Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Billingham. UK (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

Another visit this morning - quite mild temperatures but pretty dark and gloomy due to thick cloud cover.

Very few birds about again. Most notable were -

Bullfinch x6 - when entering the Park from the SW corner
Redwing x1 - in the larch by the main pond
Little Gull - on main pond flew in for 10 minutes and then off north again
Goldeneye x3 - 2m & 1f
Scaup x1 - fem
Robin - a regular by the twin benches worth a mention as it's Xmas after all

 

[IanF]

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Cleveland. UK - 2008

The threads with sightings for the last couple of years can be found here -

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Cleveland. UK - 2006
Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Cleveland. UK - 2007

Bird List 2008

1. Dunnock
2. Bullfinch
3. Blackbird
4. Song Thrush
5. Wren
6. Magpie
7. Wood Pigeon
8. Collared Dove
9. Common Gull
10. Yellowhammer
11. Tree Sparrow
12. Chaffinch
13. Greenfinch
14. Goldfinch
15. Coal Tit
16. Great Tit
17. Blue Tit
18. Long-tailed Tit
19. Siskin
20. Kestrel
21. Carrion Crow
22. Grey Heron
23. Robin
24. Great Crested Grebe (18/07/08)
25. Linnet
26. Grey Wagtail
27. Pied Wagtail
28. Mallard
29. Tufted Duck
30. Coot
31. Moorhen
32. Little Grebe
33. Scaup
34. Goldeneye
35. Gadwall
36. Pochard
37. Mistle Thrush
38. Mute Swan
39. Reed Bunting
40. Redwing
Updated 05/01/2008

Additional species - 12/01/2008
41. Water Rail
42. Little Egret
43. Sparrowhawk
44. Lesser Redpoll
45. Curlew
46. Lapwing
47. Fieldfare

Additional species - 02/02/2008
48. Goldcrest
49. Woodcock
50. Redshank
51. GBB Gull
52. LBB Gull
53. Herring Gull
54. Little Gull

Additional species - 09/02/2008
55. Grey Partridge

Additional species - 12/02/2008
56. Blackcap
57. Skylark

Additional species - 15/02/2008
58. Nuthatch

Additional species 23/02/2008
59. Canada Goose

Additional species 26/02/2008
60. Rook

Additional species 29/02/2008
61. Cormorant
62. Shelduck
63. Stonechat

Additional species 30/03/2008
64. Chiffchaff

Additional species 08/04/2008
65. Willow Warbler
66. Kingfisher

Additional species 12/04/2008
67. Meadow Pipit

Additional species 24/04/2008
68. Sedge Warbler
69. Common Whitethroat
70. Grasshopper Warbler
71. House Martin
72. Sand Martin
73. Swallow

Additional species 15/05/2008
74. Cuckoo
75. Garden Warbler

Additional species 16/05/2008
76. Marsh Harrier

Additional species 09/06/2008
77. Common Tern

Additional species 14/06/2008
78. Little Owl

Additional species 20/09/2008
79. Hobby

Additional species 29/09/2008
80. House Sparrow
81. Common Buzzard
82. Jay
83. Black-headed Gull (missed off the list)
84. Spotted Flycatcher
85. Pheasant
86. Greylag Goose

Additonal species 01/10/2008
87. Barnacle Goose

88. Common Redpoll
89. Osprey
90. Pink-footed Goose
91. Brent Goose

 

[IanF]

Today was my first visit of the year.

The morning was bright starting off but soon clouded over threatening rain, but it remained fine after all. Temperatures were too bad at around 5°C though the wind was gusty at times 20-25 mph.

Entering from the west corner by the A1185 the first birds encountered were Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, Collared Dove, Song Thrush and Bullfinch x6. Following the gravel track alongside the road to the car park there wasn't much else to see apart from Magpie, Crow, Mistle Thrush and Woodpigeon. Plenty of gulls overhead gliding on the winds.

The hedge in the car park was packed full of birds as usual - Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Blackbird. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the taller trees behind.

The small ponds held Mute Swan x3, Mallard x2 and Moorhen 7+. A Heron was on the furthest pond. The Carrion Crow with white primaries x2 were on the grass by the Activity Centre and several Magpie dotted around.

