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

[Ray_S]

Wednesday @ ~08:00 am

Bright warm morning, plenty of activity along cycleway and into faith wood, mostly hidden though. Coming out of the wood at the beck along the path were dozens of butterflys, mainly ringlets with one orange tip. Along the scrapes there were many many blue damsels. Just as I was leaving 2 buses turned up full of school children wielding fishing nets, quite possibly the tadpoles are doomed!!!!

 

[IanF]

A quick walk around yesterday morning on a very overcast day with light showery rain.

Still quite a few birds singing most notably Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler with the odd Blackcap.

Only one Little Owl seen. Even that wouldn't have been seen if it hadn't been for a pair of Magpies berrating it for so long and so loudly. It flew from the usual tree by the cycleway into the trees along the beck towards Cloff Bridge.

A good find was four Bullfinch 30 yds south of Cloff Bridge on the cycleway - an adult pair and two juveniles.

Only other noteworthy sightings were Oystercatcher and Redshank with several flyovers and brownish juvenile Sparrowhawk.

Also a dead Harvest Mouse on the path by the hill in the same area as a live one seen in ealry June.

 

[MalR]

cracking yellowhammer pic, Ian. I love the way it's framed by the out-of-focus foliage. Gives the impression we're having a private peek into its world. Superb.:t:

Malcolm

 

[Ray_S]

Wednesday @ ~08:00 am

Fairly sunny and warm morning, broken cloud.
Walked up the cycleway and found a dozen or more long tailed tit flitting from hawthorn to hawthorn, unfortunately as soon as one moved - they all moved!
Plenty of Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, a single Robin and some singing Blackbirds. The meadows are really filling with butterflys now, mostly Ringlets and Tortoiseshell, with the occasional Orange Tip, did see a moth type zip past with a vivid red body (not sure what that could have been). Scrapes still have plenty of Common Blue Damsel.
Yet again there were bus loads of schoolkids by the pond near the car park frantically trying to scoop up swans, etc. in their fishing nets, as long as they put them back I dont mind!
Dont know what the last pic is but it was really small......

 

[IanF]

Hi Ray,

I wonder if the red bug was a Burnet Moth - they have rather striking red markings though it's blotches on the wings rather than the body. In flight the body does look as if it's red as well.

The last photo is a juvenile Robin. They're strange looking things not at all like the adults. I've only seen a couple around so far.

 

[IanF]

I had a quick wander around this afternoon basically just across to the main pond and back as I didn't get there on my last visit. Whilst it was bright and mostly sunny the winds were pretty strong (25-30 mph) and pretty cold.

I never find afternoons very satisfying for birds this time of the year as most have stopped singing even if they were inclined to do so in mid-July. Still Blackcap x3 were singing and a single Yellowhammer. Over the main pond House Martin x7 were feeding including a few young ones. On the pond were the usual Mallard, Moorhen and Coot. It was nice to see Pochard x3 as well.

Not that many insects seen just a few Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Skipper and Small Heath butterflies. Only Common Blue Damselfly seen.

 

[IanF]

A revisit this morning. Bright on and off but mostly overcast with occasional showers.

Plenty of the usual species in the usual places. Most notable were the Little Owls with two of them showing very well along the cycleway. One was perched in the fourth tree after the metal gate north side of Cloff Bridge and the other was hunting from the fence posts of the electrified fence. The horses seemed intrigued by the owls.

The main pond held an Emperor Dragonfly - almost managed a decent photo before the rain returned. Juvenile Sparrowhawk sat on the usual post breeding dead tree on the side of the pond. They bred again this year but I don't know how many chicks. The second nest nearby failed so I'm told.

 

[IanF]

I went for a wander around with a friend this evening to see the Sparrowhawks. A little too dull and overcast for decent photos but the Sparrowhawks put on a good show. Actually four chicks this year still small and fluffy - three female and a male. They were ringed last Sunday.

The one I saw my last visit is actually the female a very brown coloured bird possibly one hatched last year. The male was sat in the dense wood 30yds away.

 

[Ray_S]

I was there too yesterday, but didnt see the Sparrowhawks, typically a creature of habit I tend to stick to the same paths so my guess is that they are not on my route.
Oh, and the red flying thing I mentioned before... you were right it was a Burnet Moth, saw it again yesterday but got a better look this time, thanks for that.

 

[IanF]

A revisit this afternoon. Drizzly rain but a little brighter than last night. One of the Sparrowhawk youngsters was scrambling around in a bush several yards from the nest. It's deceptive seeing these photos as the wing feathers are very well developed.

 

[IanF]

I was there too yesterday, but didnt see the Sparrowhawks, typically a creature of habit I tend to stick to the same paths so my guess is that they are not on my route.
Oh, and the red flying thing I mentioned before... you were right it was a Burnet Moth, saw it again yesterday but got a better look this time, thanks for that.

From the benches on the railway line side of the main pond look across to the far side straight west towards the pylons (not south-west towards Seal Sands Road) and you'll see a dead tree in a corner with some old tree trunks rising from the water and a bit of rusty fence. The Pigeons, Herons and Little Egret sometimes roost there in winter. It's the same dead tree the Sparrowhawks will likely be using for the next few weeks. At present early morning and late evening the adults roost there. There's a path that leads around to the start of the nature conservation area - the fence there is where the photos of the adult were taken.

 

[IanF]

Another brief visit this afternoon. Still overcast skies and light showers.

Heading along the boardwalk from the car park a Great Spotted Woodpecker passed by overhead disappearing into the willow trees by the boardwalk. Sedge Warbler x2 were singing on and off one from the reeds and one from the hawthorn hedege. House Martin c.35 were busy feeding over the boardwalk with several adults passing food to the young.

Downstream viewing from the hump bridge were Grey Wagtail x1, Mute Swan x3 (2 cygnets) Mallard x9. Upstream were Moorhen and more Mallard.

Not a great deal else seen between there and reaching Claxton Beck where a Great Crested Grebe juvenile (year tick) was by the outfall with several Mallard. Too dull for photos by then. Reed Warbler began singing on and off and likewise a Sedge Warbler from the raspberry patch by the wooden bridge.

The then rain began in earnest so I headed on home.

 

[IanF]

Back again this morning. The weather was much brighter on and off but also much wetter with several heavy showers.

The House Martins still were around the end of the boardwalk but views nothing like so obliging as yesterday. Grey Wagtail on the beck and several young Blue Tit, Great Tit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Wren feeding wither side of the beck. Mute Swan with two cygnets still present along with Mallard c.12 and Moorhen also with young.

Not a great deal seen in Faith Wood - just pigeons and a Blackcap singing.

On arrival at the main pond the female Sapprowhawk was sat on the dead tree with a fledgling on the next branch. It was regularly flying along the tree line over the water and landing in trees and bushes though always returning to the dead tree. Another nestling looks almost ready to leave as well.

Claxton Beck/Cowbridge Beck - Mallard family, Tufted Duck x2, Moorhen x3 (2 juv) plus Little Grebe with Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler with young feeding in the reeds overhanging the water. A Grey Wagtail was scooting over the water catching flies and landing on the wheelbarrow handle.

On the concrete weir towards the cycleway a Kingfisher was sat on the middle step in the middle of the weir. It headed off downstream on seeing me.

Little Owl x2 sat out in the open. One in it's usual sycamore tree with damaged bark on it's trunk over the beck and the other sat on the fence posts by the horse enclosure. It was hunting but also struggling to stay awake as it was constantly yawning!

Yellowhammer, Linnet, Wren, Whitethroat and Tree Sparrow along the cycleway. A few Swifts and Swallows feeding over the fields.

Butterflies - quite a few Ringlet and Meadow Brown plus a few Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. A single Common Blue and what looked to be a Brimstone though only in flight.

Dragonflies - Common Darter, Common Blue Damselfly.

Mammals - Rabbit x3, Hare, Weasel.

 

[Ray_S]

Sunday @ 7:00am+

Lots of activity this morning, presumably the wldlife knew there was a summer fete on
Normal run of the mill stuff, lots of warblers, yellowhammer, goldfinch, long tailed tit.
Key finds today were a kingfisher and finally found the sparrowhawk, though this wasnt until after lunch. Also another first for me was some pictures of several Burnet Moths (at last)
Typically, because I didnt want to impale someone on the tripod this afternoon, I just took a smaller lens and handheld the camera. Otherwise quite a good day for me.

 

[Ray_S]

More from this afternoon

I ony spotted one fledgling in the nest this afternoon, no sign of the others but the parent was sat on perch watching.
Apologies for the blurry kingfisher, I was leaning over the beck with my right foot sliding down the bank into the water when I took it, only managed two shots before the splash spooked it!

 

[IanF]

I ony spotted one fledgling in the nest this afternoon, no sign of the others but the parent was sat on perch watching.
Apologies for the blurry kingfisher, I was leaning over the beck with my right foot sliding down the bank into the water when I took it, only managed two shots before the splash spooked it!

Very good going :t:

I'm seeing the Kingfisher more often now but I've never managed a photo!

 

[IanF]

I paid a quick visit to see the Sparrowhawks yesterday afternoon as it was the first time we've had sunshine and blue skies.

They proved to be pretty obliging again with the mother sat on the dead tree and the one that's fledged sat behind here - though not in a position that could be viewed clearly. The other three younsters were sat in the nest tree. Two in the nest and one clambering about the branches.

Kingfisher was back on it's wooden perch again - but I only managed a blurred photo as it took off on seeing me. A wander up the beck located probably the same one sat on the concrete weir - this one headed downstream as soon as I saw it.

Several smaller damselflies seen but no larger ones.

 

[IanF]

A late afternoon visit produced a Four-spot Chaser and a mating pair of Broad-bodied Chaser on the scrapes by the main pond. Also a male Emperor Dragonfly was present over the scarpes for around ten minutes before heading off towards the hill.

Also present - Emerald Damselfly, Common Dater, Ruddy Darter, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfy, Azure Damselfly.

Sparrowhawks still present. Kingfisher on the beck sat on the rusty circular cattle feeder in the stream bed. 37 Swallow sat along the fence in the Little Owl field but no sign of the Little Owls themselves.

 

[IanF]

It was mid-afternoon before the sun got out today so I figured I'd pop back for another try for the Kingfishers.

It proved a good move as one was sat on one of their regular perches and stayed in place just long enough for me to grab a few photos before heading off upstream. Ten yards downstream another one was sat over the beck just up from the old pipeline.

The nesting Kestrels from the pylons were still hanging around the nest site.

Definitely two Sparrowhawks fledged now and roving further afield with two being in the bushes by the hide/shed. Two still in the nest.

No sign of the Little Owl again - perhaps aftenoons aren't the best time at present.

Still on the scrapes - Broad-bodied Chaser x1, Four-spot Chaser x2, Emerald Damselfly, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-taield Damselfly. Best find though was a Common Hawker - likely the large dragonfly I saw yesterday thinking it was an Emperor. Every 20-25 minutes it landed for a rest in the same place before continuing it's dancing flight.

Butterflies - Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Comma x2, Speckled Wood x1 and possibly a Brimstone - second time I've seen a large yellow butterfly in flight but not got close enough to check it's not a similar coloured moth.

 

[IanF]

A late morning visit proved quite fruitful today.

Two Sedge Warbler were singing and in display flight within 40 yds of the car park. Also several Whitethroat and Goldfinch.

From the hump bridge at the end of the boardwalk at Grey Wagtail juvenile was stood on a reed being bounced by the passing beck water catching flies off the water surface and just by reaching out and plucking them from above the water - it's soon learned an easy way to feed!

Nothing at all of note in Faith Wood and no sign of any Kingfisher this morning.

Next good find was at least three Little Owl roosting in the nest tree. Whilst still 100yds away a cyclist passed beneath the tree and two flew out - one down onto the fence behind the hedge and another flew across to the beck side trees. On reaching the nest tree another one flew out over towards the beck. I was kicking myself as I reached the first gap after the tree as walking boldly on I saw one sat on a fence post no more than six yards away - just at the same time it saw me and took flight to the next tree. Try as I might I couldn't find it again. A wander as far as the Tree Sparrow nest tree revealed nothing other than Whitethroat, Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow. Around a dozen Swallow were sat along the fence in the horse field.

Backtracking to the Little Owl nest tree I noticed a juvenile peering down at me. It flew over to the beck where one was sat in the sycamore they seem to favour and another in a willow tree. I moved a little closer getting a few photos though as I did so another took off from above me - making me wonder if there are two juveniles after all.

Nothing else of any note as I headed back to the car park via the main pond. The Sparrowhawks were still around and much the same dragonflies as yesterday.