Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[Ross Ahmed]

A few birds from yest: 3 Long-eared Owls at Boldon Colliery still plus now 3 Short-eared Owls on the Leas. Got the Ruff at Boldon Flats and a Woodcock was seen at East Boldon.

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Was surprised to see a flock of 14 Siskin come over the garden in Seaham this lunch-time. They appeared to have come in-off the sea.

Steve there's a regular but small passage through Britain in late Feb

 

[June Atkinson]

Causey Arch

Neil,
Please keep a look out in the Causey Arch area for red kites. They have been seen there on and off for quite a while, and over Beamish. If you have time, please read the latest news up-date on the Northern Kites thread. As the earlier birds' transmitters begin to lose power, we are relying more and more on reading the wing tags, or seeing kites and phoning the Office on 0191 496 1555; every little support is gratefully received.

Wing tag colours:
Pink tag denotes a Northern Kite bird
Yellow and pink = 2004
Orange and pink = 2005
Green and pink = 2006

We must have a trip to this area - a lovely lot of birds to enjoy.......

Spent a couple of hours this morning walking, in the rain (!) around the Causey Arch area near Stanley.
Lots of birds about but nothing too exciting; Long-tailed Tit (7), Coal Tit (2), Wren (3), Nuthatch (3), Great Tit (5), Blackbird (3), Jackdaw (10+), Blue Tit (20+), Song Thrush (1), Chaffinch (10+), Mallard (2), Goldcrest (1), Treecreeper (4), Mistle Thrush (2), Robin (4) and heard only a GS Woodpecker.
Causey Gill looks to have good potential for Green Woodpecker so I'll be back for another visit soon.

 

[Mark Newsome]

DBC records

Please note the new email address to send your electronic records in to (with immediate effect):

dbc.records 'at' hotmail.co.uk

The template to send them in can be found on the DBC website, on the 'