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Northumbrian Birding (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Stewart J.
- Start date
Vipers
Brunswick Birder
Living between two nature resrves (Havannah and Big Water) does help a little bit. :t:
Wallington Hall
Goes without saying that having not seen one there for a year there was a Red Squirrel at the Hide this morning. Not for long though it was chased off by two of the 6 Grey Squirrels that were trying to pull the feeders down.
On the bird front there was the palest Blue Tit I've ever seen visited the feeders once while I was there. Not like any of the other leucistic birds I've seen in the past
Goes without saying that having not seen one there for a year there was a Red Squirrel at the Hide this morning. Not for long though it was chased off by two of the 6 Grey Squirrels that were trying to pull the feeders down.
On the bird front there was the palest Blue Tit I've ever seen visited the feeders once while I was there. Not like any of the other leucistic birds I've seen in the past
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piecatcher
Well-known member
Some great birds about today. Stunning adult male black redstart at Blyth. Twites at Cresswell then snow buntings at Blyth on my way home. There seemed to be yellowhammer flocks everywhere I went today.
super-silly-um
Well-known member
Tynemouth
A Bar-tailed Godwit on the grass at Sharpness Point around 4pm. Grey Plover on the rocks below.
A Bar-tailed Godwit on the grass at Sharpness Point around 4pm. Grey Plover on the rocks below.
Ron Hindhaugh
Well-known member
Had a ride across the border yesterday into Northumberland. Started at Cresswell then headed to Druridge Pools then down to Blyth on the way home.
Loads of Heron at Cresswell chasing each other around the pool. Also Red-breasted Merganser, Dunlin, Wigeon & Shoveler. Flock of Twite as I headed to Druridge Pools. On the pool there was Wigeon, Teal, Pochard and briefly three Pintail (two males & a female). Just before I left four Whooper Swans flew in.
Went down to Blyth for the Snow Bunting (can anyone tell me how to find them) but got a couple of Stonechat instead.
Here are a few shots.
Loads of Heron at Cresswell chasing each other around the pool. Also Red-breasted Merganser, Dunlin, Wigeon & Shoveler. Flock of Twite as I headed to Druridge Pools. On the pool there was Wigeon, Teal, Pochard and briefly three Pintail (two males & a female). Just before I left four Whooper Swans flew in.
Went down to Blyth for the Snow Bunting (can anyone tell me how to find them) but got a couple of Stonechat instead.
Here are a few shots.
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Ron Hindhaugh
Well-known member
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
eveRyONe - they are here.
If you walk SW along the road/path from the SE corner of the cemetery, and about half way along look north towards said resting place, they are in there somewhere. Unlike the mixed finch flock that inhabits the hedgerow to your left, they are not always mobile but wait 15/20 minutes or so and they usually lift. Once settled, unless close to the path or you can look up the stubble 'furrows', they can hard to locate imo.
Good luck!
Ron Hindhaugh
Well-known member
Thanks Gordon. I was near there yesterday (that's where I got the Stonechat) and did not have a clue they were in that area. Oh well I will just have to try again.
Cheers
Ron
Derek Polley
Well-known member
Annual visit to the NE this weekend. Hoping to be out from dawn on Saturday whenever that is. Usually start at Linton Lane then Cresswell, Druridge pools, East Chevington, Country Park and Hauxley. Is there anything en route or just off route we could be looking for? For NI birders good ticks would be any owl or woodpeckers, snibs, waxwing, shore lark, Pinkies or bean geese, bittern(?) twite, partridge (I know, we don't have any!), smew, etc. All advice gratefully accepted and looking forward to a dry day, the temperature is incidental!!
Derek
Although incidental, I hope it's warmer than it was today. It was seriously cold at Bamburgh, Budle Bay and Warkworth - it hurt! A large flock of Twite at Stag Rocks was the pick there but you should get some just north of Cresswell. In fact, your itinerary should pick up most of the birds you mention. Recently, there has been a Smew at QE 11 lake and a Bean Goose with 4 White Fronts closeby at Woodhorn. It's a good year for SE Owls and again Cresswell may produce the goods. Not aware of any Shorelarks or Waxwings in the County at the moment. One of us will be able to give you precise directions if you're not sure about QE11 or Woodhorn.
