Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Billingham. UK (10 Viewers)

[IanF]

Can anyone confirm if the RN Duck is still present? thinking of making the trip south on Saturday if it is.....

Yes it's still there, or at least was yesterday. No sign of the Goldeneye though.

I meant to add this last night and forgot -

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - 9.30 am - 18 members turned up for the TBC escorted walk led by Dave Nelson on an overcast but fine morning. Car park tables held the usual selection including around a dozen Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Robin,Blackbird, Great and Blue Tit and a couple of the group saw a Brambling visit the tables. A GSW was seen twice in flight as we headed over to the lake. A small flock of finches were in the trees between the small hill and visitor centre - mostly Goldfinch with possibly one Redpoll amongst them. The RN Duck was still on the lake along with Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Pochard, Mallard, Mute Swan pair, Coot, Moorhen and several BH Gulls. As we left the lake two Canada Geese flew in landing on the water. We headed up Claxton Beck to the cycleway turning left back towards the car park seeing very little other than a few distant LTT and two pheasant until we reached the path along the upper reaches of Cow Bridge Beck where a finch flock c.100 was feeding in the trees. The light was pretty poor but it contained at least Goldfinch and Siskin though I wouldn't be surprised if a few Redpoll were there as well. There was no chance to get a closer view as the flock moved on. We continued along the cycleway back to the car park with a brief look in the feeding station - but with no food there were no birds.

 

[IanF]

A bit of a grey morning for a visit with 100% cloud cover though it did remain fine. I should have waited until the afternoon as it was a little brighter.

Siskin flock still present with c.80 in trees by the car park this morning and several more smaller groups around the lake. LTT c.45 was quite a sight. Whilst watching 7 in trees between the small hill and visitor centre another flock of 31 flew over at tree top height heading SW. Several more were by the hide and railway.

Goldfinch c.100 as well today one large flock of 60+ along with several smaller groups of around a dozen each. Linnet x9 were in trees by the railway and lake.

At least three Sparrowhawk following the Siskin and Goldfinch flocks and interacting with a Kestrel for several minutes before seeing it off altogether. I thought the Sparrowhawk was displaying at first the way it was wheeling about but it turned out the other bird was a Kestrel it was harrassing.

No sign of the Ring-necked Duck today but three drake Goldeneye - including the regular one which flew over to me when I started feeding the ducks. A reduction in numbers of Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Pochard as well. Two Canada Geese still, which look well settled on the grassy island. Just one Little Grebe seen today plus resident Mute Swan pair.

GSW, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Coal Tit, LTT, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Bullfinch x2, Blackbird and Song Thrush on and around car park tables.

Weasel and several rabbits by the lake. Stoat/weasel by the car park tables.

 

[IanF]

Well overdue an update. Not that there's been much happening over the last few weeks.

A lovely sunny morning today, the nicest it's been in quite a while and next to no wind.

Despite lots of food being on the car park tables when I arrived there were very few birds about. I headed straight over to the lake along the hard core track. A Wren was singing under the trees near the works compound plus a few Great Tit and Blue Tit.

The lake looked pretty quiet with the birds well spread around. It was nice to see 'the' drake Goldeneye along with a female. It must be the same one returned as it came straight over when I started feeding the ducks. It was also nice to see a pair of Canada Geese back though the Swans barely left them alone.

Birds seen - Goldeneye pair, Canada Goose pair, Mute Swan pair, Little Grebe x2, Gadwall c.20, Pochard x5, Tufted duck x8, Common Gull x1, LBB Gull x2, BH Gull x10. LTT x4 in bushes around lake.

With the paths being so wet and muddy I just headed back to the car park via the track. A good few more birds were around though nothing special - LTT x2, Yellowhammer x2, Tree Sparrow c.12, Reed Bunting c.10, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch. A weasel scampered in and ducked into a hollow before heading back into the hedge line.

 

[IanF]

Very quiet again the last two days. A walk around first thing this morning yielded two Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch x4, LTT x10 in the trees and bushes around the hide. The usual Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches and tits were on the car park tables.

The lake itlsef was the quietest I've seen this year. The Canada Geese pair were still present but the Gadwall were down to six and only one Little Grebe heard but not seen.

 

[IanF]

Just back from a week away on the west coast so I was wondering what changes there would be. Not a lot really other than the Chiffchaffs are back.

A lovely sunny morning for a wander around the park. Still pretty quiet in terms of bird numbers but it was great to hear so many singing.

Car park tables - Coal Tit, Tree Sparrow x5, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch.

Between car park & lake - Chiffchaff x8, Great Spotted Woodpecker x2, Long-tailed Tit x6, Bullfinch x4. Lots of singing Robins, Wren, Skylark, Dunnock and one Yellowhammer along side of railway line.

On the lake - Little Grebe x2, Canada Geese x2, Mute Swans nesting, Gadwall x4, Tufted Duck x4.

Half a dozen frogs were spawning in the ponds by the hide.

There's a couple of reports of a Kingfisher along Claxton Beck over the last week seen in flight though no sign this morning.

A probable Willow Warbler as well between the visitor centre and small hill. First half of song only, heard several times as if it was struggling to remember the words. Despite spending a while in that aera I couldn't pin it down.

 

[IanF]

A quick visit this morning - I only had half an hour for a walk over to the lake and back. It was fine but a little overcast, fairly bright when I set off but getting pretty dull by the time I got back to the car.

Not a lot of activity on the car park tables, in fact i only saw one Blue Tit and one Reed Bunting in the hedge. Between the car park and water treatment compound two Wrens were singing.

I just followed the track not seeing anything until I reached the lake though at least two Chiffchaff were calling from the wood by the visitor centre plus Robin and Dunnock. What looked to be a goose egg was laid on the track near the top of the hill.

The lake was pretty quiet with very few birds about. It looks as if the Canada Geese have settled down to breed with one permanently on the nest. Likewise still with the Mute Swan pair. The pair of LBB Gulls were still preseent and maybe responsible for the goose egg as one of the Canada Geese chased them away every time they anywhere remotely close to the nest area.

A Little Grebe was on the north side and a pair of Water Rail were calling in the SE corner. A few Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and a Pochard were scattered about plus the usual Moorhen and Coot. Chiffchaffs were very evident as I walked around the lake towards the hide with at least two calling plus a couple of Wren, Dunnock and A Wren and a Reed Bunting. A pair of Linnet flew over which was nice to see as they've been lacking over winter.

From the hide several Willow Warbler were calling from the Faith Wood area so I headed down to Claxton Beck and then followed Cow Bridge Beck upsream. By then the skies were pretty gloomy and whilst I counted four different Willow Warbler I only managed to glimpse one. Good to see they're back :t:

Nothing else new until I reached the new footbridge over Cow Bridge Beck when I Grey Wagtail took off from by the weir. Just below the bridge a Weasel seemed to be trying to get close to a pair of sleeping Mallard but the woke up as it neared and scooted off upstream. The Weasel looked as if it has cataracts or at least damage in it's milk right eye which may explain why it never spotted me as it hunted through the grass and reeds. A shame it was as dull as it was as it was in view for several minutes constantly on the move.

Heading back along the board walk towards the car park a Pied Wagtail was in the water treatment compound.

 

[IanF]

A fine and bright morning but overcast with it. It was the first day this year I've also felt comfortable enough to go wandering around without a coat.

Things didn't look promising when I arrived and set off towards the lake. There was very little bird activity other than a Blackcap and Wren calling by the trees near the water treatment compound. I turned left through the gate and headed along the right side of the beck under the pylons. Previous years I've heard two Grasshopper Warblers along this section but there was no sign of any today anywhere. However two Grey Partridge flew across the beck from Faith Wood crossing right in front of me.

On reaching the lake there was more activity with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Robin, Wren, Great and Blue Tits all calling by the hide. 5-6 LTT came drifting through the trees towards the hide from the trees on the hill.

Things were certainly looking up by then as I sat at the bench under the tree watching a Wren building a nest. A male Blackcap was collecting grubs from amongst the reeds and three times it took them into what may well have been a nest.

Continuing on towards the railway I came across a singing Sedge Warbler in the NE corner of the lake with Blackcap and Common Whitethroat all in the same bushes. The Sedge Warbler only gave the briefest of views despite being quite close to the path.

The lake itself looked pretty deserted with very few birds in view. Gadwall x4, Little Grebe x1, Mallard x6, Mute Swan x2, Canada Goose x2, Moorhen and Coot. A few more Mallard and a pair of Tufted Duck appeared once I started chucking in some bread as did the LBB Gull pair.

Whilst sat on the bench I heard a Green Woodpecker yaffling from the direction of the visitor centre. After calling again I set off to head in that direction it called again this time from the other side of the lake and then again from Claxton Beck direction so I headed over there instead. By the time I caught up with it it was in the trees at Cloff Bridge. It continued north through the trees along the beck and then into the trees beside the cycleway continuing towards the farm. Just as I reached the rubbish heap it flew back down the cycleway into the 'Little Owl trees' initially on the cycleway before heading across to the beck where it remained at least the next 40 minutes calling almost non-stop. I gave in waiting after that and headed back down the cycleway and home. Two Yellowhammers, a pair of Great Tit and several Linnet seem to have set up home in the hedges there as well.

