to be much much more.

The meeting formally starts at 7.30pm but access to the gatehouse will be available about 30 minutes prior to the meeting and our friends at WWT will be on hand providing tea and coffee or even a cold beer or a nice glass of wine for a reasonable price to make the evening even more enjoyable.

Hope to see you there.

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Spring migrants are certainly arriving according to my pager in the last few days there have been Wheatears,Sand Martins, White Wagtails down at Teeside.6 Sand Martins ,2Chiffchaff reported at Shibdon pond today.

It will be interesting to see if the pace picks up though as the reports to date are of very small numbers. If forecasts are correct we are in for 2-3 weeks of strong Northerly airflow that could slow down many of our early summer visitors.

 

[June Atkinson]

Flighty heron

A few shots from WWT today.

What a cracking shot. I am enjoying all the images caught by folk at WWT - they are absolutely superb!

We aim to go to the WWT on a fine dry day, and hire one of the four scooters, so that we can go all the way round.
The herons and avocets are so photogenic!

What camera did you use?

 

[rokermartin]

It will be interesting to see if the pace picks up though as the reports to date are of very small numbers. If forecasts are correct we are in for 2-3 weeks of strong Northerly airflow that could slow down many of our early summer visitors.

Well i certainly hope that forecast is wrong that will slow migration up.Forecast is not looking good at all for the end of the week, arctic winds are forecast for Friday.I think it is going to be a very cold start to Easter.

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Well i certainly hope that forecast is wrong that will slow migration up.Forecast is not looking good at all for the end of the week, arctic winds are forecast for Friday.I think it is going to be a very cold start to Easter.

High pressure over the Azores and depressions passing over or to the north of Scotland will maintain the north to northwesterly airflow.
Temperatures will be below average with the risk of overnight frosts. Bands of rain will cross the country at times with the risk of further snow. The driest and brightest weather is expected to be in the southwest.

This is the BBC outlook after the Easter snow!

 

[rokermartin]

High pressure over the Azores and depressions passing over or to the north of Scotland will maintain the north to northwesterly airflow.
Temperatures will be below average with the risk of overnight frosts. Bands of rain will cross the country at times with the risk of further snow. The driest and brightest weather is expected to be in the southwest.

This is the BBC outlook after the Easter snow!

Well i have to say that forecast sounds terrible for spring migrants , you never know we might see some Penguins

 

[Ray.Scott]

What a cracking shot. I am enjoying all the images caught by folk at WWT - they are absolutely superb!

We aim to go to the WWT on a fine dry day, and hire one of the four scooters, so that we can go all the way round.
The herons and avocets are so photogenic!

What camera did you use?

Cheers June, I use Canon 40D with 300-800 lens or 400 prime.

 

[barnstormer]

Does anyone fancy a trip down to gigrin farm in wales to photograph the kites at the station some time ( just an idea ).

 

[seggs]

last couple of afternoons

trow and the leas mound area..
one shortie yesterday...2 today..paler bird both days.
no little owl:C
a shag both days off the bays and a r.t.diver south today.
more rabbits than birds today in the bush area of the quarry 6 feeding here,and a weasel in the west end area.
30+ oystercatchers and 20+ turnstones around the area. and a rock pip.
great to watch the fulmars soaring around the cliffs again in frenchmans bay:t:
2 pair of stonechats near the mound along with skylarks and med.pips. today
male kestrel showed well also.
great to meet you today ian:t:

 

[June Atkinson]

Teesdale: Programme of Kite Events

Does anyone fancy a trip down to gigrin farm in wales to photograph the kites at the station some time ( just an idea ).

Why not go to Teesdale. There is a programme of Events in and around Barnard Castle, Bowes Museum and Romaldkirk. The first one is this evening, in Romaldkirk, and is FREE!
Here, attached are the details:
You will be welcome at any of the Events. for those which require booking a place, please contact the appropriate base for the activity.

Come and join us!:t:

 

[IanF]

I spent the morning at Washington WWT in the company of Scuzz. The Avocets put on a good show. They were pretty active wandering up and down the lake and at one point mated just opposite the hide.

Other birds in that area included Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Mallard, Teal, Lawing and of course the Herons.

Hawthorn Wood hide was quite active as well with numerous Bullfinch visiting the feeders. Others present included Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Pheasant, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Blackbird.

 

[IanF]

In the afternoon from Washington I headed over to The Leas at South Shields. No sign of the Little Owl or much else starting off. Stonechat x4 were on the Mound plus a few Skylark. A Kestrel was hunting over the grass cliff tops - looks like the same one that Seggs got. Several Fulmar were flying along the cliff face plus a few pigeons and Jackdaw. Cormorant was the only bird I saw over the sea.

An unusual sight was a gull picking up what looks to be a Slow Worm from the rough grass and flying off with it mobbed by other gulls.

I then headed back to the car and drove along the coast road a short way before spotting a pair of Short-eared Owl over the Mound. I parked up and wandered over to where they were. I soon realised it was easier to stand still and let them hunt around me rather than try to chase them. They were obviously used to people as they just flew over and around the dog walkers. With time getting on I was just about to leave when I bumped into Seggs - good to meet up with you eventually Steve :t:

 

[DEREK.C.]

No sign of any Twite at Greenabella this morning, although 10 Black Tailed Godwits were there. Long Tailed Duck at Seal Sands with around a dozen Mergansers.
Had fish and chips with the Med Gull at Newburn .

Had an hour round Elemore Hall last night (not for the faint hearted).:eek!:
No sign of any Snipe drumming yet, but plenty of activity from the Tawnys. One probable nest discovered with a female calling repeatedly from a crotch in an ivy covered tree, with the male hooting near by. Another 5-6 calling throughout the rest of the woods.
Hoped for a few early Chiff Chaffs this afternoon, during a couple of hours out, covered half the area but no sign of any yet.

 

[rokermartin]

Lizard Point 1stw Iceland,1stw Glaucous Gull and 1 GN Diver,1 BT Diver flew north,Sunderland Harbour Glaucous Gull 2ndw. And a SE Owl flying over the docks.

 

[sharpy]

Ian, was that you at WWTWashington today - the kind gent who moved along the bench to allow me to get some shots thru' the 'open' window just as the avocets 'performed'. If it was you then that must have been Scuzz with the Sigmonster. Must make more of an effort to socialise more in future. Regards Alan.

 

[Airedalejoe]

Great views of a Barn owl hunting at 3.30pm today between Seaton pond and Seaton village. Watched for 10-15 mins before had to resume work! Awesome.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Great views of a Barn owl hunting at 3.30pm today between Seaton pond and Seaton village. Watched for 10-15 mins before had to resume work! Awesome.

Very Interesting, i have seen one or two out hunting pretty early recently as well :h?: certainly a beautiful sight, if you catch one in the sun.
Me and Steve saw one in that area last year , plenty of Barn Owl boxes up now throughout the county , could be an interesting year.

 

[IanF]

Ian, was that you at WWTWashington today - the kind gent who moved along the bench to allow me to get some shots thru' the 'open' window just as the avocets 'performed'. If it was you then that must have been Scuzz with the Sigmonster. Must make more of an effort to socialise more in future. Regards Alan.

Lol! That was us. Great views of the Avocets doing their thing! :t:

 

[Ray.Scott]

Washington WWT

Back to WWT this morning, a bit better light for photo's. Nice meeting up with IanF again and also to meet Sharpy, albeit I didn't now who It was at the time.
Well worth the revisit for the Avocets and lucky enough to witness them performing.