Northumbrian Birding (3 Viewers)

[The Liverbirder]

a single whimbrel .....with a single raven.

Two very special birds considering the place and time of year. If you see them again, shout up sooner. I would 'down tools' and travel to see the big corvid. :t:

 

[lazza]

Two very special birds considering the place and time of year. If you see them again, shout up sooner. I would 'down tools' and travel to see the big corvid. :t:

The whimbrel really surprised me, I wouldn't expect to see it there and then either. But is the raven so out of place? I used to live in Whitley Bay and recall I've seen the species there before on occasion, especially in the winter.

Anyway, a nice garden tick this morning.....

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

But is the raven so out of place? I used to live in Whitley Bay and recall I've seen the species there before on occasion, especially in the winter.

In a word yes. Northumbrian Birds published in 2000 suggests there were six coastal records in Northumberland between 1951-1982, none of them were at St. Marys. More recently there has been the occasional coastal record around Howick/Dunstanburgh but none that I can recall away from there.

Unfortunately what you have seen and considered to be a Raven is almost certainly a Crow, size is difficult to judge on lone birds.

 

[Mark Newsome]

In a word yes. Northumbrian Birds published in 2000 suggests there were six coastal records in Northumberland between 1951-1982, none of them were at St. Marys. More recently there has been the occasional coastal record around Howick/Dunstanburgh but none that I can recall away from there.

Unfortunately what you have seen and considered to be a Raven is almost certainly a Crow, size is difficult to judge on lone birds.

Also to put it into perspective, there have been no modern day records of Raven in the South Tyenside area, just a few miles to the south. Still a very rare bird in Durham away from the uplands.

Mark

 

[Chris Allen]

Still on the Raven theme, I think I had one around Budle Bay about a month ago, what do people think?, it certainly looked huge with very deep slow wing beats but was fairly distant.

 

[lazza]

In a word yes. Northumbrian Birds published in 2000 suggests there were six coastal records in Northumberland between 1951-1982, none of them were at St. Marys. More recently there has been the occasional coastal record around Howick/Dunstanburgh but none that I can recall away from there.

Unfortunately what you have seen and considered to be a Raven is almost certainly a Crow, size is difficult to judge on lone birds.

Oh! |8(| Fair enough.... I retract my observation.... sorry all! Back to the drawing board (aka Collins guide) for more studying, I think

And that presumably also means the corvid I saw on the cliffs north of Berwick upon Tweed in October was probably not a raven (although I had crows to compare it with and it appeared bigger, had a stouter beak, and a kind of mane of feathers).

 

[bella34]

The "mane of feathers" does suggest Raven, each time i've seen a Raven they've had a "fat neck", that and the Diamond shaped tail are the dead giveaways.
I've seen Ravens on the side of Sharp edge, Blencathra in the lake District, also saw them feeding on rabbit roadkill between Langdon beck, Co Durham and Alston, Cumbria when the snows were here last spring.
Was also surprised to see one on the western edge of Hamsterley forest / Middle end in midsummer which suggests they may not totally be a bird of desolate expanses .

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Oh! |8(| Fair enough.... I retract my observation.... sorry all! Back to the drawing board (aka Collins guide) for more studying, I think

And that presumably also means the corvid I saw on the cliffs north of Berwick upon Tweed in October was probably not a raven (although I had crows to compare it with and it appeared bigger, had a stouter beak, and a kind of mane of feathers).

Maybe, maybe not. The chances of a Raven on a cliff in the less populated areas with less observer coverage is probably greater than of one at one of the most frequently visited and watched sites in Northumberland.

 

[seggs]

You just never know!...(hopefully over Marsden one day whilst listening to the Stranglers.).

 

[ospreyscotbird]

What a lovely time I had today!! Escaped just before lunch :gh:.
1st to Hauxley, 4 lovely whooper swans, 3 'local birders' arrived straight away they saw a stoat being chased by a rabbit, a sparrowhawk was mobbed by a carrion crow. 3 fluffy little grebe, widgeon were looking great as were the oystercatcher + peewit. A couple of heron floated in as well as some red shank + curlew. Loads of goldfinch in the trees by the carpark + a lovely tinkling sound announced the arrival of some sisikin :king:.
Wandered down to Chevington where I'd seen the harriers but never ventured out to the ponds. The hides are something else + not sure I'll be going back in any of them on my own. Had to stand on the bench just to pin the window open - apologies for footprints - they are only wee though - the hide felt quite intimidating, esp as I was on my own. Wonderful views of a short-eared owl as it quartered the dunes + reeds sitting on the stobs for a wee while now + then. As I was in the hide a moorhen came into the cutting followed by a smaller bird wondered if it was a water rail but wasn't sure (till I looked at the pics!! ;-) o ) Then met some folk that had just seen 2 bittern towards the west of the pond so of I went to see if my luck was in. Hung around but there was no booming + their camoflage was working brilliantly - no bittern - or bearded tit - or - slavonian grebe, think the light + my 8x42's were just no match for the wee grebe :-C. 3 lovely rbmergansers flew in from the sea. A gorgeous reed bunting was bobbing about in the buckthorn - I wonder how many walk along + never see these wonders. The hedges were teaming with wee birds - blue tit, great tit, wren,long tailed tit + the awesome wee gold finches fantastic!!
Onto Cresswell but the light was very poor by now. A good nos Greylag geese feeding the fields on the corner of the road just north of the pond. Lots of widgeon, peewit + a few teal at the north of the pond. From the hide there were wonderful views of widgeon, peewit, mallard, curlew, mute swans, merganser. Then over the reed beds between the road + hide there was a barn owl out hunting:king: it crossed to the dunes + went of down the coast towards Cresswell, fantastic exciting to watch. Too dark by now for the jack snipe or the long tailed duck. Then there was myown wee mini mermeration to enjoy as starlings whooped round till they fell into the reed bed!! What a racket they make chattering away toone another. A brilliant few hours out. Home to the family , pizza + a glass (or 2) of wine B
Sorry for poor pics had wee camera out with me :eek!: oh no files to large will try againlater!! Sorry!!

 

[super-silly-um]

Maybe, maybe not. The chances of a Raven on a cliff in the less populated areas with less observer coverage is probably greater than of one at one of the most frequently visited and watched sites in Northumberland.

Over Holywell Dene 7th October 2012

 

[martin kitching]

Looks like a Rook (in fact, on reflection, looks even more like a Common Buzzard). Doesn't have either the long narrow wings, or diamond shaped tail of Raven.

cheers
martin

Over Holywell Dene 7th October 2012

 

[super-silly-um]

Looks like a Rook (in fact, on reflection, looks even more like a Common Buzzard). Doesn't have either the long narrow wings, or diamond shaped tail of Raven.

cheers
martin

Cheers. Buzzard was initial impression, perhaps with lighting effects I had it as jet black, therefore Raven was my outcome. Another experienced local birder has queried my outcome with same points as you too.

Richard

 

[super-silly-um]

Cheers. Buzzard was initial impression, perhaps with lighting effects I had it as jet black, therefore Raven was my outcome. Another experienced local birder has queried my outcome with same points as you too.

Richard

After looking at dozens of photos of ariel Ravens, I still believe what I saw was a Raven, there are plenty of pics where the tail can appear 'un-diamond' like and plenty of others where there is no long 'hand' apparent. my photo has the unfortunate luck to have both of these. Unless you can get jet black Buzzards or huge Rooks/Carrion Crows I will remain convinced. For the record I did get a decent look before taking the distant photo.

Cheers, Richard.

 

[vanellus]

Looks like a Rook (in fact, on reflection, looks even more like a Common Buzzard). Doesn't have either the long narrow wings, or diamond shaped tail of Raven.

cheers
martin

The wing shape looks good for Buzzard, difficult to count the 'fingers' properly, even when blowing it right up. The tail looks a bit odd, but it's at a bit of an angle.

I have seen very dark Buzzards and at this time of year, a lot depends upon quality and angle of light.

 

[lazza]

well, that's some consolation that everyone seems to struggle!

Anyway, my first brambling of this winter on Sunday afternoon while out on my bike just north of Ashington. In fact, there were 2 of them in the roadside bushes north of Ashington Rugby club, just half a mile (as the finch flies) from where I had seen the waxwing a couple of weeks ago.

 

[super-silly-um]

After looking at dozens of photos of ariel Ravens, I still believe what I saw was a Raven, there are plenty of pics where the tail can appear 'un-diamond' like and plenty of others where there is no long 'hand' apparent. my photo has the unfortunate luck to have both of these. Unless you can get jet black Buzzards or huge Rooks/Carrion Crows I will remain convinced. For the record I did get a decent look before taking the distant photo.

Cheers, Richard.

With the study of an un-downloadable photo by a local expert, I'll have to go with Rook. Optical illusion on size was obviously my downfall.

Cheers all,

Richard.

 

[woodhornbirder]

anyone is into taking pics of red squirrels? they have a feeder at entrance to woohorn museum car park. I got within 10 ft of 4 last friday.

long tailed tit and willow tit also present.

 

[John Fleet]

there's also a feeding station across at the light railway halt which was well patronised by the red squirrels when we were there a couple of weeks ago...

 

[Newton Stringer]

Anyone a keen patch birder have a look at this http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk

We have well over 30 patches entered so far but none further north than East Yorkshire in England.

Cheers

Ryan

Also follow us on twitter @PatchBirding

Just taken a look at this. It is true many sheeple bored of following the flock are turning their backs on the listing and twitching thing in favour of patch birding. There is a lot to be said for that.

I like the idea of a blog where keen local patchers can share experiences, highs and lows, best birds found, birds missed, important local birds, rarities, habitats, changes, benefits of patch birding etc...

However, one of the main reasons that I dedicate myself to the patch is to escape that annoying competitive listing thing and the whole twitching scene in general. I personally find the escape of competition and judgment based on a number (how big your list is) one of the greatest benefits of patch watching.

I have no idea what my patch list total is (although I do know in my head exactly which species I have and haven’t seen here), and I have no desire to turn my enjoyment of the patch into another listing competition.

Don’t get me wrong, I think a general patch blog is a great idea, I’m just not personally into making my patch birding competitive. I’m sure other more competitive people will be interested in this tho, it’s horses for courses I suppose.