Durham Birding (71 Viewers)

[DaveB]

Hi Dave, great list of birds there. Re the redpoll:- probability isthat it would have been a local bird; ie a Lesser Redpoll (the commonest redpoll in UK) - Redpoll noted on call only usually get recorded as " redpoll ssp"

Oops. Slip of the tongue.

Your correct. More probably Lesser (our commonest) Redpoll.

DaveB

 

[Mark Newsome]

A bit of news from Steve Evans (c/o Bench 1, The Hide, Rainton Meadows): "A Barn Owl has been hunting at dusk for a week at Langley Moor, Durham City. View the field behind the old Milk Depot, across the River Browney, from the car park at the holiday park. The bird has been seen from 4pm, and the gate is open until 5.00pm."

Looks like we've missed out on the Northumberland Bonaparte's Gull. :C What is presumably the Newbiggin bird has now turned up at Saltburn.

 

[StevieEvans]

Excellent oppurtunity.....

........"A Barn Owl has been hunting at dusk for a week at Langley Moor, Durham City. View the field behind the old Milk Depot, across the River Browney, from the car park at the Holiday Park. The bird has been seen from 4pm, and the gate is open until 5.00pm."

Thanks for listing this Mark; didnt think i would get logged in this evening.

I was fortunate enough to be finished work by 4pm & (funnily enough )only a mile & a half away from Holiday Park.
Viewing from the edge of the car park, a Kingfisher flew through while waiting.
The Barn Owl was active on arrival & began hunting just before 16:15.
It stayed over the same small field for 15mins, perching up briefly when mobbed by corvids.
At one point it hunted the river in front of us only 15' away... Magic !


CLICK HERE FOR MAP
Durham Cathederal is towards the top right hand corner of the map when viewed at 1:25,000.

Hope a few people can get through to enjoy this one.
SE

 

[IanF]

A little late with the report as our internet connection has been down for the last ten days. It's just been repaired.

Sunday 5th November at Seaton Snook saw Snow Bunting x7 on the sides of the grassy Snook itself over high tide. Also a single Twite, Merlin and two Sky Lark. After disturbing the Merlin it went to roost in amongst the waders - Knot, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Oystercatcher etc. on the rocks on the end of the Snook - first time I've ever seen that happen. The waders weren't a bit bothered by it's presence.

Pair of Stonechat alongside Zinc Works Road.

 

[IanF]

Sunday 10th November - Seaton Snook

Merlin
Twite x17
Snow Bunting x3
Kestrel
Red-breasted Merganser x9
Bar-tailed Godwit x2
Grey Plover 70+
Red Knot 50+
Dunlin
Sanderling
Curlew c.30
Red-throated Diver
Oystercatcher 50+
Turnstone
Pied Wagtail
Sky Lark

 

[seggs]

Sunday 10th November - Seaton Snook

Merlin
Twite x17
Snow Bunting x3
Kestrel
Red-breasted Merganser x9
Bar-tailed Godwit x2
Grey Plover 70+
Red Knot 50+
Dunlin
Sanderling
Curlew c.30
Red-throated Diver
Oystercatcher 50+
Turnstone
Pied Wagtail
Sky Lark

excellent photos as ever ian!! :clap: very impressed with 70+ grey plover..!!!
most ive seen together in one day maybe 10!..

 

[DaveB]

Magpie

A Magpie spent most of the day in the garden. It's right wing was showing plenty of damage, probably caused by the female Sparrowhawk that visits on a daily basis.

Halfway through the afternoon, I noticed it had caught a male Greenfinch and was frantically plucking away at the bird before carrying it to a safer location.

 

[Mark Newsome]

A Magpie spent most of the day in the garden. It's right wing was showing plenty of damage, probably caused by the female Sparrowhawk that visits on a daily basis. Halfway through the afternoon, I noticed it had caught a male Greenfinch and was frantically plucking away at the bird before carrying it to a safer location.

Excellent stuff Dave, life and death struggles in our own back gardens.
I've got a good number of House Sparows back in mine at the moment, but only 1-2 Tree Sparrows so far (up to 25 last winter). This is maybe due to early planting of winter crop in next field and no stubble/rough ground in immediate area. Early days though.

 

[Mark Newsome]

Reminder...

Just to remind everyone about the DBC indoor meeting tomorrow (Thursday 16 November). It's upstairs in the function room of the Blue Bell pub, Fulwell (2 mins from Seaburn metro station). The talk is entitled "Finland - birding by the midnight sun" by Paul Willoughby, and should have some good photos of owls, woodpeckers etc. A great chance to meet everyone else, catch up on the latest gossip, hear what's happening with the club and have a few pints. And it's free! Non-members are also welcome, you may just feel like joining up afterwards...

 

[StevieEvans]

Good News followed by sheer disbelief........

Barn owl
watched at midday at Langley Moor



Long-eared Owl
not watched at midday at Rainton Meadows (although it had been clearly visible from the path !)
........as the DWT chain saws have been out & clear felled the males territorial "song" perch and the pairs roosting & nesting trees.
:C


SE....... :C

 

[JWTodd]

DBC field trip to WWT Martin Mere

Please note that all seats are now booked for the Martin Mere trip this coming Sunday.​

 

[StevieEvans]

Just to remind everyone about the DBC indoor meeting tomorrow (Thursday 16 November). It's upstairs in the function room of the Blue Bell pub, Fulwell (2 mins from Seaburn metro station). The talk is entitled "Finland - birding by the midnight sun" by Paul Willoughby, and should have some good photos of owls, woodpeckers etc.
A great chance to meet everyone else, catch up on the latest gossip, hear what's happening with the club and have a few pints.
And it's free!
Non-members are also welcome, you may just feel like joining up afterwards...

Sounds like its gonna be a good one Mark.
We've got 5 in our car
Hope to be there for about 7PM
See you there
SE

 

[Mark Newsome]

Good turn out and an excellent talk at the indoor meeting last night. The Great Grey Owl pics were mouthwatering.... And a good few pints sunk afterwards! Nice to see so many new faces. And excellent to hear that DBC membership has now reached an all time record high.

Seawatching at Whitburn this morning (late start due to extra red wine when I got home last night...) turned up a good southerly passage of big gulls including a few Lesser Black-backeds and Scandinavian Herrings, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a juv Pomarine Skua north and 1 Little Auk. However there were no divers seen in 2.5 hours and few auks.

 

[StevieEvans]

Local Bird News

A very late Swallow along the R.Wear at Chester this morning (Chris H)

Hetton Lyons had female Merlin, Water Rail & Kingfisher.

Rainton Meadows, very little but a Water Rail disturbed from an area of dry scrub, presumably a recent arrival ? & 40 Redwing feasting on Hawthorn berries.

Blackcap recently in woods at New Herrington.

7 Goosander at Lambton Bridge recently.


The Langle Moor Barn Owl was visible at the entrance of his tree hole at noon and 16:00 & then hunting at approx 16:20; An excellent site with Kestrel, Dipper & Kingfisher there too.
(if anyone's visiting or unsure where to look feel free to give me a bell on 079 79 60 1231 anytime)

or see post #2523 for site Map.

Cheers
Steve

 

[JBee]

7 Goosander at Lambton Bridge recently.

Steve (or anyone) a question.
I photographed a goosander from Lambton bridge last year (at a distance) and what amused me was the fact the bird appeared simply to be "playing".
It would ride the crest of a "wave" swim back downstream and repeat the ride.
It never dived or appeared interested in anything other than simply having fun.
It repeated this at least 7-8 times continuously.
Is this normal for this bird or was it doing something I (not being a bird watcher) am not aware of?
I'd be interested in any thoughts.

 

[StevieEvans]

A frosty Rainton Meadows at first light.
A pair of Jays & 3 Magpies creating a right racket.
A closer check revealed them mobbing a Long-eared Owl in a mature Hawthorn tree, after a few minutes there were 10+ Magpies in attendance, before the owl sought out thicker cover - tailed by the corvids & their unrelenting din.

50+ Redwing, 1-3 of Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Linnet
30 Stock Dove & 12 Skylark over stubbles towards Country club.

half decent variety of Waterfowl, but numbers very limited (JoesPond not visited)
f Shoveller
m Pochard
8 Wigeon
14 Teal
4 Gadwall
3 Mute
1 Greylag
57 Canada
13 Moorhen
H Water Rail
2 Snipe
68 Coot
23 Mallard
18 Tufted

Rain stopped play by 09:00
SE

Barn Owl near Shotton early AM.

 

[Ross Ahmed]

The usual good mix of passerines and riverine species were along the River Don at Jarrow this am, but undoubted highlight was the sucessful twitching of the 2 Nuthatch in Jarrow Cemy. Good stuff!

The number of leaves still on the trees at the minute is incredible. At this rate, they're going to have leaves well into December.

The gull roost off Trow Rocks held good numbers of gulls incl adult Mediterranean Gull and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were still present (probably most I've ever seen for the third week of Nov).

 

[Mark Newsome]

Good numbers of gulls are still getting on Boldon Flats too, with the occasional Lesser Black-backeds. 1500 Golden Plovers were in a nearby arable field with a Knot trying to hide amongst them. Three Knot were also at Whitburn Steel and 2 ad. Mediterranean Gulls were on the sea with Black-headeds not far from the car park.
South Shields Leas was fully of dog walkers, but a pair of Stonechats showed well near the mound.

 

[StevieEvans]

The Boyne

The Langle Moor Barn Owl was visible at the entrance of his tree hole at noon and 16:00 & then hunting at approx 16:20; An excellent site with Kestrel, Dipper & Kingfisher there too.
(if anyone's visiting or unsure where to look feel free to give me a bell on 079 79 60 1231 anytime)

or see post #2523 for site Map.

Brief family visit late this afternoon, Barn Owl in his roost hole visible with the naked eye before getting out of the car ! :eek!:
It wasnt in a hurry to do much & unfortunately it was 16:35 before it began to hunt.
Tawny Owl along lane nr allotment gardens & Little Owl calling too. Another dark owl ssp was seen briefly hunting over the open grassland...... (habo ideal for Leo)
A Fox stood & watched us from the other side of the river with 2 Roe Deer heading up the hillside.
Dipper, Kingfisher & Grey Wagtail all visible.
JG watched a female Blackcap & numerous Nuthatch just downstream of the car park.

A very enjoyable visit & nice to see friendly faces & 2 prospective DBC members also nice for our toddler to see & point at his first BO (after looking the oppisite way when the Leo flew this morning).

Steve

 

[IanF]

Steve (or anyone) a question.
I photographed a goosander from Lambton bridge last year (at a distance) and what amused me was the fact the bird appeared simply to be "playing".
It would ride the crest of a "wave" swim back downstream and repeat the ride.
It never dived or appeared interested in anything other than simply having fun.
It repeated this at least 7-8 times continuously.
Is this normal for this bird or was it doing something I (not being a bird watcher) am not aware of?
I'd be interested in any thoughts.

I wouldn't be at all surpised if it was just playing around. I've seen a good few birds doing what I can only describe as 'playing'.

Looks like this one is a surfer