Durham Birding (8 Viewers)

[Paul Mc]

Not posted for ages but still active...in my own little way!
Just back from walking my dogs, tawny owls calling and barn owl screeching. Little owl is regularly watching me shave in the morning - great views from bathroom window.

Paul Mc

 

[JBee]

Had my first visit to Castle Lake today with CW.
Dull weather and the birds being at quite a distance meant decent photos were never going to happen. The fact the Electricity company helicopter flew over the lake at the same height as the power cables and constantly flushed the birds didnt help either.
Still I think I got bad shots of both the Pectoral and Curlew sandpipers and a Ruff.

 

[StevieEvans]

Castle Lake - Works SAT 22nd SEPT

Had my first visit to Castle Lake today with CW.
Dull weather and the birds being at quite a distance meant decent photos were never going to happen. The fact the Electricity company helicopter flew over the lake at the same height as the power cables and constantly flushed the birds didnt help either.
Still I think I got bad shots of both the Pectoral and Curlew sandpipers and a Ruff.

Dont worry about the quality of your images John - we all have to start somewhere ! I understand Netto have a new range of digital cameras in at the moment - they start from £9.99.
Anyway those type of pictures are ideal for use as "mystery bird photos "
Looks like you have a Dunlin in there too.....?

NB.
Castle Lake Visitors may like to take note that further works will be carried out this coming Saturday from 8AM.

Cheers
SE 079 79 60 1231

 

[JBee]

Looks like you have a Dunlin in there too.....?

Cheers

Other than the ruff I'm not sure which is which of the others
I just relied on CW pointing me towards the birds but 5 minutes after getting home I had forgotten which was which

 

[harrier olley]

A brief reminder of two ongoing projects with Durham Bird Club.

Volunteer work is ongoing from tomorrow at Castle lake Bishop Midleham anybody who wants get involved start time is 08,00hrs meet on site and at Brancepeth beck meet at 09.30 hrs at page bank car park.

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Visible migration 07.00-08.00 yesterday over Harton Downhill found following (all south):

4 Pinkfeet
1 Redpoll sp
1 Stock Dove
5 Bar-tailed Godwit (along coast)
36 Carrion Crow (single flock)
44 Meadow Pipits

An adult Little Gull was feeding with Black-heads on the Leas

 

[ColinSev]

Bird identification assistance

I know this is a bit off track and risks upsetting a few people but i need help identifying 2 birds I saw in Croatia a couple of days ago - and is part of what a forum is about surely.

I believe the wheatear may be an Isabelline Wheatear, and the other bird behaved very much like a flycatcher and thought it was a Red Breasted Flycatcher at the time, but now I have got back and checked my bird books there is very much more red on the bird and it seems to have a white collar. (poor pic in difficult lighting and am not an expert photographer)
I would appreciate any experts help.
Thanks

 

[NickPatel92]

Second bird is a Redstart.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Castle Lake

Had a quick look in this afternoon,had just got through the gate when a female Peregrine was spotted hammering into 300 Lapwing.
By the time i got down the bank , not surprisingly there were no waders about
, although after a while 3 Ruff,1 Greenshank and a Curlew Sandpiper appeared, no sign of Pec Sand tho.

 

[IanF]

A visitor to the garden this evening.

It was sat quietly for quite a while under a mahonia bush on top of the fat ball feeder. From it's bulging crop I'd say it hadn't long ago fed - though not in our garden this time.

 

[The gaffer]

Cleadon hills

A tour of the hills tonight produced a good covey of grey partridge (9 birds)feeding on the wheat stubble and also flushed a tawny owl from a hawthorn bush in the copse just after the wooden style on the footpath towards Whitburn.

Brian

 

[gogsy]

Off topic I know but i saw a grey squirrel in the front garden of a house in lumley ave at 1.15pm yesterday,near the Rose and Crown,South Shields. Thats a first for me in 30 odd years of living in Marsden!

 

[harrier olley]

Hi Ian super shot seems to be good numbers of Juv Sparrowhawk around at present are you happy i utilise some of your pics for presentations.

John.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Had a look in at Hartlepool Headland today, 100+ Oystercatcher,Razorbill with 7 Purple Sandpiper back on the rocks, single Wheatear near the pier.

 

[IanF]

Hi Ian super shot seems to be good numbers of Juv Sparrowhawk around at present are you happy i utilise some of your pics for presentations.

John.

No problem John, you're welcome to use them.

 

[IanF]

Nature's Calendar Monday 1st October.

A new series of Nature's Calendar starts this Monday - ten episodes Mon--Fri 6.30pm BBC2. One episode features Seals Sands/Greatham Creek hide and I believe a couple of local birders from TBC. Dates of episodes arent given but it looks as if a week on Monday Seal Sands is featured.

 

[Skelly]

Good views of Nuthatch at Washington WWT this afternoon.

 

[StevieEvans]

Wader Lake

Good selection of wading birds atCastle Lake NR, Bishop Middleham today.

1 Pectoral Sandpiper still present
also 1 Jack Snipe
23+ Common Snipe
1 Curlew Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
3 Greenshank
5 Curlew
5 Ringed Plover
6 Ruff
2 Dunlin
350 Lapwing
65 Golden Plover

2 Little Egret
several Yellow Wagtails & Sand Martins remain.


The majority of works now completed for this year.
2 gravel capped breeding islands & 2 loafing islands constructed
phragmites reed bed planted
water now being piped into "wader bay" down the bankside oppisite to the swg wks, ( being fed by a natural spring )

NB.
Please keep well away from the waters edge & stick to the rights of way thank you.

Cheers
SE

 

[shark attack]

Off topic I know but i saw a grey squirrel in the front garden of a house in lumley ave at 1.15pm yesterday,near the Rose and Crown,South Shields. Thats a first for me in 30 odd years of living in Marsden!

I they have been spotted in marine park by the park wardens a couple of times. Still suppose you wouldn't expect to see one in a garden in shields.

Woodpeckers in marine park also.

Never know what's living nearby do you !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gogsy]

I wouldn't mind"Great white shark" but I was on my way to the dell and cleadon hills the day before and as I was leaving the house a neighbour asked me if I saw any Squirrels on my travels birding,I said never.So what happens the next day I see one in the Street!