Durham Birding (12 Viewers)

IanF · Jan 4, 2011

No sign of the RN Duck or Twite at Dormans Pool this morning though the RND was reported again this afternoon. Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Kestrel x2 seen over the reeds.

RSPB Saltholme - Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Teal, Coot and Wigeon a thte Wildlife Watchpoint but no sign of the Water Rails this morning.

A single Waxwing was eating the apples and pears outside the visitor centre window giving very close views through the glass. A single Fieldfare was also present along with Goldfinch, Tits, Greenfinch and a GSW. Teal and Wigeon were feeding on and off just outside the window.

Ray.Scott · Jan 4, 2011

First time out this year so decided on a ride over Weardale/Teesdale.
Not the best of decisions as the weather over the moors was horrendous, with snow, rain, wind, and near Langdon Beck area, was like sitting in a grey cloud :-C.

Anyway birds seen: Large flock of about 300 fieldfare with a few redwing amongst them, couple of lapwing, loads of red grouse, about 20 black grouse near the Langdon Beck hotel, the closest being about a field away + the usual crows, jackdaws, pheasants, BH gulls etc.

great bustard · Jan 4, 2011

davidten31 said:
Hi Just new to the forum, I live in brasside I'll let you know as i'm having a walk round there tomorrow. :t:

I'll be starting at 9 so perhaps I can let you know!

FoghornKinghorn · Jan 4, 2011

Coues Arctic Redpoll footage from Rainton Meadows

Unless Steve Cliffton has beaten me to it here is the first footage taken of a confirmed Arctic Redpoll at Rainton Meadows. The footage was taken this afternoon around about 1:30ish, just before I was about to give up and go for a wander. Very nice to finally have met MalR, good bit natter and we put the birding world to rights

The footage is best viewed by changing the quality from "360p" to "720pHD", this can be done by clicking on the button on the play bar. Also put the video on full screen as the quality is good and you can make out far more of the bird. The footage is short so you may need to play it once of twice to enjoy it! lol

Here's the footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IJOwygM6qM

Cheers,

MalR · Jan 4, 2011

It was a pleasure to meet you today, Andrew. I thoroughly enjoyed the birding and the conversation. Glad I decided to hang around into the afternoon.:t:

Malcolm

Mark Newsome · Jan 4, 2011

FoghornKinghorn said:
Unless Steve Cliffton has beaten me to it here is the first footage taken of a confirmed Arctic Redpoll at Rainton Meadows. The footage was taken this afternoon around about 1:30ish, just before I was about to give up and go for a wander. ...

Unfortunately Andrew, Steve bet you to it...

http://www.birdforum.tv/action/viewvideo/2400/Arctic_Redpoll/

Similar quality to yours, don't ya think...?!

Mark

FoghornKinghorn · Jan 4, 2011

Mark Newsome said:
Unfortunately Andrew, Steve bet you to it...

http://www.birdforum.tv/action/viewvideo/2400/Arctic_Redpoll/

Similar quality to yours, don't ya think...?!

Mark

Don't be cheeky!

Well done to Steve Cliffton:clap: you can hear me talking in that video, not rare! lol

thearrow · Jan 5, 2011

Is this a Mistle Thrush

Please can anyone help. Saw this bird today - looked a bit big for a Song Thrush. Looking at the photos Im not a 100% sure if it is a Mistle Thrush or a Song Thrush.

Noel

rokermartin · Jan 5, 2011

thearrow said:
Please can anyone help. Saw this bird today - looked a bit big for a Song Thrush. Looking at the photos Im not a 100% sure if it is a Mistle Thrush or a Song Thrush.

Noel

It's a Mistle Thrush

thearrow · Jan 5, 2011

rokermartin said:
It's a Mistle Thrush

Crikey that was quick - many thanks.

Noel

birding maniac · Jan 5, 2011

yeah, just to agree, it is Mistle

thearrow · Jan 5, 2011

Again many thanks - thats our first Mistle Thrush sighting and it was in a field about 30 yards from home.

Noel

davidten31 · Jan 5, 2011

Well I have been out on my first proper birding session, and I would like to thank Great Bustard for his assistance and knowledge today. We went to Brasside Ponds this morning which I say is about ¾ frozen. It was very cold and the sun was low in the sky.

Here is what we saw: Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Jays, Magpie, Gray Heron, Carrion Crow eating a dead sea gull on the ice, Mute Swans, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Pochard, Golden Eye, Teal, Wigeon, Wood Pigeon, Pheasants, Blackbirds, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, and finally a Treecreeper.

I think for my first trip out I’ve learnt a lot and again many thanks to Great Bustard. :t:

Paul Nellist · Jan 5, 2011

Arctic Redpoll at Rainton Meadows

A big thanks to all involved in putting up and stocking the feeders with niger seed on Rye Hill.

Without this I wouldn't have had a hope in hell of obtaining the excellent close views of the Arctic Redpoll I saw today at Rainton Meadows.

great bustard · Jan 5, 2011

davidten31 said:
Well I have been out on my first proper birding session, and I would like to thank Great Bustard for his assistance and knowledge today. We went to Brasside Ponds this morning which I say is about ¾ frozen. It was very cold and the sun was low in the sky.

Here is what we saw: Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Jays, Magpie, Gray Heron, Carrion Crow eating a dead sea gull on the ice, Mute Swans, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Pochard, Golden Eye, Teal, Wigeon, Wood Pigeon, Pheasants, Blackbirds, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, and finally a Treecreeper.

I think for my first trip out I’ve learnt a lot and again many thanks to Great Bustard. :t:

:t:

Severe lack of Thrush sp around site (as in none)

PSiv sent some bits and bobs to your email

great bustard · Jan 5, 2011

Paul Nellist said:
A big thanks to all involved in putting up and stocking the feeders with niger seed on Rye Hill.

Without this I wouldn't have had a hope in hell of obtaining the excellent close views of the Arctic Redpoll I saw today at Rainton Meadows.

Cracking views of the Arctic Redpoll today. Thanks to the "Nutter" with the id skills....

There was a large flock o mixed redpolls,goldfinches and siskins today, c100, also saw a few more smaller groups (c 20's)of similar around site. It appears to me that these birds numbers are relativley high compare to previous yaers?

Am i right in thinking this or am i mad?

FoghornKinghorn · Jan 5, 2011

great bustard said:
Cracking views of the Arctic Redpoll today. Thanks to the "Nutter" with the id skills....

There was a large flock o mixed redpolls,goldfinches and siskins today, c100, also saw a few more smaller groups (c 20's)of similar around site. It appears to me that these birds numbers are relativley high compare to previous yaers?

Am i right in thinking this or am i mad?

Glad to hear you had good views, I haven't had fantastic prolonged views yet. Though I am hoping I will get that in time.

There are defiantly more Redpolls around this year than what there has been in previous years. It appears to be an invasion year for Mealy Redpoll with hundreds/thousands throughout the country. They appear to be bringing in the Arctic Redpolls as well:
3-4 birds at Rainton
2 birds in South Yorkshire
1 bird in Northumberland

They are just the ones we know about, we don't know about the ones we don't know about.

Ray.Scott · Jan 5, 2011

Rainton Meadows today:
Nothing of note on the ponds, still frozen, so went up Redpoll hill to try for the Arctic and others.
Large flock of mixed redpoll, goldfinch and the odd siskin, kept flying into the plantation and managed to view all 3 redpoll species, At least 2 Arctic about.
Please note, I was informed as to which was the Arctic.

Pictures as follows:
Lesser, Arctic & Lesser, Arctic & Mealy, Mealy, and last picture top bird Mealy, middle 2 Arctic & bottom Lesser.

Hope I've got It right :eek!:.

Ray.Scott · Jan 5, 2011

A few more of the Arctic.
It was very aggressive to other birds trying to feed.

FoghornKinghorn · Jan 5, 2011

Ray.Scott said:
A few more of the Arctic.
It was very aggressive to other birds trying to feed.

All your Arctic Redpoll images are superb! What a sickener! The one day I don't go:smoke:

Durham Birding (12 Viewers)

Moderator

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Durham Recorder

Well-known member

Born to seawatch...

Durham Recorder

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Michael M

Well-known member

Member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Durham Recorder

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Durham Recorder

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread