Durham Birding (25 Viewers)

[Ray.Scott]

Teesside - Yesterday

Called to see if the Scaup was still about at Cowpen Bewley, Luckily, it was and took about half a loaf to coax it close enough for photos.
Called at Saltholme and managed a couple of very distant pics of the Penduline Tits, from the Wildlife Watch Point.
Finished at Newburn Bridge, where we saw 2 x Med Gulls, a canny day out.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Saltholme

Called at Saltholme today, hoping to get closer views of the Penduline Tits, but no joy. Had to settle for the Redpolls and record shot of the Smew from Paddy's Hiide.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Couple of pics from Saltholme again today:
Common Snipe, Redpolls etc still at the WW Point, Smew on the main pond today.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A handful from South Shields today.

 

[Mickw]

Crossbills

Hi all, just to let you know I was up at Pow Hill near Derwent Resevoir the other day. I was watching the squirrels dart aroundwith the binoculars and without when I heard a faint scraping noise. I thought it was just the breeze in the pines. It went on for a few minutes when a pine cone fell next to me. I looked up and couldn't believe what I seen, about three bright red birds, Crossbills. They were Crossbills, up in the top of the trees picking at the pine cones. Don't know if they will hang around but great to see them. Good luck if you see them again.

 

[Ray.Scott]

3 or 4 hours at Clara Vale this morning:

Plenty about, including, kingfisher, g.s woodpecker, tree creeper, tree sparrow, nuthatch, jay, stock dove, willow,great, blue,coal & l.t tit, pheasant, yellow hammer, thrush, blackbird, bullfinch, chaffinch, grey heron, mallard, coot, moorhen.

Also sparrow hawk through, 2 x roe deer, grey squirrels.

Great day, but freezing in the hide.

 

[apears]

Low Barns Yesterday

Some pics from Low Barns yesterday.

Dipper and goosanders on the River. Goldeneye on Marston Lake. Kingfisher from Western Hide. Redpoll with siskins in the alder carr. Lots of curlews going over.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Over the Dales, yesterday:
Plenty black grouse around the Langdon Beck area, also quite a few flocks of golden plover, also thrush, distant kite, buzzard, lapwing and the usual red grouse etc.
Called in at Pow Hill on the way back, saw M & F crossbills, high in the trees, also the usual Tits, pheasants, chaffinch and tree creeper.
Good day, but very cold wind.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Hartlepool:
3 x Skylark near the Jewish Cemetery, no sign of any Shore Lark.
Guillemot and GC Grebe from the pier area and the usual eider etc.
Knot, ringed plover, turnstone, med gull near Newburn Bridge.

 

[Phil Andrews]

My good friend Gary Prescott aka the Biking Birder in currently in Yorkshire in his quest to break the European Green Birding record.

Can anyone advise if the Shorelark are still at Hartlepool and any advice re the LE Owl at Haverton Hole. I appreciate the latter may be sensitive so Gary's email address is [email protected]. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Ray.Scott]

I was at the shore lark location on Monday and didn't see any sign of the birds, we walked as far North as the Pier and South as far as the newly scraped ground. Still worth a look IMO.

 

[Phil Andrews]

I was at the shore lark location on Monday and didn't see any sign of the birds, we walked as far North as the Pier and South as far as the newly scraped ground. Still worth a look IMO.

Thanks Ray

 

[Ray.Scott]

Washington WWT

At least 8 Avocet on the wader lake and the usual shell duck, lapwing etc.
Tree Creeper, long tailed tit, bullfinch etc from the other hide.

 

[Jukebox]

Barn Owl seen hunting fields beside Chilton Country Club, Fencehouses, early Sunday evening (6.00pm ish).

 

[apears]

Hartlepool Headland

Black redstart still in the Memorial Garden.

Finally got a penduline tit, still in the field opposite the fire station earlier today. Showing well but distant.

 

[apears]

Weardale Way

Walked some of the Weardale way between Wolsingham and Witton

2 Buzzards calling, 20 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, GSW, Marsh Tit, Jay, Grey Wagtail and a pair of Mandarin.

Low Barns male got himself a mate?

 

[Ray.Scott]

The Dales

Yesterday:
Mixed weather, rain, Sleet, snow, wind etc, but managed to see, Dipper, goosander, song thrush, redwing, fieldfare, pied & grey wagtail, curlew, red & black grouse, kestrel,meadow pipits, lapwing and the usual gulls, pheasant etc.

And Sunday lunch at the Langdon Beck. 8-P

 

[camper9110]

Osprey passing low over Barnard Castle water treatment works at the side of the Tee's today at 16:00, being mobbed by two gulls, school boy error no camera!

Mark.

 

[A W Gregory]

Osprey passing low over Barnard Castle water treatment works at the side of the Tee's today at 16:00, being mobbed by two gulls, school boy error no camera!

Mark.

Had the same action walking down towards Egglestone Abbey just never got a good look at it so i wasn't sure ! Tried for a photo but it was distant ?

 

[esmondb]

I'll be up near Bishop Auckland at the weekend - good to know there are a lot of good birds around at the moment.