Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
First eider (f) great skua, full.pic arctic turn.
First 3 hours, so far so good. Need a first male eider
First 3 hours, so far so good. Need a first male eider
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Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Stewart J.
- Start date
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
First eider (f) great skua, full.pic arctic turn.
First 3 hours, so far so good. Need a first male eider
First 3 hours, so far so good. Need a first male eider
June Atkinson
Well-known member
The Wynding Bamburgh
For eiders, we have always found them either in Amble Harbour - wonderful Fish & chips and Ice Cream. There is also a one-hour boat trip round Coquet Island from the Harbour.
Or The Winding at Bamburgh often has groups of male eider and/or the crêches of young with "Aunties"! Driving from Seahouses, enter Bamburgh. As soon as you pass the Castle on your right, take the first right which goes to the Wynding and the Golf club. Parking near the Golf club gives a lovely open view and access to the beach.
I went to Kielder today. Sadly the Webcam stream is not working so we saw no live action on the nests. There are eight chicks - one male, the others female. Roy Dennis was there recently, in order to ring and tag the osprey chicks. The nest is two miles across the Lake so it really is not worth going unless they have managed to get the webstream working.
For eiders, we have always found them either in Amble Harbour - wonderful Fish & chips and Ice Cream. There is also a one-hour boat trip round Coquet Island from the Harbour.
Or The Winding at Bamburgh often has groups of male eider and/or the crêches of young with "Aunties"! Driving from Seahouses, enter Bamburgh. As soon as you pass the Castle on your right, take the first right which goes to the Wynding and the Golf club. Parking near the Golf club gives a lovely open view and access to the beach.
I went to Kielder today. Sadly the Webcam stream is not working so we saw no live action on the nests. There are eight chicks - one male, the others female. Roy Dennis was there recently, in order to ring and tag the osprey chicks. The nest is two miles across the Lake so it really is not worth going unless they have managed to get the webstream working.
LowellMills
Is this your Sanderling?
Clocked two Black-headed Gull wearing white, coded rings (four characters in black text) in Druridge Bay's lakeside picnic area yesterday. Both started with a J (which means they're from Norway) but could only get a full read of one of the them - J6CZ. If anyone fancies having a pop at the other one it'll make Lista Ringing Group very happy if you report it to: clifu[at]c2i.net
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
Low Newton, SeaHouses and dunstburgh were on top form today.
Will do a report later.
Will do a report later.
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
Lower Newton Scrape
16 Snipe, 6 Dunlin, 46 Greylag geese, 2 Ruff (1 imm), many Black headed gulls, 2 Eider (no males!)
Lesser white throat and white throated warblers were doing well at the path as well as yellowhammers, so many swallows too. The odd swift but 1 out of 25.
Fanre tomorrow! Thank the lord! Farne tomorrow!
A little egret, I understand that here they are seen as a little more scarce so I thought that it was worth a mention. (I too wonder why I mentioned the black headed gulls)
16 Snipe, 6 Dunlin, 46 Greylag geese, 2 Ruff (1 imm), many Black headed gulls, 2 Eider (no males!)
Lesser white throat and white throated warblers were doing well at the path as well as yellowhammers, so many swallows too. The odd swift but 1 out of 25.
Fanre tomorrow! Thank the lord! Farne tomorrow!
A little egret, I understand that here they are seen as a little more scarce so I thought that it was worth a mention. (I too wonder why I mentioned the black headed gulls)
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
Erm, staple island was frankly bloody amazing. Just stunning...
If the A1 did not exist, this place would be in the stone age still.
Highlight so far, too many to count, just such a great place..
Will do a massive linked post for you all at end of trip
Today, woodsand poss, I never reported it, razorbill, puffin, fulmar chick, kittwakes, roseate terns (yes, plural)so many sandwich terns, seals, gannets, eider.
If you fail to appreciate this wonderful county then god help you! It is absolutely stunning!
If the A1 did not exist, this place would be in the stone age still.
Highlight so far, too many to count, just such a great place..
Will do a massive linked post for you all at end of trip
Today, woodsand poss, I never reported it, razorbill, puffin, fulmar chick, kittwakes, roseate terns (yes, plural)so many sandwich terns, seals, gannets, eider.
If you fail to appreciate this wonderful county then god help you! It is absolutely stunning!
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Staple Island
I take it that you were able to land on Staple? The last twice I've been, the swell was too great.
Did you hear the seals singing - that's magical!
I'm so glad you have enjoyed your Northumbrian trip; no doubt you will be coming back......................
June
I take it that you were able to land on Staple? The last twice I've been, the swell was too great.
Did you hear the seals singing - that's magical!
I'm so glad you have enjoyed your Northumbrian trip; no doubt you will be coming back......................
June
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
I heard them more on Holy island this morning. Along with an unknown species of bunting. Birds of prey seem lacking, however the place is immense.
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
Im twitching it at 5
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
No sign (yet) of the Collared Pratincole today, but Stilt Sandpiper at Cresswell Pond :t:
woodhornbirder
Well-known member
lol was about to head off to cp, when bg reported it was gone....
See its back this evening! No doubt will vanish again in morning!!
See its back this evening! No doubt will vanish again in morning!!
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
FOUND - camera lens cap at Cresswell / Stilt Sandpiper. PM with details (manufacturer / size) to claim.
lazza
Well-known member
No sign of a pratincole at Castle Island 7-8pm last night. Lots of waders though, with black-tailed godwit, lapwing, dunlin, redshank and ringed plover all present, plus a single little egret being continually harassed by two grey heron, and a common tern feeding a noisy juvenile.
Steve_Halstead
Sparrow or Crow?
Edited - await confirmation before posting this sighting/species
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lazza
Well-known member
I'm wondering if one of the dunlin at Castle Island may have been a curlew sandpiper, as I wrote "one with white rump black tail tip" in my notes, but only got home to check my Collins today, and this might fit. And I think the ringed plover were little ringed plover!
(I really need a refresher course on my waders!).
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Snab Point - 31st July
Whilst watching from Snab Point, Cresswell on a beautiful evening we witnessed a short eared owl fly in from the horizon, trying for a couple of eiders before flyiing inland towards Lynemouth. It was really well marked and the light was great - but no camera.
A colleague tells me her friend, an offshore surveyor, had 70 SEO land on their survey boat in the North Sea last year, he presumed coming across from Holland!
Early migration of waders evident from the small group of golden plover, turnstone, knot and Ringed Plover. The knot and G.plover in particular still showing signs of their breeding plumage. Absolutely fantastic.
Whilst watching from Snab Point, Cresswell on a beautiful evening we witnessed a short eared owl fly in from the horizon, trying for a couple of eiders before flyiing inland towards Lynemouth. It was really well marked and the light was great - but no camera.
A colleague tells me her friend, an offshore surveyor, had 70 SEO land on their survey boat in the North Sea last year, he presumed coming across from Holland!
Early migration of waders evident from the small group of golden plover, turnstone, knot and Ringed Plover. The knot and G.plover in particular still showing signs of their breeding plumage. Absolutely fantastic.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
There were a couple of Green Sandpipers at Castle Island earlier on Thursday afternoon (31st July) - maybe it was one of them? Also yep, two Little Ringed Plovers (and one Common Ringed Plover) there then too.