[seggs]

Originally Posted by IanF

Sunday 10th November - Seaton Snook

Merlin
Twite x17
Snow Bunting x3
Kestrel
Red-breasted Merganser x9
Bar-tailed Godwit x2
Grey Plover 70+
Red Knot 50+
Dunlin
Sanderling
Curlew c.30
Red-throated Diver
Oystercatcher 50+
Turnstone
Pied Wagtail
Sky Lark

excellent photos as ever ian!! very impressed with 70+ grey plover..!!!
most ive seen together in one day maybe 10!..

[DaveB]

A Magpie spent most of the day in the garden. It's right wing was showing plenty of damage, probably caused by the female Sparrowhawk that visits on a daily basis.

Halfway through the afternoon, I noticed it had caught a male Greenfinch and was frantically plucking away at the bird before carrying it to a safer location.

[Mark Newsome]

Originally Posted by DaveB

A Magpie spent most of the day in the garden. It's right wing was showing plenty of damage, probably caused by the female Sparrowhawk that visits on a daily basis. Halfway through the afternoon, I noticed it had caught a male Greenfinch and was frantically plucking away at the bird before carrying it to a safer location.

Excellent stuff Dave, life and death struggles in our own back gardens.
I've got a good number of House Sparows back in mine at the moment, but only 1-2 Tree Sparrows so far (up to 25 last winter). This is maybe due to early planting of winter crop in next field and no stubble/rough ground in immediate area. Early days though.

[Mark Newsome]

Just to remind everyone about the DBC indoor meeting tomorrow (Thursday 16 November). It's upstairs in the function room of the Blue Bell pub, Fulwell (2 mins from Seaburn metro station). The talk is entitled "Finland - birding by the midnight sun" by Paul Willoughby, and should have some good photos of owls, woodpeckers etc. A great chance to meet everyone else, catch up on the latest gossip, hear what's happening with the club and have a few pints. And it's free! Non-members are also welcome, you may just feel like joining up afterwards...

[StevieEvans]

Barn owl
watched at midday at Langley Moor



Long-eared Owl
not watched at midday at Rainton Meadows (although it had been clearly visible from the path !)
........as the DWT chain saws have been out & clear felled the males territorial "song" perch and the pairs roosting & nesting trees.



SE.......

[JWTodd]

Please note that all seats are now booked for the Martin Mere trip this coming Sunday.

[StevieEvans]

Originally Posted by whitburnmark

Just to remind everyone about the DBC indoor meeting tomorrow (Thursday 16 November). It's upstairs in the function room of the Blue Bell pub, Fulwell (2 mins from Seaburn metro station). The talk is entitled "Finland - birding by the midnight sun" by Paul Willoughby, and should have some good photos of owls, woodpeckers etc.
A great chance to meet everyone else, catch up on the latest gossip, hear what's happening with the club and have a few pints.
And it's free!
Non-members are also welcome, you may just feel like joining up afterwards...

Sounds like its gonna be a good one Mark.
We've got 5 in our car
Hope to be there for about 7PM
See you there
SE

[Mark Newsome]

Good turn out and an excellent talk at the indoor meeting last night. The Great Grey Owl pics were mouthwatering.... And a good few pints sunk afterwards! Nice to see so many new faces. And excellent to hear that DBC membership has now reached an all time record high.

Seawatching at Whitburn this morning (late start due to extra red wine when I got home last night...) turned up a good southerly passage of big gulls including a few Lesser Black-backeds and Scandinavian Herrings, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a juv Pomarine Skua north and 1 Little Auk. However there were no divers seen in 2.5 hours and few auks.

[StevieEvans]

A very late Swallow along the R.Wear at Chester this morning (Chris H)

Hetton Lyons had female Merlin, Water Rail & Kingfisher.

Rainton Meadows, very little but a Water Rail disturbed from an area of dry scrub, presumably a recent arrival ? & 40 Redwing feasting on Hawthorn berries.

Blackcap recently in woods at New Herrington.

7 Goosander at Lambton Bridge recently.


The Langle Moor Barn Owl was visible at the entrance of his tree hole at noon and 16:00 & then hunting at approx 16:20; An excellent site with Kestrel, Dipper & Kingfisher there too.
(if anyone's visiting or unsure where to look feel free to give me a bell on 079 79 60 1231 anytime)

or see post #2523 for site Map.

Cheers
Steve

[JBee]

Originally Posted by StevieEvans

7 Goosander at Lambton Bridge recently.

Steve (or anyone) a question.
I photographed a goosander from Lambton bridge last year (at a distance) and what amused me was the fact the bird appeared simply to be "playing".
It would ride the crest of a "wave" swim back downstream and repeat the ride.
It never dived or appeared interested in anything other than simply having fun.
It repeated this at least 7-8 times continuously.
Is this normal for this bird or was it doing something I (not being a bird watcher) am not aware of?
I'd be interested in any thoughts.

[StevieEvans]

A frosty Rainton Meadows at first light.
A pair of Jays & 3 Magpies creating a right racket.
A closer check revealed them mobbing a Long-eared Owl in a mature Hawthorn tree, after a few minutes there were 10+ Magpies in attendance, before the owl sought out thicker cover - tailed by the corvids & their unrelenting din.

50+ Redwing, 1-3 of Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Linnet
30 Stock Dove & 12 Skylark over stubbles towards Country club.

half decent variety of Waterfowl, but numbers very limited (JoesPond not visited)
f Shoveller
m Pochard
8 Wigeon
14 Teal
4 Gadwall
3 Mute
1 Greylag
57 Canada
13 Moorhen
H Water Rail
2 Snipe
68 Coot
23 Mallard
18 Tufted

Rain stopped play by 09:00
SE

Barn Owl near Shotton early AM.

[Ross Ahmed]

The usual good mix of passerines and riverine species were along the River Don at Jarrow this am, but undoubted highlight was the sucessful twitching of the 2 Nuthatch in Jarrow Cemy. Good stuff!

The number of leaves still on the trees at the minute is incredible. At this rate, they're going to have leaves well into December.

The gull roost off Trow Rocks held good numbers of gulls incl adult Mediterranean Gull and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were still present (probably most I've ever seen for the third week of Nov).

[Mark Newsome]

Good numbers of gulls are still getting on Boldon Flats too, with the occasional Lesser Black-backeds. 1500 Golden Plovers were in a nearby arable field with a Knot trying to hide amongst them. Three Knot were also at Whitburn Steel and 2 ad. Mediterranean Gulls were on the sea with Black-headeds not far from the car park.
South Shields Leas was fully of dog walkers, but a pair of Stonechats showed well near the mound.

[StevieEvans]

Originally Posted by StevieEvans

The Langle Moor Barn Owl was visible at the entrance of his tree hole at noon and 16:00 & then hunting at approx 16:20; An excellent site with Kestrel, Dipper & Kingfisher there too.
(if anyone's visiting or unsure where to look feel free to give me a bell on 079 79 60 1231 anytime)

or see post #2523 for site Map.

Brief family visit late this afternoon, Barn Owl in his roost hole visible with the naked eye before getting out of the car !
It wasnt in a hurry to do much & unfortunately it was 16:35 before it began to hunt.
Tawny Owl along lane nr allotment gardens & Little Owl calling too. Another dark owl ssp was seen briefly hunting over the open grassland...... (habo ideal for Leo)
A Fox stood & watched us from the other side of the river with 2 Roe Deer heading up the hillside.
Dipper, Kingfisher & Grey Wagtail all visible.
JG watched a female Blackcap & numerous Nuthatch just downstream of the car park.

A very enjoyable visit & nice to see friendly faces & 2 prospective DBC members also nice for our toddler to see & point at his first BO (after looking the oppisite way when the Leo flew this morning).

Steve

[IanF]

Originally Posted by JBee

Steve (or anyone) a question.
I photographed a goosander from Lambton bridge last year (at a distance) and what amused me was the fact the bird appeared simply to be "playing".
It would ride the crest of a "wave" swim back downstream and repeat the ride.
It never dived or appeared interested in anything other than simply having fun.
It repeated this at least 7-8 times continuously.
Is this normal for this bird or was it doing something I (not being a bird watcher) am not aware of?
I'd be interested in any thoughts.

I wouldn't be at all surpised if it was just playing around. I've seen a good few birds doing what I can only describe as 'playing'.

Looks like this one is a surfer

[will@bill]

Unfortunately a barn owl dead on the felling bypass
have a great day tomorrow you lucky bleeders (want to see full report)

[JBee]

Had a great trip over to Fluke Hall with DBC member Colin Wilson and Birdforum member Shaggy.
Despite travelling through virtually every weather element the UK can throw at us (lightning, hail, torrential rain and gale force winds) we did manage to get a few moments of sunshine - enough to grab a few hots of the Glossy ibis at least.
Unfortunately the Snow bunting didn't put an appearance in for us :(

[seggs]

Originally Posted by JBee

Steve (or anyone) a question.
I photographed a goosander from Lambton bridge last year (at a distance) and what amused me was the fact the bird appeared simply to be "playing".
It would ride the crest of a "wave" swim back downstream and repeat the ride.
It never dived or appeared interested in anything other than simply having fun.
It repeated this at least 7-8 times continuously.
Is this normal for this bird or was it doing something I (not being a bird watcher) am not aware of?
I'd be interested in any thoughts.

hi j-bee great photos.. i had a red throated diver doing similar antics in the surf last year just off trow beach watched for ages!!! glued to the spot! even walked away and came back to see the bird still riding the surf!! this bird also reared up in a display posture flapping wings and submerging itself below the water!!

[JBee]

Originally Posted by seggs

this bird also reared up in a display posture flapping wings and submerging itself below the water!!

Yes indeed - this bird also

[Mark Newsome]

Rathr quiet seawatching at Whitburn this morning, but highlights were 2 Black-throated Divers together flying high north and an adult Glaucous Gull south amongst the many Great Black-backeds and Herrings.
A Jack Snipe was in the CP (pic attached) and at least 2 Snow Buntings and 1 Grey Wagtal went overhead south.

[StevieEvans]

Originally Posted by whitburnmark

A Jack Snipe was in the CP (pic attached)...

Interesting pic, You've been "quick on the draw" there..... lets see if that non-birdwatcher JBee & his m8 CW can compete at Jack Snipe HQ in Hetton ?

Little Owl in the sun this morning in a roadside Sycamore nr the old bridge at Follingsby Lane.
Very brief view of a distant Short-eared Owl over the pastures nearby.

Originally Posted by JBee

I photographed a goosander from Lambton bridge last year (at a distance) and what amused me was the fact the bird appeared simply to be "playing".

Thats a good one to send in as a "note" to The LEK (our quarterly journal) ..... when you join :-) thats if youre not too busy birding to fill in the form.

Steve

[StevieEvans]

If anyone is familiar with the site, can they get in touch please.

There is a plan to have it filled in

SE

[StevieEvans]

Does anyone have details of how to access this hide ( its on the North'd side...... but looks into Durham )
Thanks
SE

[Ross Ahmed]

Originally Posted by StevieEvans

Does anyone have details of how to access this hide ( its on the North'd side...... but looks into Durham )
Thanks
SE

I reckon this site is one of the county's best kept secrets.

Large numbers of wildfowl, large areas of mud, a big gull roost, a position in a potential migration flyway...it's got the lot.

I for one will be up there checking it when I get the chance.

[Ross Ahmed]

Mediterranean Gulls in the roost off Trow Rocks numbered 3 this evening (2 ads & 2nd-win).

A count of the Herring Gulls revealed 2100 - the vast majority of these being adults as is usual. The immature portion of the population could be seen distantly following trawlers back in large numbers as dusk fell.

At a very rough guess, 3000 each of Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were present by dusk - although there could quite easily have been more than this.

The ever-present Eider flock are up again to 47