Durham Birding (2 Viewers)

[AndyEmery]

Great shot, how on earth you managed to get your lens past all those twigs I've no idea!

 

[melodious]

This particular Redpoll seems to have a yellow crown, is this common in Redpoll’s?

Hi Ron. It's certainly not common but its something that crops up once in a while. Some others pictured here;

http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/2012_03_01_archive.html

Another colour i've seen on one bird was a particularly nice shade of purple.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Hi Ron. It's certainly not common but its something that crops up once in a while. Some others pictured here;

http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/2012_03_01_archive.html

Another colour i've seen on one bird was a particularly nice shade of purple.

Thanks for the reply melodious I didn't realise there could be so many colour variations.

Ron

 

[Boro Birder]

A trip to High Shincliff produced this record shot of the Yellow-rumped Warbler which was my target bird and also this very poor record shot of a Redpoll. This particular Redpoll seems to have a yellow crown, is this common in Redpoll’s?

Great shot, hoping to get a lift to see the bird mid-week if it's still around.


Damian.

 

[Michael A]

Finches

Bullfinch from today last time I saw one this plump it was diseased although this one looks healthy.
http://www.trampsandhawkers.co.uk/gallery/

 

[rentoncharman]

Shots of the Myrtle Warbler at High Shincliffe today. The bird was very mobile within a 150yd distance.

 

[Mark Newsome]

Shots of the Myrtle Warbler at High Shincliffe today. The bird was very mobile within a 150yd distance.

Wow! Fantastic shots Renton. Glad it performed for everyone today.

Mark

 

[Farnboro John]

Shots of the Myrtle Warbler at High Shincliffe today. The bird was very mobile within a 150yd distance.

I think the word "belter" is inescapable!

John

 

[Farnboro John]

Hi Ron. It's certainly not common but its something that crops up once in a while. Some others pictured here;

http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/2012_03_01_archive.html

Another colour i've seen on one bird was a particularly nice shade of purple.

Obviously from a feral American population, particularly given the prevalence at Hilbre. Ship assisted for sure

John

 

[ColinSev]

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Paid a visit to High Shincliffe to see the Yellow Rumped Warber - along with the rest of the world.
Showed quite nicely at times, and managed a couple of shots.
A nice surprise was the 3 Waxwings just up the road.

http://colsdigiscope.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[melodious]

Obviously from a feral American population, particularly given the prevalence at Hilbre. Ship assisted for sure

John

Cheeky monkey

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Shots of the Myrtle Warbler at High Shincliffe today. The bird was very mobile within a 150yd distance.

Cracking shots.

 

[rentoncharman]

Shots of the Myrtle Warbler at High Shincliffe today. The bird was very mobile within a 150yd distance.

Thanks, Mar, John and Ron for the comments. I guess I was lucky to have decent light although a bit harsh at times giving some blown highlights.

Renton

 

[Michael A]

Local sightings

A drive around local patch (Edmundbyers and Muggleswick) and home garden today.
Edmundbyers common, Common Buzzard x3, Red Kite x1, Blackbirds 50+,
Green Woodpecker x1, Red Grouse 30+.
Home Garden:- Wren x1, Grt Sp.Woodpecker x1, Lesser Redpoll x10+, Siskins x10+. Blue and Grt Tits, Chaffinches and at least 8 Brambling with more in neighbouring gardens.
http://www.trampsandhawkers.co.uk/gallery/

 

[IanF]

A nice sunny morning for a wander down Greenabella Marsh even if the winds were a little on the cold side.

A good number of birds around which included - Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover x2, Black-tailed Godwit x5, Bar-tailed Godwit c.10, Whimbrel, Velvet Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser x8, Peregrine, Common Buzzard.

Whimbrel video clip - http://youtu.be/0krWmP37Vyw

It was nice to see my first Short-eared Owl of the year hunting over Greenabella.

Next stop was Tilery Wood where a friend was ringing. Around 30 birds trapped up until I left, mostly being Siskin. Others included Bullfinch, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Dunnock.

Marsh Tit x2, Long-tailed Tit x8 and Blackbird x2 were flitting about as well. Lots of birds singing this morning.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Few shots from Seaton Snook and Seal Sands today. All fairly distant, but nice to see the Velvet Scoter was still about.

 

[Cal07vin]

Divers?

Few shots from Seaton Snook and Seal Sands today. All fairly distant, but nice to see the Velvet Scoter was still about.

Hi Ray,

The second photograph on the left looks more like a pair of Black-throated Divers than Red-throated ones. They look as if they have peaked foreheads, straight level bills and more of a darker and extensive neck border.

I was in the Seal Sands hide on Sunday from around 11:30 - 12:40 in the morning and look very similar to the ones I considered to be Black-throated -although I stand to be corrected.

I always admire your photographs as they often allow the finer details of birds to be noted and used for future fieldcraft reference.

I would be interested if any other birders could verify whether they are Red/Black- throated Divers.

 

[martin kitching]

Yes, Black-throated Divers

cheers
martin

Hi Ray,

The second photograph on the left looks more like a pair of Black-throated Divers than Red-throated ones. They look as if they have peaked foreheads, straight level bills and more of a darker and extensive neck border.

I was in the Seal Sands hide on Sunday from around 11:30 - 12:40 in the morning and look very similar to the ones I considered to be Black-throated -although I stand to be corrected.

I always admire your photographs as they often allow the finer details of birds to be noted and used for future fieldcraft reference.

I would be interested if any other birders could verify whether they are Red/Black- throated Divers.

 

[Cal07vin]

Yes, Black-throated Divers

cheers
martin

Thanks Martin,

Do you consider Ray's photograph of the lone diver to be a possible juvenile Black-throated Diver?

Ray - Hope you don't mind the close scrutiny given to your excellent photographs, no offence meant!

 

[Ray.Scott]

Thanks Martin,

Do you consider Ray's photograph of the lone diver to be a possible juvenile Black-throated Diver?

Ray - Hope you don't mind the close scrutiny given to your excellent photographs, no offence meant!

Not at all :t:, I'm not sure if the stand alone diver is one of the pair, that's In the other photo or not, as the three divers were together at one point, before they split up, and I was told prior that there were two BT and one RT, so I may have photographed just the BT, thinking that the other was a RT :eek!:.