Durham Birding (6 Viewers)

[IanF]

Had this little visitor in my garden over the last couple of days is this very rare ?

Certainly uncommon. Any bird can be albinisitc. I've not seen it in Robins before.

 

[StevieEvans]

Short-eared Owls

couple of Shorties showing well close to the path on the Long Drag, Seal Sands, N.Tees yesterday, as well as 2-3 on regular location of Cockfield Fell.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Hartlepool/teesside yesterday:

Started off at the headland, walk between the Piers.
The usual gulls & cormorants with a good number of GBB gulls and 1 med gull also 2 eider, redshnks, oyster catchers, turnstone, purple sandpiper, rock pipits, pied wagtail.

On to Jacksons Landing:
Only 1 GN diver seen, 10 merganser and a few cormorants. Also while I was standing near the Premier Inn beside the life buoy, I turned round, and was shocked to see a fox, about 10 to 15 yards away. It mustn't have noticed me until I turned, and It legged It along the car park to the rear of the Inn.
Totaly unexpected experience.

Called at Saltholme, Bottom Tank:
Usual bird life here including, gadwall, BT godwit, little egret etc + 2 distant common snipe. No signe of the water rail while I was there.

Returned to Jacksons landing, the light was better for photos.
Diver and cormorants still present but no mergansers.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from jacksons Landing:

 

[Ray.Scott]

and a couple from Salholme.

The fox photo is what I managed from Jacksons Landing.

 

[JBee]

Following a hot tip that there were a pair of Bewicks on Seaton Pond spuggy, DCJ and I went for a few shots.
Unfortunately there was no signs of any old cars anywhere so we had to make do with a couple of young whoopers.

 

[JBee]

Bumped into Ray at Jacksons landing whilst I was killing an hour during hospital visiting time.
The reflections on the water would have been worth photographing on their own.

 

[IanF]

GN Diver still present at Jacksons Landing this afternoon plus a Kingfisher flying from beside the Wingfield Castle boat along the back of the Premier Inn and over the lock gates.

Med. Gull on lampost at Newburn Bridge.

SEO x2 on Seaton Common around 3.00pm between North Gare car park and Zinc Works Road mostly behind the sand dunes.

RSPB Saltholme - Bottom Tank - Snipe x10, Black-tailed Godwit x8, Redshank x3, Lapwing c.150, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Coot, Moorhen & Pied Wagtail.

 

[AndyMc]

Bumped into Ray at Jacksons landing......
The reflections on the water would have been worth photographing on their own.

I suppose Ray got those shots?

As for the unmentionable fad, I take it there's been a bit of an over reaction. It's good to hear that there is good folk about.
As there is a photo threat to any morons out there, that'll be me included (photo not moron) then hopefully this is enough to keep them in line.

 

[will@bill]

Hi John

I stayed until it was nearly dark - your post sums it up, no problems right up to 16.30 when i left. Only the local dog walkers, birders & photogs visiting the pond via public footpath and one scrambler bike in the fields.

In fact what was interesting, was that virtually all of locals who passed us stopped and asked questions / commented on how great it was & gave further information....

Great to see Will & Bill again :t::t:

Anyway - couple of shots from me from this afternoon...

as always had some good crack derek:t:

Wouldn’t say there was no problems not when you took your kit off and streaked around the pond that was funny but the scissor jumps were a bit OTT :-O

 

[degsy_safc]

as always had some good crack derek:t:

Wouldn’t say there was no problems not when you took your kit off and streaked around the pond that was funny but the scissor jumps were a bit OTT :-O

Aye its been a long time since we had a good chin wag, i should have known you'd have a good post in store for me :-O:-O:-O

 

[DEREK.C.]

Durham Bird Club Quiz and Social Night

Tuesday - December 8th 2009 at 7.00pm at the Tap and Spile Public House(Framwellgate Moor - Durham).

Please come along and join us for our annual quiz and social night. Have a few drinks with fellow members and reflect on the memorable birding year of 2009. The evening includes a quiz- hosted by our Chairman- which is always a good laugh.
Look forward to meeting you there.:t:


VENUE

 

[StevieEvans]

Looks like some of us possibly ? stand corrected on the swans, but they appear very small !

