[IanF]

Pretty much the same around again today.

I think we had four different Marsh Harriers around Dormans Pool yesterday.

Only one seen today though, one with a couple of damaged primaries on it's left wing.

There seemed to be a few more Sedge Warblers around as well today. About the same number of Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Linnet and Whitethroat and the Grasshopper Warbler was still there though barely showing itself in the cold wet and windy conditions.

Seaton Common - Yellow Wagtail and a few more Wheatear but little else though two Snipe were singing/displaying despite the rain.

[2slo]

Originally Posted by degsy_safc

Also a roadside Golden Plover which i couldn't resist photographing

Beautiful shot, where did you see that?

[degsy_safc]

Originally Posted by 2slo

Beautiful shot, where did you see that?

On the moors road driving from Castleside to Stanhope - just before Waskerley Reservoir

[IanF]

Dormans Pool - am - the usual Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Linnet & Reed Warbler.

RSPB Saltholme - fire station field - Whimbrel x3.

Top Tank - Yellow Wagtail male with metal BTO type ring.

Paddy's Pool - Common Tern x7 on the island.

Glossy Ibis reported at Haverton Viewpoint.


Tidal Pool area - pm - Avocets with 21 chicks, Lapwing with three chicks on Saline Lagoon also there Common Tern x3, Little Ringed Plover x2.

Common Sand Piper on Tidal Pool.

Cowpen Marsh - Whimbrel x15.

[knotsbirder]

Love the Swallows! Remind me of a Christmas Tree. The Lapwing and LRP are stunning too!

Sam

[Ray.Scott]

Dormans pool - white throat, lots sedge warblers calling but very ellusive, linnets, swallows and swift.
Saline lagoon - avocets and chicks, lapwing and chicks, little ringed plover, black headed gulls, white wagtail, single whimbrel landed at far side of pool, common tern, oyster catcher and redshank.

Nothing of note at Zinkworks, but single ruff !, I think at North Gare access road. See Image 5 on the first post of images.

[Ray.Scott]

A few from the Saline lagoon.

[Ray.Scott]

And a few flight shots from yesterday.

[Adam W]

Had a cracking day yesterday, went up to Hurworth Burn Res. in the morning, at least 3 Corn Buntings with Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows and 2 Yellow Wagtails,plenty of Swifts about and the place was alive with Willow Warblers and several Blackcaps.
To round the day off I had excellent views of the Wryneck at Whitburn nice to catch up with plenty of familiar faces there too.

[degsy_safc]

Spent the day at Saltholme and the surrounding sites..

Personally i didn't see anything out of the ordinary - however it was nice to catch up with couple of people i haven't seen for a while...

Couple of pictures;

[IanF]

The usual Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Linnets, Grasshopper Warbler at Dormans Pool first thing this morning.

Seaton Common - Wheatear x6, Yellow Wagtail in it's usual spot. Ruff x1 - Ray it's been there a couple of weeks now usually in the pools half way to the car park, sometimes close to the road but more often in the more distant pools. It often hangs around with one of the Redshanks.

Very quiet on the Headland around Borough Hall Gardens apart from quite a few Linnet, Goldfinch and the odd Robin, House Sparrow, Tits and Blackbird.


Very nice though in the sunshine at Hurworth Burn Reservoir. Lots of warblers in the cycleway bushes, mostly Willow Warbler but the odd Chiffchaff and Blackcap calling as well.

100m from car park - Corn Bunting 6+, Yellowhammer x8, Tree Sparrow x6 & Common Whitethroat.

Sedge Warbler x2, Blackcap pair & Chaffinch in the bushes by the first picnic tables. Buzzard x3 overhead.

Lesser Whitethroat by the middle picnic tables.

Only one Yellow Wagtail seen this morning.

[Ray.Scott]

First call was Frosterly, by the river.
Couple of dipper, grey & pied wagtail, 2 common sandpiper, swallows, sandmartin, willow warblers seemed to be everywhere and the usual chaffinch etc.

Bollihope - 3, maybe 4 ring ouzel seen, mipits, skylark, wheatear, red grouse, lapwings etc.

Called at Tunstall reservoir on the way back. didn't walk round the wood, but drove to the far side of the res, and walked over the bridge, where we saw GC grebe pair, more willow warblers, cormorant, canada & greylag geese, thrushes, pied wagtail and the star, a male redstart , which was at the far end of the wood.

Another excellent day + a bogy bird into the bargain .

[Ray.Scott]

A few from Bollihope & Tunstall Reservoir.

[poomwood]

Owlet spotted at Muggleswick.
Can anyone help with ID?
Thanks
Tim

[June Atkinson]

Originally Posted by poomwood

Owlet spotted at Muggleswick.
Can anyone help with ID?
Thanks
Tim

That is so sweet!

[IanF]

Originally Posted by poomwood

Owlet spotted at Muggleswick.
Can anyone help with ID?
Thanks
Tim

Looks like a young Tawny Owl.

[vivster]

some Photos from Saturday...........

[vivster]

Some more

[2slo]

Doras wood this morning. Slightly better shot of the noisy Chiffchaff. Distant view of a male Blackcap:

[Ray.Scott]

Called today to check on the terns, only managed to see 1/2 dozen, but 42 reported by another birder who was there earlier.
Other birds included sanderling, ringed plover, swallows, house martins, linnets, mipits, skylark, reed bunting, willow warbler and the usual gulls

[Ray.Scott]

Called this afternoon, birds included : chiffchaff, willow & sedge warbler, reed bunting, lesser white throat, yellow hammers, yellow wagtail, linnets, wren, tree sparrows, swallows and the usual GC grebes etc on the water, also 2 whimbrel in with a small flock of curlew.
No sign of the corn bunting during our visit.

[IanF]

Dormans Pool - am - pretty much the same as usual with Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Linnet, Dunnock, Wren and very brief views of a Grasshopper Warbler.

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - Sedge Warbler on the car park ponds plus Whitethroat, Wren and Linnet.

The lake was very quiet with just a few Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Gadwall, Pochard and a Cormorant. The trees and bushes around the lake were more active with several Whitethroat, Blackcap, Tree Sparrow, Blue Tit, Linnet. A Kestrel was hunting the hillside and a Cuckoo called a couple of times from the direction of the bushes alongside the railway line on the side of the hill but I didn't see it - first one I've heard this year. two Swallow and two House Martin made a brief appearance.

Walking along Claxton Beck revealed very little, likewise with the cycleway other than a few Yellowhammer and Whitethroat. A Mistle Thrush was feeding on the horse paddock.

In the afternoon I headed back over to Hurworth Burn where I bumped into Ray & Marie and saw pretty much the same birds. I went back hoping for better views of the Corn Bunting. No sign of them when I arrived but heading back to the car they were in the usual area with between 5 and 9 seen though by then the skies were clouding over. Lots of activity in that area with 8+ Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, Yellow Wagtail, Lapwing and Pheasant.

Seems to be a very good year for Blackcaps. Lots around wherever I visit.

[birding maniac]

Wandered around Saltholme and the N tees area today.
Saltholme was surprisingly quiet. Had first Greylag Goslings on back Saltholme. Many Swifts and hirundines were hawking over the grassland. 3 Yellow Wags were the highlight here. Singing Skylarks added a nice soundtrack. There were a fair few COmmon Terns flying around and some LRP's around but that was all of note.
Dorman's Pool was quiet with no sign of the Gropper this afternoon but I was told it had been seen this morning and given some advice- thanks to whoever that was. Stunnign views of Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler made up for it, and there were a few goldfinches and Linnets around.
Zinc Works was very quiet with Lapwings, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Gulls and Linnets being the main birds seen, aside from some starlings.
Went to the new Greatham Creek hide- Avocets, 9x Knot and a WHimbrel highlights. A few Redshank flew through too.
All in all pretty quiet.

[degsy_safc]

Started the morning in Gateshead where Green Woodpecker, Blackcap, Song Thrush were the primary highlights..

Decided to revisit to the Pied Flycatcher site in the hope of sighting Mrs PF.. Pretty happy as both birds were present, with the female bird constantly collecting nesting material and at one point landing approx 10 feet from me

Also a bonus Male Redstart dropped in perfect view about 20 feet away, just about to press the shutter when Mr PF made like a ballistic missile and chased it through the trees and away, vicious little sod

Couple of shots from today;

[IanF]

A Nightingale was back at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park this morning. In pretty much the same area as last year.

Singing well but not showing itself much.


An audio recording and a couple of record shots attached.

.