rokermartin
Well-known member
Whitburn this pm 4 Curlew Sandpipers ,1 Common Sandpiper,1 Merlin ,1 ad Med Gull
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Durham Birding (19 Viewers)
- Thread starter Skelly
- Start date
IanF
Moderator
Welcome aboard again Colossus :t:colossus said:
I've spent a fair bit if time down that way of late waiting for the migrants to return. There's always something of interest especially, with the Skuas of late, but it can be a bit hit and miss as to numbers and what's around.
Any contributions of the birds you see on your birding outings will be greatly appreciated.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Dawdon Blast
first bird we saw was a Whinchat, but very few migrants.
6 Stonechat, 1 Bullfinch, 1-2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Kestrel & 50+ Meadow Pipit.
6+ Speckled Woods on clifftop.
adult Little Gull, 6 Sandwich Tern, 2 Turnstone & 80 Lapwing on beach.
SE / CW
first bird we saw was a Whinchat, but very few migrants.
6 Stonechat, 1 Bullfinch, 1-2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Kestrel & 50+ Meadow Pipit.
6+ Speckled Woods on clifftop.
adult Little Gull, 6 Sandwich Tern, 2 Turnstone & 80 Lapwing on beach.
SE / CW
Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was at Barmston Pond yesterday evening, on the back edge feeding infront of the reeds. Pablo thought it was perhaps a different bird to the one earlier in the week (last seen on Tuesday morning) - it apparently looked slightly darker and better marked on the breast. Hopefully it'll be still there today to grill further.
Friday morning update on Pec - it is now unfortunately deceased! It was attacked and killed by a Sparrowhawk earlier this morning. Shame. :-C
Friday morning update on Pec - it is now unfortunately deceased! It was attacked and killed by a Sparrowhawk earlier this morning. Shame. :-C
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Ross Ahmed
Well-known member
The sea again provided most of the interest at the Leas this am with wildfowl incl following counts: 251 Common Scoter, 98 Teal, 44 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 2 Shelduck and singles on Pintail and Tufted Duck.
Other odds and sods over sea incl 16 Shag, 4 Roseate Terns, 8 RT Diver, 3 Little Gull and 3 Bonxies.
A small influx of passerines was evident in the Leas mound/Trow Quarry area with 1 Redstart, 3 Whinchats, 10 Reed Bunting and single Willow Warbler, Goldcrest and Dunnock. Two Grey Wagtails came in off the sea, as did 47 Meadow Pipits.
Other odds and sods over sea incl 16 Shag, 4 Roseate Terns, 8 RT Diver, 3 Little Gull and 3 Bonxies.
A small influx of passerines was evident in the Leas mound/Trow Quarry area with 1 Redstart, 3 Whinchats, 10 Reed Bunting and single Willow Warbler, Goldcrest and Dunnock. Two Grey Wagtails came in off the sea, as did 47 Meadow Pipits.
rokermartin
Well-known member
Whitburn this pm 10 Bar tailed Godwit,1 Whimbrel,1 Ruff,3 juv Curlew Sandpiper,50 Teal,20 Wigeon 1 ad YL Gull,1 juv Peregrine
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Blackhall / Hawthorn area till midday; (CW)
No grounded passerine migrants
24 GCGrebe
8 RTDiver
10 Little Gull
145 Common Scoter
120 Teal
8 Stonechat
Schincliffe
3 Skylark high over SouthWest
24 + Meadow Pipit SWest
1 Grey Wagtail SWest
SE
No grounded passerine migrants
24 GCGrebe
8 RTDiver
10 Little Gull
145 Common Scoter
120 Teal
8 Stonechat
Schincliffe
3 Skylark high over SouthWest
24 + Meadow Pipit SWest
1 Grey Wagtail SWest
SE
DaveB
birding.daveb.co.uk
Bishops Park
Twenty eight different species of birds were recorded during a one hour visit to the park.
Three Green Sanpdpipers were seen on the outskirts of the park, along with a single Common Sandpiper. At least two Spotted Flycatchers were in the same area. Swallow (50+), House Martin (30+), Willow Warbler (1), Goldcrest (1) and Chiffchaff (1) were seen.
A Barn Owl and a pair of Little Owls were seen on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. A second pair of Little Owls were recorded on Etherley Moor.
Twenty eight different species of birds were recorded during a one hour visit to the park.
Three Green Sanpdpipers were seen on the outskirts of the park, along with a single Common Sandpiper. At least two Spotted Flycatchers were in the same area. Swallow (50+), House Martin (30+), Willow Warbler (1), Goldcrest (1) and Chiffchaff (1) were seen.
A Barn Owl and a pair of Little Owls were seen on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. A second pair of Little Owls were recorded on Etherley Moor.
Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
Early morning seawatching at Whitburn was good today, with an excellent range of wildfowl - 1200+ ducks and geese of 14 species had passed north by 09.30. Also a few Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Skuas and Bonxies.
4 Curlew Sandpipers were still showing well at Whitburn Steel yesterday afternoon, along with a good range of the commoner waders. Passerine migrants are still disappointingly thin on the ground.
4 Curlew Sandpipers were still showing well at Whitburn Steel yesterday afternoon, along with a good range of the commoner waders. Passerine migrants are still disappointingly thin on the ground.
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rokermartin
Well-known member
Teeside this afternoon Pectoral Sandpiper showing on Saltholm also 1 Little Egret,2 juv Little Stints. Still plenty of Ruff. Dormans Pool female Marsh Harrier flying around headed towards the Long Drag being mobbed by Lapwings.According to my pager the first YB Warblers are turning up on the East coast.
IanF
Moderator
I visited Seaton Snook this afternoon. Not a great deal to see though plenty of people looking.
On field behind power station - Linnet 100+, Starling 500+, Northern Wheatear x3, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit.
On the Snook -
Curlew 20+
Common Tern c.12
Red-breasted Merganser x1
Cormorant 30+
Red Knot x7
Bar-tailed Godwit x3
Dunlin 30+
Sanderling c.12
Oystercatcher 30+
Turnstone x2
Ringed Plover 20+
A bit too dull and foggy to see far over the sea.
On field behind power station - Linnet 100+, Starling 500+, Northern Wheatear x3, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit.
On the Snook -
Curlew 20+
Common Tern c.12
Red-breasted Merganser x1
Cormorant 30+
Red Knot x7
Bar-tailed Godwit x3
Dunlin 30+
Sanderling c.12
Oystercatcher 30+
Turnstone x2
Ringed Plover 20+
A bit too dull and foggy to see far over the sea.
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
whitburnmark said:
Some turning up a couple of mile inland too, with reasonable selection & numbers at Seaton Pond:-
2 Pintail 4 Shoveller 260 Teal 5 Gadwall 85 Wigeon 4 Ruddy Duck.
A few trickling further inland through to Rainton Meadows with 30 Wigeon, 26 Teal & a Pochard fresh in.
pr +3 MSwan 25 Canada Goose 122 Greylag 3 Ruddy Duck 56 Mallard 26 Tufted
Also there a Sedge Warbler at pond 2, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Tit & 10 LTTit in/near the car park,
Hetton Lyons
2 Whinchat & a Peregrine.
Herrington CPk
3 Grey Wagtail, 5 Little Grebe with 2 young still being fed, 11 MSwan, Moorhen 16+ inc a pair with 3 downy young, 100 Lapwing, 450 Starling, 4 Skylark & 10 Mipit South. A singing Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper & an adult Grey Heron perched at the top of the canopy in Foxcover Plantation. (prospecting a satellite colony away from WWWT nearby ?)
SE / CW
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IanF
Moderator
We popped over to Low Middleton this morning to see the White Stork - it's hard to imagine any better views as it was sat atop a farm house roof right beside the road.
Yellow plastic ring on upper right leg clearly shows PCC - it's origins haven't been confimred as far as I'm aware. Interestingly the same ring as has been on the Nottinghamshire bird reported until the 8th Sept.
Yellow plastic ring on upper right leg clearly shows PCC - it's origins haven't been confimred as far as I'm aware. Interestingly the same ring as has been on the Nottinghamshire bird reported until the 8th Sept.
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
Bish Midd
Stoneybeck Lake (road side pool)
more of a puddle than a pool at the moment - almost bone dry, but a feeding Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail & 5 Moorhen there.
The usual Little Owl was sitting motionless with a mixed flock of 250 Greylags & Canadas feeding on stubbles behind.
A trickle of Mipits overhead, with a loose feeding group of 20+ around margins of lake. A group of 4 Corn Buntings on post & wire fencing - looked like 1 ad & 3 juveniles. Very little else other than 2 juvenile Wood Pigeons (no neck collars) & and 1 Stock Dove drinking.
A group of 20+ each of House Sparrow & Collared Dove on wires on entering the village.
Castle Lake (swg wks pool)
2 Treecreeper & 2 Grey Wagtail while getting Jack into his pushchair. 5 House Martins over & 2 Small Tortoiseshell at the old farm.
A mix of Chaffinch & Yellowhammer in the farmyard with a Wren creeping into a locked barn.
Looking over the wall from the farm track, the graveyard was full of birdlife. A mixed flock of titmice including Blue, Great, Coal including birds feeding on headstones. With these were a Chiffchaff, a male Blackcap & 2 Goldcrest. Blackbirds outnumbered Song Thrush by 20-1. Most common garden residents were here including Greenfinch & Robin.
Pausing at the Middleham Castle site map, i weighed up the chances of out running the very active & frisky Hereford Bull whilst in charge of the pushchair... mmm? ....
Lifted the little un out just in case we had to run but managed to get by without incident. This area was birdless bar fly overs from Tree Sparrow & Yellowhammer.
Viewing the swg wks area a charm of 30 or so Goldfinch were busy on thistle tops. Scanning the muddy margins from the public footpath revealed waterbirds in abundance with several waders & ducks visible.
Despite poor hazy light & looking south into the sun, the first scope views produced 7 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper & 7 Snipe with ducks including Shoveller & numerous Teal. A last check showed a pair of Little Grebe with 2 tiny young riding on the parents back. Tractors with power-harrows were busy in the trackside fields & caught Jacks attention pointing & shouting "car, car". Freshly harrowed fields allways seem to be a magnet to wagtails so we headed that way. The new Defra stiles being a good design.... wide enough to lift the full contraption full with optics, bags & boy all over in "a oner". The main track allowed close views of a dozen or so Pied Wags that were flicking about alongwith 2 Yellow Wagtails.
Walking south meant the lake was out of view, so not so much to see in this section but Meadow Pipits moved through together with a group of 7 Skylark all heading steadily south. Others here included a pr of Grey Partridge , a cock Pheasant, Magpie & Crow.
A lateish Sand Martin hawked with 20+ Swallows over the permanent grass.
On reaching the big hollow, the lake was once again visible.
A large group of Greylag Geese totalled 367, with Lapwing being the most numerous with 520+birds. 20+ Little Grebes were dotted about all over the water, but no Ruddy Duck flock at all. A Green Sand called noisily as it came in from the south, it landed alongside another on the south shore. Checking this patch of mud paid of with a juvenile Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 7 Snipe (with 11 overhead), and best of all a Little Stint feeding on the southern most patch of mud on the whole lake.
At this point Jack was having a bite to eat, when everything went up... a big brown female Sparrowhawk carried on through to the village seemingly perplexed by the swirling clouds of birds which included 100 Rook, 300 Jackdaw, 200 Starling.
Scanning the far side, birds were justing settling back down when a couple of guys & a dog left the path & began to walk down to the waters edge. The only bonus here was picking up 2 Yellow wagtails , 2 Curlew & a Greenshank that they flushed.
Duck numbers wernt that great, with a handfull of Wigeon , Shoveller & Gadwall. Teal were most numerous with 70 or so.
After the hawk & the dog walkers we packed up & retraced our tracks. After a few moments i switched off from birding, thoughts turned to what to have for dinner & picked the bairn some dandelion seed heads to blow & was just about to step to watch the tractors again when i heard the frantic screaming of Swallows & turned to the west to imediately lock onto a juvenile Hobby belting through at only about 30' height. In a couple of seconds it was over the village climbing all the way chasing hirundines up to probably 300'. It continued on north east.
Certainly didnt expect one today, despite checking the site on & off all summer.
A great way to end a visit to a great place!
Steve.
Stoneybeck Lake (road side pool)
more of a puddle than a pool at the moment - almost bone dry, but a feeding Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail & 5 Moorhen there.
The usual Little Owl was sitting motionless with a mixed flock of 250 Greylags & Canadas feeding on stubbles behind.
A trickle of Mipits overhead, with a loose feeding group of 20+ around margins of lake. A group of 4 Corn Buntings on post & wire fencing - looked like 1 ad & 3 juveniles. Very little else other than 2 juvenile Wood Pigeons (no neck collars) & and 1 Stock Dove drinking.
A group of 20+ each of House Sparrow & Collared Dove on wires on entering the village.
Castle Lake (swg wks pool)
2 Treecreeper & 2 Grey Wagtail while getting Jack into his pushchair. 5 House Martins over & 2 Small Tortoiseshell at the old farm.
A mix of Chaffinch & Yellowhammer in the farmyard with a Wren creeping into a locked barn.
Looking over the wall from the farm track, the graveyard was full of birdlife. A mixed flock of titmice including Blue, Great, Coal including birds feeding on headstones. With these were a Chiffchaff, a male Blackcap & 2 Goldcrest. Blackbirds outnumbered Song Thrush by 20-1. Most common garden residents were here including Greenfinch & Robin.
Pausing at the Middleham Castle site map, i weighed up the chances of out running the very active & frisky Hereford Bull whilst in charge of the pushchair... mmm? ....
Lifted the little un out just in case we had to run but managed to get by without incident. This area was birdless bar fly overs from Tree Sparrow & Yellowhammer.
Viewing the swg wks area a charm of 30 or so Goldfinch were busy on thistle tops. Scanning the muddy margins from the public footpath revealed waterbirds in abundance with several waders & ducks visible.
Despite poor hazy light & looking south into the sun, the first scope views produced 7 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper & 7 Snipe with ducks including Shoveller & numerous Teal. A last check showed a pair of Little Grebe with 2 tiny young riding on the parents back. Tractors with power-harrows were busy in the trackside fields & caught Jacks attention pointing & shouting "car, car". Freshly harrowed fields allways seem to be a magnet to wagtails so we headed that way. The new Defra stiles being a good design.... wide enough to lift the full contraption full with optics, bags & boy all over in "a oner". The main track allowed close views of a dozen or so Pied Wags that were flicking about alongwith 2 Yellow Wagtails.
Walking south meant the lake was out of view, so not so much to see in this section but Meadow Pipits moved through together with a group of 7 Skylark all heading steadily south. Others here included a pr of Grey Partridge , a cock Pheasant, Magpie & Crow.
A lateish Sand Martin hawked with 20+ Swallows over the permanent grass.
On reaching the big hollow, the lake was once again visible.
A large group of Greylag Geese totalled 367, with Lapwing being the most numerous with 520+birds. 20+ Little Grebes were dotted about all over the water, but no Ruddy Duck flock at all. A Green Sand called noisily as it came in from the south, it landed alongside another on the south shore. Checking this patch of mud paid of with a juvenile Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 7 Snipe (with 11 overhead), and best of all a Little Stint feeding on the southern most patch of mud on the whole lake.
At this point Jack was having a bite to eat, when everything went up... a big brown female Sparrowhawk carried on through to the village seemingly perplexed by the swirling clouds of birds which included 100 Rook, 300 Jackdaw, 200 Starling.
Scanning the far side, birds were justing settling back down when a couple of guys & a dog left the path & began to walk down to the waters edge. The only bonus here was picking up 2 Yellow wagtails , 2 Curlew & a Greenshank that they flushed.
Duck numbers wernt that great, with a handfull of Wigeon , Shoveller & Gadwall. Teal were most numerous with 70 or so.
After the hawk & the dog walkers we packed up & retraced our tracks. After a few moments i switched off from birding, thoughts turned to what to have for dinner & picked the bairn some dandelion seed heads to blow & was just about to step to watch the tractors again when i heard the frantic screaming of Swallows & turned to the west to imediately lock onto a juvenile Hobby belting through at only about 30' height. In a couple of seconds it was over the village climbing all the way chasing hirundines up to probably 300'. It continued on north east.
Certainly didnt expect one today, despite checking the site on & off all summer.
A great way to end a visit to a great place!
Steve.
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
Nice garden tick !
Thanks to a tip off i was lucky enough to see a Honey Buzzard at 16:30 circling over Biffa landfill at 500metres range, before it headed south east along the limestone escarpment from Houghton Cut.
It might show up at Cassop / Quarrington etc later on ...?
Thanks to a tip off i was lucky enough to see a Honey Buzzard at 16:30 circling over Biffa landfill at 500metres range, before it headed south east along the limestone escarpment from Houghton Cut.
It might show up at Cassop / Quarrington etc later on ...?
Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
StevieEvans said:
Nice one Steve, glad you got it. I even managed to see what was almost certainly the same bird from my house as it drifted south-west over West Pastures/Barmston approx. 25 mins before it reached you - but a bit too distant to be sure of a positive id. It had apparently been in the area between Downhill (just north of Southwick) and Barmston for about 1.5 hours in total before it headed off in your direction.
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Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
The first local Yellow-browed Warbler turned up at Marsden Quarry today, bang on time despite the less than favourable weather. A few other migrants were on the coast (eg a few Pied Flycatchers, Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler reported), but things were rather quiet. A Merlin was hunting the area inland of Whitburn Lodge.
A good selection of duck were on the SAFC Academy Pools, but no sign of the Garganey today.
A good selection of duck were on the SAFC Academy Pools, but no sign of the Garganey today.
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Boldon Buzzard
Well-known member
West Pastures
Braved a visit this evening following the ploughing up of the permanent pastures and hedge removal. Still the first Short-eared Owl of the autumn was present but the star bird was a male GOSHAWK pursuing a terrified Grey Partridge.
Braved a visit this evening following the ploughing up of the permanent pastures and hedge removal. Still the first Short-eared Owl of the autumn was present but the star bird was a male GOSHAWK pursuing a terrified Grey Partridge.
hen harrier
Active member
Visited Barmston pond between 3:00 4:20pm today noted, Black Headed Gulls, two Lesser Black Backed Gulls,Teals, Shovelers, Wigeons, Shelduck, one Gadwell, Moorhens, Coots, Lapwings, five Snipe, two Blacktail Godwits one still showing almost summer plumage while other one more Greyer looking. Then on to Whitburn Steel area Redshanks, Ring Plovers, Golden Plovers, Turnstones, seven Bar Tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Juv Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderlings, Curlews, two male Eiders on the sea between 4:55 6:50pm.