Anyway, a Fascinating report from a Durham City Local Patch (NZ24), of Long-eared Owl activity late this afternoon, from one of the clubs keen owlers

Very early commencement of pre-breeding activity, with the male bird in repeated wing clapping display flights above this years nest area.
Female calling regularly too.

We usually hear the males start to "sing" from January onwards, but only ever see / hear the odd bit of half hearted wing clapping from mid January.

 

[JBee]

Very early commencement of pre-breeding activity, with the male bird in repeated wing clapping display flights above this years nest area.
Female calling regularly too.

We usually hear the males start to "sing" from January onwards, but only ever hear the odd bit of half hearted wing clapping from mid January.

Don't know if it is relevant or even of interest but one of the SP shorties was wing clapping a couple of days ago.
I actually saw it doing it.

 

[StevieEvans]

Don't know if it is relevant or even of interest but one of the SP shorties was wing clapping a couple of days ago.
I actually saw it doing it.

Was it a quick succession of under wing claps whilst in low flight John ? -
not too often we hear about this, they can do this to scare mammal prey into making a move or only very rarely they'll clap as part of defence of winter hunting territory.

Very interesting & certainly relevant to all the owlers reading - especially those who watch the area year round.

 

[JBee]

Was it a quick succession of under wing claps whilst in low flight John ? -
not too often we hear about this, they can do this to scare mammal prey into making a move or only very rarely they'll clap as part of defence of winter hunting territory.

Very interesting & certainly relevant to all the owlers reading - especially those who watch the area year round.

It was two or three rapid under wing claps - height is easy to describe as it was flying just beneath the telephone lines that run up towards the windmills (not sure if that is within their hunting zone height wise)
Coincidently it was one of two SEO's that had just mobbed a kestrel and chased it off towards the hide - someone else saw the SEO/kestrel episode from a different position to where I was but can't remember who it was or if they noticed the wing clapping.

 

[StevieEvans]

It was two or three rapid under wing claps - height is easy to describe as it was flying just beneath the telephone lines that run up towards the windmills (not sure if that is within their hunting zone height wise)
Coincidently it was one of two SEO's that had just mobbed a kestrel and chased it off towards the hide - someone else saw the SEO/kestrel episode from a different position to where I was but can't remember who it was or if they noticed the wing clapping.

thanks John
not typical hunting height, so guess it was clapping to let the Kes (& other owl ?) know "who's boss", rather than scaring prey into making a movement.
cheers
Steve

 

[StevieEvans]

Houghton Local Patch

The good ole' 2 bird theory seems right.
Whoopers, Mutes & Bewicks all seen today.:t:

Late arrival of first Dipper of the winter moving up one of the local becks.
Thrushes in good voice- especially Song Thrush, several Mistles & Great Tits vocal.
Usual winter records of (1-7) Water Rails & (1 & 2) Jack Snipe at several sites.
Long-eareds displaying & calling from a site nr Hetton - the male chasing off a 3rd bird.
Nothing out of the ordinary other than a Turnstone through on Saturday.

Steve

 

[rokermartin]

The good ole' 2 bird theory seems right.
Whoopers, Mutes & Bewicks all seen today.:t:

Late arrival of first Dipper of the winter moving up one of the local becks.
Thrushes in good voice- especially Song Thrush, several Mistles & Great Tits vocal.
Usual winter records of (1-7) Water Rails & (1 & 2) Jack Snipe at several sites.
Long-eareds displaying & calling from a site nr Hetton - the male chasing off a 3rd bird.
Nothing out of the ordinary other than a Turnstone through on Saturday.

Steve

Hi Steve its getting a bit confusing with these swans they were reported as Bewick's on the 2nd and 3rd of this month then on the 4th were reidentified as Whooper.It would be amazing if there has been imm of both species at Seaton Pond.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

They are very clearly Whoick’s

(Joke by DC on Saturday)