• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Durham Birding (4 Viewers)

Back to Bollihope yesterday for more ring ouzels, pretty much the same birds as my last visit, but no sing of any thrushes. Also a couple of common buzzards overhead being persued by lapwing.
Also called to check on the dippers, Don't know if this is common practice, but the dippers seem to have split up i.e. each parent seems to be looking after one of the young.
Nice to watch them feeding.
 

Attachments

  • _MG_6240.JPG
    _MG_6240.JPG
    242.1 KB · Views: 91
  • _MG_6298.jpg
    _MG_6298.jpg
    294.3 KB · Views: 70
  • _MG_6328.JPG
    _MG_6328.JPG
    183.8 KB · Views: 61
  • _MG_6338.JPG
    _MG_6338.JPG
    193.7 KB · Views: 65
  • _MG_6737.JPG
    _MG_6737.JPG
    205.7 KB · Views: 80
Couple more dipper shots.
 

Attachments

  • _MG_6639.JPG
    _MG_6639.JPG
    148.9 KB · Views: 75
  • _MG_6661.JPG
    _MG_6661.JPG
    173.7 KB · Views: 64
  • _MG_6859.JPG
    _MG_6859.JPG
    153.3 KB · Views: 69
  • _MG_6955.JPG
    _MG_6955.JPG
    213 KB · Views: 79
The common terns were showing very well on the main lake at Herrington Country Park this afternoon despite the noise and disturbance from the model powerboats.

The female was perched on a boulder at the water's edge and the male brought in a constant supply of small fish. She seemed to take a long time to swallow them, but eventually managed to.

Great to get such close views.:t:

Malcolm
 

Attachments

  • common ternIMG_3537.jpg
    common ternIMG_3537.jpg
    205.1 KB · Views: 71
  • common tern IMG_3545.jpg
    common tern IMG_3545.jpg
    238.4 KB · Views: 72
Tunstall Reservoir

Grey heron, muscovey, common sandpiper and greylags with chicks on the reservoir, the sandpiper flew of when flushed by fisherman.

Following seen around the wood area:
blue, great & LT tits, willow warbler, GS woodpecker, blackcap, nuthatch, chaffinch, goldfinch, chiffchaff and brief view of single pied flycatcher in the tree tops. No sign of redstart.
Also 2 roe deer sprinted past us in the upper part of the wood.
 

Attachments

  • _MG_0046.JPG
    _MG_0046.JPG
    189.5 KB · Views: 68
  • _MG_9901.JPG
    _MG_9901.JPG
    204.3 KB · Views: 62
  • _MG_9905.JPG
    _MG_9905.JPG
    186 KB · Views: 70
  • _MG_9938.JPG
    _MG_9938.JPG
    225.7 KB · Views: 67
  • _MG_9943.JPG
    _MG_9943.JPG
    231.2 KB · Views: 49
Suzz - Is the bird in photo 1 the Muscovey? Is this a species you can 'tick'?

Matt

Matt:
Photo 1 is the Muscovey, but as far as ticking it goes, I'm not to familiar with the rules, maybe one of the more serious bird watchers will point you in the right direction.

Seems like Mr Kinghorn has answered It.
 
Last edited:
Couple from Saltholme today.
 

Attachments

  • _MG_7842.JPG
    _MG_7842.JPG
    116.1 KB · Views: 86
  • _MG_7867.JPG
    _MG_7867.JPG
    117.3 KB · Views: 81
  • _MG_7896.JPG
    _MG_7896.JPG
    72.9 KB · Views: 71
  • _MG_7966.JPG
    _MG_7966.JPG
    108.3 KB · Views: 64
  • _MG_7976.JPG
    _MG_7976.JPG
    117.9 KB · Views: 86
Hi All

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice?

I want to go birding tomorrow afternoon and add some more birds to my list as I haven't added many in the last few weeks due to work/family commitments.
There is a definate lack of wading birds on my list and I still need to get most of the latest migrants fly catcher, warblers, redstart etc.

Can anyone suggest any sites to visit where I might get to see some new birds?

Thanks

Matt
 
Had my first trip of the year up to Weardale/Teesdale today. Started off at Bollihope, but there was no sign of the ring ouzels. I then made my way over to Langdon Beck. As I was driving along the road to Middleton, two ring ouzels flew across in front of the car.

I didn't see any black grouse in the Langdon area, but there were good numbers of the usual species, including several lapwings with chicks.

After lunch I made my back to Weardale and stopped off at Bollihope again. This time I did see two ring ouzels: a cock bird and a juvenile. I just sat in the car, but unfortunately they didn't come close and the best photo I could manage was a fairly distant shot of the youngster.

