in and around south tyneside

[seggs]

thought i would start a new thread about my local area..
not to take any shine off the great durham thread but to be able to put more detailed reports on here for all to see..and hopefully some other local lads or visitors might contribute...of course main reports will still go into the durham thread.
here goes...
today dull and overcast morning....visited trow and leas mound area first..
walked my normal route from the car park around the quarry edges, no little owl showed and only a few wrens sounded.Then i was pleasantly surprised when a goldcrest appeared near the bush area of the quarry.
walked over to the bay areas ..a few oystercatchers ,redshanks and turnstones in the bays...1 shag and 2 cormorants fishing near the shore..and 7 eiders off frenchmans bay..a few fulmars soaring along the cliffs here also.
the leas mound area only had a few brave meadow pipits flying up and piping and a pair of linnets starting to set up territory..a female kestrel hunted here.
walked back down the path and 18 turnstones feeding on the grass beside target rock...and 20+ redshanks resting on the rocks on trow point...
3-4 jackdaws along the cliff line..
rabbits along the quarry more bold now.

[seggs]

went in search of the firecrest again, walked around the wooded area a couple of times before heading down the old mineral line a pair of l.t.tits in the wooded area at the bottom and a weasel ran over the path.
2 cock yellowhammers sang.
the horse fields had loads of thrushs including 20+ redwings and a pair of mistle thrushs.
back at the fircrest area again...i stood and waited on the small path and listened...sure enough a high pitched call sounded 20 yards ahead of me..
followed it and located the firecrest, watched for about 2 minutes before it headed off into the dense hawthorn not to be seen again by me on this visit..
had a another look around 3 pair of bullfinch, 2 pair of goldfinch and a pair of goldcrests(which i thought at first might be the firecrest again but no)..along with blue and great tits,robins,wrens,pheasants and chaffinch.
so its 4 out of 6 times for me with the firecrest..;)

[will@bill]

went in search of the firecrest again, walked around the wooded area a couple of times before heading down the old mineral line a pair of l.t.tits in the wooded area at the bottom and a weasel ran over the path.
2 cock yellowhammers sang.
the horse fields had loads of thrushs including 20+ redwings and a pair of mistle thrushs.
back at the fircrest area again...i stood and waited on the small path and listened...sure enough a high pitched call sounded 20 yards ahead of me..
followed it and located the firecrest, watched for about 2 minutes before it headed off into the dense hawthorn not to be seen again by me on this visit..
had a another look around 3 pair of bullfinch, 2 pair of goldfinch and a pair of goldcrests(which i thought at first might be the firecrest again but no)..along with blue and great tits,robins,wrens,pheasants and chaffinch.
so its 4 out of 6 times for me with the firecrest..;)
not on you bike yeh and where is photo of firecrest;)

[seggs]

on the way back today stopped at the flats..
2 canada geese, 3 greylags and the pink footed goose flew in with 2 greylags.
10+ redshanks,3 dunlin,15+curlew and 3 snipe...60+ wigeon, 30+ sleepy teal and a few pair of mallards..lapwings displaying..2 stock doves..
a lbb gull amoung the usual gulls
and a 2nd weasel of the day darted thro- the grass
the water level here has dropped big style looks like the sluice gates have been opened.
.................
marine park
still alot of maintenance work going on here, half the lake still drained.
apart from the swans..3 pochard only one female..and 10+ tufted duck..
the park area had all the usual robins,wrens,blue and great tits,dunnocks..etc.
and a pair of herring gulls were getting intimate!

[seggs]

not on you bike yeh and where is photo of firecrest;)
sorry lads the firecrest still is winning on that front!
and the bike is winning on the other front....sorry behind!!!!lol...

[nellieberta]

Thought I'd put these picture on again of the Yellow Browed Warbler from Jarrow Cemetary taken on 08.03.08, seeing as this is the local board! o:D
If the little blighter had co-operated they would have been great!
Also, an unusually pale black G.S.Woodpecker in the cemetary on the same day.

Joanne

[smitsel]

back at the fircrest area again...i stood and waited on the small path and listened...sure enough a high pitched call sounded 20 yards ahead of me..
followed it and located the firecrest, watched for about 2 minutes before it headed off into the dense hawthorn not to be seen again by me on this visit..

Great report Steve,sounds like you've had a good day.Some nice shots too, unlucky with the firecrest maybe next time :t:

[seggs]

Thought I'd put these picture on again of the Yellow Browed Warbler from Jarrow Cemetary taken on 08.03.08, seeing as this is the local board! o:D
If the little blighter had co-operated they would have been great!
Also, an unusually pale black G.S.Woodpecker in the cemetary on the same day.

Joanne
hi joanne
well done on the warbler shots...seen the bird a few times here but did not manage a single good shot..don,t know if the bird been seen lately.

[seggs]

Great report Steve,sounds like you've had a good day.Some nice shots too, unlucky with the firecrest maybe next time :t:
hi pete
this little belter can be a real pain to find ...many have still not picked the bird up..sound can be the real key at times to finding it..
the best of a bunch of naff shots taken a few weeks ago

[geordie121]

Hi,
bit late but yesterday at the Lea's i saw, 1 SEO, 2 Kestrels, 1 Stonechat, 6 Eiders, 1 Shag, 5 Fulmars,7+ Skylarks. Quite an enjoyable trip out my first time there. The SEO views were amazing! Shame not to have seen the Little Owl.

Cheers

Geordie

[echo24]

Hi folks, back online after suffering from a dodgy computer for the last day or two...... Steve, the new thread is a great idea by the way - nice one mate ! :-))

Not too much to report as I could only manage an hour or so in Trow & the Leas late afternoon, I was hoping for a Wheatear as there's one due north any day now ;-)) but had to settle for a pair of Grey Partridge instead ( on the mound )........ Trow extremely quiet compared to a few days ago - no sign of any Owls and no Stonechats either - most unusual - wrong time of day i guess??

I'll be out & about in Marsden, Cleadon & Whitburn tomorrow so will hopefully have a bit more to post tomorrow night - fingers crossed :-))

Good birding everyone :-))

Cheers, Dougie.

PS, my Kestrel never lets me down - he loves getting his picture taken Lol!! ;-))

[nellieberta]

hi joanne
well done on the warbler shots...seen the bird a few times here but did not manage a single good shot..don,t know if the bird been seen lately.

The guy my other half goes birding with, it's his local patch. He says he hasn't seen it for a few weeks now which is a shame as it's a fantastic bird, just doesn't keep still!

Off out tomorrow to look for the Firecrest at Boldon. Will this come under this thread?! ;) Although I've been living here 7 years, I'm not from these parts originally, I'll have the ask the hubby which thread to put it on now! Geography was never my strong point.......o:D

Joanne

[seggs]

The guy my other half goes birding with, it's his local patch. He says he hasn't seen it for a few weeks now which is a shame as it's a fantastic bird, just doesn't keep still!

Off out tomorrow to look for the Firecrest at Boldon. Will this come under this thread?! ;) Although I've been living here 7 years, I'm not from these parts originally, I'll have the ask the hubby which thread to put it on now! Geography was never my strong point.......o:D

Joanne
hi joanne
the main theme of this thread is so you can give detailed reports of all the birds you have seen in this area..either common or rare they all count so everyone reading it can enjoy and get a good insite info. wise to whats about.. all reports are very welcome no matter how small... any important birds or something different i will also post on the durham site as others should, .. the durham thread is a important link to the bird club..committee wise and for viewing whats going on further afield than in s.tyneside..
the boundries are strange..old style from river to river really, not like the modern style..

[seggs]

Hi,
bit late but yesterday at the Lea's i saw, 1 SEO, 2 Kestrels, 1 Stonechat, 6 Eiders, 1 Shag, 5 Fulmars,7+ Skylarks. Quite an enjoyable trip out my first time there. The SEO views were amazing! Shame not to have seen the Little Owl.

Cheers

Geordie
hi geordie
me too on the bit late front..its confusing a few people..:-O the two threads..
but your report is what it is about tell us what you see..
on your visit..great stuff glad you enjoyed it:t:
them little owls can be funny at times..either showing out in the open yards away or not even out..:C

[seggs]

Hi folks, back online after suffering from a dodgy computer for the last day or two...... Steve, the new thread is a great idea by the way - nice one mate ! :-))

Not too much to report as I could only manage an hour or so in Trow & the Leas late afternoon, I was hoping for a Wheatear as there's one due north any day now ;-)) but had to settle for a pair of Grey Partridge instead ( on the mound )........ Trow extremely quiet compared to a few days ago - no sign of any Owls and no Stonechats either - most unusual - wrong time of day i guess??

I'll be out & about in Marsden, Cleadon & Whitburn tomorrow so will hopefully have a bit more to post tomorrow night - fingers crossed :-))

Good birding everyone :-))

Cheers, Dougie.

PS, my Kestrel never lets me down - he loves getting his picture taken Lol!! ;-))
glad you got the pc. problem sorted dougie..
look forward to the report tomorrow...not seen the partridges all week..
but the female kes..showed today... have found the stonechats near the old life guard station latterly ..worth a check...
nice. pics.. keep them coming..and reports

[nellieberta]

Unsuccessful attempt to see the Firecrest, but I'm not giving up yet!

Joanne

[rokermartin]

Pager report Whitburn this morning 94 Whooper Swan,Black Swan,5 Velvet Scoter,10 RT Diver flew past.

[seggs]

Unsuccessful attempt to see the Firecrest, but I'm not giving up yet!

Joanne
thats the spirit!:t:
some people have been here hours waiting...i tend to hang around for a while.. and then move off up the mineral line and come back..its a great spot for wheatear at the right time(horses fields) of year and warblers in the summer

[seggs]

Pager report Whitburn this morning 94 Whooper Swan,Black Swan,5 Velvet Scoter,10 RT Diver flew past.
good report martin..i got it also on rba..text alert.
but no mention on the threads(except yours on here);)

[nellieberta]

thats the spirit!:t:
some people have been here hours waiting...i tend to hang around for a while.. and then move off up the mineral line and come back..its a great spot for wheatear at the right time(horses fields) of year and warblers in the summer


Mick went there 3 or 4 times before he finally saw it. I'm Monday so might have another wander down!
We're waiting for the Wheatear in the field down the road (from Wardley) it was here around this time last year but possibly a bit early still. Having said that, I think the summer birds are on their way judging by all the Chiff Chaffs we've heard and seen today!:t:

[rokermartin]

Hi Steve good idea of yours starting a South Tyneside thread, have to start checking the Leas and the Whitburn area for Wheatears and other migrants .

[echo24]

Hi folks, a great five hours out today…..

Cleadon hills this morning, nice & sunny :-)) – the missus dropped me off in whitburn and I walked back home….. single mistle thrush amongst a flock of c60 fieldfare, also great, blue & lt tits, yellowhammer, wren, blackbird, kestrel, chiffchaff (heard near water tower) and plenty of wood pigeons & corvids……..

Marsden quarry – cloud thickening ;-) …… dunnock & wren both singing beautifully, cock pheasant, kestrel, little owl, great & blue tits…..

Visited the lime kilns at souter, had a bit neb around and found evidence of foxes being in residence – plenty fur, bones & feathers knocking around – but most bizarrely there’s loads of peacock feathers at the north end of the site – maybe the fox has taken a local domestic bird?? Any ideas anyone??

Marsden bay – everything as normal (still waiting for sand martin) but one or two Kittiwakes have now started to occupy nest sites on the cliffs as well as c200 birds in the water north of the rock…..

The leas… skylark, stonechats, mipits, oystercatcher - no shorties though

Trow quarry – raining heavily now :-( …. Turnstones, redshanks, male kestrel, jackdaws & little owl…..also for those who are interested, there’s colts foot, scurvy grass & lesser celandine in flower now – great stuff!....

Good birding everyone…
Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

ive been off all week and had hoped for a wheatear on the leas.. and also checked marsden quarry/ golf coarse area,lizard lane etc. but no luck...
this time last year i was working away so did,nt get the first arrivals on the leas,..but did have 3 wheatears in the horses field(mount pleasant) on the 6-5-07.. also w.warbler and chiffchaff and swifts and l,whitethroat at barmstone the same day.

[The gaffer]

Steve,

This thread is an excellent idea but as Mark Newsome found out with his Whitburn birding website it is often difficult to get people to leave postings of sightings. Anyway good luck and I hope all goes well and I will contribute as often as possible.:t:

Marsden Old Quarry this morning there were the usual inhabitants but no sign of any migrants yet. One item of note was a pair of kestrels carrying out an aerial display over the quarry made to look more dramatic by the brisk breeze.

Brian

[seggs]

started the day at mount pleasant..
no firecrest showed whilst me and the better half were here.
but one chiffchaff sang and showed(looks like the same bird as joanne had here..ringed)..also another one further down the mineral line towards downhill lane..song only with this one..the pair of l.t.tits here also.
much the same around here as before..bull,chaff and goldfinch,robins etc..
and 2 patridges in the horse field..
jarra cem..
a kingfisher flew over the road at the bottom of cem bank!:t: nice surprise the first one ive seen around here all winter..the cem had more redwings than my last visit..50+ here..all the usual birds..only one gsw.and one treecreeper today...and 3 mistle thrush..but a chiffchaff on the outskirts(north end)..
the slake..
pretty much the usual redshanks 30+ and 10+ curlew...a few teal along the don.
decided to go to st.marys so our lass could see a firecrest next and were not disappointed:t:

[seggs]

Hi folks, a great five hours out today…..

Cleadon hills this morning, nice & sunny :-)) – the missus dropped me off in whitburn and I walked back home….. single mistle thrush amongst a flock of c60 fieldfare, also great, blue & lt tits, yellowhammer, wren, blackbird, kestrel, chiffchaff (heard near water tower) and plenty of wood pigeons & corvids……..

Marsden quarry – cloud thickening ;-) …… dunnock & wren both singing beautifully, cock pheasant, kestrel, little owl, great & blue tits…..

Visited the lime kilns at souter, had a bit neb around and found evidence of foxes being in residence – plenty fur, bones & feathers knocking around – but most bizarrely there’s loads of peacock feathers at the north end of the site – maybe the fox has taken a local domestic bird?? Any ideas anyone??

Marsden bay – everything as normal (still waiting for sand martin) but one or two Kittiwakes have now started to occupy nest sites on the cliffs as well as c200 birds in the water north of the rock…..

The leas… skylark, stonechats, mipits, oystercatcher - no shorties though

Trow quarry – raining heavily now :-( …. Turnstones, redshanks, male kestrel, jackdaws & little owl…..also for those who are interested, there’s colts foot, scurvy grass & lesser celandine in flower now – great stuff!....

Good birding everyone…
Cheers, Dougie.
strange one the peacock feathers dougie??..fowl play suspected|8.|
but great report:t:

[seggs]

Steve,

This thread is an excellent idea but as Mark Newsome found out with his Whitburn birding website it is often difficult to get people to leave postings of sightings. Anyway good luck and I hope all goes well and I will contribute as often as possible.:t:

Marsden Old Quarry this morning there were the usual inhabitants but no sign of any migrants yet. One item of note was a pair of kestrels carrying out an aerial display over the quarry made to look more dramatic by the brisk breeze.

Brian
thanks brian
its down to everyone in the area to make a go of it..with access to the site.
good response so far..really pleased...
marks site was great..and was what got me to into the internet birding info-...like minded people who shared a interest..and reporting
hope it works


wait and see.

[dampflippers]

Steve (Seggs) told me it's ok to talk about other South Tyneside wildlife here, so can I ask you to look out for amphibians and reptiles in the borough while you are bird watching?

Reptiles:
There are no sightings of snakes, and only occasional sightings of lizards and slow worms in S.T. I would be very interested to hear if you have seen any of these- either on this thread or by private message. I'm sure there must be some, especially around Lizard Lane and Cleadon Hills.

Amphibians:
This year Froglife and ARGUK have a toad crossing campaign, to try to identify where toads risk danger by having to cross roads to get to their breeding ponds.
If you know anywhere this happens, please let me know and I will inform the local amphibian and reptile group.
In South Tyneside there are no current great crested newt ponds recorded, and very few ponds with other newts (although alost everyone says they used to go newting on Bolodn Flats as a child!). Again, I would be pleased to hear about any newt sightings, particularly if you know which type are there. (Either on this thread or by PM).

In my garden:
Frogspawn was laid a few weeks ago and is just starting to hatch.
I don't get toads in my pond, but my smooth newts have been visible (manily at night) for the past few weeks, although I haven't seen any egss yet.
I've never seen any reptiles in my garden.

Thanks.

[seggs]

Steve (Seggs) told me it's ok to talk about other South Tyneside wildlife here, so can I ask you to look out for amphibians and reptiles in the borough while you are bird watching?

Reptiles:
There are no sightings of snakes, and only occasional sightings of lizards and slow worms in S.T. I would be very interested to hear if you have seen any of these- either on this thread or by private message. I'm sure there must be some, especially around Lizard Lane and Cleadon Hills.

Amphibians:
This year Froglife and ARGUK have a toad crossing campaign, to try to identify where toads risk danger by having to cross roads to get to their breeding ponds.
If you know anywhere this happens, please let me know and I will inform the local amphibian and reptile group.
In South Tyneside there are no current great crested newt ponds recorded, and very few ponds with other newts (although alost everyone says they used to go newting on Bolodn Flats as a child!). Again, I would be pleased to hear about any newt sightings, particularly if you know which type are there. (Either on this thread or by PM).

In my garden:
Frogspawn was laid a few weeks ago and is just starting to hatch.
I don't get toads in my pond, but my smooth newts have been visible (manily at night) for the past few weeks, although I haven't seen any egss yet.
I've never seen any reptiles in my garden.

Thanks.
hi must admit you used to get crested newt at the flats..don,t know now tho-? and the ditches at mount pleasant used to have smooth(common i think?)..many moons ago..
also the information board on cleadon hills mentions lizards here,but yet to see one myself... unluckly..
and we did have the odd grass snake near the scotch est. dene/brockley whins burn area(now station burn)..again years ago
so like you have mentioned more information on these species and any others should be mentioned..:t:

[nellieberta]

Not quite S/Tyneside however there are grass snakes in Heworth grave yard. Not sure if this is any help but i thought i'd pass it on any way.


Mick

[rokermartin]

Never seen any snakes or lizards in south tyneside ,seen plenty smooth newts, frogs and toads.Also years ago at Boldon Flats crested newts.Used to catch them when i was a young lad.

[The gaffer]

[Reptiles:
There are no sightings of snakes, and only occasional sightings of lizards and slow worms in S.T. I would be very interested to hear if you have seen any of these- either on this thread or by private message. I'm sure there must be some, especially around Lizard Lane and Cleadon Hills.

Despite my years wandering the fields of Whiteleas and Boldon I have yet to see any snakes or slow worms. Like the other comments I did see smooth newts and crested newts but I know that a lot of the ponds have now been filled in.

About a week to 10 days ago, on the Durham thread, someone posted a photograph of a gull in flight on The Leas. In its bill it had what what looked like a very large worm - probably a slow worm.

If I see anything of note I will post it on this thread.

Brian

[rokermartin]

[Reptiles:
There are no sightings of snakes, and only occasional sightings of lizards and slow worms in S.T. I would be very interested to hear if you have seen any of these- either on this thread or by private message. I'm sure there must be some, especially around Lizard Lane and Cleadon Hills.

Despite my years wandering the fields of Whiteleas and Boldon I have yet to see any snakes or slow worms. Like the other comments I did see smooth newts and crested newts but I know that a lot of the ponds have now been filled in.

About a week to 10 days ago, on the Durham thread, someone posted a photograph of a gull in flight on The Leas. In its bill it had what what looked like a very large worm - probably a slow worm.

If I see anything of note I will post it on this thread.

BrianHi Brian saw the gull pic you are on about, did 'nt think it looked like a slow worm ,thought it was the wrong colour for a slow worm.Slow worms are usually dark in colour.

[nellieberta]

Blagged a cheeky 15 min walk around Marine Park (I think thats it's name.... the one near the amusement park in S/Shields) today whilst working hard ;). Supprised to count 17 species in a short space of time. The highlights being pochard and a tree creeper. I'm not sure coz Ididnt have any bins with me but as I entered the park (south east gate) I think I saw a ruddy duck lift and fly off in a southerly direction! I could be mistaken but a ruddy is a pretty distinctive bird. I'd be interested to know if there have been any similar sightings that could confirm my suspicions.


Mick (Nellieberta's long suffering photographic labourer:t:)

[seggs]

nice one mick!..thats why i named the thread this..to include the surrounding areas..which rarely get mentioned.
hebburn,pelaw etc.
great report about g.snake in the cem. here, have they been seen lately?
and thats the first time ive seen treecreeper reported in marine park!

............................
is there anything people can do to encourage snakes and slow worms ?etc..for researse reasons..
i know ive seen adders taking sheltering under man made items. when placed in the right sights.

[nellieberta]

I used to catch grass snakes in Heworth cem when I was a kid (4 or 5 years ago;)) I did however see a single snake as recently as last summer. So I would say with some certainty that they are still there. What numbers we're talking about I wouldn't like to guess.


Mick

[smitsel]

Has anybody got any information on these sites. The one circled seems to be a partly flooded pasture, there is also a pond at 12 o clock from the circle and another at 10 o clock at the top of the page. Cheers, these sites seem to show up better using google earth.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&map=54.8981,-1.6117|15|4&loc=GB:54.8981:-1.6117:15&dp=841#t=l&map=54.94207,-1.48584|14|4&dp=841&loc=:54.94034:-1.49056:14||

[whitburnmark]

Has anybody got any information on these sites. The one circled seems to be a partly flooded pasture, there is also a pond at 12 o clock from the circle and another at 10 o clock at the top of the page. Cheers, these sites seem to show up better using google earth.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&map=54.8981,-1.6117|15|4&loc=GB:54.8981:-1.6117:15&dp=841#t=l&map=54.94207,-1.48584|14|4&dp=841&loc=:54.94034:-1.49056:14||

This is the area off West Pastures Lane. It was an excellent site until a year or so back. The thicket which had breeding Long-eared Owls is now a gypsy camp and the pond (which attracted a superb selection of waders 2 years ago incl. Wood Sands, LRPs, Greenshanks etc) is now a playfield for dogs and kids. The surrounding ridge and furrow pasture land held excellent numbers of breeding Lapwings, up to 7-8 wintering Short-eared Owls, passage Monty's Harrier etc, but a good proportion was ploughed up and is now used for commercial purposes by the farmer.
The pond near Scots House (off Newcastle Road) was created by the owner in an attempt to attract ducks for shooting. It doesn't have much value for birds, but probably holds amphibians. This area is private land though.

The whole area could be excellent for birds, but has been sadly spoilt in recent years. A real shame.

[seggs]

This is the area off West Pastures Lane. It was an excellent site until a year or so back. The thicket which had breeding Long-eared Owls is now a gypsy camp and the pond (which attracted a superb selection of waders 2 years ago incl. Wood Sands, LRPs, Greenshanks etc) is now a playfield for dogs and kids. The surrounding ridge and furrow pasture land held excellent numbers of breeding Lapwings, up to 7-8 wintering Short-eared Owls, passage Monty's Harrier etc, but a good proportion was ploughed up and is now used for commercial purposes by the farmer.
The pond near Scots House (off Newcastle Road) was created by the owner in an attempt to attract ducks for shooting. It doesn't have much value for birds, but probably holds amphibians. This area is private land though.

The whole area could be excellent for birds, but has been sadly spoilt in recent years. A real shame.
i know mark a real shame this area..(like many of our few places )
what went off with the gipsy site, if you know? had not visited for a while and this turns up!..trees and everything gone!..
been told the police are watching the other problem here.

[smitsel]

Thanks for the info Mark, as Steve says a real shame.:C

[rokermartin]

Marsden Quarry 2 Wheatear,Leas 1 Wheatear,Barmston Pond 2 Sand Martin,2 Chiffchaff.

[seggs]

the light was pretty bad really when we dived down here for a quick visit,
nowt in the quarry or the bays except lots of people making the most of a pleasant evening..
a few eiders off shore and a r.t.diver ...even the fulmars must have had enough for the day..only one or two floating about.
had to make do with the pair of partridge on the mound, skylarks and med.pips displaying.. nice still

[rokermartin]

Whitburn saw my first Sandwich Terns of the year 2 flew past,Whitburn CPK Wheatear and Sand Martin.

[rokermartin]

Lizard Point today excellent close views of a male Peregrine being mobbed by gulls as it headed north.Also Sandwich Tern and a steady passage of Gannets moving north.Nothing much else of note flying past.

[seggs]

Lizard Point today excellent close views of a male Peregrine being mobbed by gulls as it headed north.Also Sandwich Tern and a steady passage of Gannets moving north.Nothing much else of note flying past.
nice one martin!
do you think this is the peregrine thats been reported on the cliffs for the last few years? wintering..ive not seen it here but have had one at bolden flats twice.

[rokermartin]

nice one martin!
do you think this is the peregrine thats been reported on the cliffs for the last few years? wintering..ive not seen it here but have had one at bolden flats twice.Hi Steve it could be the one which has been wintering on the cliffs for the last few years, or it might be one just passing.You would have got some excellent pics of it if you had been there with your cam it was really close.The one at Boldon flats is a female.It would be good to have a local breeding pair of Peregrines nesting on the cliffs or even in Sunderland city centre.There are now several pairs of Peregrines which have started to nest in cities and towns so you never know.

[echo24]

Hi Folks, back on-line after one or two pc problems and have been unable to post on the thread but thanks to Johnsulli (bf member & top bloke :-)) I’m now sorted - thanks mate!

Good to read that we now have Wheatear, Sand Martin, chiffchaff etc,etc, back with us -great stuff... good spot with todays Peregrine as well Martin, I caught a fleeting glimpse of one at the back end of last year at souter around the lime kilns ( same bird maybe??) while driving to Morrison’s and got an earful off the wife for nearly crashing the car lol!!

Re reptiles & amphibians, I’m with most people here in having never seen any reptiles in south tyneside, amphibians are a different matter though, I’ve got about ten frogs (plus spawn) in my garden pond at the moment, spring has sprung and all that :-)) but no toads unfortunately.... I've seen both smooth & gc newts on whitburn golf course many times in the pond opposite the riding school on lizard lane – if you dare to trespass please be aware of 200mph golf balls and one or two furious golfers though! ;-)

Had a wander along the coast today from Trow as far as whitburn churchyard, nothing out of the ordinary but did see a magpie on the receiving end from a very angry mistle thrush ( not sure why though) also coal tits & three grey squirrels …

Garden feeders busy all day, sunflower hearts & fat balls!

Blue Tit
Great Tit
Robin,
Starling
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Collared Dove
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Dunnock
Magpie
Carrion Crow….

Going to St Mary tomorrow as I have it on good authority there’s a pair of Garganey showing well – nice one Steve!

Good birding everyone!
Cheers, Dougie.

PS, a few recent photos :-)

[seggs]

Hi Folks, back on-line after one or two pc problems and have been unable to post on the thread but thanks to Johnsulli (bf member & top bloke :-)) I’m now sorted - thanks mate!

Good to read that we now have Wheatear, Sand Martin, chiffchaff etc,etc, back with us -great stuff... good spot with todays Peregrine as well Martin, I caught a fleeting glimpse of one at the back end of last year at souter around the lime kilns ( same bird maybe??) while driving to Morrison’s and got an earful off the wife for nearly crashing the car lol!!

Re reptiles & amphibians, I’m with most people here in having never seen any reptiles in south tyneside, amphibians are a different matter though, I’ve got about ten frogs (plus spawn) in my garden pond at the moment, spring has sprung and all that :-)) but no toads unfortunately.... I've seen both smooth & gc newts on whitburn golf course many times in the pond opposite the riding school on lizard lane – if you dare to trespass please be aware of 200mph golf balls and one or two furious golfers though! ;-)

Had a wander along the coast today from Trow as far as whitburn churchyard, nothing out of the ordinary but did see a magpie on the receiving end from a very angry mistle thrush ( not sure why though) also coal tits & three grey squirrels …

Garden feeders busy all day, sunflower hearts & fat balls!

Blue Tit
Great Tit
Robin,
Starling
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Collared Dove
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Dunnock
Magpie
Carrion Crow….

Going to St Mary tomorrow as I have it on good authority there’s a pair of Garganey showing well – nice one Steve!

Good birding everyone!
Cheers, Dougie.

PS, a few recent photos :-)
great report dougie
keep them coming and pics!
hope the garganey stick around for you..;)

[rokermartin]

I bet if the pond at Whitburn CPK was made bigger and better similar to St Mary's Wetland it would attract a few more birds.I have to say it is very disappointing for birds i am sure it could be made much better for birds and other wildlife.Over the years i have just seen the odd pair of Mallard,Tufted Duck ,coot and Moorhen on it, one or two waders now and again.Certainly nothing exciting like the birds St Mary's Wetland has had over the years.The wetland has had BW Teal,Jack Snipes,WR Sandpiper,WW Black Tern,Garganeys,YellowWagtails to name but a few.

[seggs]

I bet if the pond at Whitburn CPK was made bigger and better similar to St Mary's Wetland it would attract a few more birds.I have to say it is very disappointing for birds i am sure it could be made much better for birds and other wildlife.Over the years i have just seen the odd pair of Mallard,Tufted Duck ,coot and Moorhen on it, one or two waders now and again.Certainly nothing exciting like the birds St Mary's Wetland has had over the years.The wetland has had BW Teal,Jack Snipes,WR Sandpiper,WW Black Tern,Garganeys,YellowWagtails to name but a few.
hi martin
you are spot on about this place..it is the only unspoilt (left alone site along our coastline)..and a bit of work to the site would benifit the numbers of birds and wildlife here big style.
i remember mark newsome mentioning the council were thinking about making the area more accessable to the public a while ago..(pond dipping and educational trips i think with the n.t. involved)..which would have opened the site up to the public and kids hanging out here drinking...don,t think the residents of shearwater est. would have liked this!.. hopefully that got squashed..and the funds were not available for a st.marys wetland type project...its a pity the dbc. could not take over the management of the area..
or could they?..

[whitburnmark]

... the council were thinking about making the area more accessable to the public a while ago...its a pity the dbc. could not take over the management of the area..
or could they?..

Just to clarify, the full area of Whitburn Coastal Park is owned by the council and leased to the National Trust. It was the NT not the council who wanted to create extra dog walking paths, bridleways and pond dipping facilities around/through the 'nature reserve' field. The wording of the council lease suggests that this would not be allowed, but there was talk/rumours before the New Year that the NT were going to go ahead. I don't know how true this was and have heard nothing since.

The DBC have no say or influence over NT management, but could provide voluntary manpower if needed (but the NT do have their own paid workforce). Also, the active DBC committee is only a very small handful of people doing everything voluntarily in their spare time. Its hard enough trying to take on management of Castle Lake, influence Hurworth Burn Res. development, write glossy publications, chase up members who haven't paid their subs (;)), never mind take over management of NT land. The committee is overstretched as it is and could do with more people lending a hand.

If anyone has suggestions for improvements at Whitburn CP, the best thing to do would be to write to the NT direct. If a good few independant people started suggesting that they do something more constructive and beneficial with the nature field field and giving them some ideas, then maybe someone might eventually listen.

[seggs]

Just to clarify, the full area of Whitburn Coastal Park is owned by the council and leased to the National Trust. It was the NT not the council who wanted to create extra dog walking paths, bridleways and pond dipping facilities around/through the 'nature reserve' field. The wording of the council lease suggests that this would not be allowed, but there was talk/rumours before the New Year that the NT were going to go ahead. I don't know how true this was and have heard nothing since.

The DBC have no say or influence over NT management, but could provide voluntary manpower if needed (but the NT do have their own paid workforce). Also, the active DBC committee is only a very small handful of people doing everything voluntarily in their spare time. Its hard enough trying to take on management of Castle Lake, influence Hurworth Burn Res. development, write glossy publications, chase up members who haven't paid their subs (;)), never mind take over management of NT land. The committee is overstretched as it is and could do with more people lending a hand.

If anyone has suggestions for improvements at Whitburn CP, the best thing to do would be to write to the NT direct. If a good few independant people started suggesting that they do something more constructive and beneficial with the nature field field and giving them some ideas, then maybe someone might eventually listen.
thanks mark
for the offical clear up
but the nt do not respond to e-mails ive sent(in my experience about here or the leas)..had some really bad first hand accounts from the local walkers on the leas on grass cutting last year too early..but the council did respond on another matter..boldon flats.
and if the dbc cannot get anywhere with the parties involved who can?..
they seem to over come problems with durham council..and parties involved there..so why not here?..
i know you,s do your best
nowt personal
and the cheques in the post for the subs!! lol..my fault..:-O

[rokermartin]

Today Barmston Pond there are now 3 Chiffchaff singing,2 Sand Martin flew over.Lizard Point 2 Sandwich Tern,1stw Glaucous Gull flew north and a few Gannets,Guillemots.

[rokermartin]

Bird guides report of a female Marsh Harrier flew south over Whitburn Village at 10 00 yesterday morning.

[seggs]

its good to see the dbc have a small say with sunderland council at last and floated a tern raft at barmston!..great stuff:t:
well done to the volunteers and the club:clap:
one day this place might come back to its former glory..we hope

[nellieberta]

Three Razorbills in the water this morning, viewed from the car park at Lizzard Point. Also had a nose into Trow Quarry looking for the Little Owl....... no luck unfortunatly. Has anyone seen it there lately or am I barking up the wrong tree.



Mick

[seggs]

Three Razorbills in the water this morning, viewed from the car park at Lizzard Point. Also had a nose into Trow Quarry looking for the Little Owl....... no luck unfortunatly. Has anyone seen it there lately or am I barking up the wrong tree.



Mick
hi mick
the razorbills will be starting to gather here now..quite a few pairs have populated the marsden rock area in the last few years and we all hope the numbers increase.
the little owls at trow i am sure are still around, but it depends on how busy the place is at times to getting to see the bird(s)...or even if they are out at certain times.
the pair have their own bolt holes in the rock...the male(i think) tends to favour the tree (normal perch site) and what i believe to be the female goes to the right of here..the coming months i found especially around dusk on a warm night is great for seeing them more active...and calling...

[rokermartin]

Have 'nt heard of any sighting of the Little Owls in Trow , been in Marsden Quarry a couple of times lately and have'nt seen them in there.

[echo24]

Three Razorbills in the water this morning, viewed from the car park at Lizzard Point. Also had a nose into Trow Quarry looking for the Little Owl....... no luck unfortunatly. Has anyone seen it there lately or am I barking up the wrong tree.



Mick

Hi Mick, I visit trow most nights as i only live two minutes walk from there and that's where i walk my dog, but I haven't seen the little owl since a week gone Saturday, having said that, i do know it's seen by a few local folk most days when i'm at work :-(

Driving home tonight - GSW fulwell pumping station, and a pied wagtail walking around the pavements outside the nook shops - loads of people knocking about but the bird didn't seem at all bothered!

Cheers, Dougie

[seggs]

a couple from last year..
first one the suspected male bird, bolder and darker...different eye shape also...
over the last month ive only seen one bird once.

[nellieberta]

Thanks for being so helpful everyone I'll just keep trying. I'm determined to see one somewhere, the one that used to sit in the tree at Hylton Bridge seems to have vanished. Ineed to look elsewhere or 2008 could be devoid of a little owl for me:(



Mick

[rokermartin]

Barmston Pond today 3 Chiffchaff and a pair of Ruddy Duck,also Buzzard flew over.West Boldon Mount Pleasent 3 Chiffchaff.No Willow Warblers yet.

[StevieEvans]

Thanks for being so helpful everyone I'll just keep trying. I'm determined to see one somewhere, the one that used to sit in the tree at Hylton Bridge seems to have vanished. Ineed to look elsewhere or 2008 could be devoid of a little owl for me:(
Mick

Mick, Sth Tyneside would appear to have a very low number of Little owl territorys....
Dont know which part of G'head you belong, but there are numerous resident pairs along the lanes around Lamesley / Kibblesworth / Ravensworth area.
Away from our built up areas it is relatively common owl, with nesting prs often as close as 80m apart in places.
Good luck
Steve

[seggs]

has anybody seen any guilliemots around the marsden cliff area this last few weeks?..a couple of pairs seemed to be interested last year in the site...but i think that was all.;)
long hours at work at the moment..:storm:
cannot get out to check...

[rokermartin]

has anybody seen any guilliemots around the marsden cliff area this last few weeks?..a couple of pairs seemed to be interested last year in the site...but i think that was all.;)
long hours at work at the moment..:storm:
cannot get out to check...Hi Steve i have just seen Guillemots flying past recently.Have'nt noticed any settled on the water.Seen a few Razorbills lately.

[seggs]

another little question for anyone viewing, and have visited latley..
hows the population of linnets and yellowhammer doing on cleadon hills?(4 -6 male yellowhammer singing last year..and 15+ pairs of linnets)
my last visit 4 weeks ago was pretty poor compared to other sites i regularly visit..
a few pairs seen then but great numbers...
i know a little early..

[seggs]

Hi Steve i have just seen Guillemots flying past recently.Have'nt noticed any settled on the water.Seen a few Razorbills lately.
thanks martin
the birds i seen last year were hanging out with the razorbills..around this time of year, maybe a little later...but it looked good.

[rokermartin]

another little question for anyone viewing, and have visited latley..
hows the population of linnets and yellowhammer doing on cleadon hills?(4 -6 male yellowhammer singing last year..and 15+ pairs of linnets)
my last visit 4 weeks ago was pretty poor compared to other sites i regularly visit..
a few pairs seen then but great numbers...
i know a little early..Have'nt been up on Cleadon hills recently but when i first started birding Yellowhammers and Linnets used to be very common on Cleadon hills,also i used to seeTree Sparrows and Corn Buntings there.

[seggs]

Have'nt been up on Cleadon hills recently but when i first started birding Yellowhammers and Linnets used to be very common on Cleadon hills,also i used to seeTree Sparrows and Corn Buntings there.
again thanks
the last time i saw a corn bunting in the boro- was at downhill quarry lane some 20+ years ago..(but i was absent for most of this time, till last few years)
the linnets and yellowhammer still are common on cleadon hills..but i will be interested in the numbers here this year, compared to other sites...around the area.
i know from first hand experince the number at one site is down by half with yellowhammer..and has nose dived over 3 years.

[dampflippers]

I saw a yellowhammer at Boldon Flats a few weeks ago- gorse bushes at eastern end of layby

[echo24]

another little question for anyone viewing, and have visited latley..
hows the population of linnets and yellowhammer doing on cleadon hills?(4 -6 male yellowhammer singing last year..and 15+ pairs of linnets)
my last visit 4 weeks ago was pretty poor compared to other sites i regularly visit..
a few pairs seen then but great numbers...
i know a little early..



Hi Steve, hope you're not getting worked too hard mate, i've just finished for the weekend and looking forward to getting out & about again, I'll be giving Trow, Marsden, Whitburn & Cleadon hills the 'once over' tomorrow so will give you a Yellowhammer count from my travels, I was over the hills about two weeks ago and there were half a dozen or so between Whitburn & the water tower (mainly in the gorse) strangely enough I didn't get a single Linnet on the same walk...

Another good sized 'clump' of frog spawn appeared in my pond this week which is good news - chocca-bloc now! :-))

Good birding and a nice weekend everyone......oh, and remember the waterproofs!! :-))

Cheers,
Dougie.

[The gaffer]

Have'nt been up on Cleadon hills recently but when i first started birding Yellowhammers and Linnets used to be very common on Cleadon hills,also i used to seeTree Sparrows and Corn Buntings there.

I am on there daily walking the dog and the yellowhammers are still there and very vocal at this time of year. As previously stated abour 4 - 6 males at present singing. No sign of any linnets at present, awaiting the return of the whitethroats.

Brian

[seggs]

Hi Steve, hope you're not getting worked too hard mate, i've just finished for the weekend and looking forward to getting out & about again, I'll be giving Trow, Marsden, Whitburn & Cleadon hills the 'once over' tomorrow so will give you a Yellowhammer count from my travels, I was over the hills about two weeks ago and there were half a dozen or so between Whitburn & the water tower (mainly in the gorse) strangely enough I didn't get a single Linnet on the same walk...

Another good sized 'clump' of frog spawn appeared in my pond this week which is good news - chocca-bloc now! :-))

Good birding and a nice weekend everyone......oh, and remember the waterproofs!! :-))

Cheers,
Dougie.
go on sicken me!:-O
another full weekend at work! unless i can do a sneaky..;)
it does have its benefits doing a pole dancing club out tho-:eek!:

on another note...did have single pairs of linnets on the leas and marsden quarry last visits..

[seggs]

a single pinkie still at boldon flats on the way back from work today..
the water level is high again..i thought the sluice gate had been opened a few weeks go, but appears not.

[rokermartin]

I think it will be worth keeping a eye on Boldon flats the next few days i would 'nt be surprised if a LR Plover and few other waders and wagtails drop in.Ross had a D B Brent there the other day.

[seggs]

I saw a yellowhammer at Boldon Flats a few weeks ago- gorse bushes at eastern end of layby
hi
theres been a good few birds around the feeders at boldon flats all winter/spring at least 4+ yellowhammers and long may it continue..and good to see the tree sparrow population is steady too..the only spot in the boro to see them regular to my knowledge..
............
don,t know if anyone could get permission to check the other wildlife out on this field?...rep.,amp. etc.
will be worth looking into..

[echo24]

Out & about in ‘our patch’ today - everywhere alive with birdsong- cracking stuff! :-))

Trow, early am - Little Owl on favourite branch, male Kes, Stonechat (pr), Wren, songie, blackie, magpie(pr) and about 30 Rabbits…

Redhead Park, all the usual plus Chifchaff & Sparrowhawk – also Mallards on waterlogged college fields ….

Cleadon hills water tower area, 4 Linnet & 2 male Yellowhammer, great, blue & lt tits…

Bluebell woods cleadon… GSW, Chifchaff, Treecreeper & 2 Grey Squirrels. Also speaking to a resident whose garden backs onto there and he witnessed a Tawny Owl taking a Robin in his garden last Saturday evening….

Tilesheds… c40 Goldfinch, 22 Curlew & 5 Lapwing…

Mount Pleasant…..GSW & Chifchaff,

Downhill Quarry… Little Owl, two cock pheasants fighting, a lightening fast Weasel across the path and a Wren singing superbly!

After that it was off to Washington WWT … Hawthorn hide, Blue, Coal, Great & LT Tits, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, GSW & Brown Rat, also noteworthy, not a single grey squirrel – have they culled them all??

Wader lake, plenty of the usual, plus the Avocets are back after a short absence – apparently they disappeared during the cold spell early last week but have now returned – I can only assume that they’re ‘southern softies’ lol!! ;-)) ……on a more serious note, there’s a pair of LBB Gulls on the lake which could eventually prove to be bad news for the Avocets ( does anyone have any thoughts on this?)

By the way, I know Downhill & Washington aren’t in South Tyneside but they’re close enough aren't they!?? lol!! ;-))

Good birding everyone!

Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

Out & about in ‘our patch’ today - everywhere alive with birdsong- cracking stuff! :-))

Trow, early am - Little Owl on favourite branch, male Kes, Stonechat (pr), Wren, songie, blackie, magpie(pr) and about 30 Rabbits…

Redhead Park, all the usual plus Chifchaff & Sparrowhawk – also Mallards on waterlogged college fields ….

Cleadon hills water tower area, 4 Linnet & 2 male Yellowhammer, great, blue & lt tits…

Bluebell woods cleadon… GSW, Chifchaff, Treecreeper & 2 Grey Squirrels. Also speaking to a resident whose garden backs onto there and he witnessed a Tawny Owl taking a Robin in his garden last Saturday evening….

Tilesheds… c40 Goldfinch, 22 Curlew & 5 Lapwing…

Mount Pleasant…..GSW & Chifchaff,

Downhill Quarry… Little Owl, two cock pheasants fighting, a lightening fast Weasel across the path and a Wren singing superbly!

After that it was off to Washington WWT … Hawthorn hide, Blue, Coal, Great & LT Tits, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, GSW & Brown Rat, also noteworthy, not a single grey squirrel – have they culled them all??

Wader lake, plenty of the usual, plus the Avocets are back after a short absence – apparently they disappeared during the cold spell early last week but have now returned – I can only assume that they’re ‘southern softies’ lol!! ;-)) ……on a more serious note, there’s a pair of LBB Gulls on the lake which could eventually prove to be bad news for the Avocets ( does anyone have any thoughts on this?)

By the way, I know Downhill & Washington aren’t in South Tyneside but they’re close enough aren't they!?? lol!! ;-))

Good birding everyone!

Cheers, Dougie.

great report dougie..
looks like you had a good day..and some great birds!:t:
good to hear the stonechats as still about at trow for the moment, a pair at least..
and treecreeper in your old stamping ground..a couple of other sites are reporting the birds now also.:t:
where did you venture into downhill quarry..around the path to the top?..
and great news about the avocets..the lbb gulls were here weeks ago..hope they do not disturb to much, the avocets can handle themselfs as you know..;)

[rokermartin]

Out & about in ‘our patch’ today - everywhere alive with birdsong- cracking stuff! :-))

Trow, early am - Little Owl on favourite branch, male Kes, Stonechat (pr), Wren, songie, blackie, magpie(pr) and about 30 Rabbits…

Redhead Park, all the usual plus Chifchaff & Sparrowhawk – also Mallards on waterlogged college fields ….

Cleadon hills water tower area, 4 Linnet & 2 male Yellowhammer, great, blue & lt tits…

Bluebell woods cleadon… GSW, Chifchaff, Treecreeper & 2 Grey Squirrels. Also speaking to a resident whose garden backs onto there and he witnessed a Tawny Owl taking a Robin in his garden last Saturday evening….

Tilesheds… c40 Goldfinch, 22 Curlew & 5 Lapwing…

Mount Pleasant…..GSW & Chifchaff,

Downhill Quarry… Little Owl, two cock pheasants fighting, a lightening fast Weasel across the path and a Wren singing superbly!

After that it was off to Washington WWT … Hawthorn hide, Blue, Coal, Great & LT Tits, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, GSW & Brown Rat, also noteworthy, not a single grey squirrel – have they culled them all??

Wader lake, plenty of the usual, plus the Avocets are back after a short absence – apparently they disappeared during the cold spell early last week but have now returned – I can only assume that they’re ‘southern softies’ lol!! ;-)) ……on a more serious note, there’s a pair of LBB Gulls on the lake which could eventually prove to be bad news for the Avocets ( does anyone have any thoughts on this?)

By the way, I know Downhill & Washington aren’t in South Tyneside but they’re close enough aren't they!?? lol!! ;-))

Good birding everyone!

Cheers, Dougie.Sounds as if you had a good day,great news about the Avocets.

[rokermartin]

Its amazing how aggressive Avocets are,seen them chasing Marsh Harriers before and gulls any bird for that matter .

[MalR]

At least 3, possibly 5 wheatears at Trow Quarry this morning (9.30). Saw a group of three then later two singles, but they may have been from the original group. No little owl today, but plenty of meadow pipits, and linnets singing everywhere.

On the sea by the mound, four eider and three shag. Two greylags and a pair of mallard flew over south.

Between Lizard Point and the Obs, 14 eider and 1 shag. Three common scoter flew north. Quick count of the cormorant colony – 142 birds. Individuals arriving regularly, many carrying nesting material. Didn't see any razorbills there today.

Malcolm

[The gaffer]

Had a walk around the quarry this morning and the place was alive with the sound of birds - it's amazing what a bit of sunshine does!!;)

Plenty blue and great tits, gold and greenfinches, linnets, etc. It was good to see a kestrel hunting over the quarry, this bird is a regular and I have seen it on the rock ledges before (assuming it is the same one):-O

Brian

[echo24]

Its amazing how aggressive Avocets are,seen them chasing Marsh Harriers before and gulls any bird for that matter .

Thanks Martin, good to know the Avocets can handle themselves:t:

[seggs]

Thanks Martin, good to know the Avocets can handle themselves:t:
ive also seen them chase off a osprey at blacktoff sands when it passed over!

[echo24]

At least 3, possibly 5 wheatears at Trow Quarry this morning (9.30). Saw a group of three then later two singles, but they may have been from the original group. No little owl today, but plenty of meadow pipits, and linnets singing everywhere.

On the sea by the mound, four eider and three shag. Two greylags and a pair of mallard flew over south.

Between Lizard Point and the Obs, 14 eider and 1 shag. Three common scoter flew north. Quick count of the cormorant colony – 142 birds. Individuals arriving regularly, many carrying nesting material. Didn't see any razorbills there today.

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm, good to see that you got Wheatear in Trow - I missed out down there today as I was at wilkinsons getting my weekly supply of sunflower hearts etc for my garden feeders - hopefully there may be one or two on passage next week - after 6pm would be nice as work gets in the way during the day ;)
Cheers, Dougie

[echo24]

Had a walk around the quarry this morning and the place was alive with the sound of birds - it's amazing what a bit of sunshine does!!;)

Plenty blue and great tits, gold and greenfinches, linnets, etc. It was good to see a kestrel hunting over the quarry, this bird is a regular and I have seen it on the rock ledges before (assuming it is the same one):-O

Brian

Hi Brian, it's a superb time of year isn't it? I was in marsden quarry at first light about a month ago - it was a freezing cold but beautiful morning - got Kestrel (pr) Sparrowhawk (pr) and Little Owl in the space of 10 minutes - also tons of song birds were very vocal - dunnock outstanding!
Cheers, Dougie

[seggs]

after visiting swallow pond over the water(report on the northum. thread) i stopped at barmston pond...poor again really, 3 lbb gulls and a pair of dabchicks..2 chiffchaff also..and the two washington brothers who have just started to post on the forums...pete and?(sorry i am crap with remembering names).nice to have met you,s and have a good rattle..:t:
boldon flats on the way home..-
much the same with the pinkie..(i think this bird maybe showing signs of being injured)..wigeon numbers are down..maybe 30+ now..teal-30+ also..but 50-70 curlew..a pair of mutes and canadas...and 3 stock doves.
and again met a couple who live local to here and view the forums.:t:

after seeing mal r,s report about trow on here i dashed down there! at 7ish..
the little owl was in the normal tree..med pips and skylarks still active..20+ linnets at the car park area in the brambles..
then i heard a well known sound coming from off the bay area.. sighted the sound..yes! 2 sandwich terns..
did not catch up with any wheatear here today but not surprising really when i passed at 4.30 it was busy on the leas..and later when i visited -full of "love is in the air" couples:-O
but great few hours this pm..firsts of the year include..willow warbler,wheatear and poss.house martins(swallow pond) and sandwich terns at trow..:t:
and met some nice people ..

[seggs]

forgot to mention this one..
not good with plants..(something i have to study)
found next to the mango pub at trow..caught my eye for the beauty compared to the sand and grass..any idea to save me hunting thro- my crap plant book?

[rokermartin]

forgot to mention this one..
not good with plants..(something i have to study)
found next to the mango pub at trow..caught my eye for the beauty compared to the sand and grass..any idea to save me hunting thro- my crap plant book?Hi Steve its a Hyacinth they are normally pot or garden plants ,it is certainly not a Blue Bell. I am pretty good on plants i am a fully trained gardener.If you ever have any gardening problems just ask.

[StevieEvans]

Recent mention of Corn Buntings in Sth Tynesdide......
theres a tiny relict population only just hanging on.
There was a male holding territory last summer; i dont visit the area very often but had a singing male in 2004.



By the way, I know Downhill & Washington aren’t in South Tyneside but.....

Dougie
A productive day out. Whilst Downhill is part of S'land, the quarry (which in the past has held T.alba) is certainly in Sth.Tyneside.:t:


great report dougie....<snip>......
where did you venture into downhill quarry..around the path to the top?..

Hi Steve Egg
The quarry is private property; there are no public rights of way through it, although there are obviously several permissive pathways leading to it & around it.



I am pretty good on plants i am a fully trained gardener.If you ever have any gardening problems just ask.
Martian, We have a steep slope here, how experienced are you with uphill gardening ?

SE

[echo24]

Dougie
A productive day out. Whilst Downhill is part of S'land, the quarry (which in the past has held T.alba) is certainly in Sth.Tyneside.:t:



Thanks for that Steve, geography was never my strongpoint mate:t:

[The Chairman]

ive also seen them chase off a osprey at blacktoff sands when it passed over!

Nor are they stupid........why do all of the work yourself when there are 40-50 pairs of Common Terns that will be arriving shortly. They too will not tolerate any potential predators in the area so crows, magpies and gulls get pretty well battered as soon as they come over Wader Lake. Avos just need to keep an eye on things until the terns arrive in force:t:

[seggs]

Dougie
A productive day out. Whilst Downhill is part of S'land, the quarry (which in the past has held T.alba) is certainly in Sth.Tyneside.:t:



Thanks for that Steve, geography was never my strongpoint mate:t:
i know what you mean dougie;)..the boundries are often overlaped...with old style ones.
as far as i am concerned this thread covers tyne to wear..north to south
and coast to pelaw area(heworth also really)..east to west..and bits of washington..if you want to include them on here ..ie..barmston etc.
basically local areas to us.

[seggs]

mr. STEVEN evans..(mines not v. but- ph. btw)
i know the main part of the downhill quarry is private..
thats why i asked which path dougie had taken..as there is a few around here.

[seggs]

Nor are they stupid........why do all of the work yourself when there are 40-50 pairs of Common Terns that will be arriving shortly. They too will not tolerate any potential predators in the area so crows, magpies and gulls get pretty well battered as soon as they come over Wader Lake. Avos just need to keep an eye on things until the terns arrive in force:t:
i known i always thought the avocets nest earlier than the terns..getting chicks off..wise...but they arrive earlier on sites,.and move around...
hope teeside gets its first! and ours do well...

[rokermartin]

Barmston Pond this pm Chiffchaff 2,Willow Warbler 1,White Wagtail 1,Swallow 1,Boldon Flats PF Goose still there.Have 'nt seen heard or seen any local Blackcaps yet.

[rokermartin]

Might be worth checking the south tyneside coast for migrants in the next couple of days.Weather forecast is for easterly winds, with a bit of luck one or two Black Redstarts or even a Ring Ouzel might be found.

[rokermartin]

Today Barmston Pond more Willow Warblers have arrived there are now 4 singing, 3 Chiffchaff,a single House Martin,2 Sand Martin,11 LBB Gull.West Boldon ,Mount Pleasent 2Chiffchaff but no Willow Warblers or Blackcaps yet.Sunderland Football Acad Pool 2 Sand Martin and a single Swallow.Very quiet in the South Tyneside Area,South Shields 5 Sandwich Terns fishing in bay,1 RT Diver. Leas the 2 Grey Partridge are still there ,1 Wheatear.

[echo24]

Male Sparrowhawk low over Sunderland road midway between Harton village & Redhead park about 5.40pm this evening..

Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

she,s done it !!!
my other half ..jan ..has beaten me to seeing wheatear on the local patch again this year!(work in the way):C....2 between the car park and trow point area..pity the batterys in her camera were flat..very close views.
i still have,nt lived last years firsts down!..lol..(especially the gropper that i missed on the mound)
but had to make do with dartford warbler as i was working in sommerset at the time:t:

[jason-t-71]

Spent my dinner hour in Trow Quarry today. Apart from our usual Owl friend there was practically no other birds in there. Mind you, thats probably because of the ruddy big Sparrowhawk that was sat in one of the trees next to the road!!! I wonder if it was waiting for the incoming migrants that we're all expecting!

[jason-t-71]

Just had an hour in Marsden Quarry. No sign of the reported Ring Ouzels, but saying that I only get an hour for my lunch so could quite easily have missed them. There were quite a few Blackbirds dotted about and a single Mistle Thrush which was lovely to see. Loads of Tits about (Blue and Great) and a small flock of Goldfinches. Two Linnets were on the cliffs (seriously, are they big enough to be cliffs???) along with a male Kestrel sheltering from the rain. No sign of any Owls. In the gorse on the top of the cliffs there were at least 5 Yellowhammers (I think you were asking about their numbers Seggs?). By the way Seggs this is a useful little thread for me because even though I live south of the water I work in Marsden so usually I try to get out and about on my dinner hour.

[rokermartin]

Trow Quarry this pm 2 Wheatear and a Stonechat not much else around apart from the usual Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.Easterly winds are forecast for the next couple of days so there is still a chance for a Black Redstart or some more Ring Ouzels to be found.

[seggs]

Just had an hour in Marsden Quarry. No sign of the reported Ring Ouzels, but saying that I only get an hour for my lunch so could quite easily have missed them. There were quite a few Blackbirds dotted about and a single Mistle Thrush which was lovely to see. Loads of Tits about (Blue and Great) and a small flock of Goldfinches. Two Linnets were on the cliffs (seriously, are they big enough to be cliffs???) along with a male Kestrel sheltering from the rain. No sign of any Owls. In the gorse on the top of the cliffs there were at least 5 Yellowhammers (I think you were asking about their numbers Seggs?). By the way Seggs this is a useful little thread for me because even though I live south of the water I work in Marsden so usually I try to get out and about on my dinner hour.
hi jason
hope you latch onto some good migrants soon on your dinner time ventures..
good report about a sparrowhawk at trow thro-(ive only twice seen one here in 6 years)..was it in the small tree,d area in the centrel bowl?..
thanks for the yellowhammer and linnet numbers..i plan to do a count next week of four or five sites around the area.(weather permitting and work)...
.....big enough to call them cliffs if you fell off them jason..:-O..rock face or crag maybe better terms..
thanks mate:t:

[echo24]

Unlucky with the Wheatears, Steve ;) – if it’s any consolation I haven’t had one yet either mate, doesn’t work get in the way of everything!:C

Spent a couple of hours on Cleadon hills tonight (6.30 – 8.30 ish)….. no surprises up there, but very nice all the same, here we go…. Magpie, Crow & Woodpigeon ( hundreds of ‘em!) Grey Partridge (pr), Mallard (pr), Lapwing, Great, Blue & LT Tits, Wren, Blackie, Skylark, Mipits Linnet (6) Yellowhammer (9) along with plenty young Rabbits… also noticed some nice looking fungi on an Elder, ‘Jews ear’ I think, but not certain - anyone?? ……

Off out somewhere tomorrow, not sure where though – will decide when I get there!

Nice weekend all,:t:
Cheers, Dougie.

[nellieberta]

also noticed some nice looking fungi on an Elder, ‘Jews ear’ I think, but not certain - anyone?? ……



Nice weekend all,:t:
Cheers, Dougie.


They certainly look like Jews ears, and the fact that they are associated with Elder just about confirms it. This fungus is edible and considered a delicacy in some parts of the world, China prize them quite highly. I've never fancied them myself, mainly because they don't look too appealing.


Regards, Mick

[jason-t-71]

Steve, the Sparrowhawk was actually in a small tree on the bank next to the road that you drive down to get to the carpark. (does that make sense?). It was a beautiful male, the underparts being a gorgeous bright orange. It didnt seem to care that I was so close and was still there as I left. Unfortunately I also seem to have missed EVERY FLIPPING WHEATEAR that have passed through this week or two!!!

[nellieberta]

My extended local patch / dog walking route crosses the border from Wardley into South Tyneside(the old dillie lines leading to Monkton Village and around the back of the Cock Crow pub on Mill Lane). I picked up 27 species here this morning either side of the border. the most noteable being, Female Stonechat, pair of Linnets, at least 4 Willow Warblers, numerous Chiffchaffs, Skylarks and two Swallows.
Also had a look in at Barmston Pond PM, other than a couple of Oystercatchers and Grey Herons there was nothing unusual.

Regards Mick

[echo24]

They certainly look like Jews ears, and the fact that they are associated with Elder just about confirms it. This fungus is edible and considered a delicacy in some parts of the world, China prize them quite highly. I've never fancied them myself, mainly because they don't look too appealing.


Regards, Mick

Thanks for that, Mick - well done on the local species count as well - nice one mate:t:

Cheers, Dougie.

[echo24]

Spent the day looking for migrants and got…..well, err…… ONE!;)

Marsden quarry / Cleadon hills 7.30 – 9.30am no Ring Ouzel unfortunately, in fact it was business as usual, also good views of a male Sparrowhawk bumping Linnets in the gorse bushes on top of the quarry, they were quick to scatter and all escaped.

Back home for breakfast and a half hour watch on the garden feeders, 14 different species and a hive of activity, male Blackie ‘bossing’ the ground feeders and seeing off a Songie once or twice, 8 Goldfinch queuing up for a perch on the sunflower hearts – they love ‘em!

Out with the dog next and into Trow quarry, all the usual but I really went in the hope of a Wheatear – no luck, I think they must only travel on work days!.... No Little Owl either today, but the male Kes was ‘full of busy’ and a Rock Pipit posed for a few photos – loads of Rabbits. Met John Sulli down there, he’d just walked to marsden and back and was also disappointed on the Wheatear front – next time mate!

Got dropped off this afternoon in Whitburn and made my way back home via the coastal path…… Plenty waders around including Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Purple Sands & Golden Plover – the latter in beautiful breeding plumage.. I watched a Kestrel hovering quite low over the coastal park for quite some time before it moved on, seconds later a Skylark lifted from that exact spot! One lucky bird!!!

‘Jack Rock’ just off Souter car park…. Again, loads of activity, Cormorants displaying & building. Gulls, Fulmars and Kittiwakes pack the nest sites, also Razorbills on there….

Nothing too much between marsden and Frenchman’s bay where I stopped to photograph the Fulmars gliding along the cliff tops – what a task, must’ve took a hundred snaps and got half a dozen ‘gooduns’ – god loves a trier!

Dropped down into Trow once more for a final check – very quiet, Kes still hunting and not much else apart from a single Sand Martin north about 4.30pm…. All in all, a cracking day, wish I didn’t have to work tho! Lol!!!!

Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

My extended local patch / dog walking route crosses the border from Wardley into South Tyneside(the old dillie lines leading to Monkton Village and around the back of the Cock Crow pub on Mill Lane). I picked up 27 species here this morning either side of the border. the most noteable being, Female Stonechat, pair of Linnets, at least 4 Willow Warblers, numerous Chiffchaffs, Skylarks and two Swallows.
Also had a look in at Barmston Pond PM, other than a couple of Oystercatchers and Grey Herons there was nothing unusual.

Regards Mick
hi mick
thats a good report from seldom mentioned area..
ive been maybe 3 times in 6 years around that patch, it looks a great site to watch..most of the usual birds you would expect here, but i always thought shorties might be held here in the winter..(do you know what the digging is going on for ?..towards the main road..whitemare pool to lakeside. where the garden centre was.)
nice one mate:t:

[seggs]

Spent the day looking for migrants and got…..well, err…… ONE!;)

Marsden quarry / Cleadon hills 7.30 – 9.30am no Ring Ouzel unfortunately, in fact it was business as usual, also good views of a male Sparrowhawk bumping Linnets in the gorse bushes on top of the quarry, they were quick to scatter and all escaped.

Back home for breakfast and a half hour watch on the garden feeders, 14 different species and a hive of activity, male Blackie ‘bossing’ the ground feeders and seeing off a Songie once or twice, 8 Goldfinch queuing up for a perch on the sunflower hearts – they love ‘em!

Out with the dog next and into Trow quarry, all the usual but I really went in the hope of a Wheatear – no luck, I think they must only travel on work days!.... No Little Owl either today, but the male Kes was ‘full of busy’ and a Rock Pipit posed for a few photos – loads of Rabbits. Met John Sulli down there, he’d just walked to marsden and back and was also disappointed on the Wheatear front – next time mate!

Got dropped off this afternoon in Whitburn and made my way back home via the coastal path…… Plenty waders around including Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Purple Sands & Golden Plover – the latter in beautiful breeding plumage.. I watched a Kestrel hovering quite low over the coastal park for quite some time before it moved on, seconds later a Skylark lifted from that exact spot! One lucky bird!!!

‘Jack Rock’ just off Souter car park…. Again, loads of activity, Cormorants displaying & building. Gulls, Fulmars and Kittiwakes pack the nest sites, also Razorbills on there….

Nothing too much between marsden and Frenchman’s bay where I stopped to photograph the Fulmars gliding along the cliff tops – what a task, must’ve took a hundred snaps and got half a dozen ‘gooduns’ – god loves a trier!

Dropped down into Trow once more for a final check – very quiet, Kes still hunting and not much else apart from a single Sand Martin north about 4.30pm…. All in all, a cracking day, wish I didn’t have to work tho! Lol!!!!

Cheers, Dougie.
great day dougie!!
ive still to get the local patch wheatears....our lass on the other hand, keeps rubbing it in!...had a hour at trow today ..about to report..great pics..mate!:t:

[johnsulli]

Had a pair of LBB gulls on the grass at the front of the hospital John Reid Rd, yesterday at 07:00 hrs. They get up early those birds;)

Friday i saw a Sparrowhawk circling over Grosvenor Rd which would tie in with reports of one down in Trow that day.

Nice of you to start up the thread Steve, hope it catches on with the locals.

[MalR]

Spent a couple of hours down the coast today. Overcast and very cold, and much quieter than when I was down last Sunday. Just the usual meadow pipits and skylarks on the Leas and around Trow. No little owl or wheatears today, and in contrast to last Sunday very few linnets. One red-throated diver flew south.

At Whitburn there were 40+ turnstone and c20 redshank feeding on the seaweed at the water's edge south of the Steel. One knot among them, showing signs of starting to moult into breeding plumage.

Malcolm

[seggs]

picked the other half up after we both finished work at about the same time in newcastle..:C..(no contest with the football)..
went down to trow on the way home for a hour ..
again this time of day is poor at time for birding, but we must try..when its only chance you get!!..
the female little owl;) darted into a new hole to me..on the approach:eek!:
nowt in the quarry..
one guillimot just off the first bay..and the kittiwakes were moving big style..
frenchmens had good fulmar moment and pairing up..even the herring gulls were looking in good shape..counted 6 pairs of jackdaws along this short stretch.
med. pips getting bolder..and linnets singing and displaying.(2 pairs at the moment ive seen)
great to venture ..

[seggs]

Had a pair of LBB gulls on the grass at the front of the hospital John Reid Rd, yesterday at 07:00 hrs. They get up early those birds;)

Friday i saw a Sparrowhawk circling over Grosvenor Rd which would tie in with reports of one down in Trow that day.

Nice of you to start up the thread Steve, hope it catches on with the locals.
hi john
nice hear from you.
its up to all the locals, and visiting lads and lasses, to keep it going:t:
great so far..:clap:
i think we see more sparrowhawk over this area and other populated areas like westoe, harton, west park..etc..than in open areas like the leas..garden hunter...

[MalR]

a Rock Pipit posed for a few photos

I may be totally wrong here, and I hope you don't mind me saying it, Dougie, but the pipit in your attachments looks like a meadow pipit to me rather than a rock pipit. Very "clean" plumage and pinkish legs. What does anyone else think?

Malcolm

[rokermartin]

Yes Mal you are right the pipit in the pic it is not a Rock pipit its a Meadow Pipit.

[seggs]

a Rock Pipit posed for a few photos

I may be totally wrong here, and I hope you don't mind me saying it, Dougie, but the pipit in your attachments looks like a meadow pipit to me rather than a rock pipit. Very "clean" plumage and pinkish legs. What does anyone else think?

Malcolm
hi mal
really nice to met you at st.marys the other week, on the trail of the garganey..great views!!
we are all likely to do a wrong id. either wording or pic wise...now and then..(i know from experience..:-O...)..
thats the downside to posting on a thread...the upside is..
good people like yourself will ask , nice..:t:

[will@bill]

[QUOTE=johnsulli;1179374]Had a pair of LBB gulls on the grass at the front of the hospital John Reid Rd, yesterday at 07:00 hrs. They get up early those birds;)

QUOTE]

seen a lbb at 2am sat morning flying over the team valley just caught a Glimpse of it from work thought it was a barn owl .i droped tools ran out side to see a lbb 2am! must have been out clubbing;)

[MalR]

hi mal
really nice to met you at st.marys the other week, on the trail of the garganey..great views!!
we are all likely to do a wrong id. either wording or pic wise...now and then..(i know from experience..:-O...)..
thats the downside to posting on a thread...the upside is..
good people like yourself will ask , nice..:t:

Cheers Steve.

You're right: nobody's perfect. We all make mistakes from time to time. But I think if help and advice is offered in the right way - constructively - there shouldn't be a problem.

All the best,

Malcolm

[patmartin]

Does the area behind the Cock crow inn (boundary of Hebburn and Wardley)come into this thread ?
This morning I had a walk around my local patch and discovered a pair of Little Grebes displaying, Sparrow Hawk dislaying over their usual nesting area, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen all sitting on their nests, Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff singing constantly, along with the usual Tufted Duck and Mallard.
Last year this site had summering Long Eared Owl and has had feeding Kingfisher and Cormorant on a fairly regular basis, Pat

[nellieberta]

hi mick
but i always thought shorties might be held here in the winter..(do you know what the digging is going on for ?..towards the main road..whitemare pool to lakeside. where the garden centre was.)
nice one mate:t:

Hi Steve
With regards to the digging, I think they just like shifting piles of muck from one place to another!;);) the Owls on the other hand, apart from a BO once or twice I've seen very little. Reading recent postings it is obvious Patmartin has more knowledge of the area and i'm sure could fill you in far better than I could.
If people feel that this thread is not the place to be reporting on this area please let me know,I'll go through the Durham thread.
That said it's worth mentioning that on this evening's dog walk I came across a big flock of Linnets (difficult to count but at least 30). Granted they were on the wrong side of the border, but only by a couple of hundred yards. I'm sure borough boundaries meen nothing to birds, so can see ne reason why these birds will not frequent S/Tside at least as oftain as Gateshead.

Regards

Mick

[rokermartin]

Nothing much doing today migrant wise ,still have'nt heard or seen any local Blackcaps.Barmston Pond 2 Swallow,2 Sand Martin.2 Willow Warbler,2 Chiffchaff.Boldon Flats Swallow ,White Wagtail,West Boldon,Mount Pleasent,Swallow,3 WillowWarbler,2 Chiffchaff.Might start to get a few more migrants coming in during the week forecast is for SW winds and getting warmer later on in the week

[echo24]

a Rock Pipit posed for a few photos

I may be totally wrong here, and I hope you don't mind me saying it, Dougie, but the pipit in your attachments looks like a meadow pipit to me rather than a rock pipit. Very "clean" plumage and pinkish legs. What does anyone else think?

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm, no problem mate ;) my mistake it's definately a Meadow Pipit - just goes to show that beer & computers aren't a good combination:-O

Cheers, Dougie.

[johnsulli]

Been watching a wren bringing feathers to line a nest hanging from the inside of the roof of the garden shed. Its been going back and forth for the last two days that i know of so i presume the nest must be the size of a stuffed pillow by now :-O.

[rokermartin]

Been watching a wren bringing feathers to line a nest hanging from the inside of the roof of the garden shed. Its been going back and forth for the last two days that i know of so i presume the nest must be the size of a stuffed pillow by now :-O.Hi did you know that male Wrens build several nests up to 12 have been known,and encourges the female to pick one.And the female lines one with feathers.

[seggs]

Hi did you know that male Wrens build several nests up to 12 have been known,and encourges the female to pick one.And the female lines one with feathers.
normal female behavoiur martin...;)
find something they like ... travel miles,checking the rest out and return to the original one!!:-O...sorry to all females viewing this..seen from a male point of view..

[seggs]

Does the area behind the Cock crow inn (boundary of Hebburn and Wardley)come into this thread ?
This morning I had a walk around my local patch and discovered a pair of Little Grebes displaying, Sparrow Hawk dislaying over their usual nesting area, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen all sitting on their nests, Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff singing constantly, along with the usual Tufted Duck and Mallard.
Last year this site had summering Long Eared Owl and has had feeding Kingfisher and Cormorant on a fairly regular basis, Pat
hi patmartin
by the look of your birds mentioned around this area its got to be a area you watch regularly..some great birds..:t:
the last time i visited the small pond here the male mute would not let you near..it followed you as you walked around the edges!:-O..
hope to venture soon myself again.
..................
general information..
the confusion is still going on on which thread to post on i see..
well for my own reasons i will only post on the durham thread....on really important issues and informing people outside the area of rare or odd sightings..now...
its always up to the person posting on the threads..durham covers most of the area that people have mentioned and reported on on here...
but its been great to get a few more people posting on here with the odd reports which they may have felt not worthy of the durham thread..thats what its about!...:t:..great stuff
long may the friendly thread continue..with your help!;)
its up to the individual which thread...this is the way i see it..

[The gaffer]

Chiffchaff singing at Sunniside Farm this evening. Later moved to around the water tower. Skylark on the hills.

Brian

[seggs]

Chiffchaff singing at Sunniside Farm this evening. Later moved to around the water tower. Skylark on the hills.

Brian
hi brian
whats the numbers of linnets and yellowhammer like at the moment here?
also have you seen any willow tit this year? i had a family group to the s.e. of the main hill last year

[johnsulli]

Hi did you know that male Wrens build several nests up to 12 have been known,and encourges the female to pick one.And the female lines one with feathers.

I did know about the routine of the male building the nest and the female lining it with feathers, this particular nest has been up in the shed for about 4-5 years now, so do you know if the male goes back to it to maintain it or does the female just visit it to line the nest each year without the males involvement ?

[johnsulli]

Counted 17 singing Skylark this a.m on the leas, a pair of Magpie have been on the hedge running up the leas by Blackberry Hills for the last two weeks i don't suppose anyone would know if this is to do with stealing eggs as you don't normally see them on a day to day basis down here.

The little owl was in the quarry and seems to have moved house from its normal hole in the rock face !

Mount Pleasant had the usual Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird numbers and a Chiffchaff and a pair of Mistle Thrush in the horse field.

[jason-t-71]

Just had a pleasant hour in Whitburn CP. First bird seen was a Swallow flying overhead! Skylarks were singing everywhere. A pair of male Pheasants were squaring up to each other in someones garden. In the nature reserve, upto 8 Linnets were very mobile as were at least 5 Goldfinches. On the tiny pond was actually a Heron! It was in hunting mode, I'm not even sure theres any fish in there! 3 Mallards were on the bank. A male Reed Bunting was singing in the large grass. It was also nice to see 2 Sandwich Terns feeding out at sea. No Warblers yet but its only a matter of time.

[The gaffer]

hi brian
whats the numbers of linnets and yellowhammer like at the moment here?
also have you seen any willow tit this year? i had a family group to the s.e. of the main hill last year

Steve,

That was it the sum total of what was around!! This evening I went deep into the gorse looking for birds but nothing. I don't know whether it is the time of day or the amount of dog walkers but it was unearthly quiet. I did hear a great tit calling from deep in the gorse but no linnets or yellowhammers.

Coming back off the hills there was a flock of three linnets just past Sunniside Farm which flew over towards the water tower.

Brian

[rokermartin]

I did know about the routine of the male building the nest and the female lining it with feathers, this particular nest has been up in the shed for about 4-5 years now, so do you know if the male goes back to it to maintain it or does the female just visit it to line the nest each year without the males involvement ?Hi not to sure whether the male goes back to maintain the nest or the female just lines the nest out each year. I thought they used different nest sites every year.Cannot find anything in my bird books about the subject.

[rokermartin]

Got a surprise today at South Shields a Goshawk flying over Marine Park but unfortuately it was a escaped bird it had jesses.So if anyone sees a Goshawk in our area dont get to excited.The local Swallows are certainly back at Whitburn and Boldon.Very quiet in our area for migrants today.

[seggs]

Just had a pleasant hour in Whitburn CP. First bird seen was a Swallow flying overhead! Skylarks were singing everywhere. A pair of male Pheasants were squaring up to each other in someones garden. In the nature reserve, upto 8 Linnets were very mobile as were at least 5 Goldfinches. On the tiny pond was actually a Heron! It was in hunting mode, I'm not even sure theres any fish in there! 3 Mallards were on the bank. A male Reed Bunting was singing in the large grass. It was also nice to see 2 Sandwich Terns feeding out at sea. No Warblers yet but its only a matter of time.
nice report about this little oasis jason
theres got to be amp.s at least here to attract the heron..been told of a heron here before , but not been lucky enough to see it...only one or two on the steel...in winter mainly...

[seggs]

Steve,

That was it the sum total of what was around!! This evening I went deep into the gorse looking for birds but nothing. I don't know whether it is the time of day or the amount of dog walkers but it was unearthly quiet. I did hear a great tit calling from deep in the gorse but no linnets or yellowhammers.

Coming back off the hills there was a flock of three linnets just past Sunniside Farm which flew over towards the water tower.

Brian
hi brian
hopefully the next couple of weeks they might return in the normal numbers. ..the linnets.,.unusal for the yellowhammers not to be present thro-..
i only had 2 cock birds singing around the mill the last time i was there...4-5 weeks ago.
and the area around the tower(gardens esp.) were far better bird wise.
but some clay pigeon shooting going on at the farm..so the fields were empty.

[rokermartin]

Today saw my first local Blackcap a male busy feeding at Barmston Pond along with 4 Willow Warblers,3 Chiffchaff.Boldon Flats 2 Swallow.Blackcap is 5 days later compared to last year.

[echo24]

Had an hour along the coast with the dog tonight between marsden steps & the bamburgh pub, didn't have much time to any 'proper watching' as time and light weren't on my side - 1 male Stonechat in hedgerow, 10 Turnstone on cliffs, loads of Mipits and Skylarks and a pair of partridge on the leas...

Cheers,
Dougie.

[The gaffer]

Whilst picking my son up from the leisure centre yesterday I noticed a song thrush sitting on its nest in a very open position made worse by the lack of leaves on the tree. I do hope the pair are successful.

Not a great deal on Cleadon Hills last night.

Brian

[whitburnmark]

Grasshopper Warbler and Chiffchaff heard singing from the bedroom window this morning, nice way to start the day! Also 4 Tree Sparrows still lingering in the garden (25+ present all winter) and up to 5 Reed Buntings - all males. Don't know why they aren't on territories yet?
Lesser Whitethroat reported back on territory locally yesterday.

[dampflippers]

Could I have seen an avocet flying south over the firing range yesterday? Quite a big bird with long beak, bending up at the end.
Also I think I saw a marsh tit off Mill Lane near the entrance to Wardley country park...or was it a black cap?

[nellieberta]

Also I think I saw a marsh tit off Mill Lane near the entrance to Wardley country park...or was it a black cap?[/QUOTE]

There is a good chance it was a Blackcap that you saw ( if so, well done I've not seen one there this year!) If it were a tit however, I've never seen a Marsh tit around that area (others may well have done and I'd quite happily be corrected), I have seen and more importantly heard Willow tits not far from where you describe. There are also a few Coal tits on the patch.
Whatever it was, good work, because none of them are too common round there!

Regards

Mick

[seggs]

first chance ive had for a while
trow....
quite in the quarry area again except for rabbits..and no little owls on show
3 sandwich terns off the first bay..med pips and skylarks in good form near the mound..30+ linnets between the carpark and the mound..
5 swallows thro-
marsden quarry..
loads of song again...5 great tits belting out their call at one point..
a pair of kestrels displaying..one little owl on show..20+ linnets around the area..and a GROPPER in the gorse at the top reeled twice but would not show.
3 swallows by the riding stables..
2 more by west hall
boldon flats..
pinkie still here, 4 canadas,3 greylags and the odd looking white goose..
5 herons, no teal or wigeon here now.
2 swallows..10+ linnets..
on the way home..20+ linnets by the horse paddock on lizard lane.
only had yellowhammer today at the feeders at boldon flats and all the swallows were heading south..

[seggs]

a couple of pics from marsden quarry today
small white and small tortoisehell...i think?..new game this to me.

[rokermartin]

a couple of pics from marsden quarry today
small white and small tortoisehell...i think?..new game this to me.Hi Steve yes you are right with the id for the Butterflies .Seen a few Butterflies in the last couple of days .Peacocks,Small Tortoisehells and Commas.Watch out for Holly Blues soon i often see those in the garden.

[dampflippers]

""Also I think I saw a marsh tit off Mill Lane near the entrance to Wardley country park...or was it a black cap?""

Looking them up on various websites I think it was a male blackcap, because the black was just on top of its head and not down the neck.
It was going tick...tick....tick, and you could see the feathers on the top of its head ruffling.

[seggs]

following my footsteps of nearly 30 years previously..my old patch..(when i was a lad)
started at the west end of the burn, 2 male blackcaps singing away and showing nicely..10-15 willow warbler along the burn with 5 chiffchaff..all the usual birds..2 pair of long tailed and one reed bunting.
over towards the biddick farm area next..another 7 willow warbler and 3chiffchaff around here..
along the don s.e. of here..
one redwing..3 herons and a brood of mallard ducklings..3 pair of partridge a pair of l.t.tits
and 3 pair of linnets..old owl pellets found here.
noticed the great tits now outnumber the blues 2-1 all around here now.

[seggs]

not much along the don here, 2 shelduck half way along and another 2 on whats left of the slake, with a single redshank..
the tree lined road had a male blackcap with chiffchaff and willow warbler..

[dampflippers]

Seggs- your first photo is defintely what I saw at Wardley.

[seggs]

Seggs- your first photo is defintely what I saw at Wardley.
yes the blackcaps seem to have dropped now..still waiting for the whitethroats big drop thro....glad the pic has cleared it up for you..
checked the few small ponds thats been created around the station burn area..but could not see any life in them.

[johnsulli]

Took a walk along the Leas this a.m with the dogs and as is its been so quiet along here this week left the bins at home. Down by Manhaven Bay came across a Wheatear, Turnstone, and Eider & Cormorant out on the bay.
There were the usual Crows, Starlings and Jackdaws around Marsden Bay and walking back down the hedgerow adjacent to Blackberry Hills two birds a bit bigger than Mistlethrush landed on the posts and shrub and looked of the raptor kind. They were smaller than Kestrel and couldn't give a positive ID on the species but say they were a pair of Merlin (wish i'd had the bins):C. Anyway as i edged closer for a look they both took off towards Blacka hills straight low and fast with a few smaller birds pippits/skylarks harrying them.

[patmartin]

Seggs- your first photo is defintely what I saw at Wardley.

The strange looking duck at wardley is a Muskovy and has been on the pond for over a year. Pat

[rokermartin]

Please to see hear there are a few more Blackcaps arriving in our area they are certainly scarce this spring so far.Saw my first Whitethroats yesterday on the Durham coast so they should be arriving anytime now in our area.

[The gaffer]

The linnets are now starting to arrive as there were around 7 males singing on the hills last night as well as others on the path coming off. Still no sign of the yellowhammers which is strange as they were there singing merrily in March.

Looking at the reports it looks like the whitethroats won't be long.

Brian

[seggs]

Took a walk along the Leas this a.m with the dogs and as is its been so quiet along here this week left the bins at home. Down by Manhaven Bay came across a Wheatear, Turnstone, and Eider & Cormorant out on the bay.
There were the usual Crows, Starlings and Jackdaws around Marsden Bay and walking back down the hedgerow adjacent to Blackberry Hills two birds a bit bigger than Mistlethrush landed on the posts and shrub and looked of the raptor kind. They were smaller than Kestrel and couldn't give a positive ID on the species but say they were a pair of Merlin (wish i'd had the bins):C. Anyway as i edged closer for a look they both took off towards Blacka hills straight low and fast with a few smaller birds pippits/skylarks harrying them.
hi john
bet you take the bins with you all the time from now on;)
given any thought that the birds maybe cuckoo?..they often look hawkish in flight to the naked eye, and pips etc..often chase them..

[johnsulli]

Hi Steve

I'm sure to take them out with me from now on. They could have been Cuckoo and i can see where you are coming from but the wings weren't hanging down loke a cuckoo at rest but still they were only there for a minute before taking off away from me so i only saw the back of them in flight. As i haven't seen either of the species before and not having a closer look at the i am leaving it open for now.
PS
Still think Merlin though :)

[echo24]

Spent a couple of enjoyable hours in Trow this afternoon, plenty of activity with a few migrants on the move, things started pretty quiet and not too much to speak of in the north end of the quarry other than the usual residents (no Little Owl)

Moving south towards frenchmans was much better though, Kestrel (pr), Sand Martin 6, Swallow 8, Sandwich Tern 13. Good numbers of Wheatear today - minimum 8, possibly as many as 12 birds including at least 2 males, most of their activity was centred around Target rock area although there was a pair of females on Trow rock behind the gun position - well worth checking out;)

Cheers, Dougie.

PS, good to have a bit natter again Steve:t:

[echo24]

Hi Folks, just a few more photos from Trow today,

Cheers, Dougie:t:

[seggs]

cheers dougie for the tip off:t:
saved me a bomb at the fair today with the kids!:-O
best numbers ive seen here in 6 years!..wheatear wise..
great pics also..
dropped the kids off and visited a couple of sites north latter on..(report on the northumberland thread)..
my best effort ...in a short time..

[echo24]

cheers dougie for the tip off:t:
saved me a bomb at the fair today with the kids!:-O
best numbers ive seen here in 6 years!..wheatear wise..
great pics also..
dropped the kids off and visited a couple of sites north latter on..(report on the northumberland thread)..
my best effort ...in a short time..

Nice shot Steve considering it was a bit hurried mate;)

Apologies for spoiling the kids day out at the fair, they'll understand one day, i'm sure:-O
Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

Nice shot Steve considering it was a bit hurried mate;)

Apologies for spoiling the kids day out at the fair, they'll understand one day, i'm sure:-O
Cheers, Dougie.
i hope maybe one day .... and its not without trying!..lol..
they know their dad too well!!:-O
most of us have this problem...either partener or kids wise...not showing the same level of interest..

[matthall]

i hope maybe one day .... and its not without trying!..lol..
they know their dad too well!!:-O
most of us have this problem...either partener or kids wise...not showing the same level of interest..

Well , we're not all anti-birds. I'm a young lad and love going birding.

[rokermartin]

Hi Steve

I'm sure to take them out with me from now on. They could have been Cuckoo and i can see where you are coming from but the wings weren't hanging down loke a cuckoo at rest but still they were only there for a minute before taking off away from me so i only saw the back of them in flight. As i haven't seen either of the species before and not having a closer look at the i am leaving it open for now.
PS
Still think Merlin though :) It would be very unusual to see a pair of Merlin on the coast this time of year.They are back on there breeding grounds now,but you never know.

[rokermartin]

Just had a look at the Wheatear pic and the male is a Greenland Wheatear they are slightly bigger than ours and brighter in colour.Its getting into peak time for that race late April to early May.The pic of the female looks like a Greenland Wheatear also.

[echo24]

Well , we're not all anti-birds. I'm a young lad and love going birding.

Good for you mate:t: - that's nice to hear and long may it continue - it's a great interest to have.

Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

Well , we're not all anti-birds. I'm a young lad and love going birding.
great to hear of a young person like yourself enjoying birds and wildlife!! like dougie said..
my kids are,nt anti birding ,..they just don,t have the obsession we do.:t:
as much as we try to share our joy on these matters..it sometimes goes over their heads..:-O...they don,t understand..;)..
keep up the good work:t:

[StevieEvans]

Something to discuss ?

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/Shopper39s-shock-at-council-gull.4023145.jp

Cheers
SteveE

[MalR]

Not a birding day as such today, just a trip out with the kids. Because of that and the grotty weather, I didn't take my "proper" camera gear, just my little superzoom. Typically, then had excellent close views of a red-throated diver just north of the pier at Shields. Four drake eider there too.

Two wheatears were flitting about the boulders to the south of the pier and there was a group of 11 sanderling on the beach, some showing quite a lot of breeding plumage on their upperparts. A few sandwich terns offshore, and two swallows flew past north.

Malcolm

[seggs]

2 whitethroats..3 blackcaps..1 common tern..1 common sand and 1 green sand..all the usual birds around the site..
nice to meet mick and joanne:t:
after i left you,s a roe deer was walking along the edge of the wear on the south side..must have been spooked as some idiot was firing a air rifle in the woods there.

[rokermartin]

New arrival at Barmston Pond this afternoon a single Sedge Warbler,and on the other side of the road from the pond in a fenced off area a Lesser Whitethroat singing.Others birds seen 5 Willow Warblers,3 Chiffchaffs,1 Blackcap,2 Oystercatcher,Swallow.West Boldon,Mount Pleasent 4 Willow Warblers Blackcap,3 Chiffchaffs,Swallow,Sparrowhawk,Cleadon Hills 2 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears,2 Sand Martin,Swallow.Not a bad afternoon for migrants.

[seggs]

quick pop down in poor conditions..
still 6 wheatears at least (2 males) around the target rock area..
nice surprise was a whitethroat hanging about the mango pub...my first of the year here...:t:

[seggs]

New arrival at Barmston Pond this afternoon a single Sedge Warbler,and on the other side of the road from the pond in a fenced off area a Lesser Whitethroat singing.Others birds seen 5 Willow Warblers,3 Chiffchaffs,1 Blackcap,2 Oystercatcher,Swallow.West Boldon,Mount Pleasent 4 Willow Warblers Blackcap,3 Chiffchaffs,Swallow,Sparrowhawk,Cleadon Hills 2 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears,2 Sand Martin,Swallow.Not a bad afternoon for migrants.
hi martin
good to hear the l.whitethroat is back at barmston..i had a bird in the same place last year on the 6th of may..:t:

[smitsel]

New arrival at Barmston Pond this afternoon a single Sedge Warbler,and on the other side of the road from the pond in a fenced off area a Lesser Whitethroat singing.Others birds seen 5 Willow Warblers,3 Chiffchaffs,1 Blackcap,2 Oystercatcher,Swallow.West Boldon,Mount Pleasent 4 Willow Warblers Blackcap,3 Chiffchaffs,Swallow,Sparrowhawk,Cleadon Hills 2 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears,2 Sand Martin,Swallow.Not a bad afternoon for migrants.

Hi Martin. Me and my brother were down at barmston pond this afternoon we are new to birding and we saw a warbler which we weren't to sure about and it seems you have confirmed to be a sedge warbler. Also we saw a whitethroat but me and my brother have differnet opinions of it either being common or lesser we only saw it for about 2 or 3 seconds before it flew back into the scrub. the whitethroat in question was near the small pond next to the burger van sitting on top of the brambles are the 2 species of whitehroat a common sight down at barmston?

[seggs]

Not a birding day as such today, just a trip out with the kids. Because of that and the grotty weather, I didn't take my "proper" camera gear, just my little superzoom. Typically, then had excellent close views of a red-throated diver just north of the pier at Shields. Four drake eider there too.

Two wheatears were flitting about the boulders to the south of the pier and there was a group of 11 sanderling on the beach, some showing quite a lot of breeding plumage on their upperparts. A few sandwich terns offshore, and two swallows flew past north.

Malcolm
nice report mal
typical in it..great sightings and not got the gear you would wish to have!:-O
but great pics all the same:t:
hope to latch onto the sanderling tomorrow..not seen many the last month..

[seggs]

Hi Martin. Me and my brother were down at barmston pond this afternoon we are new to birding and we saw a warbler which we weren't to sure about and it seems you have confirmed to be a sedge warbler. Also we saw a whitethroat but me and my brother have differnet opinions of it either being common or lesser we only saw it for about 2 or 3 seconds before it flew back into the scrub. the whitethroat in question was near the small pond next to the burger van sitting on top of the brambles are the 2 species of whitehroat a common sight down at barmston?
hi pete
thats the same spot the l.white was hanging about last year..the birds are far more skulking and tend to sing from the undergrowth..the bamble patch in question..sure martin will let you know the exact location.
but thats not to say its the same bird..or a common white you seen..

[rokermartin]

Hi Martin. Me and my brother were down at barmston pond this afternoon we are new to birding and we saw a warbler which we weren't to sure about and it seems you have confirmed to be a sedge warbler. Also we saw a whitethroat but me and my brother have differnet opinions of it either being common or lesser we only saw it for about 2 or 3 seconds before it flew back into the scrub. the whitethroat in question was near the small pond next to the burger van sitting on top of the brambles are the 2 species of whitehroat a common sight down at barmston?Hi the Sedge Warbler was in the hedge next to the screen hide.Sedge Warblers are small in size pale browish in colour,the best feature to id them is there prominent long pale stripe above the eye.Lesser Whitethroats are generally grey brown above with browner wings ,they have a grey head and darker grey area around the eye and also have dark legs.They are smaller than Whitethroats.Whitethroats have a paler grey head with a white ring around the eye,they are browner looking birds they have pale legs,long tail.You get both species at Barmston Whitethroat is more common than Lesser.Also Whitethroat is easier to see.Lesser Whitethroats tend to be very skulking usually staying hided in a bush when singing making them difficult to watch.

[rokermartin]

The Lesser Whitethroat was singing in a fenced off area on the other side of the road from the pond ,near the sercuity guards cabin .

[nellieberta]

2 whitethroats..3 blackcaps..1 common tern..1 common sand and 1 green sand..all the usual birds around the site..
nice to meet mick and joanne:t:
after i left you,s a roe deer was walking along the edge of the wear on the south side..must have been spooked as some idiot was firing a air rifle in the woods there.

Hi there Steve,

It was also great to eventually meet you, some nice photos you got in wwt.
In all honesty I'm glad you showed up when you did, because we wern't 100% certain that what we were looking at was infact a green sandpiper. Thanks for that!

Mick & Joanne

[nellieberta]

I was over the moon earlier in the week to find out that the House Sparrows have discovered our mealworm feeder! We only get Blue Tits in there (they cost us a fortune last year!) but it's great to have something else use it. I think word has spread round though because we've got at least 2 pairs using it. Only our resident Blue Tits (still nesting in our box from the looks of it) have used it the last year or so. It would be nice to see some Robins and Great Tits find it! Looks like it's going to cost a few bob again this year! ;)

Joanne

P.S. Nice to finally meet you today Steve, I'm still sorting out the WWT pics!

[seggs]

Hi there Steve,

It was also great to eventually meet you, some nice photos you got in wwt.
In all honesty I'm glad you showed up when you did, because we wern't 100% certain that what we were looking at was infact a green sandpiper. Thanks for that!

Mick & Joanne
hi mick and joanne
glad to be of some use...:-O
i try my best..;)
we are all at different levels on the learning ladder...and unsure to call at times what we see..(been there bought the tee shirt..been made a prat out of!! ..etc...lol..)
...glad to hear the meal worms are working..:t:
hope to bump into you,s soon..
p.s.
look forward to the pic,s of the day..hope the pipers are better than mine.

[seggs]

trow first...again quite ..few linnets(20+) and 6 goldfinch.
4 wheatears around target rock..2 more at the south end of frenchmans bay..
a common sandpiper flew out of the second bay..12 turnstones here, some in summer plumage..sandwich terns off the shore.
marsden quarry same as normal..but one whitethroat in the east end and a male yellowhammer singing at the west end..one little owl on show.
nice to meet you lawrence(gogsy):t:
another wheatear flew along side the car going over lizard lane..

[jason-t-71]

Had a [B]VERY[B]wet half hour in Whitburn CP at dinnertime, but got rewarded with a very vocal and conspicuous Whitethroat and a reeling Gropper, but he didnt come out to play!

[nellieberta]

Out with the dogs this eve, at least 4 wheatears have turned up in the Wardley Country Park. Had excellent views, they are in the newly planted trees /shrubs on the Wardley side of the quarry workings. If anyone is interested I'm sure I could offer better directions.
The main reason for this post is to ask some advice from anyone with more knowledge (most everyone I guess) than myself. One of the flashes in Wardley Quarry has had a wader on it both tonight and last night. I was viewing from a good distance (150m+) but it appeared to be about redshank size, had a brown head, back and wings, with no wing bars ( got decent but distant views both stationary and in flight). The most striking thing was the fact that it had a white breast and underside, also a white rump and a completely white tail! My best guess was another Green Sandpiper but the books I've looked at both have the G/Spiper having black bars across the tail, this was definitely not the case.
Not a great description I know, but If anyone has any suggestions I'd be very grateful.

Regards

Mick

[johnsulli]

Done the full walk up the Leas this morn with the dog and back round into Trow counting 10 Wheatears in all. Several Turnstone in Trow due to the very high tide i guess. 1 Reed Bunting on the hedgerow plenty of Linnet everywhere along with Skylark and Mippits. So much more pleasurable walking the dog this time of year;)

[seggs]

Out with the dogs this eve, at least 4 wheatears have turned up in the Wardley Country Park. Had excellent views, they are in the newly planted trees /shrubs on the Wardley side of the quarry workings. If anyone is interested I'm sure I could offer better directions.
The main reason for this post is to ask some advice from anyone with more knowledge (most everyone I guess) than myself. One of the flashes in Wardley Quarry has had a wader on it both tonight and last night. I was viewing from a good distance (150m+) but it appeared to be about redshank size, had a brown head, back and wings, with no wing bars ( got decent but distant views both stationary and in flight). The most striking thing was the fact that it had a white breast and underside, also a white rump and a completely white tail! My best guess was another Green Sandpiper but the books I've looked at both have the G/Spiper having black bars across the tail, this was definitely not the case.
Not a great description I know, but If anyone has any suggestions I'd be very grateful.

Regards

Mick
hi mick
well its a funny one to comment on without seeing the bird..(any chance of a record shot?)..
greenshank can look realy white on breast and underside also rump..but they have no white on the upper side of the wing..nor do spotted redshank..
some of the barring on the tails of the waders can be hard to pick up on in the field..redshanks this time of year are a lot browner looking also..
where was the white on the wing of the bird? that might narrow it down a bit.

[gogsy]

Walk around local birding spots today,The Dell produced a male blackcap,Watertower area -Yellowhammer,Linnet,nice views of Long-Tailed tits flitting amongst trees above my head,Willow Warbler.Then down to Old Marsden Quarry where I saw a Whitethroat singing then I met with Steve Egg heading in the opposite direction,nice to meet you Steve!
Down to Marsden I saw male Stonechat near stone steps and another in the leas hedge further down.Then off to Trow where I saw two Wheatear near black path, Sandwich Tern in bay.Got soaked coming home but it was worth it.
P.S .still didn't get Trow Little Owl,better luck next time eh?

[nellieberta]

hi mick
well its a funny one to comment on without seeing the bird..(any chance of a record shot?)..
greenshank can look realy white on breast and underside also rump..but they have no white on the upper side of the wing..nor do spotted redshank..
some of the barring on the tails of the waders can be hard to pick up on in the field..redshanks this time of year are a lot browner looking also..
where was the white on the wing of the bird? that might narrow it down a bit.

Hi Steve, thanks for taking the time to reply. On the upper side of the wings they appeared to be a uniform brown though they could have been two tone.
Definitely no white wing bars. The underside I didn't take much notice of. Bearing in mind what you said about the barring on tails I even more inclined to go with the Green Sandpiper. the House Martin like white rump being the main reason for this.
The boss (Joanne) is joining me tomorrow armed with her £5.99 insamatick camera;) etc so hopefully we'll get some shots of it (and the Wheatears).
If I didn't look like a bit of a loon I'd take the scope, but I'm sure I'd be stoned to death as a peeping tom or something (people already thnik I'm a bit strange coz I carry a pair of bins!!)

Again, many thanks

Mick

[degsy_safc]

Hi All,

By the way, great thread Steve - i've read through from start to end, seems there is a hell of a lot of stuff right on the doorstep |=)|

Anyway - had just over an hour at Trow this evening in search of the Wheatears, after directions from Steve and Dougie found 2 pair straight away, plenty of linnets and pipits about, no sign of the Kestrel or the little Owl in either location.

Anyway couple from me..

[seggs]

Hi Steve, thanks for taking the time to reply. On the upper side of the wings they appeared to be a uniform brown though they could have been two tone.
Definitely no white wing bars. The underside I didn't take much notice of. Bearing in mind what you said about the barring on tails I even more inclined to go with the Green Sandpiper. the House Martin like white rump being the main reason for this.
The boss (Joanne) is joining me tomorrow armed with her £5.99 insamatick camera;) etc so hopefully we'll get some shots of it (and the Wheatears).
If I didn't look like a bit of a loon I'd take the scope, but I'm sure I'd be stoned to death as a peeping tom or something (people already thnik I'm a bit strange coz I carry a pair of bins!!)

Again, many thanks

Mick
look forward to the results mick..
sounds more green sand. now..the rump standing out against the darker wings..hope you and joanne manage a pic.:t:
...on the looking a prat front..try looking for waxwing in the centre of jarra!..(if you have not already at the right time of year)
bins are bad enough...but cameras..!:eek!:..the locals understand when you explain..well sometimes...;)

[seggs]

Hi All,

By the way, great thread Steve - i've read through from start to end, seems there is a hell of a lot of stuff right on the doorstep |=)|

Anyway - had just over an hour at Trow this evening in search of the Wheatears, after directions from Steve and Dougie found 2 pair straight away, plenty of linnets and pipits about, no sign of the Kestrel or the little Owl in either location.

Anyway couple from me..
nice to see you here derek..and welcome...
great to see you got the wheatear:t:..and nice pics.
the information is building on the local areas..great stuff:t: with people reporting...so everyone with access can enjoy!.
ps.
ive never seen the little owl(s) at that location..well spotted!:t:

[jason-t-71]

Gropper at Temple Park, South Shields. If on the John Reid Road, its between the Leisure Centre and the Fire Station (but very close to the Leisure Centre!). Again, very vocal but elusive and not helped by the local pondlife fleeing around on scramblers! Also Whitethroat and Willow Warblers among the commoner birds.

[The gaffer]

A walk around the hills this evening produced two male yellowhammer, a single swallow and great views of a male wheatear which landed on a wall only 5yds in front of me.

No sign of any whitethroats yet.

Brian

[nellieberta]

p.s.
look forward to the pic,s of the day..hope the pipers are better than mine.


Here's a couple from Sunday of the Green & Common Sandpiper and the cheeky Grey Heron on the CCTV!

Joanne

[seggs]

Here's a couple from Sunday of the Green & Common Sandpiper and the cheeky Grey Heron on the CCTV!

Joanne
nice pics joanne
pity the birds were not closer for us this day..the heron looks like one of this years young(i maybe wrong)...as we were discussing, they are all at different stages, some still in the nest others out of it... but great to see herons nesting in full view..had a nice day up north today..on the n/land thread.

[nellieberta]

Here's another couple from our garden. This time it's the resident Blue Tit finally getting the chance to use the mealworm feeder inbetween the influx of House Spugs we've had. They are eating them like they're going out of fashion! It then posed for me at the top of the tree.

Joanne

P.S. These pictures, of course, taken with my "£5.99 insamatick camera" ;) see previous comment from t'other half!!

[echo24]

Hi All,

By the way, great thread Steve - i've read through from start to end, seems there is a hell of a lot of stuff right on the doorstep |=)|

Anyway - had just over an hour at Trow this evening in search of the Wheatears, after directions from Steve and Dougie found 2 pair straight away, plenty of linnets and pipits about, no sign of the Kestrel or the little Owl in either location.

Anyway couple from me..

Hi Derek, so glad you got the Wheatears (great shots mate) and it was nice to catch up a bit tonight as well:t:

Anyway folks, took the dog for a walk and spent an hour or so tonight in Trow, Whitethroat over by the car park and the following in the quarry, Rabbits, Goldfinch, Wren, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Kestrel, and Wheatear (2x fem), Then up the black path to Frenchmans for Fulmar and onto the leas mound for Mipits & Linnets - nice night!


Cheers, Dougie:t:

[seggs]

Joanne

P.S. These pictures, of course, taken with my "£5.99 insamatick camera" ;) see previous comment from t'other half!![/QUOTE]
wish i could get a camera like yours for that price!;)
aldi may be???:-O
mine was off e-bay and the lens

[nellieberta]

Joanne

P.S. These pictures, of course, taken with my "£5.99 insamatick camera" ;) see previous comment from t'other half!!
wish i could get a camera like yours for that price!;)
aldi may be???:-O
mine was off e-bay and the lens[/QUOTE]

Carboot!! :-O;)

Joanne

[rokermartin]

2 House Martins have arrived back at Boldon Flats,also 6 Sand Martins,3 Swallow.West Boldon Mount Pleasent nothing different there apart from a single Whitethroat.No sign of any Lesser Whitethroats there yet.

[rokermartin]

Pink footed Goose still at Boldon Flats today.

[degsy_safc]

Wheatears still on Target Rock at Trow, loads of linnets and pipits in the brambles rough grass and on the rock with the canon on the top. Was talking to a birder who saw the Little Owl in the usual tree perch and he also said he saw a Short Eared Owl over the rough grass in front of the mound, although i didn't see it. I managed to catch a shot of a pipit hovering just above the ground down in the quarry area.. The rest of my pictures were rubbish :-O

[seggs]

a few pc.. problems at the moment..which john s. has sorted out...cheers.
was at blacktoft sands today when the text alert went off...wood sand. at the flash .. west pasture!..typical..
had to make do with 200+ avocet...marsh harrier..etc..
still not the same ...
nice day thro..

