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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Durham Birding (6 Viewers)

Thanks Ian. I'll give it a try when things have quietened down a bit.

Well done with the black terns, I have been spending a lot of time at Castle Lake lately as it's practically on my doorstep, not managed to see anything 'out of the ordinary' yet though. It's a great place.

Matt
 
A few shots of one of the Grasshopper Warblers singing along the path at Dormans pool on Thursday. The bird popped up in front of me at the screen after a number of hours sitting listening to it.
 

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Swallows and one Sandmartin resting up and preening on the fence wires at Seaton common yesterday morning. One of the Swallows had a ring and I think I made out digits 949.
 

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Just wondering if somebody could provide further details on the Bishop Middleham Blue Headed Wagtail - it's somewhere I've ever been before, but isn't too far from my parents house

Got the Wood Sandpiper at Saltholme this morning - a two lifer day would be good :)

Mal Skelton
 
Just wondering if somebody could provide further details on the Bishop Middleham Blue Headed Wagtail - it's somewhere I've ever been before, but isn't too far from my parents house

Hi Mal, If your desperate you could always try this ;)

http://bishopmiddlehambirding.blogspot.com/2010/11/castle-lake-intro.html

The Blue-headed Wagtail was feeding in the field just south of the hide, just go over the stile in the corner of the field and follow the wall south, the bird could be just about anywhere along that stretch with numerous Yellow Wags, Wheatear, Pied Wag, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.

Forgot to mention Mal but beware as there is a 'Channel Wagtail' around as well.
 
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A male Bullfinch in the garden this afternoon just as the rain began. I think it's only the second time we've had one in the garden. It actually hopped onto perches on the side of two sunflower feeders and stuffed itself.

It nicely follows on from the Willow Warbler from yesterday.

Willow Warbler video by Marmot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEPPaRtWX8o

Bullfinch video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItEkkYb4c4U


.
 

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RM,Joes Pond and WWWT today.

Was at RM this morning at dawn, what a chorus,whitethroats,blackcaps etc all singing their merry hearts out. Nothing spectacular seen but as I passed Joes Pond at 8.00am I listened to two male tawnies ho hooing to each other !! I have never experienced that in daylight !

WWWT visit, Hawthorn Wood hide,Goldfinch,Treecreeper,Bullfinch,Willow Tit Coal Tit and GSW.

Wader Lake 2 LRPs,5 pairs of Gadwall,4 Avocets (2 sitting -great news) Common Terns,Black Tailed Godwit,Shovelor,breeding OIK,Lapwing, loads of courting Shelduck putting a great show on in front of the middle hide.

Lovely morning walkout.
 
Brief visit to Joes / Rainton mid morning
Only things out of the ordinary were a small red damselfly, drumming GSW at Joes, a Hobby drifting north & RMs yeartick of House Sparrow.

un-named d/fly

Single Swift over the garden & male Swallow making repeated passes checking out all the open back doors....
 
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Seaton Common - am - Yellow Wagtail x2, Wheatear c.40.

Dormans Pool - Sedge Warbler x7, Whitethroat x7, Linnet x6, Grasshopper Warbler x2 all along track to hide screen. Grasshopper Warbler x7 in total. Cetti's Warbler x1 by top car park.

Haverton Scrub - Grasshopper Warbler x1, lots of Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff.
 

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Castle Lake, Bishop Middleham - pm - Blue-headed Wagtail x2, Yellow Wagtail x12, Wheatear x10, Lesser Whitethroat x1, Tree Sparrow x8 one pair nesting in hole in hawthorn tree, Blackcap x4, Swallow x4 including a pair resting on the hide and entering the green shed, House Martin x2, Little Ringed Plover x1, White Wagtail x1, Treecreeper. At least one other dark headed Yellow Wagtail but only distant views.
 

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Thanks to one of the Teesmouth guys (Derek) who put me onto the Shorelark at Seaton Common / North Gare this afternoon...

Couple of pictures i managed of a rather accommodating bird.
 

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Farnless farm Lake and Castle Lake Bishop Middleham 12 to 4 today.

Farnless Farm Lake
3 pairs of Gadwall,8 pairs of Shelduck,a pair of Widgeon,3 pairs of Shovelor,Oystercatchers,Coot,Moorhen,Heron,Mallard,Canada and Greylag Geese.Orange Tip Butterfly.

Castle Lake
2 LRPs,pair of Shovelors,Grey Heron,3 pair of Gadwall,Little Grebe,Heron,Coot,Moorhen,Mallard,Greylag and Canada Geese,Mute Swan,Redshank,Oystercatcher,at least 10 Yellow Wagtail ( no sign of the blue headed),10 or more Wheatears,Tree Sparrow,Linnet,Stock Doves and Meadow Pipit.

Bumped into an old fella who gave me a fascinating insight to the areas Roman history together with details on the immediate buildingsand landscape etc.

Can anyone tell me how to get to Fishburn lake ? Thanks.
 
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Dormans Pool - am - Grasshopper Warbler x3, Cetti's Warbler x2, Lesser Whitethroat pair opposite lower car park. 7-8 each of Linnet, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. Jack Snipe in reeds right in front of the hide but flushed when I opened the window shutter. Pink-footed Goose x10 flew into north end of pool.

A large green bodied dragonfly was just down from the top car park very actively catching flies but never settling - seemed a little big and very early for a Common Darter which I thought it was. Also a couple of Large Red Damselflies.

North Gare - Yellow Wagtail and Shorelark.


Shore Lark video clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9PuxoLlN70


.
 

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Can anyone tell me how to get to Fishburn lake ? Thanks.

If you follow the sewage works farm track past Castle Lake and then bear left along the path by the River Skerne you come to the path along old railway. Follow the path left and it takes you to Fishburn Lake. Carry on past the lake and turn left along the farm track to head back to the village.

An alternative and easier route is by car for the most part. Just before you enter Bishop Middleham from the east at the top of the hill there's some farm buildings and a farm track on your left. Drive down it for half a mile and you come to a parking area. Park there and follow the track down to the old railway line path and turn right along it. The lake is a short distance along on your left.

Arrow marks the spot - http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=433885&Y=530695&A=Y&Z=115
 
Rainton Meadows - 11:00 - 11:50 (popped in before work!!) - 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull with c250 Herring, 4 LBB and 1 GBB Gull. 2 LRP's, 1 Shelduck and 1 Common Sand.
 
not a bad bit of popping in Gary

Was quite impressed myself Stevie ;)

4 hour wander last night added Cuckoo, Garden Warbler and the rare and elusive Spuggie!!! Also LE and Little Owl, 3 Wheatear, 3 Groppers and 4 LRP's.

Couple of hours this morning produced 8 species of Warbler (still no Lesser Whitethroat for me!!!) - Warbler Wednesday again (can't wait for next Wednesday when I must get that Lesser Whitethroat - or something even better .... Cetti's anyone??). 2 LRP's and Common Sand.
 
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