I suspect it's the same Green Woodpecker that's ben at RSPB Saltholme over winter now getting a little more frantic in it's attempts to attract a mate. Most of the plumage featurs are the same though there are some small differences.

No sign of the Sparrowhawks today and no Kingfishers either.

 

[IanF]

A lovely sunny morning for a wander around the park. I was expecting lots of birds to be perched in the open singing but really there were far less in evidence than on my last visit. Lots of people around today with being such a nice sunny morning and the schools being off.

A nice find was a Garden Warbler in the SE corner of the lake. Occasionally giving good views as it hopped from branch to branch as it fed. It was also gathering nesting material so hopefully it may stick around. It was still persent when I left a couple of hours later.

Only one Sedge Warbler seen/heard and even that has moved from the lake to the lower bridge over Cow Bridge Beck moving between the raspberry canes and the hawthorn bushes. Lots of Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Linnet, Goldfinch, Wren and Chiffchaff singing.

The lake was quiet again. The Canada Geese and Swans are still nesting. The LBB Gull pair were still present. Gadwall x6, two of which gave very close views which is unusual here. Tufted Duck x6, Moorhen x4, Coot x6, Little Grebe x1.

Several views of a Sparrowhawk female as it thermalled over Faith Wood.

Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in flight and calling several times between the car park area and the lake.

The terrapin was back on the car park ponds sunninig itself on the vastly reduced weed. I don't know if the weed has been knocked back by the cold weather or maybe some chimcals have been used, probably the former though as it seems to be growing back.

 

[IanF]

Tee-shirt weather this morning - certainly too warm for the rugby shirt I was wearing!

Pretty much the same around as my last visit though Lesser Whitethroat and Wheatear were new arrivals plus a good few more Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers.

Garden Warbler x4, Lesser Whitethroat x1, Wheatear x2, Common Whitethroat 30+, Sedge Warbler x9, GSW x1, Willow Warbler x18, Chiffchaff x8, Sparrowhawk female, Yellowhammer x4, Linnet x12, Grasshopper Warbler x3, Bullfinch x6, Blackcap 20+, LTT x6. The Sparrowhawk was perched in a tree by the nest.



Lake - Tufted Duck x4, Canada Goose x3, Gadwall x4 plus the usual. Terrapin still on car park ponds.

An explosion of butterflies - Orange Tip, Green -veined White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock.

 

[IanF]

A Nightingale was found yesterday morning by Rokermartin and Adam W. Singing plenty but only giving brief views.

Also six Canada Geese on the lake yesterday with six newly hatched goslings.

Jay and Peregrine seen this morning as well.

 

[myoudale]

Has this bird been seen much at all? or is the majority just heard singing, thinking about popping over tomorrow.

 

[IanF]

Mostly just singing. I've had the occasional glimspes and missed a couple of photo opportunities though watching it rather than taking a photo.

Apparently this morning it was giving good views perched singing out in the open - typically 20 minutes after I left!

 

[myoudale]

Thanks Ian for this, might be tempted for this one, much else about. There is any more information about this Wryneck as well?

 

[IanF]

Really it's been very quiet lately with very few waders around. Even Greenshank are attracting attention not that there's been many about. There's a few Whimbrel at Holme Fleet near the Avocets at Greatham Creek and this morning a Wood Sandpiper appeared in front of the new hide at RSPB Saltholme but that's been about it other than occasional Black-tailed Godwit.

Other than the report of the Wryneck on Birdguides I've not heard anything further.

 

[IanF]

An short visit early this morning and again this evening. Both visits the Nightingale was singing most of the time I was there but still not showing itself.

A Lesser Whitethroat was calling from the buishes alongside Cowbridge Beck upstream from the bridge at the end of the boardwalk. This evening a Green Sandpiper was on the beck just below the same bush.

The lake held 12 Canada Geese this morning plus a Greylag. I didn't see the goslings today. The rest was pretty much the same as previous visits.

The horse in the field by the car park looks as if it's just foaled. The foal was on pretty shaky legs this morning.

 

[IanF]

An early morning visit to see if the Nightingale showed itself proved fruitful as around 7.30am it perched singing in one of the willow trees. Still partially obscured but the best views I've had of it perched.

A few record shots.

 

[Michael A]

Cowpen Nightingale

04-05-2011
The one the few photos i managed of this bird, easily heard but difficult to see.

http://www.trampsandhawkers.co.uk/gallery/

 

[IanF]

A great result - the best I've seen of it so far :t:

 

[Adam W]

Well done both of you,didnt expect to see anything near that quality knowing how difficult this bird has been just to see.

 

[woodhornbirder]

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2667

AM sure that the bird isnt being overly harrased??

Ive seen some very bad behaviour recently from photographers, from people who should know better.

ANyone tape luring this bird should be given a good kicking!!