Durham Birding (13 Viewers)

[StevieEvans]

Finished early and returned to local patch and pleased to see 3 Short Eared Owls c150 Golden Plover in full summer clobber, single Wheateater 20ish Linnet Several Yellow Hammer, Mipits, Fieldfares, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches, Shoveler and 12 Goldeneye on pool 2 and a pair of Ruddy on pool 4 amongst other stuff.

Thank YOU:t:

Those Wheat eaters are nice birds, they always seem to appear out of nowhere around this time of year.
Also there today a Rough feeding with Redshanks on pool2
Pathside BO pellets at pool1
Only single Willow Warbler. 2Sparrowhawk sevKestrels prGrey Partridge Willow Tit. Very numerous pairs of Skylarks & Lapwings

Ho.Gate
1Golden Plover prCoot 9Redshank inc 1 in display flight. 1Heron 4pr Shelduck 6Snipe 22Curlew 5Oystercatcher 8Lapwing on nests, only approx 15 pairs here cp with 35prs 2 year ago. 1Nuthatch
127species in Houghton Patch '08
SE

 

[JBee]

Good views of the avocets at Greatham Creek (where the seals haul out) this afternoon.
Unfortunately I was on the north side of the creek so looking half into the sun
I rang CW hoping he may pass the word around and a group of "birders" did arrive (probably coincidence) - just after the birds had flown off east of the fly over.

 

[great bustard]

Ho Hum

Steve, that place in Suffolk is Mimsmere, apparently excellent for Bit tern, B earded tit, night n gale, 10 pairs of Marsh Harriers breeding there, and a load of Avocets... Should be a good day out with the possibility for a few more ticks!! Im sure its no Rainton Meadows but you know what they say.... A change is as good as a rest

PS
Did you manage to reach MACH 9 on the way home????:eek!:

 

[great bustard]

10 pairs of Marsh Harriers breeding there

Sorry, i mean SEVERAL pairs|:$|

 

[matthall]

On Rare Bird Alert Lite , it says there is a great grey shrike around druridge bay.

 

[MalR]

Took the kids to the WWT centre at Washington this morning. Thought I'd combine a trip out for them with the chance to get some pics of the avocets. However, there was no sign of them. Spoke to a member of staff who said they had disappeared a couple of days ago, probably to escape the awful weather. Let's hope they return soon.

Several chiffchaff in good voice around the grounds, but they defied all my attempts to get a decent picture. Usual suspects in Hawthorn Wood. One Great Spotted Woodpecker heard. Later, two jays seen on the ground out in the open.

Malcolm

 

[Shaggy2070]

Pair of Wrens taking Moss into one of our nest boxes.
Could be the first birds to ever nest in our garden:t:.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Bishop Middleham

Spent a pleasant afternoon at Bishop Middleham . Stoneybeck Lake is looking back to normal after a worrying time last year, 20 Gadwall, 12 Shovelar there today and a single Little Ringed Plover at the edge near the road.
At Castle Lake saw 6 Goosander, 30 Redshank ,40 Sand Martin ,3 pair of Oystercatchers with 70 Golden Plover looking splendid in the sun near the islands. 2 pair of Shelduck , several Little Grebe and another 5 Little Ringed Plover.
Other birds seen in the area include Tree Sparrows , 40 Yellowhammers, Reed and Corn Buntings,Sparrowhawks, and a Green woodpecker .

The visit was spoilt somewhat on the way back as a couple of birdwatchers (man and woman) somehow failed to see the Durham Bird Club signs , advising people to stay away from the waters edge, and then walked straight past the huge keep out sign, vault the gate (despite my yelling )and proceed to walk round the lake...:brains:

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Dark-bellied Brent Goose on Boldon Flats this pm plus decent numbers of the regulars incl c60 Teal and 25 Snipe.

Drake Goosander at Herrington CP and c60 Tufted Duck. A female of the latter has it's bill held together with a plaster. Spoke to someone who worked there who said they have tried to catch it but failed. Not sure if anyone on here fancies trying to rescue it?

 

[rokermartin]

Barmston Pond 2 Ruddy Duck,3,Chiffchaff,Buzzard flew over.West Boldon 3 Chiffchaff.Hawthorn Dene,Green Woodpecker,10 Chiffchaff,2 Sand Martin,Wheatear.Cannot remember seeing as many Chiffchaffs in the spring before the last few days i have seen loads ,even seen one beside the Tyne Tunnel singing never seen one there before.Have'nt seen any local Willow Warblers yet.

 

[StevieEvans]

Willow Wrens

Shouldnt be too long now Martin
Large no's of Willow Warblers in the Houghton / Fencehouses area late this afternoon (majority must have arrived overnight)
5 on the edge of our estate inc a pair already paired up & feeding together on the ground in a small area of amenity planting.
5 singing males plus 2 non singing at Sedgeletch; 2 singing New Lambton; 2 singing plus one fly catching from south facing hedgerow nr Morton Wood.

multiple Chiffs (total 12) inc a pair together in Morton Wood, but still only 2 cock Blackcaps on territory over the same area.
No hirundines apart from 2N Sand Martin over our street early this morning & 12 or so in passing as we drove over the Wear in Dham City (didnt actually drive over the river but over a bridge)
Steve

 

[malcolm hobbs]

Bollihope

Stunning male Hen Harrier drifted pass at close range as I walked out across the moors c. 1km south of Bollihope. 6 Wheatears but no sign of any ring ouzels.


Malcolm.

 

[Gill Osborne]

The visit was spoilt somewhat on the way back as a couple of birdwatchers (man and woman) somehow failed to see the Durham Bird Club signs , advising people to stay away from the waters edge, and then walked straight past the huge keep out sign, vault the gate (despite my yelling )and proceed to walk round the lake...:brains:

Met many folk like this over the years.....they seem to think that signs like this only apply to the general public (ie non-birders) and that they, as birdwatchers, can ignore them because, obviously, they don't apply to THEM! -:C

 

[sharpy]

Washington

Disappointment at Washington today - no Avocets ( as Malcolm mentioned above) - maybe that's them that JBee so nicely photographed yesterday at Greatham Creek?. Usual 'Tufty's doing what they do best - sleeping! Greylag, Canada geese, Teal, Mallard, Redshank, Oytercatcher, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Shellduck & Heron. Chiffchaff very vocal allover the reserve.
Shame about the Avocets, weather 'naff' but a day off work so can't be all that bad!
Regards Alan.

 

[The Chairman]

I was reading a article in one of the bird watching mags about Goshawks,and it said Goshawks are starting to be seen in large city parks.As for the subject of migrating Goshawks it is mostly the juveniles that migrate, the adults remain close to their territories.

Seems that most of the lowland Goshawks are seen in late winter/early spring which would accord with them being immature birds without a territory that have been driven out of areas holding breeding Goshawks by the territorial adults. As Steve points out they may well linger a while in areas where there is a plentiful supply of food and adequate open space.

 

[IanF]

Hartlepool Headland - 10:30am - Great Crested Grebe x2, Shoveler, Shag, Cormorant, Eider Duck c.12, Goldeneye (fem), Red-throated Diver x3 and Black-throated Diver all in harbour. Another Black-throated Diver in Jacksons Landing.

Greenabella Marsh - 6:00pm - Avocet x2, Little Egret, Shelduck c.30, Short-eared Owl x1, Curlew c.50. In the bay - Common Scoter x1, Red-breasted Merganser c.12, Eider Duck c.12. Also Roe Deer x3.

Zinc Works Road - 6.50pm - Short-eared Owl sat on fence posts alongside road, Lapwing, Curlew, Canada Goose x2, Greylag Goose x5, Grey Partridge, Wheatear pair.

 

[The Chairman]

Shouldnt be too long now Martin
Large no's of Willow Warblers in the Houghton / Fencehouses area late this afternoon (majority must have arrived overnight)
5 on the edge of our estate inc a pair already paired up & feeding together on the ground in a small area of amenity planting.
5 singing males plus 2 non singing at Sedgeletch; 2 singing New Lambton; 2 singing plus one fly catching from south facing hedgerow nr Morton Wood.

multiple Chiffs (total 12) inc a pair together in Morton Wood, but still only 2 cock Blackcaps on territory over the same area.
No hirundines apart from 2N Sand Martin over our street early this morning & 12 or so in passing as we drove over the Wear in Dham City (didnt actually drive over the river but over a bridge)
Steve

Please you mentioned driving over the bridge as I thought you had driven over the WEIR all terrain vehicles these days get to some strange places but that would be just too damp for comfort

 

[StevieEvans]

The visit was spoilt somewhat on the way back as a couple of birdwatchers (man and woman) somehow failed to see the Durham Bird Club signs , advising people to stay away from the waters edge, and then walked straight past the huge keep out sign, vault the gate (despite my yelling )and proceed to walk round the lake...

Derek
It defies belief that visitors can be so downright ignorant :C
When the farmer first saw the sign he laughed & said "you might as well have written f### off on it !" :eek!:
Seems like it isnt enough for a few special visitors.....
Sheesh! Maybe they are doing a "Schedule 1 species that ive managed to Flush year list" ?
needs a couple of strands of barb wire on that gate.....failing that:- edit the sign !
------------------------------------

Looks like theres been a half decent crop of passage species / spring migrants today.....
Whooper Swan at Lyons, drake Merganser at Backside, BNG, Greenshank & Yellow Wags on N.Tees marshes.

Approaching that time of year when just about every new day produces a "new" bird for the year.
Wonder what WE'RE gonna get 2moro ? ...........House Martin? Garganey?

 

[Gill Osborne]

Approaching that time of year when just about every new day produces a "new" bird for the year.
Wonder what WE'RE gonna get 2moro ? ...........House Martin? Garganey?[/FONT]

Brilliant, isn't it! :t:

Just trying to work out HOW to convince hubby that we really need to get down to Hartlepool tomorrow Just reading about all of Ian's fabulous birds is killing me!!!!! Black-throated diver - I want!!!!

 

[DEREK.C.]

Great night round Elemore Hall, 5 Song Thrush singing at 9pm , Woodcock roding, 2 Snipe drumming. Best of all was the Tawnies, i dont know why, but the males seem to gather round the Hall building, not every night, just now and again . 3 very vocal males were together and were joined by another who travelled a good half mile to be in on the party.:h?:

Heard today that the Ruddy Ducks at Shibdon are going to meet their maker on Friday.
So i advise forum users who see Ruddy Ducks not to post sightings on the forum. Unless of course you believe in the cull