Durham Birding (9 Viewers)

[MalR]

Cheers, lads, thanks for the kind comments. Good luck for tomorrow, Ron. Fingers crossed it hangs around.

Malcolm

 

[seggs]

I went down to try for the white-throated robin after work today. There were only about twenty birders there, and a nice, quiet, calm atmosphere.:t:

The robin was showing in short bursts along the northern edge of the Olive Street bowling green. It would emerge from the bushes, feed briefly then disappear again. In the first half-hour I probably saw it for a minute in total.

But then it came further out on to the shorter grass and slowly made its way towards the line of birders, feeding as it went. Eventually it was just a few yards away, posing in the sunshine. I couldn't have wished for better views.:t:

Best of luck to anyone who has still to go down.

Malcolm

Great shots Mal...:t: must have been a "keep the camera steady" experience.:eek!::t:

 

[MalR]

Great shots Mal...:t: must have been a "keep the camera steady" experience.:eek!::t:

Cheers, Steve. Yeah, the camera actually ended up on the tripod for this one.

Malcolm

 

[deansmith]

How are the Little Terns doing at Crimdon Dene so far ?

around a 100 terns present andy alot of fish being carried into the colony so obvious signs of good numbers paired up already

 

[Boy Wonder]

Got lucky with the sun and obliging nature of the bird to get this

http://youtu.be/tE-9PVt9_7Q?hd=1

 

[Dab-chick]

Hi everyone , had a couple of walks round Rainton area over the last wek or so. Unusual birds with Green Sandpiper Common Tern and Cross bill , thanks to th e experts . :t: Loads of birds almost some in every bush. Lots of familys with Bullfinch, Stock Dove, Willow Tit, Woodpecker , Pheasant and Lots of Whitethroats . In the Frrreezer, lots of activity the grebes trying nest number 10, up to 6 Littlringed Plovers . Hope we get some more rain for the poor hedge hogs ! :hippy:

 

[IanF]

Missed all the fun last week whilst we were away on holiday!

At least four good birds locally that we missed :-C

At least I managed to catch the Pectoral Sandpiper that was on Tidal Pool, Greatham Creek yesterday.

Lots of Avocets still around though not that many chicks showing. I only managed two this afternoon - one of them has been colour ringed. Hopefully there's more still around.

A drake Scaup was still on RSPB Saltholme Pond west this afternoon. Little Egret and Greenshank were in view from the Phil Stead Hide.

 

[agamiheron]

Rainton Meadows - 2 Common Terns flew in for 5 mins at 7:10am.
Last night 6 LRP's and 2 Redshanks plus a day strolling Hedgehog near Joes Pond.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Visit to Teesside this morning.
Saline Lagoon.
Plenty common terns, avocets - at least 3 avocet chicks, also 3 LR plover chicks + the two adults, 2 redshank and 1 curlew.

Called at the Phil Stead hide.
Only birds of note were a single little egret also single teal.

 

[IanF]

Dormans Pool - am - Lesser Whitethroat calling constantly opposite lower car park. Another two feeding young in brambles by the layby at the start of Huntsman Drive. Lots of Common Whitehtroat, Linnet and Sedge Warbler feeding young along the track to the hide.

A remarkable encounter with one family of Whitethroats. When I paused by some brambles to take a photo of a Sedge Warbler a young Whitethroat hopped onto the arm of my camouflage jacket. Another two including this one were perched in the brambles a few inches away. It hopped off my forearm arm back onto the brambles and I moved back a few paces just managing to grab a photo of one before it disappeared into the brambles again.

In addition to a juvenile Spoonbill on the causeway of West Saltholme another two were on Back Saltholme. It joined them briefly before returning to circle Saltholme Ponds/Dormans Pool and then headed off west towards Billingham. Scaup still present along with Little Egret.

Another Little Egret, Greenshank and Redshank from Phil Stead Hide. The Greenshank was benig harrassed by a Lapwing and left just before ray came into the hide.

 

[agamiheron]

Rainton Meadows - 1 Common Tern and 2 (drake and duck) Shoveler at Lunchtime.

Some White-throated Robin photos on my 'new' website thats under construction:-

http://birding.noobab.com/birding/british-birds/british-rarities

 

[IanF]

Three Spoonbill were along the causeway on Saltholme west pond this morning. The Scaup was still present plus a Greenshank. All three have black primary tips so all likely juveniles.

Greenshank and Redshank were in view fom the Phil Stead Hide as well.

Still lots of Common Terns flying over with fish.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few local shots taken today.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Teesside

Called down Saltholme this morning to try for the Spoonbills.
Arrived around 7.15am to view the West pond from the roadside, didn't have to wait long before 2 flew in from the East and settled near the Saltholme Hide, luckily I caught them in flight.
Other birds of note were green shank, ringed plover, shoveler and distant drake scaup. Also numerous swifts and swallows.
Popped along Dormans before heading back, nice to see IanF, who was busy looking for the lesser white throat.
Other birds seen, white throats, sedge warblers, linnets and kestrel.

 

[IanF]

Yesterday morning -

Dormans Pool - am - opposite lower car park - Lesser Whitethroat calling plenty and frustatraingly close on numerous occasions but staying well out of sight in the brambles for most of the time, likewise with Grasshopper Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler all calling. Stonechat male & Kestrel by level crossing.

RSPB Saltholme - Spoonbill x2 reasonably close to Saltholme Hide, Little Egret, Greenshank, Redshank x4, Teal, Cormorant and Scaup.

Lots of Great Crested Grebe families around this year - someone mentioned 34 adults have been counted locally. I managed to see eight families just around Saltholme ponds area.

 

[IanF]

I hadn't intended going out today as it was so wet and miserable but I ended up popping down to RSPB Saltholme this afternoon when a friend rang to say there was a summer plumage Spotted Redshank reasonbly close to Saltholme Hide.

Fortunately it was still there when I arrived though the Little Gull was a good deal more distant than it had been a few minutes earlier.

Other birds seen - Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Scaup, Little Egret.

A few more Redshank, Wigeon and Teal around today. Lots of Swift, Swallow, Hose and Sand Martin over Back Saltholme.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from Saltholme today:
Called, with the hope of seeing the spotted redshank, which never showed so had to do with the green shank and a bedraggled little egret.

 

[serenade]

A few from Saltholme today:
Called, with the hope of seeing the spotted redshank, which never showed so had to do with the green shank and a bedraggled little egret.

Congratulations Ray (AGAIN!!), I see one of these made it to the weather picture on BBC tonight

 

[IanF]

Very quiet around Saltholme Ponds first thing this morning. No sign of the Scaup. Half a dozen Redshanks were outside the hide seen from the road and two Little Egrets until everything was disturbed. A Yellow Wagtail was flitting about the mud opposite the layby. The Little Egrets went onto the Bottom Tank where they joined another one already present.

Dormans Pool - the usual Sedge Warbler, Linnet and Whitethroat along the path to the hide.

A trip across towards Hurworth Burn Reservoir yielded a Cuckoo (first I've seen locally this year) Spotted Flycatchers and two soaring Buzzard. Probable Crossbill but too much fleeting glimpse to be sure.

Crimdon Denemouth - an Arctic Tern was on the beach in amongst the resting/bathing Little Terns until a Herring Gull flew over and everything went up to see it off. A Sandwich Tern did a fly through as did a Common Tern. 7-8 Ringed Plover on the beach. In the bushes - Yellowhammer female, Whitethroat and Linnet.

 

[Andyclose]

help:

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a reliable site for Marsh Tit and Tree Pipit in Durham. I have long since forgotten where to find them...

Thanks.

Andy