The cock bird occasionally broke off from feeding duties and perched up in the nearby saplings and gave short bursts of song.

All in all, a very enjoyable few hours.

Malcolm
 

Attachments

  • golden plover_may 210004.jpg
    golden plover_may 210004.jpg
    217.2 KB · Views: 83
  • mistle thrush_may 210008.jpg
    mistle thrush_may 210008.jpg
    247 KB · Views: 70
  • snipe_may 210019.jpg
    snipe_may 210019.jpg
    187.2 KB · Views: 90
  • redshank_may 210012.jpg
    redshank_may 210012.jpg
    175.3 KB · Views: 67
  • ring ouzel_may 210022.jpg
    ring ouzel_may 210022.jpg
    280 KB · Views: 105
A few from Saltholme & Dormans Pool area today.

2 Marsh Harriers seen in the distance form Dormans, they were also seen just over the reed beds about 7.30am by a local bird watcher/photographer.
Also Cetti's Warbler heard fairly close at times but not seen.

Note for Mal Skelton:
No Drake Garganey reported at Saltholme today.
 

Attachments

  • _MG_1130.JPG
    _MG_1130.JPG
    180.1 KB · Views: 66
  • _MG_1166.JPG
    _MG_1166.JPG
    127.9 KB · Views: 62
  • _MG_8316.JPG
    _MG_8316.JPG
    267.2 KB · Views: 67
  • _MG_8490.JPG
    _MG_8490.JPG
    252.6 KB · Views: 59
  • _MG_8594.JPG
    _MG_8594.JPG
    181.7 KB · Views: 63
Hi All

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice?

I want to go birding tomorrow afternoon and add some more birds to my list as I haven't added many in the last few weeks due to work/family commitments.
There is a definate lack of wading birds on my list and I still need to get most of the latest migrants fly catcher, warblers, redstart etc.

Can anyone suggest any sites to visit where I might get to see some new birds?

Thanks

Matt

There's not much in the way of waders around at the moment - though RSPB Saltholme and Castle Lake, Bishop Middleham are always worth a try.

For the others try the upland woodlands around Barnard Castle, Tunstall Res. and the Muggleswic/Edmundyers/Derwent Gorge area - these are often best for the oak tree trio.
 
Greenabella Marsh - 8.00-10.00am yesterday 51 species recorded on the annual Tioxide bird count. Nothing of note really. Most interesting species was a Grasshopper Warbler.

Dormans Pool - lower car park area - Stonechat pair, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler showing well, Linnet.

Saltholme Ponds - two lots of Great Crested Grebe by roadside with young (2 & 3).


Today -

Crimdon Denemouth - pm - Little Tern c.100, Common Tern x3, Arctic Tern x1, Fulmar x3, Wheatear x1, Sanderling c.25, Dunlin x6, Ringed Plover 6+, Gannet x1, Common Scoter x3, Eider x2, Guillemot x4. Linnet 12+, Whitethroat x6, Yellowhammer x2 in scrub.

Hartlepool Headland - pm - Fulmar x3, Common Tern x5, Kittiwake x3.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4869a.jpg
    IMG_4869a.jpg
    124.2 KB · Views: 91
  • IMG_5009a.jpg
    IMG_5009a.jpg
    150.4 KB · Views: 97
  • IMG_5395a.jpg
    IMG_5395a.jpg
    43.5 KB · Views: 98
  • IMG_5587a.jpg
    IMG_5587a.jpg
    91.2 KB · Views: 91
  • IMG_5693a.jpg
    IMG_5693a.jpg
    78.2 KB · Views: 73
Seeking your help for our Red Kites


You'll understand why I'm asking!
We are building a database of territories and nesting for 2010, and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who sees Red Kites in the area frequented by members of this thread.

We have had some reports from outside the core area of the lower Derwent Valley, but would welcome any information.

Please have a look at our website. It will give you info and contact details.

www.friendsofredkites.org.uk

Thank you
June Atkinson
Press & Publicity
FoRK
 
Nightingales

I can hear nightingales constantly (unfortunately they're coming from the Madrid golf on skysports this morning). Can anyone advise me the prospects of hearing one in the local area (sure I've seen them listed on this thread before)
 
I can hear nightingales constantly (unfortunately they're coming from the Madrid golf on skysports this morning). Can anyone advise me the prospects of hearing one in the local area (sure I've seen them listed on this thread before)

Only three 'recent' records for Durham - 1981, 1984 and 1985. There's actually been more Thrush Nightingales in recent years - 4 records between 1985 and 1997. The nearest breeding Nightingales (as far as I'm aware) are south of the Humber.

Mark
 
Warning! This thread is more than 4 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top