durham giant
Well-known member
i dipped on the GWG twice although if it stays i will make sure i see it
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Durham Birding (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Skelly
- Start date
ALFIE TEMPLE
Well-known member
Waxwings
44 Waxwings next to Concorde car park-but none at the Galleries.The Galleries flock yesterday was seen to fly up en masse, and disappear over the Galleries shopping centre, so maybe they have gone for good, despite their still being lots of Cotoneaster berries.
44 Waxwings next to Concorde car park-but none at the Galleries.The Galleries flock yesterday was seen to fly up en masse, and disappear over the Galleries shopping centre, so maybe they have gone for good, despite their still being lots of Cotoneaster berries.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Houghton Patch 09
Another beautiful winters day, decided to follow the burn down from Houghton to Ch-le-Street.
I spoke to CW who was heading the same way & he soon caught me up.
Some species appear already affected by the cold, Redwing & Fieldfare far bolder than usual & stunning close views of Redshanks and Kingfishers all very reluctant to fly. A Water Rail at Sedgeletch was up on the bankside feeding under bushes away from the icy water.
By midday though, the sun had warmed things up slightly, 2pair of Buzzard wheeled & jockied for position, a few Great tits & a single Coal Tit were singing, with a Blue Tit pair inspecting nest holes.
Some good counts on the 6km downstream leg, well in excess of 120 Long tail tits along the way, 30Goldcrest, several GSW, 12Grey Wagtail, 2 pair of Dipper & half a dozen Kingfishers.
Followed the Wear up from Lambton Bridge, Cw suggested checking out the sewage works. We walked in through the open gates to get a closer look at 70Pied & 10Grey Wagtails & fluked our first real surprise a Green Sandpiper. Upriver, a couple of very showy Goosanders , another Dipper, a Coot, Redshank & a large herd of 27Mute Swans.
We parted company at Lumley Castle, i aimed to be at Leamside for dusk (4km as the crow flies..) his bus whizzed past as i cut over the fields north of Lumley, checking the map every couple of hundred yards, although the distant roar of the motorway was as good a guide as any map.
I detoured back north, along a treeline which just shouted out owl & could see white splash from a distance...
a pair of Little Owl sat glaring at me - one for my "places ive never visited before list"
As i rushed on, a couple of Tree Sparrows, Lapwings & Curlews added interest.
The next section was parallel the M-Way.. the booming noise was terrible so i jogged on for a while crossing over East into familiar territory & the noise began to subside, as did the sun.
Bypassed another regular Little Owl hunched up in the cold, in the rush, the only other birds being the odd Skylark & a flock of Golden Plover whizzing by.
Managed to get down Leamside just in time, i tucked down out of the freezing NW breeze, into a hollow where an excavator had lost a battle to dig out a huge Sycamore stump. Within moments a Woodcock sailed low past only metres away & the Grey Partridges began to call & rush about. After 15 mins i was numb with cold, with only singles of Woodcock, Little Owl & vocal Red-legg to add....
I'd had enough, up & off & hadnt gone far when a long winged owl broke cover, but quickly evaporated before i focussed in... pretty much last chance of the day & i fluffed it....
In the dark a Woodcock lifted from a frozen rutted track after that it was a cold bird free 2 mile walk home in the dark.
Yearticks included Green Sand, Buzzard, Nuthatch, Cormorant & Tree Spugs, putting my patch list on 89.
Another beautiful winters day, decided to follow the burn down from Houghton to Ch-le-Street.
I spoke to CW who was heading the same way & he soon caught me up.
Some species appear already affected by the cold, Redwing & Fieldfare far bolder than usual & stunning close views of Redshanks and Kingfishers all very reluctant to fly. A Water Rail at Sedgeletch was up on the bankside feeding under bushes away from the icy water.
By midday though, the sun had warmed things up slightly, 2pair of Buzzard wheeled & jockied for position, a few Great tits & a single Coal Tit were singing, with a Blue Tit pair inspecting nest holes.
Some good counts on the 6km downstream leg, well in excess of 120 Long tail tits along the way, 30Goldcrest, several GSW, 12Grey Wagtail, 2 pair of Dipper & half a dozen Kingfishers.
