Durham Birding (72 Viewers)

[rentoncharman]

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

The feeding station at Lauriestone, near Dumfries is much closer and you could combine with a visit to Caerlaverock, doing it all in a day.

 

[DenBee]

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.

Pleased that a positive sighting has now been made, as I have found numerous pellets around a nearby Owl box lately. Good signs that we may at last have success in the area of nesting activity

 

[Ray.Scott]

On to Hartlepool and zinkwks road this afternoon, Bumped into spuggy at the entrance to zinkwks, nice talking to you:t:.
When you left I saw 3 SEO's hunting as I drove up the road.

 

[Shaggy2070]

Popped in to see my neices' new baby at the other side of Shotton tonight and heard a Barn Owl scream outside the back door.
Her partner said there were two on next door neighbours roof last night, when he went outside for a ciggie:smoke: and spooked one off his back fence last week at five in the morning.

I think I'll have to start visiting more often .

 

[StevieEvans]

BOs

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.

Hi Airedalejoe & well done, lucky you !
Despite an increase in the Durham BO population and of records being submitted, there are seldom any reports of daylight hunting BO's in Co.Durham (except in nesting season).

Very Interesting, i have seen one or two out hunting pretty early recently as well 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.

....<snip>....Good signs that we may at last have success in the area of nesting activity

I should imagine that the recent hard work by all Durham Barn Owl enthusiasts will certainly pay off this year......

Steve

 

[seggs]

ian
is spot on about the leas and the s.e.owls..the birds are well used to people and disturbance here(its got to be a great hunting ground for them to stay here..pellets have proved that really) or the next big step to the continent if they are migrants? i don,t know what there do on a busy weekend day for cover when its fine as the place is lifting at times!..but it is a big area so..and up to 4 have been seen.
and glad ian and scuzz have cleared up another puzzler with me on the avocets!
thro- the excellent pics.
which bird was the female?...its obvious now..the one with the lesser black on the crown, towards the beak..nice one lads thanks:t:

 

[barnstormer]

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:

I agree june that sounds fun but the opportunity to see up to 400 kites in wales is a bit special.

 

[joe1969]

tuesday 630pm-645pm
i also saw a single barn owl hunting,(pagebank)sadly it was only for a matter of 1 to 2
mins before it disappeared back into the gloom,still a wonderful sight.
yesterday croxdale and spenny woods
53 species noted with the highlights been,2 red legged partridge,kingfisher,several dipper
pied and grey wagtail and a party of 7 goosander

 

[IanF]

I agree june that sounds fun but the opportunity to see up to 400 kites in wales is a bit special.

I must admit that right from the start I think this was an opportunity that the Northen Kites Project missed out upon. A similar scheme to Gigrin in the NE would have been a big attraction for the area. The one at Laurieston in Dumfries and Galloway attracts nothing like the same number of birds but viewing is still better than locally.

 

[vivster]

im going to florida soon and i thinking about getting a new camera..what do you think of buying it in usa..

 

[June Atkinson]

Feeding station

I must admit that right from the start I think this was an opportunity that the Northen Kites Project missed out upon. A similar scheme to Gigrin in the NE would have been a big attraction for the area. The one at Laurieston in Dumfries and Galloway attracts nothing like the same number of birds but viewing is still better than locally.

We went to the Galloway station, and yes, it is a spectacle, enjoyed by a lot of people.
There is also a Red Kite Trail, linked to a number of the local businesses, which is good for them and for the area in general.
Some folk I know have been to Gigrin; whilst it is a huge success, and commercially viable, one criticism is that the kites are so tuned in to their feeding times that they do not forage for themselves to any degree. This could have negative effects on the future of the group, as they lose the desire to hunt for their food.
In the Derwent Valley there is to be a Kite Trail - groups are already working hard to clear and improve existing footpaths. So far, our kites have a wonderful habitat, where they are successfully breeding, so at present, my own feeling (and this is my personal viewpoint) is that it would do our kites no favours to have a Feeding Station like those mentioned. Perhaps we need to accept what is best for our kites, not the convenience of seeing big numbers at any one time, in what to me, seem more like artificial scenarios.

 

[joe1969]

was down croxdale yesterday heard what i thought was a l/s/w (drumming went on longer than a g/s/w and petered out towards the end) after following the noises for 30 mins and narrowing it down to 2 trees,i raised my binos to my eyes when a small black bird darted across and of into the distance,before i could i.d.
firstly would i be correct in thinking the drilling was that of a l/s/w and secondly would the red cap not have been noticable.
i was back down today pm but only managed 3 g/s/w

 

[degsy_safc]

im going to florida soon and i thinking about getting a new camera..what do you think of buying it in usa..

Hi Vivien, it will certainly be cheaper and that is really attractive, but you may struggle with warranties if anything goes wrong with it. I'm a Nikon user and Nikon UK will not allow registration of any kit other than genuine Nikon UK items. I'm not sure if the same applies to Canon gear, i guess the other guys will answer for you.

Good luck with the new purchase.

 

[The gaffer]

Hi Vivien, it will certainly be cheaper and that is really attractive, but you may struggle with warranties if anything goes wrong with it. I'm a Nikon user and Nikon UK will not allow registration of any kit other than genuine Nikon UK items. I'm not sure if the same applies to Canon gear, i guess the other guys will answer for you.

I just bought a Canon 60mm macro lens from e-bay which came from USA and has a "USA only" warranty with it. I registered it with Canon no problem. The lens has developed a fault which Canon have agreed to repair under the warranty. My Canon 40D was also purchased from USA although it does have an international warranty with it.

Brian

 

[geordie graham]

We went to the Galloway station, and yes, it is a spectacle, enjoyed by a lot of people.
There is also a Red Kite Trail, linked to a number of the local businesses, which is good for them and for the area in general.
Some folk I know have been to Gigrin; whilst it is a huge success, and commercially viable, one criticism is that the kites are so tuned in to their feeding times that they do not forage for themselves to any degree. This could have negative effects on the future of the group, as they lose the desire to hunt for their food.
In the Derwent Valley there is to be a Kite Trail - groups are already working hard to clear and improve existing footpaths. So far, our kites have a wonderful habitat, where they are successfully breeding, so at present, my own feeling (and this is my personal viewpoint) is that it would do our kites no favours to have a Feeding Station like those mentioned. Perhaps we need to accept what is best for our kites, not the convenience of seeing big numbers at any one time, in what to me, seem more like artificial scenarios.

I have seen Gigrin on the tv a few times and although it is spectacular you can`t beat seeing Red Kites soaring on the moors.

Graham

 

[ColinSev]

I agree with you June, its great that Red Kites have been introduced, but it is wrong to get them so programmed into feeding stations that they can`t fend for themselves. Birds should only be fed when natural food is short, not as an attractant so people can get close views and good photos - well not on a regular basis anyway. Keep nature natural is what I say.
Not sure where to go birding tomorrow - its a rare day of so intend to make the most of it

 

[IanF]

Dorman's Pool c.3.30pm Whooper Swan x22, Pintail x4, Shoveler x5, gulls c.2000! Whooper Swan flew off and group split some landing on Back Saltholme and rest (c.12) heading NW - may end up on Crookfoot or Hurworth Burn?

Fox sneaking through the grass.

Seaton Common very quiet. Just one Little Egret and a few Teal and Curlew from North Gare Road.

Zinc Works Road - Kestrel, Curlew c.20. Lapwing, Grey Partridge x2, Greylag Goose x5.

 

[Paul Mc]

Lsw

was down croxdale yesterday heard what i thought was a l/s/w

Do you have any more details of where on the Croxdale estate? I walk there daily?

Paul Mc

 

[joe1969]

paul,it was in the grounds of the hall,theres also g/s/w goldcrest nuthatch.i also have been going daily of late ,trying to view the hawfinch ,no luck as yet

 

[echo24]

Local Patch - Trow Quarry...

Hi folks, popped down to a very quiet trow quarry and leas this morning, tons of dog walkers out and the cold northerly wind blowing an absolute 'hooly' so not ideal conditions by any stretch of the imagination but still nice to be out! )

All the regulars were down there (weasel included) as well a pair of pied wagtails on the mound but no sign of any of the owls or the Frenchmans bay Fulmars.... no photos today but here's a few from the last week or so.

Good birding everyone!

Cheers, Dougie.