Durham Birding (11 Viewers)

Yellow Legged Gull at Barmston Pond this morning.

Guillemot, Shag, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Cormorant, Linnet, Goldfinch, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Common Tern, Meadow Pipit at Whitburn.

Off to Cyprus in the morning for two weeks, will try to get a couple of days birding done!!!

B

Early Saturday morning.

Long-eared Owls with calling juvs at Houghton & Murton.
Tawny Owl with juvs at Hetton / Houghton / Murton.
Little Owl heard at Seaton Pond.
Barn Owl hunting nr Lynn Terrace between Wheatley Hill & Shotton Colliery
Woodcock still roding at Murton.
Grasshopper Warbler singing at Houghton / Warden Law & Seaton Pond.
Sedge Warblers singing from rape crops at Seaton Pond.
Skylarks impossible to estimate no's of singing birds in Sherburn / Shadforth areas at first light, everywhere.
2-3 Quail singing Shadforth / Running Waters area.
Corn Bunting 2 singing between Byers Garth & Running Waters.

Hurworth Burn & immediate area
Roe Buck walking along middle of road for 200m
Treecreeper, Great tit, Long tailed Tit, Gswpkr
Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chafffinch, Greenfinch
Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler
Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Cr, Rk, Jkdaw, Coll Dove
male Teal & Common Gulls


Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park
Tree Sparrows at car park, Stock Dove singing from road bridge.
6 Shelduck on pool

Salthome Pools
Greylag Goose total of 87goslings on Back Salthome alone.
Mute Swan, Canadas, Coot, Moorhen
GCGrebe 3pr Salt(E) Little Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Pochard, Tufted Duck
Wigeon 3pr + 1M, Shoveller, Gadwall, Mallard
BHGull, Common Tern
Swift, Swallow
12 Dunlin, 7Ringed Plover, 1Oystercatcher, 1Snipe, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank
3Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit

Calor Gas Balancing Pool
5 sub adult Little Gull, LBBGull, Sand Martin, Pied Wag

Dormans Marsh /Pool
Groppers, Sedge & Reed Warblers
Water Rail calling
Teal single female pretending to be a garganey
GBBGull, Cormorant over
Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwings, Heron
female Shoveller with a damaged wing & lower mandible hanging loose, may have hit overhead cables.
also dead Fox cub on roadside.

Rec Pond
drake Scaup & drake Red Crested Pochard

Greatham Creek / Seal Sands
single LRP & Whimbrel
2 Kestrel on Greenabella
2 each of Bar tailed Godwit & Grey Plover on S.Sands
redhead Red Breasted Merganser in main channel.

Steetley & H'Pool Headland (08:10)
20+ Sanderling many in summer plumage, Knot, Turnston, Purp Sand
Fulmar, Kittiwake, Gannet, Sandwich Tern & Eider offshore
Little Tern 2 past & several above coloney at Crimdon

SE.

Sounds like the Evansmobile had a good day agan Stevie lad. You must put the miles in mate.

Was the Scaup quite visible then mate? - not seen when i have been a few times in last couple of weeks - then again it's my nemesis duck!

Steve

Sounds like the Evansmobile had a good day agan Stevie lad. You must put the miles in mate.

Click to expand...

Hi Steve
Was a good morning, wouldnt have thought it was no more than 65-70mile total.

Was the Scaup quite visible then mate? - not seen when i have been a few times in last couple of weeks - then again it's my nemesis duck!

Click to expand...

South side of Rec, at Rear (scope).

Early this morning low cloud & drizzle/rain.
Covered my old local areas North-west of Durham City.
Witton Hall & R.Browney, Witton Gilbert
Grid ref: NZ231451
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.8003&lon=-1.6422&scale=25000&icon=x
Ad Willow Tit, Pr Tree Sparrow, single Yellow Wagtail over calling, Pied Wag family on swg wks
male Grey Wagtail feeding on River Browney
Heron, prMallard, 1 Moorhen
No Spotted Fly in churchyard, normally reliable for calling Quail.
female Roe Deer walking along path, slipping on tarmac.

Norburn Lane, Witton Gilbert
Grid ref: NZ228459
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.8075&lon=-1.6468&scale=25000&icon=x
single Corn Bunting singing from barley field
Meadow Pipit display flighting from wires
very many Skylarks, majority of fields with wide uncultivated headlands.
Tree Sparrow 6+, House Sparrow 10+ at Horns House
Grasshopper Warbler singing, Stock Dove, Grey Partridge

Sacriston Wood[/U], Charlaw Fell
Grid ref: NZ230478
Web Address: www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.8245&lon=-1.6436&scale=25000&icon=x
Roe Deer running across open fields at Long Edge
calling Green Wpkr, drumming Gswpkr, single singing m Redstart
3 Tree Sparrow, 1 chirping away sat in centre of oil seed rape field, like a ReedBunt.

Esp Green, nr Iveston
drumming Snipe, Tree Sparrow 4+

Kings Head pub, Lanchester
Dipper feeding in R.Browney

Malton picnic site
juv Tawny Owl out of nest, in Scots Pines
Dipper feeding, Grey Wagtail, Mallard, Moorhen, Heron
3-4 Garden Warblers,
pr Spotted Flycatchers at riverside but no Pied Flys this year.
x2Gswpkr, ad Nuthatch, family party of 5+Treecreepers top car park
singing Goldcrest, LTtits, juvvy Coal & Great tits
2pr Bullfinch, single singing m Redstart (usually several)
6+ Swallows mobbing a Magpie perched close to stable buildings

Closer to Home,
Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate South
pr Redshank with 2 well grown young (2/3rds full size)
2pr Lapwing both with 2 well grown young

Seaton Pond (08:00)
North Pond Grid ref: NZ385493
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.8371&lon=-1.4021&scale=25000&icon=x

South Pond Grid ref: NZ385488
Web Address: www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.8326&lon=-1.4022&scale=25000&icon=x

singing Sedge Warbler & several WhitethroatNo sign of any Corn Buntings
drake Teal on shallow pool, unexpectedly.
pr Coot with tiny young, only one out of nest.
3pr Lapwing, 1 with a good brood of 5 almost full grown, another pr with tiny young, all but one being brooded by female in rain.
Home for 08:30.

Pleasant walk in afternoon with baby in pram
Sunderland Bridge to Croxdale Hall
male Grey Wag & pr +2juvs Pied Wag
pr Gswpkr again feeding young, one of youingsters just starting to stick its head out of hole, parents entering chamber & collecting faecal sacs.
Spotted Flycatcher (7+)
Five individuals in territory dispute , probably others present in adjacent area, hard to keep track, but at least the 5 seen together.
Another pair at Croxdale Hall/Chapel & a single at side of tunnel under A167
Blackcap watched female taking food to nest at base of ivy clad wall at Crox Chapel.
Stock Dove, Goldcrest, Gsw, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Heron, Swift.

SE.

Couple of hours this afternoon around Muggleswick Areas

Was shown a Buzzards nest below a pathway, where 3 chicks were visible at approx 35 metres away. Adult soaring close by. Another adult nr Blanchland.
3 Wood Warbler all 3 singing
4 Pied Flycatcher, 1pair, 1 male carrying food +1singing male.
6 Spotted Flycatcher (2pr +2singles) a singing male chasing a fledgling Goldcrest away from a potential nest site
5-6 Redstart male birds
2singing Tree Pipits
2 singing Cuckoo, 1 Mugg & 1 Derw. Res
adult Marsh Tit watched feeding silently at close range in mature sessile oakwoodland.
Green Woodpeckers calling birds at 2 sites
5 Great Spotted Wpkr Pair at close range, an agitated female carrying food, & single feeding & drumming males.
2pr Nuthatch both carrying food.
Treecreeper, Coal, Blue , Great tit
2 fledged juvenile Goldcrests & a singing male, all in mature decidious oakwoods
Red Grouse - a pr with 10 small young, got to within 2metres of family before the chicks fluttered up in all directions, female used distraction display - she rushed about wings fluttering & its belly hugging the ground untill 25metres away. One of the chicks was within a metre of us but didnt move untill the female bolted.
Snipe - a pr active in / around a pasture at Derwent Res (first layby on south shore after passing through Edmundbyers) Often sat on drystone wall calling. Another bird drumming closer to Blanchland.
Redshank - a pr with 2 chicks in same field as Snipe pr
Moorhen - a pr with 5+small chicks at small pool nr snipe & redshank.
Curlew the odd bird still displaying / singing.
Lapwing - numerous young of various sizes, very widespread.
Oystercatcher - pr mobbing a male Kestrel above Muggleswick.
Heron - ad over Derw Res. Cormorant - 1 flying over Der Res.
Dipper / Grey Wag - singles of both on a small beck.
Stock Dove & Grey Partridge - several pairs

SE

Nice birds Steve..you got a pram mount for your scope yet?

Ha ha Den
The scope & tripod nestle quite nicely underneath in the little luggage compartment. Pram acts as quite a good windbreaker, had it up on Widdybank Fell at CowGreen (got some funny looks from all the walkers kitted out in Berghaus & walking poles) & down as far as Seal Sands hide (used rain hood to keep out the fumes..)
Looks like you had another nice Norfolk trip, even more lifers.

Keep an eye open for a possible Teal brood on Seaton Pond.

SE.

Working in a posh part of Durham City today.
Birds seen in a Garden :-
Gsw Nuthatch Jay Bullfinch LTTit Great tit Blue tit Wren Robin Dunnock Song Thrush Blackbird Stock Dove Wood Pigeon Magpie Rook Jackdaw

Red backed Shrike reported from Quarrington Hill as per Aprils Great Grey..

SE

5 Turtle Doves present at a southern site.

2 Black Tern on N.Tees

Long-eared Owl 1 seen at N.Tees marshes & hunting bird near Rainton Bridge & juvs calling nr Trimdon & Dham City

5 Little Gulls 4 Dormans / 1 Back Salt

Tawny Owl one on a the roadside fence at Garmondsway was several 100 metres away from any woodland. NZ 340 339

Spot Fly Smiths Arms & 5ad Shelduck - ho'gate

Coot with chicks Houghton Gate - 1st breeding record at this open site which has No emergent waterside vegetation. Grid ref: NZ301512 www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.8547&lon=-1.5327&scale=25000&icon=x

Leo - Successfull breeding confirmed at another 'New' Durham City site

Water Rail - several calling on Dormans.

SE

4 Turtle Doves

4 Turtle Doves very active & singing, first time ive seen them in display flights. Interesting & direct comparison with a Collared Dove in an adjacent tree.
Also Siskin & Lesser Redpoll.
SE.

A fledged Little Owl at Durham City, with another adult watched taking a medium sized vole (large prey item for it) in a noisy nest in a tree hole.

A family party of 5 Long-eared Owls(3 juveniles) in Silver Birch scrub in the Ch-le-Street District.

A cold night, not one singing Grasshopper Warbler heard.

A report of a ringtail Hen Harrier on the Pennine edge, possibly a failed breeder moving through

Water Rail heard calling midday from a central location.

An adult Snipe feeding at Lamesley Water Meadows

2pr of Common Tern established at R.Meadows
SE.

Out with the combat jacket gang at 03:30 on a grim morning.

A roadside Little Owl at Woodlands Hall, Lanchester - trying to hide behind its telegraph pole vantage point was a nice start.
Other Littles seen in the Mugleswick / Edmondbyers area on the moorland edge between 250 & 270m/asl.
Breeding confirmed with a juvenile Little Owl calling at Muggleswick Park from dead trees on a farm at 255 m/asl.
The same (M.Pk) area had 3 Cuckoos singing over one another, with masses of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks & several Linnets. The M'wick / E'Byers area had at least 7 Cuckoo, including a pair sitting together on a drystone wall, male singing & female giving a bubbling call, untill they were scattered by a fiesty Mipit.
Curlews were everywhere, with many pairs noted in tight densities. Vocal adults sat on walls scolding us to keep away.... one pair had a brood of 4 small chicks, superbly camouflaged, running off into the deeper heather & grass in order to evade detection.
Lapwing were ever present & only realy held attention when at close range with young on the grass verge.
The mournful piping of Golden Plover was prominant on the heather moor of Skaylock Hill & Hisehope Head, 15 or more adults were see, some agitated on our arrival, scurrying around the gravelled car park trying to distract our attention from their well grown youngster which slipped into deeper heather, as we approached. Another adult which perched on a wooden fencepost looked peculiar
Snipe were in the air throughout the morning, one in particular drumming right over the car, singles were seen perched on walls.
Less prominant were Redshank & Oystercatcher, but adding a noisy burst of colour as they flash by.

Already Starling flocks had formed, with 350-400 roving about in a single group at Edmondbyers, containing many juvs. Mistle Thrushes too were grouping up on the moor edge. A male Kestrel came back in off the fell carrying prey to his nest in a stand of mature Scots Pines. A large dark raptor that briefly broke the horizon could not be identified but was likely to be a Harrier or Buzzard.
Several Red Grouse were easily visible with a family group at one roadside.

The sky started to darken, so we headed in a tight, wooded valley. Here the M ature Oakwood species were prominant, with singing Redstarts, Tree Pipits & Pied Flys carrying food. 2-3 Wood Warblers sang repeatedly, one being especially showy. A discreet check on the Buzzard family revealed all 3 chicks doing well.
Spotted Flycatchers, Blackcap & Chifchaff were visiting, while residents included a Bullfinch pair which tried to melt un-noticed into the Hazel understorey Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Gswpkrs & a Nuthatch seen taking food into his nest hole, with mud covered enterance visible. Overhead the Aspen leaves began to tremble as the breeze picked up & the temperature dropped, it was 09:30 so quickly, & time to go.

SE

Ho Gate / Owl surveying

Ho Gate
Family party of Shelducks reduced to 9 chicks
juvvy Redshank exercising its wings but as yet unable to fly.
Mob of juvvy Lapwings with ragged looking flight feathers
Oystercatcher sitting incubating.
Male Grey Partridges indulging in much caling & running about.

LEO Checks
A breezy cool night, not the best conditions but:-

a hatched egg, a glimpse of an adult on edge of Birch Scrub & the used nest located in Hawthorn at 3metres height & only 8metres away from a busy path.

4 successful nests in parts of Derwentside with another where a juv heard but site not specifically located due to distance, wind & darkness.

Durham City area 2juvs calling at traditional site with at least 3 calling juvs from 'new' site - located on 9th June

SE.

BirdGuides rpt of a male RBShrike at Jarrow.
Wed - BGuides rpt that there were 2 Male RBShrikes SiNGiNG !! at Jarrow.

Hetton Lyons
2 Little Gulls yesterday
another juvvy Long-eared Owl found sat outside its nest imediately adjacent to a busy path.

Seaton Pond
Cuckoo, Grasshopper warbler, Lesser Whitethroat.
Pr Gadwall, 5Ruddy Duck, 4pr Lapwing with chicks, broods all different ages.

Only a single singing Corn Bunting though, bit worrying.

Great Crested Grebe recently found floundering on a dirt track beneath wires at R.Meadows, released unharmed onto pools.

A male Kesrel seen returning to nest with a mammal in each talon.

SE.

Been out on the bike today birds seen include
Lanchester Railway Linnet, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Kestrel, Grey Heron
Waskerley Way Cuckoo, Kestrel, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Red Grouse, Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover
Parkhead Cafe Crawleyside Male Stonechat, Snipe, Oystercatcher,
Edmundbyers/ Muggleswick area Buzzard, Ring Ouzel, Kestrel and 2 families of Nuthatches feeding in woodland.
Lanchester area Tree Pipit and Wheatear

Dorman's Pool last three nights now - adult LEO 20:15 - 20:45.

Ian
Marsh Sandpiper reported at Bishop Middleham by reliable birder.
On Castle Lake then flew to A1M flashes....

John
Ospey at Hisehope & ringtail Hen Harrier at Smiddyshaw (South West of Rowley, nr Consett, of A68.)

SE

Early this morning
2 singing Quail nr Tanfield Railway, at 3AM, approx 2 mile apart.
1 nr East Tanfield Station, in Derwentside. NZ 194 547
the other nr Andrews House Station in Gateshead. NZ 210 574

Little Owls with juvs at
Blackburn Fell, north of Burdon Moor NZ 217 585
Birkheads Lane, south west of Ravensworth Grange NZ 220 568

Long-eared Owl juv heard "in the Gateshead Borough"

Red-legged Partridge 1 watched at close range, calling from large rock pile at partial built house between Sunniside Station & Ravensworth Grange, at NZ 220 574, a second bird calling to the south of here.

Cuckoo single singing singing birds at
Hedley Hall Fm community woodland NZ 560 220
Ravensworth Grange (N.east of) at NZ 226 573

Grasshopper Warbler
Reeling birds prominant, warm but not calm.
Total of 12 in parts of South West of Gateshead Borough
2+ reeling between Marley Hill & Sunniside NZ 205 583
1 reeling nr Andrews House Station. NZ 210 574
7+ reeling (inc 2seen) in part of Hedley Hall Community Woodland, part of Grt Nth Forest, at Hedley Fell NZ 215 565. (large proportion of site not covered)
1 reeling at Barcusclose Lane, nr Crookgate Bank NZ 184 562
1 reeling to south of Byermoor (quite distant) NZ 187 573approx

also 1 reeling at Tanfield Lea, Ind Est, Derwentside NZ 195 545 with Sedge Warbler also singing there.

Dipper still feeding its fledgling & 2 fem & a moulting drake Goosander, adult Little Ringed Plover with small chick at all Lambton.

Pair of Buzzards apparently quite happy nr Lanchester this morning & a Short-eared Owl at Woodland Fell.

Wood Sand reported at Lambton Coke works yesterday,
adult summer plumaged Green Sand there last night.

Two Buzzard over Kinninvie to Woodland Road yesterday plus Red-legged Partridge on the Woodland to Egglestone road itself.

Pied Flycatchersx2 pair in Deepdale, Barnard Castle also several pairs of Grey Wagtail with young and two pair Dipper one on second brood. Loads Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Tit families with young. Single pair Spotted Flycatchers nesting and one Wood Warbler still - though gathering food for young.

Not much doing up Tees Banks Woods - single paired Spotted Flycatcher.

Eagle Owl - Yorkshire Dales - just one chick seen. Quite a few Red Gouse in same area.

Half an hour at Waldridge Fell

Yellowhammer
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Reed Bunting
Skylark
Kestrel
Grey Partridge
Pheasant
Magpie
Tawny Owl (Heard, but not seen)

B