migration

[salty]

saw house martins yesterday while in derwent valley. arent they usually on the long journey home this late in the month? the swifts were gone in late september, and the swallows about two weeks ago. there is also huge amounts of flies and midges still buzzing around, i think they might be taken advantage of the ready meals.

[IanF]

Still there today as well, I popped up there to view the Northern Kites. We still have a few down our way too.

[salty]

did you see any kites ian?, sightings around kibblesworth/ouston area, recently, but was there today and at derwent yesterday - none birds :C . was looking everywhere, treetops, pylons, farmers fields - nowt! i know they are widespread by now but dont know where to see them - not happy!

[brianfm]

Hi Salty

I am really suprised to hear Martins are still about in large numbers. Makes me wonder what the latest date is on record. Some one did say to me a while ago that he thought they were delaying migration because of poor feeding opportunities in the wet summer.
Did you know that the RSPB have a walk to the Red Kite roosting site in November? I keep hearing that there a few sightings of Red Kite in Derwent Valley so I don't really know how the RSPB know where the Roosting site will be. Must know something we don't ;)

Brian

[IanF]

I was at the Durham Bird Club meeting last Thursday night as the project manager for the Northern Kites was giving a lecture. He is also the Chairman of Durham Bird Club. I'll post a report once my new scanner arrives as there is some interesting stuff to include.

Meanwhile 14 of the 20 released are still in Derwentside. The others having moved to other areas some quite close and one that has turned up at Gigrin Farm in Wales!

The 14 have been roosting in Barlow Burn for the last couple of weeks and spending most of the time there.

The section between Blaydon and High Spen is the best place to find them at present. Good views can be had from the car park of the Black Bull PH at Barlow village.

I came across 10 'kiting' together a couple of hundred yards to the right of the High Spen to Greenside road over the woods above Ricklees Farm. That was about 11.00 am as they are late risers. I spent a couple of hours there and eventually they started moving down the valley and onto the tip at Greenside. Barlow Lane between Greenside and Barlow gave some superb close up views as they were mobbed by the crows and gulls.

There was no mention of anything planned by the RSPB. Whilst the RSPB are one of the sponsors it isn't their project. Several local farmers have started feeding the Kites and moves are afoot to get some sort of Winter feeding station organised, though relying on the initiative coming from local farmers to set it up and run it as a private enterprise - with guidance of course.

I'll post a bit more, hopefully some time this week.

Appolgies for the poor quality photos but it was a bit dull on Sunday morning and these were digiscoped from several hundred yards.

[brianfm]

Thanks for the update Ian. I will look forward to hearing more later.

I was over Derwent Valley a while ago with a friend and we thought we may have seen Kites being mobbed near the opencast site but by the time we got into place for a decent view they had gone so we will never know. I had read in the local paper that drinkers at the Black Bull were able to watch Kites over a pint. When I was a kid my mother used to tell me that people that drank too much saw pink Elephants, it seems that it may now be Red Kites!

The RSPB walk was advertised in the latest Bird Mag and I managed to grab a couple of places. Taking place on 6 and 7 November. They may well have organised it in conjunction with other parties

Brian

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I saw 3 Swallows on Saturday, up here in northeast Scotland. I've seen a number of November Swallows and House Martins in eastern Scotland and Swallows up to 10th December. There are often a few juveniles hanging around until very late, particularly if the weather stays mild.

[brianfm]

I saw 3 Swallows on Saturday, up here in northeast Scotland. I've seen a number of November Swallows and House Martins in eastern Scotland and Swallows up to 10th December. There are often a few juveniles hanging around until very late, particularly if the weather stays mild.

I have to admit that really suprises me although I know some breed very late in the year I had thought their chances would be slim. Seems I am wrong (again).
Thanks for putting the thread back on topic again Andrew. ;)

Brian.