Durham Birding (7 Viewers)

ALFIE TEMPLE · Nov 8, 2012

c35 Waxwing flying over Harraton (Washington) this morning.
4 in tree (not feeding) at Donwell (Washington) in the afternoon near a pink berry laden Rowan Tree
Checked Concorde (Washington)this morning-no Waxwing,and no sign that they had been feeding on their favourite Cotoneaster tree. However, checked again in the afternoon, and the tree had loads of fallen berries underneath it (no fallen berries were their in the morning), a sure sign that they had been their. A car was parked next to the tree-which may explain lack of birds.
No sign of any birds at the Galleries-and no sign any had been feeding on the Cotoneasters.
Alfie

seggs · Nov 8, 2012

Robert L Jarvis said:
Can anyone help please, where abouts in Dartford Road,number etc??

The bird moves around the houses near here but its favourite hang out seems to be about here-

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...archp=ids.srf&dn=554&ax=439932&ay=559800&lm=0

Its only a short street

Shaggy2070 · Nov 8, 2012

Haven't done much birding lately but I had to pop along to see the latest special visitor.
Probably years before I get another chance to get such close views of one of these so I grabbed a few shots like everyone else

.

Ray.Scott · Nov 8, 2012

A few more of the Bee Eater, from today. Good to see Glen and a few others :t:.

Robert L Jarvis · Nov 8, 2012

Cheers. Thanks Guys, will try to get there, decent weather permitting.

June Atkinson · Nov 9, 2012

2slo said:
Last time I spotted a Red Kite it was an untagged juvenile, this time it's an adult bird and tagged. A very distant sighting (barely spotted it tbh) and apologies in advance for the photo quality, this is a 200% crop from a 400mm telephoto, so you get some idea of the distance. This one was hunting near Blanchland and was moving away from me when I spotted it. Anyway, the tags appear to be right wing white tag; left wing orange tag so hopefully that will help with I.D.

View attachment 413282

Interesting! This sighting is probably of a Grizedale red kite from the Cumbrian group.

It could even be the one in our report earlier in the year; have a look here:
http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page6.htm Scroll down to the entry for 4th June 2012 A visitor from Cumbria.

Your description of the wing tags would correlate with the Orange/White tags which identify the Cumbrian kites as opposed to our kites which have a Pink tag on the left wing and the year colour tag on the right wing.
We have a facility on our website for reporting sightings, too. We'd really appreciate any information you might have in the future. We have two Monitoring teams and it is helpful to have reports such as this one.
Here is a capture by Mick Render of WT3

June Atkinson · Nov 9, 2012

Ray.Scott said:
A few more of the Bee Eater, from today. Good to see Glen and a few others :t:.

The first one, of the bee eater with ruffled plumage is absolutely stunning, Ray.
I think you need to save it and enter it for a photographic/birdwatching competition.
I have never seen and enjoyed such a lovely set of images of these colourful birds as sent in by all your lucky people who managed to get to see this rare visitor!

June Atkinson · Nov 9, 2012

ColinSev said:
Just to add my digiscoped effort to the fantastic Bee-Eater shots

http://colsdigiscope.blogspot.co.uk/

Colin

What a stunning capture, Colin.

Lee.S · Nov 9, 2012

Managed to get down to see the Bee-Eater today. Nice to meet up with some of you guys.

Ray.Scott · Nov 9, 2012

Called at Jarrow, Waxwing hot spot, but nowt there yet, plenty of berries though.

At least 5 Divers, all RT I think, not sure about image 3?, in the small Haven bay and 1 RT diver on the Sandhaven side of the pier, a couple giving close views at times, also cormorant, guillemot, sanderling, redshank, turnstone, oyster catcher and 2 rock pipits.

On the way home called to see if the Bee Eater was still about, that was about 3ish, and It had not been seen for about an hour, maybe It's had It's fill and decided to leave, If so, lets hope It makes It to somewhere warm.

SE owl seen flying accross the coast road, between Sunderland and Grangetown, also kestrel and possible merlin.

2slo · Nov 9, 2012

June Atkinson said:
Interesting! This sighting is probably of a Grizedale red kite from the Cumbrian group.
It could even be the one in our report earlier in the year; have a look here:
http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page6.htm Scroll down to the entry for 4th June 2012 A visitor from Cumbria. Apologies - for some reason this will not come up.
Your description of the wing tags would correlate with the Orange/White tags which identify the Cumbrian kites as opposed to our kites which have a Pink tag on the left wing and the year colour tag on the right wing.
We have a facility on our website for reporting sightings, too. We'd really appreciate any information you might have in the future. We have two Monitoring teams and it is helpful to have reports such as this one.
Here is a capture by Mick Render of WT3

Thanks June. Happy to report sightings, I just wish I could get a decent close up shot!

Adam W · Nov 10, 2012

Ray.Scott said:
At least 5 Divers, all RT I think, not sure about image 3?,

Image 3 is a Red Throated too, looks like it hasnt quite inished moulting out of its summer plumage.

Ray.Scott · Nov 10, 2012

Adam W said:
Image 3 is a Red Throated too, looks like it hasnt quite inished moulting out of its summer plumage.

Cheers Adam, always good to have a second opinion :t:.

ColinSev · Nov 10, 2012

Waxwings in Teesside area

I found 4 different flocks of Waxwings today at Hartington Roundabout, Middlesbrough, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm turn off on A66 and Bowesfield Nature Reserve.
All the flocks were a bit flighty but were feeding well on various berry trees - particularly Rowan where a flock of 60 or so had stripped 3 trees in a 2 days at Ingleby Barwick.

IanF · Nov 10, 2012

We just returned from holiday today. Luckily the Bee-eater was still around.

Video clip - http://youtu.be/xP8h06Av7Nk

Photos and video taken with a Canon SX50 HS

June Atkinson · Nov 10, 2012

ColinSev said:
I found 4 different flocks of Waxwings today at Hartington Roundabout, Middlesbrough, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm turn off on A66 and Bowesfield Nature Reserve.
All the flocks were a bit flighty but were feeding well on various berry trees - particularly Rowan where a flock of 60 or so had stripped 3 trees in a 2 days at Ingleby Barwick.

People have been so fortunate in seeing these colourful birds. There is a wealth of stunning images to enjoy.
You're right, Colin, in highlighting their voracity - we once had a flock of sixty waxwings which, in twenty minutes, completed stripped a 100yard hedge of berries.
Maybe they have an inbuilt industrial expertise that we lack? In fact, the animal world never ceases to amaze me.... ants, bees, squirrels, beavers - what is their secret gene? o

June Atkinson · Nov 10, 2012

IanF said:
We just returned from holiday today. Luckily the Bee-eater was still around.

Video clip - http://youtu.be/xP8h06Av7Nk

Photos and video taken with a Canon SX50 HS

Superb images, as always, Ian. I do hope this little visitor finds its way to its proper location. I read that "These bee-eaters make an arduous migration in the late summer or early autumn each year, travelling from Spain, the south of France, and Northern Italy to cross the Mediterranean at the Strait of Gibraltar, and then making their way in flocks over the Sahara to their winter grounds in West Africa." Perhaps they need to add The British Isles!!
Two interesting points - first the two sexes are alike, and second, the bee eater is a cousin of the kingfisher.

I have ticked "Like" on your UTube video, Ian and added a comment on FB.

ColinSev · Nov 10, 2012

Waxwings

Hi June

Yeah they seem to never get sick of eating the berries, at times it seems to be a 1 in 1 out method judging by the path under the trees. But this focus on eating means they are sometimes quite approachable.

June Atkinson said:
Superb images, as always, Ian. I do hope this little visitor finds its way to its proper location. I read that "These bee-eaters make an arduous migration in the late summer or early autumn each year, travelling from Spain, the south of France, and Northern Italy to cross the Mediterranean at the Strait of Gibraltar, and then making their way in flocks over the Sahara to their winter grounds in West Africa." Perhaps they need to add The British Isles!!
Two interesting points - first the two sexes are alike, and second, the bee eater is a cousin of the kingfisher.

I have ticked "Like" on your UTube video, Ian and added a comment on FB.

June Atkinson · Nov 10, 2012

Roost Watch at Nine ARches Viaduct

Friends of Red Kites will be running two Roost Watches from the Nine Arches Viaduct.
Park at Winlaton Mill car park and a 20 minute walk takes you to the Viaduct.
Details in the attached poster.

Everybody is very welcome - our volunteers will be there to answer any questions.

If the weather is unsettled, please check the website - Events page
http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page12.htm

keith · Nov 11, 2012

IanF said:
We just returned from holiday today. Luckily the Bee-eater was still around.

Video clip - http://youtu.be/xP8h06Av7Nk

Photos and video taken with a Canon SX50 HS

Great video Ian, where were you when we needed you at Bishop Middleham back in 2002?.

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