Following the hedge line up to the railway - Wren x2, Bullfinch x2 and Long-tailed Tit x3.

The main pond was pretty quiet in terms of bird numbers but still a good selection of species - Scaup x2, Little Grebe x2, Gadwall x7, Mallard 20+, Coot c.12, Moorhen c.7, Mute Swan x2, Black-headed Gull c.40, Little Gull x1, Goldeneye x5 (1m 4f), Tufted Duck c.12, Pochard c.7.

The bushes around the pond held Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Wren and on the west side Siskin 60+ were moving around in a large flock. The trees by the railway held Linnet c.7.

Faith Wood was pretty quiet as well - Kestrel x1, Long-tailed Tit x7, Redwing x1, Grey Wagtail x3, Wren x2, Reed Bunting x2, Blackbird 12+.

The sewage works by the boardwalk held Pied Wagtail x2.

I spent about 30 minutes at the feeding station noting - Yellowhammer c.10, Tree Sparrow 20+, Chaffinch c.7, Great Tit c.6, Blue Tit c.8, Dunnock x2, Robin x2, Wren x1, Coal Tit x2, Greenfinch x6. Siskin, Bullfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker passed through in the trees above.

 

[geordie graham]

Hi Ian I was at the park yesterday for only the second time and went to the feeding station
for the first time.A little boggy underfoot but very natural looking and very pleased to see so many yellowhammers.Will start to use the park and surrounding areas a lot more when I move back to Billingham.

Graham

 

[IanF]

What promised to be a bright morning starting off turned out to be pretty dull and cloudy though it did remain fine. We'd had quite a frost overnight so the usual soggy ground was quite firm and most of the water even in the larger ponds frozen over.

Having been dropped off at the car park I entered the park via the main drive. The small ponds were just about totally frozen over. The two adult Mute Swan and signet were present as were Mallard and Moorhen. Crow x7 were scattered around the mown grass including the four with white primaries. The first pond also held a Water Rail which was wandering along the frozen edge before disappearing after 20-30 secs into the reeds never to reappear!

There was little else to see heading over to the main pond apart fom Bullfinch x4. As I reached the pond a Little Egret flew east from the dead tree heading off towards the tip. Almost at the same time a Cormorant took off as well circling several times before leaving. The dead tree on the west side held Grey Heron x3 with another sat on the section of metal fencing/wood/barbed wire. A Sparrowhawk was in the bushes below the Herons. 70% of the surface water was frozen with just the east side ice free for 20-30yds from the bank. There were quite a few gulls stood on the ice with more flying in from the east where earthworks started up disurbing a flock of Lawing and several Curlew that flew over to the hill.

By the first benches the Scaup x2 were feeding along with Goldeneye x5 (fem) and Pochard x5. A Little Grebe was hugging the edge of the island.

In front of the hide screen were another four Goldeneye (2m 2f).

I sat for a while on the second set of benches checking out the gulls. Around 60 were present mostly just Black-headed Gull. No sign of the Med Gull or Little Gull.

Also present were Mute Swan x2, Tufted Duck c.12, Pochard c.5, Mallard c.20, Gadwall x6, Coot and Moorhen. A second Little Grebe was below the west bank.

Whilst sat I met Joe1969 and his two sons who'd come for a look around as well before heading down to Seal Sands. Joe spotted a Kestrel flying over the pond.

As I left Robin, Dunnock and Blue Tit were in the bushes beside me and a pair of Bullfinch in the trees behind.

I made my way back to the car park via Faith Wood only seeing the odd Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Blackbird. Fieldfare x5 were in the bushes alongside the sewage works and Wren x3 below the trees by the boardwalk which also held a GSW.

The feeding station was pretty quiet with next to no food left. I topped up some of the feeders and then waited a while at the hide screen. Unusually the first bird in was a Yellowhammer but it was soon followed by several Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit x2, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Greenfinch. Only six Tree Sparrow appeared. A Robin and Blackbird x2 also arrived before I moved on.

Following the path west I saw no birds at all the first 1/4 mile until I came across an alder tree with Lesser Redpoll x7 - my first decent view of them here this winter. It was a shame it was too dull for a decent photo. They soon moved on. Just before leaving the park Siskin x3 flew over heading south across the Seal Sands Road and I came across a tree with Goldfinch x12.

 

[IanF]

A warm fine and sunny morning. Quite A few birds about the Park but well spread out and in small groups.

Much the same birds seen as my last few visits. The most notable being the Little Gull back on the main pond and some of the Gadwall coming just a tad closer than they usually do. Only a single Scaup seen.

 

[IanF]

Today was the first day it's been dry since Saturday. Following heavy rain yesterday we had a frost overnight which left a few frozen puddles and some hoar frost but mostly it was just dull and cool this morning. Most of the streams were very full and there was quite a lot of standing water forming small ponds in Faith Wood.

On entering from the SW corner the Bullfinch were present again, just 3-4 today in what seems to be their favoured corner. There wasn't a great lot more to see until I reached the main pond where a flock of 60-80 Siskins were in the alder trees behind the first benches. Every now and again they dropped to the path to take a drink from the partly frozen puddles.

The main pond was ice free but birds were scarce though the usual suspects were present including Goldeneye x5. Only BH Gulls about today.

The trek back to the car park was pretty fruitless as well with just a few Blue Tit and Great Tit seen.

In the car park entrance a Yellowhammer was on the ground picking up spilt seed in front of the tool container. Whilst there was a fair bit of food in the feeding station it wasn't that busy. Eventually around 20 Yellowhammer arrived as did a similar number of Treesparrow but mostly it was just a few Chafifnch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, a single Coal Tit, a single Wren and two Robin. Just as I left a few Goldfinch were overhead and a pair of Bullfinch passed through.

A couple of people have mentioned seeing Short-eared Owl over the last few days mostly by the hill and railway lines. No sign of any today though I did come across one later on Seaton Common.

 

[IanF]

A few more photos from today.

 

[IanF]

It was sunny yesterday morning but pretty wild and windy with gusts around 35mph.

It was pretty quiet for birds in most areas with birds mostly either around the main pond or in the area of the feeding station.

The most notable birds seen were Yellowhammer x5 by the main pond in the bushes between the two sets of benches and half a dozen Linnet in the trees the other side of the path by the railway.

In the feeding station the usual Treesparrow and Yellowhammer were present not to mention the tits but not as numerous as they have been. A pair of GSW spent several minutes in the trees and bushes in and around the feeders calling and chasing each other around.

The western edge of the reserve held around half a dozen Bullfinch.

 

[IanF]

Brightly overcast this morning following overnight temperatures of -4°C. Puddles were frozen solid as was the muddy ground and small ponds but little of the main lake was frozen.

Having been dropped off at the car park the first birds seen were Bullfinches x3 sat in the bushes by the gate to the feeding station. They were soon followed by Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow flying into the car park bushes.

The ponds by the car park held Mute Swan x3, Mallard and Moorhen. Magpie and Crow were on the cut grass.

I headed up the track to the Activity Centre and then across to the path to the railway line following the hedge line picking up Dunnock, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird and a small flock of Long-tailed Tit. Several Great Tit and Blue Tit were in the alders.

The main pond held quite a few gulls including some of the larger gulls from the tip come for a bathe. Around 100 BH Gull and Little Gullx1 plus LBB Gull, GBB Gull, Herring Gull and Common Gull. The dead tree on the far side held four Heron with another two perched on fencing nearby. Whilst watching them a Sparrowhawk flew by them.

On the water were Little Grebe x2, Cormorant x2, Gadwall x6, Pochard x7, Tufted Duck c.30, Shoveler x5, Goldeneye c.8 (2m), Scaupx1, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen.

After settling on one of the twin benches Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and even a Pochard came for a feed as did the Robin which was happy feeding from the next bench along. Quite a few BH Gulls came for a feed as did the Little Gull. The Goldeneye were getting quite frisky with the female approaching the male laid supine on the water several times and then mating with him as he grabbed her by the back of the head and mounted just about drowning her!

Continuing around pond Reed Bunting x3 were sat in the bushes on the first corner and a Kestrel was hovering over the hill. Reaching the corner by the hide a Goldcrest was playing hard to get in the alders and hawthorns. Also present here were Blue Tit, Dunnock, Wren and Robin.

Heading to the new bridge behind the hill a Redshank - an unusual sighting here - flew off the beck and headed upstream towards the cycleway and several Curlew flew over also heading west.

There was little else to see until reaching the boardwalk apart from a Kestrel perched on one of the silver birches posing nicely for photos.

From the hump-backed bridge a Grey Wagtail was feeding downstream eventually flying under the bridge up to the ford and then on through the sewage works. Also present were two Grey Heron. Following the boardwalk I came across Wren x3, Dunnock, Blackbird and Robin.

On reaching the car park Great Spotted Woodpecker were calling from alongside the A1185. In fact there were three of them all in one tree.

Instead of vsiting the feeding station I crossed the road and returned home via the south side wood not seeing a great deal until I reached the cemetery. A Mistle Thrush was in the hedge along with Robin and several Blackbirds. Best find of the day though and most unusual was a Woodcock which flew across the trees tops south to north 20 yds in front of me being followed by a brown Sparrowhawk 20' behind! When the Sparrowhawk spotted me it veered off leaving the Woodcock to fly away free towards the gas works compound. A few minutes later I met a guy with two black dogs and a brown retriever. It was the retiriever that had put up the woodcock from the wood near the road.

Nothing else of note was seen before leaving the park.

 

[IanF]

A pleasant sunny morning though a bit of a chilly north-westerly breeze still.

Not a great deal to see still away from the car park/feeding station and the main pond though I did come across half a dozen Siskin and a couple of LTT in the alders near the Activity Center.

On reaching the main pond I met BF member sbroth and we had a wander around. Nothing new to see. Still quite a few Goldeneye and Gadwall and the Scaup was still present. No sign of the Little Gull though there weren't many gulls at all today.

It was fits and starts at the feeding station with mostly very few birds and then 40+ all of a sudden. The usual crowd turned up with Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Blackbird. Goldfinch were in the trees overhead as were a few Siskin. GSW were close by and drumming for quite a while and a scolding Wren was somewhere around. Best sighting was a male Bullfinch sat in the bushes behind the feeders.

A male Blackcap has been seen in the feeding station a few times now, but not by me. Likewise Treecreeper.

 

[IanF]

I called in at just he feeidng station for 30 mins this afternoon.

Still fits and starts going from 0 to 40+ every few minutes. I suspect the reason being a Sparrowhawk as one of the brown juvies came in twice making a kill on the second visit - a Dunnock I think. I was surprised at the umber of visits from GSW. Both male and female came in with the female making 8 visits in 30 minutes. LTT's were pesent most of the time I was there. Others were Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer, Robin, Blackbird, Tree Saprrow, Wren and a rat!

 

[IanF]

A few more from today

 

[IanF]

Another visit to the feeding station today at lunchtime for an hour on a bright and occasionally sunny morning. Very little food out for the birds when I arrived though.

Fits and starts again for birds with very quiet periods interspersed with very active ones with around 50-60 birds in together.

Most notable bird of the visit was the female Great Spotted Woodpecker which hardly left the feeding station whilst I was there and even when it did, it wasn't for very long. I'd squashed a few fat balls into various crevices and holes which it checked out as well as feeding on peanuts.

Other birds present - Long-tailed Tit x2, Dunnock x2, Wren, Chaffinch c.7, Yellowhammer c.7, Reed Bunting x3, Tree Sparrow c.25 with 21 on one table on one occasion, Greenfinch x5, Coal Tit x1, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Blackbird.

 

[IanF]

A bright sunny day. I spent the morning wandering around the Park.

Not a great deal of change with most areas being pretty quiet. Even the main pond was quiet. Nine Goldeneye present today with 2 males and 7 females. Also 9 Gadwall. Others Scaup x2, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Pochard, Little Grebe x1, BH Gull x4, Mute Swan x4 - the two resident adults plus two juveniles flew in until chased off by the adults.

Very few birds in the trees and bushes. Reed Bunting x2, Magpie x1 and a Robin were in the bushes by the benches on the main pond. A Sparrowhawk chased the roosting pigeons by the dead tree. Most notable was a Grey Partridge flying over and into Faith Wood.

Feeding station had no food out whatsoever - hence very few birds until I put some out. Usual ones present again. GSW female visited twice but not for long.

Best find of the day was a single Lesser Redpoll in silver birches by the wooden bridge on the north side in the centre of that section. On the northern edge a flock of Goldfinch c.40 were in the trees haivng been disturbed by shooting

 

[sborth]

Hi Ian
sborth here,
I went back to CBWP on Fri, finally got the photo of the GSW i was after also managed to see Blackcap. which wood is faith wood? is it the one just over the hump bridge?
thanks
Steve

 

[IanF]

Hi Ian
sborth here,
I went back to CBWP on Fri, finally got the photo of the GSW i was after also managed to see Blackcap. which wood is faith wood? is it the one just over the hump bridge?
thanks
Steve

Hi Steve,

Congrats on the GSW and the Blackcap. I'm still struggling for the latter though I saw some today in Norton.

Yep! Faith Wood is the area the other side of the hump bridge. It actually extends up to the cycleway which is usually a better area for winter birds but due to the pipeline work you can't walk there unless you go up the cycleway and come back the same way. It can still hold quite a few birds like LTT, Siskin, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Kestrel and Blackcap along the sewage works fence line where you usually get the Redwing as well but some days any bird can be hard to find there. Once Spring arrives it will be full of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

 

[IanF]

A very foggy start to the day again but it cleared mid-morning to leave it bright and sunny and even quite warm despite an overnight frost.

Walking over to the park from home and entering from the SW corner the most notable birds was a flock of Goldfinch 40-50 in the alders with Siskin x3 and two GSW nearby chasing each other among the young trees.

Despite plenty of food in the feeding station there were very few birds to see though I got my first view of the Blackcap that's been around. As I moved up to the viewing port on the side the Blackcap was in the bush immediately below and shot of across to the denser undergrowth. At least I've seen it now.

My normal route along the board walk and through Faith Wood revealed just a few Blackbirds and tits plus another GSW.

It was good to see a decent number of gulls back on the main pond. I counted 110 though there were constant comings and goings. It was also good to see the Little Gull back. It was first bird on the scene when I sat on the benches and started to throw out some bread. It made several passes picking up the bread before the Mallard and Tufted Duck appeared and then the BH Gulls.

Also present were Little Grebe, Goldeneye x5 (2m), Gadwall x7, Moorhen, Shoveler, Pochard and Coot. Also a Skylark was in the field by the railway line, first one I've seen this year.

Heading back to the car park there was nothing else new.

 

[IanF]

A short visit this afternoon just to the feeding station. The morning had been very dull with heavy overcast skies and fine fret but the sky brightened for a while this afternoon.

Still the same in the feeding station with a glut of birds one minute and then none at all the next, but they soon start returning again. Loads of peanuts in the hanging feeders today but no seed at all so I out some out and squashed a couple of fat balls into the crevices and logs with drilled holes. Shortly after I arrived Steve turned up as well.

Very good views of the male Blackcap today. I was there for an hour and a half and it was present fo at least around an hour mostly sat in the bushes behind the feeders and every now and again landing on one of the tables or on the ground to feed.

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker spent quite a while in the station as well. It seemed to appreciate the fat balls in the drilled log as it spent a solid five or six minutes clinging to that feeder.

Another good sight was a Wren that was present most of the time I was there feeding in front of the hide screen.

Also present were Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Tree Sparrow and Reed Bunting. Goldfinch were in the trees overhead and a male Bullfinch pooped in for a while. It was the first visit in quite a while without a rat being present!

 

[sborth]

hi Ian
went back to feeding station briefly today
all the usual but with one exception a Nuthatch, a first for me, it was a bit too far away for a decent photo (must invest in a bigger lens) but i got a couple of average shots. im not sure how to put a thumbnail on the reply to show you but i sent a pic to TBC
regards
steve