Durham Birding (4 Viewers)

[ukbirderdurham]

Just seen a white winged black tern up at Hurworth Burn!

 

[2slo]

Sedge Warbler at Low Barns today:

 

[MalR]

I think you've actually got a reed warbler there, Mark. Nice pic.:t:

Malcolm

 

[2slo]

I think you've actually got a reed warbler there, Mark. Nice pic.:t:

Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm. I find it hard to tell the two apart, I put this down as a Sedge Warbler as it had a very varied song whereas I thought the Reed Warbler was more of a regular tune?

 

[MalR]

That's a pretty good rule of thumb regarding the species' song, but they can still be tricky. But if you get a reasonable view of the bird, one stand-out feature on a sedge warbler is the creamy stripe over the eye. You can see it in the attached photo which I took.

I think that generally reed warblers are more skulking and difficult to see than sedge. That was one reason why I congratulated you on your pic. They're not easy to get.

Malcolm

 

[Michael A]

Butterflies at risk

Butterfly site vandalised! Thieves have caused substantial damage to the Burnhill private nature reserve in County Durham by removing large quanities of sphagnum moss. This has caused damage to marsh violets growing amongst the moss and may as a result have caused serious damage to the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary population on the site. It's thought that the theft took place Wednesday 14th May in the morning between 9am and 11am. The police are investigating. If you saw anything suspicious in the area of Saltersgate Lane or Waskerley Way, please inform the police on 101.

 

[2slo]

That's a pretty good rule of thumb regarding the species' song, but they can still be tricky. But if you get a reasonable view of the bird, one stand-out feature on a sedge warbler is the creamy stripe over the eye. You can see it in the attached photo which I took.

I think that generally reed warblers are more skulking and difficult to see than sedge. That was one reason why I congratulated you on your pic. They're not easy to get.

Malcolm

Thanks. It was hard to get the shot. I waited about an hour for the bird I eventually saw to put in an appearance. Easy to hear but difficult to see as it stayed low on the dense reeds most of the time. You managed a nice clear shot with your bird.

 

[A W Gregory]

Moorland wildlife

A couple of Ring Ouzel pics from today

 

[2slo]

^ Very nice shots.

I had a walk over Hedleyhope Fell today. There was a Cuckoo calling from the trees half way up the hill but I couldn't see it. Managed a shot of this Mistle Thrush though:

 

[The Liverbirder]

Don't want to p*$$ on your chips, Mr 2slo but your excellent photo (and it is a belter) is not a Mistle Thrush but is a Meadow Pipit.

 

[2slo]

Don't want to p*$$ on your chips, Mr 2slo but your excellent photo (and it is a belter) is not a Mistle Thrush but is a Meadow Pipit.

Lol! No worries, I should just stick to taking pictures and stop trying to identify birds, I'm hopeless at it |=)|
Thanks for the I.D. and the comment, I'll change the title on my Flickr page too.

 

[Mickr]

A Red Kite.

 

[A W Gregory]

Tree Pipit

A couple of Tree Pipit Shots from Hamsterley area

 

[2slo]

Garden Warbler

Spotted a bird I couldn't I.D. in my garden today (no surprises there |=)|) and I managed one shot of it (700mm 100% crop) before it flew off. Two confirmations from the I.D. section tell me it's a Garden Warbler. Delighted to see and hear it, first one I've seen and in my garden too:

 

[June Atkinson]

Red Kite in flight

Beautiful shot, Mick. Added to your folder for either Summer Newsletter or Celebration Brochure. Have you any ID for it?

Up at Muggleswick this afternoon. Beautiful sunny day - oystercatchers, lapwings, red grouse and a huge curlew on the fence as I came away. I was coming down the hill so couldn't easily stop.
There was also a lovely young deer on the slope below the Muggleswick moorland road.

In the White Monk Tea Room, I was told there are kites about, but I didn't see any.

A Red Kite.

 

[Michael A]

Nice garden find. Garden Warbler lovely to hear it singing.

 

[degsy_safc]

Up at Muggleswick this afternoon. Beautiful sunny day - oystercatchers, lapwings, red grouse and a huge curlew on the fence as I came away. I was told there are kites about, but I didn't see any.

I had 2 separate Red Kites there this afternoon June, one very low over the moor opposite the road that leads from Muggleswick to the Stanhope road, the other was circling the field directly in front of the Village Hall - I didn't bother photographing either of them though - as i was too interested in these guys:

 

[Michael A]

Brill. capture Derek.

 

[June Atkinson]

Kite Watch Sunday 8 June 2014

It's Kite Watch time again - and you are all invited!

Bring the whole family and a picnic; we are celebrating our double Anniversary!

Here are the details and the map shows how to get to Kite Hill.

 

[A W Gregory]

Ring Ouzel & Slow Worm - Golden Plover

This Male Ring Ouzel wasn't happy with the Slow Worm close to its nest site !