Durham Birding (3 Viewers)

[StevieEvans]

Scores round the doors

Oh yes! 83 species so far this year within 3 mile from home.
Still discovering new areas of excellent habitat.

Very impressive.
Cant beat the feeling of finding a few new little spots right under your nose
Mines 97, although i range a bit further - i'll see how many i need to trim off to match your 3 mile limit.

 

[Cyclops]

I have to ask,what on earth is RM's freezer?

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I have to ask,what on earth is RM's freezer?

Its a bird hide. The bird hide has no door, no windows and is really frezzing when your sitting in it.:-O

 

[Ray.Scott]

Great to meet you Scuzz.

Your bird looks like a Sparrowhawk.

Cheers, Ross, Martin & Birdboy,
I'll go with Sphawk. I didn't see it approach the hide and as I say just a glimps as It shot past. I think I was just hopeing It was something different.

 

[NeilF]

Very impressive.
Cant beat the feeling of finding a few new little spots right under your nose
Mines 97, although i range a bit further - i'll see how many i need to trim off to match your 3 mile limit.

Forgot to mention still missing some 'easy' patch ticks for the year (I know its only mid-February) such as (and no laughing);
Goldeneye, Ruddy, Buzzard, Grey Partridge, Oystercatcher, Water Rail, Tree Sparrow & Linnet.
Thought about extending my patch to include Burdon Moor, Hedley Fell & Beamish areas (very underwatched if anyone out there wants somewhere to cover?) but there's not enough days in the year to do it all :-O, maybe in a few years time when I've exhausted the current area!

 

[balvert]

Speaking of school holidays, there'll be some fun activities for the children (or grandchildren!) at RSPB Saltholme tomorrow (Wed 18th) from 11am until 3pm. Pop along for outdoor activities, feeder making as well as arts & crafts all for FREE!

Hope to see you there!

 

[StevieEvans]

Forgot to mention still missing some 'easy' patch ticks for the year (I know its only mid-February) such as (and no laughing);
Goldeneye, Ruddy, Buzzard, Grey Partridge, Oystercatcher, Water Rail, Tree Sparrow & Linnet.
Thought about extending my patch to include Burdon Moor, Hedley Fell & Beamish areas (very underwatched if anyone out there wants somewhere to cover?) but there's not enough days in the year to do it all :-O, maybe in a few years time when I've exhausted the current area!

Get those few tarts sorted out Neil & you'll be close to patching me up
( NO :-O )

I was gonna include Seaham Hall area to add a few seabirds, although i did manage to scope a Gannet from Seaton Pond last year !

May try a City of Sunderland Patch next year (this would mean leaving out current sites of Lambton Bridge & Leamside etc).
In terms of area its pretty much on par with Gateshead Borough's 142km\2, with S'land at 137km\2 . . . .
I'd imagine the Sunderland total should weigh in well into the 200's for the year

The Surfbirds website has an interesting Lists section. The "top" Local Patcher has no coastline to go at & is in land locked central England . . . although the fact that he's birding Rutland Water helps . . .

 

[Cyclops]

Its a bird hide. The bird hide has no door, no windows and is really frezzing when your sitting in it.:-O

Ah right but where and what is RM? I'm not a native to this area so...

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Ah right but where and what is RM? I'm not a native to this area so...

RM = Rainton Meadows - Which you might have gathered is a nature reserve. Quite popular with Steve,spuggy,me,denbee,scuzz,JBee and lots of other people.:t:

 

[Cyclops]

RM = Rainton Meadows - Which you might have gathered is a nature reserve. Quite popular with Steve,spuggy,me,denbee,scuzz,JBee and lots of other people.:t:

Ah right. Still none the wiser but I'm sure my other half will know
So is that far from Darlington-doable by pushbike? Might meet some of you there one day! Could do with a decent local patch with water. Used to live in the midlands and would cycle to Belvide often,about 7 miles from where i lived at the time. I don't know of a similar place near here

 

[IanF]

Ah right but where and what is RM? I'm not a native to this area so...

Rainton Meadows is a reserve run by Durham Wildlife Trust. It's also where they're based at - see link

They have several other reserves around the county but the only other large one is at Low Barns, near Bishop Auckland - not too far from Darlington. There's a site guide for most reserves - though the one for Low Barns is a little dated as there's been some redeelopment including a new hide or two.

 

[Cyclops]

Thanks for the info Ian!

 

[StevieEvans]

<snip> Could do with a decent local patch with water. Used to live in the midlands and would cycle to Belvide often,about 7 miles from where i lived at the time. I don't know of a similar place near here

Hopefully there'll be loads of Darlo patchers who will chip in & point you in the right direction, otherwise :-

There is a Darlington Site Guide, written by local enthusiast C.Bell. This guide is in The LEK & can be viewed within the members section of the DBC website.

Have a look at an O/S map, find a likely water body, cycle there, check it out.
If its any good, bang there you go, you've got a "decent local patch with water" . . . you never know, you might even see a Dipper :t:

 

[Cyclops]

Thanks Stevie. There is a fairly new nature reserve not far from me,Brinkburn Nature Reserve but it tends to be patrolled by chavs on motorbikes a lot so i wouldn't imagine one would get to see a lot. Things have improved of late apparently and last time i was there,with the kids in tow,I did hear a Woodpecker!

 

[IanF]

Didn't get out at all today - not birding anyway.

A Sprawk spent most of the morning in the garden. It was pretty restless moving between perches.

 

[Cyclops]

Cracking shots Ian!

 

[BirderBoy]

Didn't get out at all today - not birding anyway.

A Sprawk spent most of the morning in the garden. It was pretty restless moving between perches.

What a beaut! :t:

BirderBoy :hippy: peace

 

[GarethW]

Cyclops,
You could try Cleasby Gravel pit. Its located just south west of Darlington . It is no longer being worked and you can walk around the lake. There are also some reserves in N Yorks. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has a lake at Bolton On Swale and there are other wetlands near to it,the locals will tell you about them. Further afield there is Nosterfield Nature Reserve and Lingham ,but you will need a car for that one.

Best Wishes , Gareth

 

[JBee]

If weather is good I might pop down to RM's tommorow for a few hours!
Andrew K

Thanks for the warning

 

[StevieEvans]

Houghton Gate

Called in passing this afternoon

Nice selection visible from roadside at H'ton Gate - 37 Wigeon, 170 Lapwing, pr Oystercatcher, pr Redshank, 56 Curlew, 1 Pink footed Goose, 12 Golden Plover.

Poked my nose over the bridge at Lambton - nice male Dipper right beneath, 30' below, also Goosander pair on the swollen R.Wear.

jack (o)<