[seggs]

wood sandpiper seen today(thanks to will&bill text alert)..at west patures flash..
mount pleasant to downhill lane-
10 whitethroats...4 chiffs..3 w.warbs..1 grass warb..pair of partridge..pair of yellowhammer..2 pair of linnets..1 f.spuggyhawk..
trow-
1 whitethroat on its same patch as last year..1 l.owl in usual tree..
and i think we have a different l.owl on the patch! on cliff by the path..its a dark coloured bird...not like the other half of the pair normaly seen..the jackdaws don,t like it being here!..
40+ sandwich terns feeding along the shore..3 guillimots..
1 f.wheatear on trow rock...20+oytercatchers with 2 turnstones and 4 purple sands resting on the rocks here..
1 male wheatear on the grass beside the approach road..

[rokermartin]

Far Pastures Wood Sand still showing late afternoon also Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap,3 Whitethroats.Boldon Flats PF Goose .

[echo24]

Hi Folks,

Spent an hour & a half in Trow tonight between 6 & 7.30pm, not too much going on but here goes anyway…..

All the usual plus, Wheatear 2 x fem, half a dozen Swallows north and a pair of partridge on the mound…

Nice weekend all & good birding

Cheers, Dougie.

PS, Steve, good news about the (new) Little Owl mate, think Derek may have spotted the same bird recently

[jason-t-71]

Wood Sandpiper still there 7.30pm tonight.

[echo24]

Wheatears still on Target Rock at Trow, loads of linnets and pipits in the brambles rough grass and on the rock with the canon on the top. Was talking to a birder who saw the Little Owl in the usual tree perch and he also said he saw a Short Eared Owl over the rough grass in front of the mound, although i didn't see it. I managed to catch a shot of a pipit hovering just above the ground down in the quarry area.. The rest of my pictures were rubbish :-O

Doesn't matter what the rest were like, Derek - that's a great photo mate, thanks for sharing it:t:

Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

hi dougie
ya right...
sure john mentioned the owl being in a different spot too..
any pics of the "other owl"...please post!!..if anyone has any...
i got a couple today(record shots)..will put them on soon..
hope the wood sand. hangs about for people to see..
i tried the normal path to this area(public..path)..latter today from the south..
and was hounded by 2 terriers..from the camp site..
the birds where alerted...not advisable..
view from the road/lane..

[degsy_safc]

hi dougie
ya right...
sure john mentioned the owl being in a different spot too..
any pics of the "other owl"...please post!!..if anyone has any...


Hi Steve - I certainly mentioned a Little Owl in a different spot a couple of days ago and I thought i posted the pic of it in the new position when i first spotted it last weekend.. Anyway my memory isn't what it used to be so here goes with another upload of the Little Owl on the Rock south of Target Rock..

[seggs]

hi derek
sure you did put a pic on of the said bird, thanks for posting it again.
heres a few from yesterday..including record shots..

[echo24]

Hi Folks,

Had planned a day out at Lamesley today but the missus needed the car so I spent the whole day ‘local’ instead ………

Marsden quarry, early am – all the usual, plus pair of Kestrels, Little Owl, Mistle thrush, Linnets (c20) and at least 8 Whitethroats (no Blackcap or Ring Ouzel)

Got dropped off in Whitburn and had a lovely trek back home via Cleadon hills, marsden quarry, the leas and trow, I wont bore you with every step of my walk but here’s a few photos – hope you enjoy them!

Cheers, Dougie

[echo24]

A few more from today.

Cheers, Dougie:t:

[The gaffer]

Walk aound the quarry this morning and there was loads of bird activity. Whitethroats x 2, linnets - stopped counting at 12, wrens x 3, goldfinches x 4, greenfinches x 2 plus heard lots more - tits, etc.

In the quarry itself I heard a low cooing noise which I thought was a wood pigeon slightly out of tune but up on a ledge was a male kestrel. First time I have ever heard a kestrel make that sort of noise!!

The resident male pheasant is no more, looks like a fox got it as all there is left is a pile of feathers.

Brian

[MalR]

Wood sandpiper still at West Pastures this morning, although rather distant while I was there, favouring the righthand side of the far pool.

Lesser whitethroat along the path to the Academy Pools. Very vocal but typically skulking. I spent about 40 minutes hoping it would show for a pic, but no joy.

Malcolm

[Mary Evelyn]

This is a fantastic thread guys.i haven't been on as much as normal so had great fun reading as much as i could and love all the photos too.

We recently went to Washington Wetlands and had a super time.
I hope you don't mind me sharing some of my pics with you.

[Mary Evelyn]

A few more.

[seggs]

This is a fantastic thread guys.i haven't been on as much as normal so had great fun reading as much as i could and love all the photos too.

We recently went to Washington Wetlands and had a super time.
I hope you don't mind me sharing some of my pics with you.
hi mary and welcome aboard..
some great pics from the wwt..
i love the crested screamers here..

[seggs]

the wood sand showed better than my previous visited it was on the closer pool to the road..
a bit better shot..
.........
white wag on boldon flats at 3.30ish..

[nellieberta]

Here's my Wood Sandpiper pictures from West Pastures this morning. Still sorting a few others out.

Joanne

[echo24]

Walking the dog along bamburgh avenue about 6.30 pm and noticed a male blackbird had something pinned down on somebodys drive and was pecking like hell at it, anyway when I went over for a closer look the blackie flew away and a stunned Sand Martin lay there motionless, I picked it up and checked it out for wounds and there's nothing visible but it made no attempt to fly off (not even sure it can anymore) .....anyway i've tried feeding it insects which i caught in the garden but it wouldn't take them so it's now just resting in a box in my garage with the door wide open so hopefully it will recover enough to get airborne and join his folks again - fingers crossed!

What on earth was the blackie up to? - i'm baffled!

Cheers, Dougie.

[craigthirlwell]

Walking the dog along bamburgh avenue about 6.30 pm and noticed a male blackbird had something pinned down on somebodys drive and was pecking like hell at it, anyway when I went over for a closer look the blackie flew away and a stunned Sand Martin lay there motionless, I picked it up and checked it out for wounds and there's nothing visible but it made no attempt to fly off (not even sure it can anymore) .....anyway i've tried feeding it insects which i caught in the garden but it wouldn't take them so it's now just resting in a box in my garage with the door wide open so hopefully it will recover enough to get airborne and join his folks again - fingers crossed!

What on earth was the blackie up to? - i'm baffled!

Cheers, Dougie.


Strange. Hopefully the martin is just exhausted and will be ok in the morning.

[seggs]

Walking the dog along bamburgh avenue about 6.30 pm and noticed a male blackbird had something pinned down on somebodys drive and was pecking like hell at it, anyway when I went over for a closer look the blackie flew away and a stunned Sand Martin lay there motionless, I picked it up and checked it out for wounds and there's nothing visible but it made no attempt to fly off (not even sure it can anymore) .....anyway i've tried feeding it insects which i caught in the garden but it wouldn't take them so it's now just resting in a box in my garage with the door wide open so hopefully it will recover enough to get airborne and join his folks again - fingers crossed!

What on earth was the blackie up to? - i'm baffled!

Cheers, Dougie.
thats a wierd report dougie.. but great!.
never heard of blackies attacking sand martin.. they would never catch a one in flight as you know...the bird had to be knacked or injured, really..
and has dropped onto a breeding patch of a male blackie high on male hormones..
hope the little fellow pulls thro-..

[seggs]

Here's my Wood Sandpiper pictures from West Pastures this morning. Still sorting a few others out.

Joanne
well done mick and joanne
best ive seen yet on the wood sand front pic wise..great stuff:clap:
and well done with the black terns at shibdon..
again left the area..and missed them..

[seggs]

Strange. Hopefully the martin is just exhausted and will be ok in the morning.
nice to see you here craig..did you bring ya mate! lol...

[loppydog70]

Strange. Hopefully the martin is just exhausted and will be ok in the morning.

could well be exhausted, i've just remembered a swift was lying motionless on my mother in laws decking last year, i watched it for 10 mins or so then i went to check on it, a friendly couple of nudges got it on its way again though :t:

[echo24]

could well be exhausted, i've just remembered a swift was lying motionless on my mother in laws decking last year, i watched it for 10 mins or so then i went to check on it, a friendly couple of nudges got it on its way again though :t:


Just sent the little fella on his way - he looked much brighter after a couple of hours rest than he did when i first saw him, so I decided to take him on the leas about 8.30pm and let him go... one almighty launch and he flew away no bother:t:

Cheers, Dougie.

[seggs]

Just sent the little fella on his way - he looked much brighter after a couple of hours rest than he did when i first saw him, so I decided to take him on the leas about 8.30pm and let him go... one almighty launch and he flew away no bother:t:

Cheers, Dougie.
great news dougie..the little fellow survived.

[The gaffer]

Had a walk along Marsden beach this morning with most of the usual species on show. No waders though. Spent half an hour watching the sand martins it is amazing how they hit their nest hole and fold their wings back just at the right time - otherwise I suppose they would end up and blackbird food:-O

Drake eider off camels island.

Brian

[echo24]

Had a good 5 hours out today starting on the leas, then off to Souter, Whitburn CP, Cleadon Hills, Marsden old Quarry, back on the leas then home again – phew!……. all the usual in every location but with the added bonus of 2 Groppers heard and a Winchat seen on Cleadon hills (SW corner of so. shields golf course)

Cheers,
Dougie

[seggs]

Had a good 5 hours out today starting on the leas, then off to Souter, Whitburn CP, Cleadon Hills, Marsden old Quarry, back on the leas then home again – phew!……. all the usual in every location but with the added bonus of 2 Groppers heard and a Winchat seen on Cleadon hills (SW corner of so. shields golf course)

Cheers,
Dougie
nice find dougie the whinchat..well deserved after all that leg work.!
where did you get the groppers? was that cleadon also?
i was up exploring a new place on my bird map.. report on n/land thread.
ps..love the fulmar pic!

[echo24]

nice find dougie the whinchat..well deserved after all that leg work.!
where did you get the groppers? was that cleadon also?
i was up exploring a new place on my bird map.. report on n/land thread.
ps..love the fulmar pic!

Hi Steve, Gropper number one was heard in the first Rape field on the left after leaving the farmyard at the Whitburn end of the hills (bedes way walk).. second one was nearer the old mill, in the field south of the main copse, hope that makes sense mate?

Cheers,
Dougie.

[seggs]

Hi Steve, Gropper number one was heard in the first Rape field on the left after leaving the farmyard at the Whitburn end of the hills (bedes way walk).. second one was nearer the old mill, in the field south of the main copse, hope that makes sense mate?

Cheers,
Dougie.
thanks doudie
if its where i think it is..coming away from cleadon hills on the south side..heading towards whitburn..following a path along side a old hawthorn copse?..(kids get in here)..this is were i had the willow tits last year...
groppers seem to have really showed/been heard in good numbers this early summer..great stuff!

[echo24]

thanks doudie
if its where i think it is..coming away from cleadon hills on the south side..heading towards whitburn..following a path along side a old hawthorn copse?..(kids get in here)..this is were i had the willow tits last year...
groppers seem to have really showed/been heard in good numbers this early summer..great stuff!

Spot on, Steve - well worth a walk over mate.
Cheers, Dougie:t:

[johnsulli]

Had an hour out with the dog this morning up the Leas to Marsden and back and had the usual Skylarks and Mippits. Went down into Marsden Bay to have a look at the Sand Martins but not much activity around the nest holes, saw a Peregrine fly over heading to the Grotto area.
Walked down to Trow Quarry and had a pair of Swift, first of the year for me down here.

[rokermartin]

Barmston Pond today 2 Common Tern,4 Willow Warbler,2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and a single Whitethroat.

[echo24]

Hi folks,

An hour or so in and around Trow quarry today produced all the regulars including the ‘usual’ Little Owl but no sign of the ‘browner’ bird nearer frenchmans, also got Whitethroat (pr), Lesser Whitethroat (single), Linnets c20, Swallows 6, Wheatear 2 and loads of Rabbits….

Cheers, Dougie.

[The gaffer]

Two sand martins hunting for insects above the hills this evening. No sign of the whinchat:-C

Brian

[echo24]

Two sand martins hunting for insects above the hills this evening. No sign of the whinchat:-C

Brian


Hi Brian, not sure if this will be of any help now mate, but the Winchat was in the south west corner of the golf course on the dry stone walling... you'll get there by leaving the public area near the water tower and entering the golf course (through the shrubs area)... it was perched on the wall just south of the first green you come to - the one separating the golf course from the farmland - hope this helps

Cheers, Dougie.

[The gaffer]

Hi Brian, not sure if this will be of any help now mate, but the Winchat was in the south west corner of the golf course on the dry stone walling... you'll get there by leaving the public area near the water tower and entering the golf course (through the shrubs area)... it was perched on the wall just south of the first green you come to - the one separating the golf course from the farmland - hope this helps

Cheers, Dougie.

Thanks for that Dougie. I checked up to the iron gate but did not actually go onto the golf course. Was that you on the hills on Monday around 4.00 pm with a female companion?

Brian

[The gaffer]

Whitethroats very vocal and displaying. Two mistle thrushes beside the mill which flew off in opposite directions - I think it was a male chasing off an intruder.

Yellowhammers very vocal.

A flock of about 12 goldfinches on the path up to hill flying only a few feet in front so very close views.

Brian

[johnsulli]

Whitethroats, Yellowhammer, Linnet in good numbers this morning and a Heron being mobbed by a Crow over by the farmhouse.

[echo24]

Thanks for that Dougie. I checked up to the iron gate but did not actually go onto the golf course. Was that you on the hills on Monday around 4.00 pm with a female companion?

Brian

Unfortunately not, Brian. My good lady thinks i'm a bit potty when it comes to long walks, birding & the great outdoors - she prefers shopping at the metro centre - i'll let you decide who's the potty one;)

Cheers, Dougie.

[gogsy]

Garden Warbler singing in the tree in my garden 2.15 this afternoon,thats a first for me!

[seggs]

:t:great to see the thread being reported on well..its up too all in the area to respond..like most have...:clap:
we are all limited at times to get out there and enjoy our local patches..
but its great to hear..what people find!.:t:
either the normal ..or the different.
keep the good work up..everyone..its a pleasure to see.
.......................
if anyones keeping a eye on breeding numbers in the area ..even better.

[johnsulli]

Morning walk along the Leas produced a Stonechat on the shrubs adjacent to Blackberry Hills and a single Wheatear on the cliff tops south of Frenchmans Bay. Several Cormorant on the north cliff tops of Marsden Bay collecting nesting material.

[seggs]

quick visit to marsden quarrry 5ish..
typical i bunk off work early and the sea haze closes in...:C
pretty quiet really... kes. hanging about..linnets very flightey(15+)..
they seem to be favouring the lower gorse this year(apart from a few on the top nearer the houses)..
whitethroat at the east end (small bowl area) and a few swifts/swallows about...a local told me about a kes. that had been killed and the remains lying near the graffti-ed rock area..investigated..turned out to be the pheasant kill, earlier reported on here ..phew!..
another pile of feathers(woodpigeon) on the top near the houses.
and she also reported a woody heard here in her early morn. visits??:news::
....stopped at the horse paddock, top of lizard lane..single wheatear and a large female spuggyhawk.

[Mary Evelyn]

Great read and supa pics.Thankyou for sharing.:t: