Durham Birding (35 Viewers)

[IanF]

RSPB Saltholme - am - Saltholme Hide - Jack Snipe giving it's normal views, Goldeneye x7 (1m, 6f), Dunlin x20, Skylark.

Paddy's Pool - Brent Geese x2.

Wildlife Watchpoint - Water Rail

SEO reported in car park around 9.30am.

 

[Wig131]

Sorry forgot to say that Snow Buntings and Black-necked Grebe were at South Gare

Steve C

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Sorry forgot to say that Snow Buntings and Black-necked Grebe were at South Gare

Steve C

Hi Steve,

Sadly South Gare is just outside of Durham, still fantastic birds regardless of location! But just thought I'd let you know.:t:

Cheers,

 

[AndyMc]

My Darlo count sadly back down to one today.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park.
Greeted by the friendly crow in the car park, which sat on the car and tried to dismember the areal, so the missus hand fed It some crushed peanuts.
The smew was still present on the pond, but no sign of the R.N duck, other birds included 4 distant little grebe, gadwall, 3 pochard and the usual other ducks and gulls. Also 2 kestrel seen.
Much the same in the car park, with yellow hammer, bullfinch, dunnock, tree sparrows, reed bunting and blackbirds etc.
We were just about to leave when the missus spotted a raptor flying round the car park, on closer inspection we noticed it was wearing jessus, and it landed on a nearby lampost. The owner eventually came to collect It and he informed me that it was a cross between a perigrine and a lanner falcon.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from the car park, the 5th image of the partridge was taken at zinkworks road, thats about all we saw, other than wigeon teal and curlew.

 

[Ray.Scott]

and a couple of the cross perigrine.

 

[IanF]

The Headland - am - Knot x175 on rocks below Albion Terrace plus Purple Sandpiper x6, Ringed Plover x4, Turnstone, Curlew, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit x1, Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Shag x3, Cormorant.

Kumlien's Gull in Fish Quay with Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant & Shag.

Newburn Bridge - Black Redstart.

 

[2slo]

Great shots as usual Mr Scott. I can't compete with the quality of those but here's a few from my garden this morning:

Male Pheasant in a hurry...



To meet two females!(far left and far right of shot):



This Kestrel flew across my garden and landed next door (very heavily cropped shots - 1/4 mile distant):

 

[Ray.Scott]

Short video of the Smew at Cowpen Bewley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LGuVmLS6GY&feature=youtu.be

 

[Michael A]

Called at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park 28-02-2012, i see that the small ponds have been fenced in, i can understand the fence along the top maybe for health and safety issues but all around and on top of that planting a hawthorn hedge to box it all in doesn't seem to make sense, surely when hedgeing grows it will cut out a lot of natural light. I know the ponds are recognised as breeding ponds for Grt. Crested Newts but they also are breeding ponds for a good number of Damselflies and Dragonflies.
Can anyone give a reason for this Fencing/Hedgeing?

 

[Steve Chinnery]

Found 1 of the Snow Buntings that were seen yesterday on South Shields Pier. It was in the same area beside the gate, feeding on the North side. It then flew onto the top and gave great views only a few feet in front of me.
Sorry not the best of photos but the 1st one shows the bird has been ringed.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A handful of the more common birds, from around the doors today.

 

[2slo]

Very nice garden birds Ray. Here's some of mine taken today:

 

[Ray.Scott]

Very nice garden birds Ray. Here's some of mine taken today:

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Do you realise the cost of peanuts these days, maybe that's why I'm short of nuthatches :-O, wish we had them In our garden.

 

[IanF]

Tilery Wood - pm - Crossbill x4, Siskin c.20, Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing x1, Long-tailed Tit x6.

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - Smew, LTT x12, Kestrel x2, Bullfinch x4 - all around lake area.

 

[IanF]

The Stang - am - lots of Crossbills flitting about today. 60+ seen in the tree tops along the road through the forest when I arrived - almost like an honour guard 8-P

27 were perched in the trees by the top of the hill with several on the grit heaps. No juveniles from this year seen. Several appeared to be possible yearlings with green/brown or red/yellow mottling.

Also seen - lots of Red Grouse beside the road, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush x6, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover x30, Fieldfare x4. Siskin 20+, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Blackbird. Possible Goshawk but couldn't be certain due to poor light and distance.

Greenabella Marsh - pm - Avocet x23 on pool on north side of Greatham Creek. Apparently 17 were seen yesterday by another local birder. None of them were colour ringed. Two had metal BTO type rings on the tarsus (one left and one right).

Saltholme Pond - west- Ruff along the causeway. Great Crested Grebes pair dispalying on the east pond.

 

[degsy_safc]

Avocet x23 on pool on north side of Greatham Creek. Apparently 17 were seen yesterday by another local birder.

Is this early for the Avocets returning Ian - i thought it was later last year??

 

[IanF]

Is this early for the Avocets returning Ian - i thought it was later last year??

It varies from year to year. Usually about now they start to arrive back though last year it was 25th February. Usually it's just the odd one, two or three. I think this is the first time so many have turned up so early together.

 

[degsy_safc]

It varies from year to year. Usually about now they start to arrive back though last year it was 25th February. Usually it's just the odd one, two or three. I think this is the first time so many have turned up so early together.

Thanks Ian - think its time to dust off the tripod and head south again :t: