Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Billingham. UK (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

I paid my first visit of the month to the park this morning. It was pretty overcast starting off which meant back to wearing a coat but half way round the cloud broke up letting through some sun and warming things up.

As expected there were loads of singing birds this visit. Whitethroat numbers seme to be way up on usual far outnumbering the Willow Warblers. Likewise Blackcap were well represented. Sedge Warbler were restricted to the main north to south beck and around the main pond. Yellowhammer were in several places but mostly along the cycleway.

Goldfinch were well spread around as were Long-tailed Tit.

The main pond was very quiet with just Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Grey Heron and one Little Grebe. None in great numbers. Swift x3 were overhead.

Most notable birds were a Cuckoo which seemed to fly in along the cycleway from Greatham and visited Faith Wood for a while before moving west of the cycleway - though it was still pretty close from the calls. A really good find was a Garden Warbler moving between the hedge and wood by the Visitor Centre - first one I've seen here.

No sign of the Grasshopper Warbler today nor Bullfinch.

 

[IanF]

Yesterday morning c.10:00am - Marsh Harrier - first seen 08.55-09.25 over Dorman's Pool/Saltholme Pond east after which it headed off west. Picked up again at Cowpen Bewley where it then followed the park north before disappearing from view heading over towards Greatham Creek/Cowpen Marsh/Greenabella Marsh.

Photo was taken over Saltholme Ponds.

 

[IanF]

I did the first part of this years BTO BBS on Wednesday -

Summary for a visit-
BBS Grid Square: NZ4825
Early visit, 20 May 2008
Grey Heron 2, Mute Swan 4, Mallard 17, Kestrel 1, Grey Partridge 4, Pheasant 4, Moorhen 4, Coot 5, Lapwing 4, Black-headed Gull 5, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Woodpigeon 10, Cuckoo 1, Swift 3, Skylark 1, Swallow 4, Pied/White Wagtail 3, Wren 5, Dunnock 3, Robin 4, Blackbird 4,Song Thrush 1, Grasshopper Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 12, Whitethroat 12, Blackcap 3, Willow Warbler 14, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 4, Magpie 5, Carrion Crow 5, Chaffinch 6, Greenfinch 3, Yellowhammer 3, Reed Bunting 6, Linnet 2, Pochard 3, Goldfinch 5. Number of species - 38.

Species number about the same as last year on the same date but no Bullfinch or Common Tern this time - though no Cuckoo even heard last year.

 

[IanF]

I revisited today - more for the butterflies than the birds.

Small Tortoiseshell, Wall Brown, Small Copper, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood, Peacock and one Common Blue.

A Tawny Mining Bee was an unusual find - in that I've not seen one before.

 

[IanF]

A wander around yesterday morning produced nothing really of note. Still it was a lovely sunny morning with blue skies and little in the way of wind - a real rarity so far this year.

Still singing were several Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff x2, Yellowhammer, Linnet , Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Wren, Robin but just one Blackcap. Very few tits seen. Sounds a lot but nothing like the numbers of birds singing on my last visit. Along the steams were several Reed Warbler. Only four Sedge Warbler heard this visit two of which were around the edge of the main pond.

No Grasshopper Warbler heard.

Birds feeding young - Tree Sparrow, Wren, Linnet, Whitethroat and Yellowhammer.

The main pond was very quiet indeed with very few ducks at all. Around a dozen Mallard, half a dozen Tufted Duck, Coot x2, Moorhen x1, Mute Swan x2. Swallow x2 and Sand Martin x2 were over the water.

Other birds seen - Kestrel x1, Grey Patridge x2.

Butterflies - Orange Tip, Wall, Small Copper, Common Blue, Speckled Wood.
Other insects - Four-spot Chaser x1, several small damsel flies.

 

[IanF]

On Sunday 8th we had a real scorcher - brilliant sunshine and no wind at all.

In the morning I had a wander around the Park. Bird wise there were still plenty singing though it's even tougher now to spot them with the greenery being so lush. Birds seen heard - Willow Warbler x6, Sedge Warbler x4, Reed Warbler x4, Whitethroat x10, Blackcap x3, Wren x5, Yellowhammer x5 and Treesparrow x4. Plenty of Dunnocks around as well.

The main pond remains pretty quiet with nothing new from my last visit.

The Swans by the car park seem to have just two cygnets this year - this was the frsit day I'd seen them out of the nest.

Most notable sightings of the day were insects and Common Tern with a half dozen flying west over the Park. On the main pond in the corner by the old hide I came across Broad-bodied Chaser x2 moving between the reeds and shallow scrape alongside also a Four-spot Chaser. Another two were by the footbridge beside the hill.

Quite a few smaller ones around as well.

A return visit next day and not one Chaser was seen.

 

[Ray_S]

Sunday

I too was there on Sunday, popped across to the Bus Stop hide for the first time too, saw the Avocets and 4 chicks. Anyway back to CBWP... heard a lot saw little, a few goldfinch, dunnock, a really noisy song thrush and the two cygnets.... parent was not too impressed with me approaching, I wouldnt care but a family had just passed them a lot closer and they didnt bother, I can only assume it was either the camera/tripod or the fact that I came between them and the pond. Noticed an increase in insect life too, should be more one the meadows start pushing more flowers through.

Just a question: is the hide ever open?

 

[IanF]

I too was there on Sunday, popped across to the Bus Stop hide for the first time too, saw the Avocets and 4 chicks. Anyway back to CBWP... heard a lot saw little, a few goldfinch, dunnock, a really noisy song thrush and the two cygnets.... parent was not too impressed with me approaching, I wouldnt care but a family had just passed them a lot closer and they didnt bother, I can only assume it was either the camera/tripod or the fact that I came between them and the pond. Noticed an increase in insect life too, should be more one the meadows start pushing more flowers through.

Just a question: is the hide ever open?

Welcome aboard Ray :t:

Afraid not. The hide hasn't been in use for several years. It's a sturdy design but not very well placed for bird watching really.

 

[IanF]

Another visit this morning to take advantage of the sunny weather whilst it lasts. Still quite windy but in sheltered areas it felt quite balmy.

Most notable sightings of the day had to be the Chasers once again with even more of them around today. Four-spot Chaser were well spread out with a couple on the ponds by the car, more where the streams meet by the wooden bridge beside the hill and even more on the shallow scrapes by the hide on the main pond. A female was ovipositing in the middle scrape as well. Two male Broad-bodied Chaser were in the scrapes as well.

Also by the same bridge whilst sat watching the Reed Warblers what looked to be a Harvest Mouse clambering about in tops of the grasses - first one I've seen here.

Most numerours butterflies were Speckled Wood, seen along just about every path through the wooded areas. Orange Tip were quite numerous as well though quite active. Others seen - Green-veined White, Cabbage White, Wall, Common Blue, Small Skipper and Red Admiral.

Bird wise Blackcap were the most notable with over half a dozen seen and heard whilst walking through the wooded areas as were several Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and the odd Willow Warbler and Wren.

Along the reed lined streams the vociferous Reed Warblers were making their presence heard. Sedge Warbler x3 seen though few singing now. Kestrel seen by the pylons and an overhead Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Crows.

The cycleway hedges towards Greatham held Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Linnet and Wren. The Tree Sparrows were still feeding young in the nest tree though now fledged.

Several Common Tern again heading west keeping quite low over the open grassed areas.

 

[IanF]

A few more photos from today.

 

[IanF]

I wasn't expecting to see too much on my walk around the Park this morning. It was fairly cool with a northerly wind and 'changable' conditions with quite a bit of cloud around and frequent light showers. It was fairly quiet in parts but in the end I came across a new patch tick - Little Owl.

Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were all calling around the car park when I arrived. Mallard and Moorhen were on the small ponds but no sign of the Mute Swan with their cygnets.

I followed the hedgeline passing by the Activity Centre. Several Whitethroat and a few Blue Tit and Great Tit were collecting food. No sign of any butterflies or damselflies. By the railway line were more Whitethroat, a Yellowhammer and a small flock of Goldfinch.

The pond itself was very quiet. The highlight was a Grey Heron - that's how quiet it was Just a handful of Mallard, a Moorhen and one Coot. Mind you 80% of the surface was covered in thick weed. It seems to get worse each year.