Followed the Wear up from Lambton Bridge, Cw suggested checking out the sewage works. We walked in through the open gates to get a closer look at 70Pied & 10Grey Wagtails & fluked our first real surprise a Green Sandpiper. Upriver, a couple of very showy Goosanders , another Dipper, a Coot, Redshank & a large herd of 27Mute Swans.
We parted company at Lumley Castle, i aimed to be at Leamside for dusk (4km as the crow flies..) his bus whizzed past as i cut over the fields north of Lumley, checking the map every couple of hundred yards, although the distant roar of the motorway was as good a guide as any map.
I detoured back north, along a treeline which just shouted out owl & could see white splash from a distance...
a pair of Little Owl sat glaring at me - one for my "places ive never visited before list"
As i rushed on, a couple of Tree Sparrows, Lapwings & Curlews added interest.
The next section was parallel the M-Way.. the booming noise was terrible so i jogged on for a while crossing over East into familiar territory & the noise began to subside, as did the sun.
Bypassed another regular Little Owl hunched up in the cold, in the rush, the only other birds being the odd Skylark & a flock of Golden Plover whizzing by.
Managed to get down Leamside just in time, i tucked down out of the freezing NW breeze, into a hollow where an excavator had lost a battle to dig out a huge Sycamore stump. Within moments a Woodcock sailed low past only metres away & the Grey Partridges began to call & rush about. After 15 mins i was numb with cold, with only singles of Woodcock, Little Owl & vocal Red-legg to add....
I'd had enough, up & off & hadnt gone far when a long winged owl broke cover, but quickly evaporated before i focussed in... pretty much last chance of the day & i fluffed it....
In the dark a Woodcock lifted from a frozen rutted track after that it was a cold bird free 2 mile walk home in the dark.
Yearticks included Green Sand, Buzzard, Nuthatch, Cormorant & Tree Spugs, putting my patch list on 89.
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spuggy
Unsurpassed Сasual Dating - Verified Females
Caught up with a flock of about 20 Waxwings, 10 Redwing couple of Blackbirds and a single Song Thrush feeding on the cotoneaster in the housing estate (Roche Court) west of the galleries car park today at 1400. Still loads of berries about so they might hang around if anyone hasn't seen them yet
The Chairman
The Chairman
IanF
Moderator
Jacksons Landing, Hartlepool - pm - Red-breasted Merganser x10, Shag x1, Cormorant x3, Turnstone x2.
Newburn Bridge - Med Gull still.
Dormans Pool and Rec. Pond - Glaucous-winged Gull.
Youtube link on TBC web site of the GWG twitch from last Saturday - you don't have to be a member to view
Photos - 1. Cormorant - 2. Shag - 3. RB Merganser (f) 4. RB Merganser (m) - 5. Med. Gull
Newburn Bridge - Med Gull still.
Dormans Pool and Rec. Pond - Glaucous-winged Gull.
Youtube link on TBC web site of the GWG twitch from last Saturday - you don't have to be a member to view
Photos - 1. Cormorant - 2. Shag - 3. RB Merganser (f) 4. RB Merganser (m) - 5. Med. Gull
Attachments
ALFIE TEMPLE
Well-known member
I had a flock of 23 here at 2.45 pm, but none at Concorde
ALFIE TEMPLE
Well-known member
Waxwings
6 at the Galleries, but none at Concorde _ 11-30 am
6 at the Galleries, but none at Concorde _ 11-30 am
FoghornKinghorn
Durham Recorder
Anyone going to see the GWG at cleveland this Saturday?
Andrew K
Andrew K
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Houghton Patch 09
Had a walk up across Houghton Cut late yesterday afternoon.
Large flocks of gulls, 2,000+ loafing on the fields here, but spooked several times by the falconer working his birds from the tip.
Watched a Magpie roost of 40 odd in a sprawling thorn tangle & several small groups of Yellowhammers soaking up the last few rays of sun.
A Woodcock came up from the side of the path & it circled round giving a great view. A couple each of Kestrel & Little Owl & as the day came to a close watched a hunting Barn Owl.
Other recent Barn Owl sightings from Brasside & Thornley/Ludworth area
Had a walk up across Houghton Cut late yesterday afternoon.
