Durham Birding (16 Viewers)

[Andy K]

Tried 2 days on the trot for Hawfinches at Croxdale Hall/ Chapel but no luck. Anyone seen them recently ? Thanks.

 

[dannyboy]

Tried 2 days on the trot for Hawfinches at Croxdale Hall/ Chapel but no luck. Anyone seen them recently ? Thanks.

Andy

As far as I know they haven't been seen at that site for a couple of years now. Others may know better. Was there anything else there? Was going to go there myself today but got waylaid.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Ray.Scott]

South Shields Pier:
Single Rock pipit, RT Diver, Eider, Guillemot, shags, cormorants, also flock of 11 Pinkies Northbound.
Just saw one shorty flying on the Leas, bit dark and windy by the time we arrived.

 

[IanF]

Ward Jackson Park - am - Goosander x4 (1m,3f), Cormorant x5 (including colour ring SlH ringed 30/05/2005 Abberton Reservoir, Essex), Parakeet x9, Nuthatch x4, Treecreeper x1, Song Thrush.

Hartlepool Marina - BT DIver, RB Merganser x2, Little Grebe.

The Headland - Marine Drive - RN Grebe, RT Diver x12, Common Scoter c.40, GC Grebe x3, Guillemot x1, Eider x23. Also porpoise humping.

Zinc Works Road - Sparrowhawk.

Greatham Creek - Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, RB Merganser, Buzzard.

RSPB Saltholme - reported - Bittern at Willife Watchpoint, Marsh Harrier at Haverton Viewpoint and GW Teal at Saltholme Hide.

 

[degsy_safc]

Nice to eventually catch up with Lapland Buntings in South Tyneside.. Also SEO's & Snow Buntings made decent appearances..

Couple of pictures - Lapland & Snow Bunting from today & SEO's from Wednesday..

 

[Andy K]

Andy

As far as I know they haven't been seen at that site for a couple of years now. Others may know better. Was there anything else there? Was going to go there myself today but got waylaid.

Cheers

Paul

Hi Paul,

There was nothing out of the ordinary, GSW,Nuthatch etc. Does anyone know where I can see Hawfinches ? Send me a PM if the site is sensitive. Many thanks.

 

[IanF]

Hi Paul,

There was nothing out of the ordinary, GSW,Nuthatch etc. Does anyone know where I can see Hawfinches ? Send me a PM if the site is sensitive. Many thanks.

Sizergh Castle near Kendal is about the best spot to go that I know of. In winter the staff put down food for them in the car park so you get very close views of around a half dozen or so. A bit far to go just for Hawfinch but we usually combine it with a visit to RSPB Leighton Moss.

 

[The Chairman]

Tried 2 days on the trot for Hawfinches at Croxdale Hall/ Chapel but no luck. Anyone seen them recently ? Thanks.

Hawfinch is tricky to catch up with in County Durham but there are a few traditional sites where birds may still be around.
Details on Hawfinches and every other species of bird recorded in Durham is of course documented in The Birds of Durham available from The Durham Bird Club

 

[IanF]

A1185 Seal Sands Road - am - Short-eared Owl x2 hunting the grass verges at 8.30am.

RSPB Saltholme - SEO x1 & two fighting foxes on the fire station field.

Saltholme Hide - Red-breasted Merganser x5, Goldeneye x5, Golden Plover c.300, Merlin x1, Redshank x8. Couldn't spot the GW Teal today.

Kestrel x5 & Peregrine seen whilst walking between the the hides.

A close encounter with a Kestrel. Just after leaving Paddy's Pool Hide heading towards the Wildlife Watchpoint a vole scooted across the path just ahead of me. A Kestrel dived in and picked it up no more that 5m in front of me and flew with it to a fence post to eat it.

Pink-footed Geese c.80 flew north over car park as I was leaving.


Merlin video - http://youtu.be/_hxM-pKFFac

Goldfinch video - http://youtu.be/YLGG-NI5rJY

.

 

[degsy_safc]

Another trip to South Tyneside to try and relocate the Lapland Buntings..

Took a while but managed to spot them along with a nice SEO who decided to perch pretty close a couple of times :t:

 

[vanellus]

Another trip to South Tyneside to try and relocate the Lapland Buntings..

Took a while but managed to spot them along with a nice SEO who decided to perch pretty close a couple of times :t:

Hi Derek,

Great shots of the Bunting. It would be a lifer for me, but it would probably disappear if I turned up.

 

[degsy_safc]

Hi Derek,

Great shots of the Bunting. It would be a lifer for me, but it would probably disappear if I turned up.

:-O Thanks Andrew - have sent you a PM ..

 

[LowellMills]

Lapland Bunting (male) is one of the rarest birds I've chanced upon (I don't get out 1% as much as most folks on here!). Mine wasn't in Durham but on North Uist. Quite a different situation then, further illustrated by the flocks of Snow Buntings the same day. First time seeing either

 

[IanF]

Seaton Snook - Snow Bunting x43 for me as well as a max. count though there was a bit coming and going by a small group with 33-34 remaining in the bigger group.

Tilery Wood - Crossbill x5 in trees near the scout hut including at least one juvenile, Jay, Siskin c.8, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, lots of Coal Tit.

Buzzard perched on post at Wynyard. No sign of the Waxwings this morning at A689/A19.

Snow Bunting video - http://youtu.be/eU03MyIKzyk

.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Hartlepool Headland:
Good number of common scoter, eider, redshank, purple sandpiper, turnstone, oyster catchers, 3 distant RT divers, GC grebe, small flock ringed plover, 2 med, gulls between the piers, cormorant, single shag, curlew, flock of about 250 knot.
No sign of the BT diver at the marina.
Med gull at Newburn Bridge, on the usual lamp post, as we past.

 

[DCJ]

Durham.

Seggsys Patch.

.

 

[Paul Hackett]

A great day up in South Shields yesterday, met up with Davey Johnson and Degsy and other friendly folk, really enjoyed the chats, thanks for the advice and help lads, much appreciated inc help from Ianf as well !

A few Digiscoped pics from the session.

Paul

 

[degsy_safc]

A great day up in South Shields yesterday, met up with Davey Johnson and Degsy and other friendly folk, really enjoyed the chats, thanks for the advice and help lads, much appreciated inc help from Ianf as well !

A few Digiscoped pics from the session.

Paul

Well done Paul, nice to catch up. Great digiscoped shots you got there - glad the map worked for you :t::t:

 

[Andy K]

Thanks for the replies on the Hawfinches. Sounds like I need to get a copy of the Durham Bird Club Book anyway

 

[IanF]

RSPB Saltholme - am - Haverton Scrub - Bullfinch x5, Redwing x5, Long-eared Owl x1, Sparrowhawk.

Wildlife Watchpoint - Snipe.