A Kestrel was hunting over the hill. By the hide a Blackcap was calling plus Wren, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. Only a few small dragonflies on the scrapes though by now the sun was breaking through.

I followed the path to the left of the hill and crossed the footbridge. The Reed Warblers - looked like at least two families as there were 7-8 of them were busily feeding. Mallard with young and a Moorhen were on the stream which looked as if it must have been close on low tide - the wheelbarrow was well exposed! Seeing the wheelbarrow always reminds me of Kingfisher which sometimes perch there.

Yellowhammer and Sedge Warbler were in the stream side bushes singing well.

Around 30yds prior to the new pipeline I peered over the bankside to check another Kingfisher perch and there it was! Actually two!!! One was an adult and the other a youngster. Of course as soon as I saw them they saw me and took flight heading upstream. There was no further sign by the time I'd reached Cloff Bridge.

By the bridge a Yellowhammer was sat singing on it's usual bush. My eye caught sight of an Orange Tip which flew up and as it did so I saw a brown blob peering down at me. At first I thought it was a Mistle Thrush but then I realised it was a little Owl - a brand new patch tick for me :bounce:

It took of heading along the cycleway so I followed. A couple of trees along it had landed and there was not one but two of them! They then proceeded to fly along the cycleway tree to tree. One then flew to the streamside bushes whilst the other carried straight ahead. One reaching the manure heap one was on the ground feeding but it flew into the Tree Sparrow tree causing a right commotion with several of them surrounding it. After a couple of minutes it took flight passing over my head back towards Cloff Bridge. I retraced my steps as well seeing them again before they both flew into the streamside trees from where they began calling.

I then headed back to the car park via Faith Wood where I came across a very large flock of Long-tailed Tit - at least 30 strong. Most of them were juveniles and appeared to be feeding on greenfly in the willows. The stream by the boardwalk held Mallard x9, Moorhen x1, Gadwall pair and Black-headed Gull x4.

All in all a pretty good visit.

 

[IanF]

A few more of the star of the day.

 

[IanF]

A revisit this morning. Nice and sunny with a cool breeze.

Today I just covered from car park to Faith Wood and the cycleway.

Most notable were Little Owl x1 in same tree as last time on the exact same perch. Quite a few splash marks on the grass beneath. Red-legged Partridge x1 on the cycleway. Garden Warbler 'singing' by Activity Centre.

Other birds - Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Wren, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. The Kestrel nesting in the pylon by the new pipeline over the beck has young. They were quite noisy today with frequent food deliveries from the parents.

Four-spot Chaser x2 in the scrapes by the hide.

 

[IanF]

A little cloudier and cooler this morning but still quite pleasant.

Little Owl seen again but only a very brief glimpse. Nothing much else of note other than that there are actually two Kestrels nesting on the pylons. Both lots actively hunting. Sedge Warbler still doing display flight by boardwalk.

Forgot to mention Bullfinch yesterday and also again today - both times by the end of the boardwalk and on entering Faith Wood. Long-tailed Tit c.12 in Faith Wood again.

Very few insects seen apart from several Speckled Wood, a few Small White and the first Small Heath of the year. Only damsels were a few small blue ones on the scrapes by the hide.

 

[IanF]

A little overcast starting off this morning with a cool breeze but it soon brightened up with a bit of sunshine every now and again.

Garden Warbler in the overhanging bushes on the cycleway 40 yds from Cloff Bridge with 5-6 second snatches of song as it fed. Little Owl 100 yds north of the bridge that flew into the beckside trees as soon as it saw me coming - from it's vantage point it has a view of around 100yds each direction!

Grasshopper Warbler reeling by end of boardwalk on the east side of the hedge - I must have been within 5-6 yds but still couldn't see it. Interestingly there was one in the same spot back when they first arrived but then went quiet for several weeks - not sure if it's the same one. Sedge Warbler still singing and display flight close by.

Dozens of fledglings being fed - Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wren, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Great Tit, Blue Tit.

Other birds with young - Long-tailed Tit, Tree Sparrow c.15, Kestrel x3, Sparrowhawk juv.

Main pond very quiet still. Coot are nesting again.

First of the year for Ringlet and Meadow Brown butterflies plus Small Heath, Common Blue, Wall Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White.

Only damsels seen - Common Blue and Blue-tailed.

 

[IanF]

A few butterflies

 

[Ray_S]

Wednesday @ 9:00am

Nice start this morning, went up boardwalk, through faith wood and back along the cycleway, no sign of the owl or kingfishers, though in my defence there were two workmen in bright yellow jackets working on the bridge scaring most of the wildlife into hiding. Then big dark clouds started to drift over, my cue to go and have a cuppa. Thought I had spotted the same butterfly as you Ian, but many years experience in the 'spot the difference' arena allowed me to notice the difference was a spot!

 

[IanF]

Nice start this morning, went up boardwalk, through faith wood and back along the cycleway, no sign of the owl or kingfishers, though in my defence there were two workmen in bright yellow jackets working on the bridge scaring most of the wildlife into hiding. Then big dark clouds started to drift over, my cue to go and have a cuppa. Thought I had spotted the same butterfly as you Ian, but many years experience in the 'spot the difference' arena allowed me to notice the difference was a spot!

Lol! Certainly another Ringlet though with all spots in tact. Last year I came across a few 'spotless' ones just the other side of Cloff Bridge.

Interesting that they've started working on the bridge already. When I was there the other day I saw notices around the place giving advance notice of the bridleway closure from 7th July onwards - cyclists and pedestrian access isn't affected. Unless they were doing some preliminary work today.

Most visits a Little Owl has been sat in the first ash tree about 100yds north of Cloff Bridge. The tree is right beside a rusty metal framed gate. Most times though as soon as the tree comes into view along the cycleway it flies off to the left to a large sycamore tree on the side of the beck. If you check the ground in front of the gate on the left side you'll see 'splash marks' in the grass and on the perch it uses directly overhead.

I've only seen the Kingfisher a couple of times this year. They're very hit and miss. I had hoped with having young they may be around a bit more but not for the last week or so.

Great photos of the Whitethroat :t:

 

[IanF]

A little dull and overcast this morning with a few light rain showers but still not too bad for a wander around. Not the same numbers of birds seen as my last visit though still plenty around and plnety singing including Chiffchaff x7, Willow Warbler x8, Blackcap x5, Whitethroat 15+, Sedge Warbler x5, Reed Warbler just one!

In between hunting both sets of Kestrel were still sat on the pylons.

Best find of the day was the Little Owls with three seen one a juvenile so they must have bred after all. Despite scanning the usual tree thoroughly I still missed one adult that didn't move until I was directly below the tree - must try harder next time! It flew towards the others along the beck side trees. The others were sat in a sycamore on the beck side 100 yds away with heads poking through the leaf canopy.

Others seen included Yellowhammer x7, Sparrowhawk x1, Wren x5. Moorhen, Mute Swan, Mallard and Coot were along the streams and on the main pond. Coot appear to be nesting yet again.

The main pond was pretty quiet still. The addition of barley straw seems to have helped greatly with the algae problem which is down to around 40% cover from around 70%.

 

[IanF]

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - am - bright and sunny with clear blue skies. A light cool breeze nicely took the edge off the heat.

Plenty of birds around this morning mostly youngsters of Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Great Tit. Several Yellwohammer along the cycleway. No sign of the Little Owls this morning and maybe a half dozen Sedge Warbler scattered around. Likewise Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow.

The insects really stole the show today though with an abundance of dragonflies - Four-spot Chaser c.20, Broad-bodied Chaser m&f, Emperor Dragonfly x2, Common Darter and numerous smaller species. Also possibly a Hawker. Best concentration in the scrapes by the main pond and in the weed covered bay in front of the old hide.

I was treated to an amazing spectale when a pair of Four-spot Chaser mated in mid air over the scrapes no more than 6' in front of me. Almost immediately afterwards the female dropped to the water surface to deposit eggs. A few minutes later a Broad-bodied Chaser appeared also to deposit eggs. Numerous others smaller ones in 'pin'.

The tadpoles in the scrapes better developed now with several now small frogs with tails.