Large flocks of gulls, 2,000+ loafing on the fields here, but spooked several times by the falconer working his birds from the tip.
Watched a Magpie roost of 40 odd in a sprawling thorn tangle & several small groups of Yellowhammers soaking up the last few rays of sun.
A Woodcock came up from the side of the path & it circled round giving a great view. A couple each of Kestrel & Little Owl & as the day came to a close watched a hunting Barn Owl.
Other recent Barn Owl sightings from Brasside & Thornley/Ludworth area
Hesledon Moor / Murton Cycleway Sth
First real outing of the year, decided to wander round local patches :-
Hesledon Moor
Greeted with Heavy Earth Moving machinery at Murton side of Moor, apparently starting work on the new Hawthorn Industrial Site access road and ground clearance, alas devoid of great number of birds, Yellowhammer x 4 & Reed Bunting x 6 only species of note, not a good omen for my BBS this year.
Murton Cycleway South
Better luck here, greeted by Fieldfare x 30 in hawthorn bushes South West of Murton Village (NZ 3846) just before South Hetton, also Bullfinch x 5 in hawthorn again near old Crossing at Murton Village
First real outing of the year, decided to wander round local patches :-
Hesledon Moor
Greeted with Heavy Earth Moving machinery at Murton side of Moor, apparently starting work on the new Hawthorn Industrial Site access road and ground clearance, alas devoid of great number of birds, Yellowhammer x 4 & Reed Bunting x 6 only species of note, not a good omen for my BBS this year.
Murton Cycleway South
Better luck here, greeted by Fieldfare x 30 in hawthorn bushes South West of Murton Village (NZ 3846) just before South Hetton, also Bullfinch x 5 in hawthorn again near old Crossing at Murton Village
IanF
Moderator
Glaucous-winged Gull showing well on Dormans Pool this morning. Also a Glaucous Gull. A Caspian Gull was around as well though I couldn't pick it out.
Hurworth Burn Reservoir - Whooper Swan x6 adults. c.Canada and Greylag geese and Teal/Wigeon c.60 sat around on the ice. A few Heron and Cormorant on the banks. 20-30 Fieldfare and Redwing along the cycleway. Willow Tit x2 coming to the feeders plus mainly Coal Tit and GSW.
No sign of the Smew at Crookfoot and no sign of the Little Owl at Pudding Poke Farm.
Photos: 1.& 2. Glaucous-winged Gull - 3. Redwing - 4. Fieldfare - 5. Whooper Swan
Hurworth Burn Reservoir - Whooper Swan x6 adults. c.Canada and Greylag geese and Teal/Wigeon c.60 sat around on the ice. A few Heron and Cormorant on the banks. 20-30 Fieldfare and Redwing along the cycleway. Willow Tit x2 coming to the feeders plus mainly Coal Tit and GSW.
No sign of the Smew at Crookfoot and no sign of the Little Owl at Pudding Poke Farm.
Photos: 1.& 2. Glaucous-winged Gull - 3. Redwing - 4. Fieldfare - 5. Whooper Swan
Attachments
Derek Polley
Well-known member
I saw a marsh/willow tit at the Thornley Wood feeders and put it on the ID thread
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131019
My photo is rubbish and inconclusive, I have advice telling me it is definitely both!! Can I have some help from Durham birders as to which is most likely at Thornley Wood feeding station? If only one species is recorded there it would probably be that one. Thanks in advance for the help!!
My trip report for the North East can be found here
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131269
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131019
My photo is rubbish and inconclusive, I have advice telling me it is definitely both!! Can I have some help from Durham birders as to which is most likely at Thornley Wood feeding station? If only one species is recorded there it would probably be that one. Thanks in advance for the help!!
My trip report for the North East can be found here
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131269
StevieEvans
Well-known member
(Not) Houghton Patch 09
Man cannot live on patch alone, so off i drove... would it be the dodgy winged herring gull ?, the coast ?, the dales ?
No. Mid Browney Valley area, Lanchester / Malton & Burnhopeside 10:00-14:00
First session, checking conifer woods... freezing cold up there & few rewards.