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Bob - on the subject of peckers, did you meet Mrs Green this week? :eek!:
She wasn't accommodating when I showed up. I will try for a re-match though!
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
There were a few decent birds in the Druridge area yesterday - redhead smew & scaup at the Country Park, 2 Bewick Swans at Maidens Hall, Jack Snipe in front of hide at Cresswell, and Slavonian Grebe on the North Pool at East Chevington.
I also had a short-eared owl in the field behind Stag Rocks on Tuesday afternoon.
Grey Partridge - quite a few about: I often see them when I'm scanning the edges of fields. Had a nice group of seven in field opposite River Coquet halfway between Amble & Warkworth last week.
Check out the N&TBC sightings page :t:
http://ntbcsightings.posterous.com/
I also had a short-eared owl in the field behind Stag Rocks on Tuesday afternoon.
Grey Partridge - quite a few about: I often see them when I'm scanning the edges of fields. Had a nice group of seven in field opposite River Coquet halfway between Amble & Warkworth last week.
Check out the N&TBC sightings page :t:
http://ntbcsightings.posterous.com/
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Friend found an injured Common Buzzard and is nursing it back to health. She sounds like a right little character (the bird, not the friend :-O). It may be that in the next fews days, the bandages come off and she may have some wing movement. Full flight is a bit touch and go :C.
Is it right that once veterinary care ceases, DEFRA have to be informed about his possessing the wee lady?
Is it right that once veterinary care ceases, DEFRA have to be informed about his possessing the wee lady?
Derek Polley
Well-known member
Cheers & Yhanks.
Cheers, know the area fairly well and I know the QE11 lake and Woodhorn. Last year we got goosander at QE lake and were planning to look for it again this year on our way up, have any been seen there? Again it is a hard bird to get here, we only get a few over-wintering and they are never easy to find.
Cheers, know the area fairly well and I know the QE11 lake and Woodhorn. Last year we got goosander at QE lake and were planning to look for it again this year on our way up, have any been seen there? Again it is a hard bird to get here, we only get a few over-wintering and they are never easy to find.
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Derek Polley
Well-known member
Goosanders
Got goosander there a few years ago, on the Sunday with the family so might engineer a walk in Morpeth again this year. They were like mallards and coming to feed on bread, not quite the behaviour I was expecting.
PS I am based in Cramlington and have birded at Arcot - once saw a barn owl there, it flew across the road at Arcot Lane. I usually drive that way but a few years ago I skidded on ice into the ditch at the double bend near the railway, so the wife is prone to say stick to the main road and don't go looking for barn owls!!
Got goosander there a few years ago, on the Sunday with the family so might engineer a walk in Morpeth again this year. They were like mallards and coming to feed on bread, not quite the behaviour I was expecting.
PS I am based in Cramlington and have birded at Arcot - once saw a barn owl there, it flew across the road at Arcot Lane. I usually drive that way but a few years ago I skidded on ice into the ditch at the double bend near the railway, so the wife is prone to say stick to the main road and don't go looking for barn owls!!
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lazza
Well-known member
If you will be in Cramlington and heading to Morpeth, the back road (A192) passes right by Plessey Woods, which is good for a couple of hours. Usually good for dippers and kingfishers, a variety of ducks (including goosander, but not so far this year!), and most woodland birds, woodpeckers, finches, tits, treecreeper, nuthatch. Have also had a grey shrike there in the past, and of it's also a good place for red squirrles, otters and deer.
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
You should have said sooner. The back of the new Fire Station is a veritable SEO-fest (well, most nights), that said, none tonight and only one last night. There's been up to 5 this week. I am out loads tomorrow. If I see anything of note, I'll add it here. Several GSWs last weekend and a Greeny too!