Managed only a single Long-eared - used to be 10 to 20 when i was watching this regularly, 2Woodcock in the process, but no Siskin nor Crossbill.
A surprise on leaving, a right old noise from a Green Woodpecker - theyre generally a lot quieter at this time of year, plus id never seen one in this wood before...
I took cover behind a stone wall and some thorn cover. After a few moments it (he) flew calling, up into the open canopy of a tall Silver Birch - a beautiful mix of colours..... but not for long - it took off again aiming for the next belt of trees, screeching & screaming with a female Sparrowhawk bearing down on it !
The hawk broke off & cruised away as the woodpecker only just managed to undulate into a large Oak. Within moments a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew onto the scene, as if attracted by the commotion.
Into the valley & a cursory glance over The Kings Head bridge produced the Dipper pair as expected, the male singing strongly. A bit dinner, i resisted the coal fire across the way, and headed down to Malton.
The Co.Council Malton picnic site here (NZ1746) hosts an excellent range of habitat, with a half mile wheel chair path round it - Kingfisher as per usual perched at the Waters Meet, & Dippers left right & centre - 50 yards from the car park, 5 birds gave an amazing close range display as they sang & chased in a territorial dispute which i still cannot fathom out.
To give a flavour of the site, others included Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, GSW, Treecreeper, LTTit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Heron, Moorhen, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Mistle Thrush & a calling Tawny Owl.
Upstream section near Doras Wood, i looked for LSW, managed 3GSW & a single Little Owl in an Oak nr Greenwall Ford. Scanning down the valley a Buzzard & pair of Sparrowhawk soared over Burnhopeside.
Back down the rail line to check the DWT reserve at Malton for Redpolls, but slightly disappointing, but i perhaps rushed it - another GSW & Kingfisher & a Woodcock in a regular spot, but no Tree Sparrows today at the end of the old Colliery terrace.
Back in the car, next stop a very icy Brasside pond, with only 10% of the water free of ice.
Still a few birds on, but for once i didnt walk right round:- 4pr Goldeneye, 4Dabchick, 42Coot, 3Tufted Duck, 2Swan families, 2Jay, 2Willow Tit & 50 Greylag over north.
It would be a rare day indeed if i didnt mention something from my patch, so i called in at RMs, & bumped in Colin & Guy.
The main pool was 80% frozen but had a few birds loafing on the ice including 77Teal, 74Tufted, drake Ruddy, 14Moorhen, Water Rail calling, 1Pink footed Goose(patchyrtick), 380+Greylag, 30Canada, 2Jay, 45+redpoll, 2Kestrel, 80+Magpie at roost. Came away before dusk due to disturbance on site.
Man cannot live on patch alone, so off i drove... would it be the dodgy winged herring gull ?, the coast ?, the dales ?
No. Mid Browney Valley area, Lanchester / Malton & Burnhopeside 10:00-14:00
First session, checking conifer woods... freezing cold up there & few rewards.
Managed only a single Long-eared - used to be 10 to 20 when i was watching this regularly, 2Woodcock in the process, but no Siskin nor Crossbill.
A surprise on leaving, a right old noise from a Green Woodpecker - theyre generally a lot quieter at this time of year, plus id never seen one in this wood before...
I took cover behind a stone wall and some thorn cover. After a few moments it (he) flew calling, up into the open canopy of a tall Silver Birch - a beautiful mix of colours..... but not for long - it took off again aiming for the next belt of trees, screeching & screaming with a female Sparrowhawk bearing down on it !
The hawk broke off & cruised away as the woodpecker only just managed to undulate into a large Oak. Within moments a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew onto the scene, as if attracted by the commotion.
Into the valley & a cursory glance over The Kings Head bridge produced the Dipper pair as expected, the male singing strongly. A bit dinner, i resisted the coal fire across the way, and headed down to Malton.
The Co.Council Malton picnic site here (NZ1746) hosts an excellent range of habitat, with a half mile wheel chair path round it - Kingfisher as per usual perched at the Waters Meet, & Dippers left right & centre - 50 yards from the car park, 5 birds gave an amazing close range display as they sang & chased in a territorial dispute which i still cannot fathom out.
To give a flavour of the site, others included Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, GSW, Treecreeper, LTTit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Heron, Moorhen, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Mistle Thrush & a calling Tawny Owl.
Upstream section near Doras Wood, i looked for LSW, managed 3GSW & a single Little Owl in an Oak nr Greenwall Ford. Scanning down the valley a Buzzard & pair of Sparrowhawk soared over Burnhopeside.
Back down the rail line to check the DWT reserve at Malton for Redpolls, but slightly disappointing, but i perhaps rushed it - another GSW & Kingfisher & a Woodcock in a regular spot, but no Tree Sparrows today at the end of the old Colliery terrace.
Back in the car, next stop a very icy Brasside pond, with only 10% of the water free of ice.
Still a few birds on, but for once i didnt walk right round:- 4pr Goldeneye, 4Dabchick, 42Coot, 3Tufted Duck, 2Swan families, 2Jay, 2Willow Tit & 50 Greylag over north.
It would be a rare day indeed if i didnt mention something from my patch, so i called in at RMs, & bumped in Colin & Guy.
The main pool was 80% frozen but had a few birds loafing on the ice including 77Teal, 74Tufted, drake Ruddy, 14Moorhen, Water Rail calling, 1Pink footed Goose(patchyrtick), 380+Greylag, 30Canada, 2Jay, 45+redpoll, 2Kestrel, 80+Magpie at roost. Came away before dusk due to disturbance on site.
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IanF
Moderator
Pretty difficult to tell from the photo I'm afraid. I've only seen Willow Tit here myself but both do occur at several sites in Durham. I'm leaning towards Willow Tit though - largeish bib, bullish neck and hint of pale wing panel but No doubt it could be argued for Marsh as well!
Sounds like you had a pretty good trip - though maybe more time should have been spent in Durham
great bustard
Well-known member
Approx 40 - 50 Waxwings in Wynard Business Park at 13:00
Startled Tawny & Denbee
After a good days birding down Teesmouth with J Todd, sitting in Computer room of home writing the days sightings up, when heard the familiar Ke-wick of Tawny, therefore ventured out into back garden and too my surprise there sitting in Sycamore tree not 50 feet away was a Tawny Owl which was startled by the security light and flew right across garden, this is a first for my garden
After a good days birding down Teesmouth with J Todd, sitting in Computer room of home writing the days sightings up, when heard the familiar Ke-wick of Tawny, therefore ventured out into back garden and too my surprise there sitting in Sycamore tree not 50 feet away was a Tawny Owl which was startled by the security light and flew right across garden, this is a first for my garden
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Houghton Patch 09
Hainings areas Houghton NZ35
not as much excitement today, birding round mixed farmland areas.
Checked several stubbles, 40+Yellowhammer including an early male singing briefly, but corn bunting remained invisible..
several male Grey Partridges vocal during the day, but only coveys of 9 & less.
14Tree Sparrow, 1GSW, 1Woodcock flushed from brambles at side of path, 2Sparrowhawk, 4Kestrel, 60Fieldfare, 100Redwing, 2Willow Tit, a Coal Tit out of habitat in a bleak stand of gorse, 18Stock Dove, 4Bullfinch & a Peregrine as todays patchyrtick (#92). Two small flocks of Siskin heading over SW (13 & 9)
A couple more Little Owls today, including 1 (the landowner tells me) of a breeding pair.
MH reports 25Waxwings going west at Sedgeletch late afternoon.
Hainings areas Houghton NZ35
not as much excitement today, birding round mixed farmland areas.
Checked several stubbles, 40+Yellowhammer including an early male singing briefly, but corn bunting remained invisible..
several male Grey Partridges vocal during the day, but only coveys of 9 & less.
14Tree Sparrow, 1GSW, 1Woodcock flushed from brambles at side of path, 2Sparrowhawk, 4Kestrel, 60Fieldfare, 100Redwing, 2Willow Tit, a Coal Tit out of habitat in a bleak stand of gorse, 18Stock Dove, 4Bullfinch & a Peregrine as todays patchyrtick (#92). Two small flocks of Siskin heading over SW (13 & 9)
A couple more Little Owls today, including 1 (the landowner tells me) of a breeding pair.
MH reports 25Waxwings going west at Sedgeletch late afternoon.
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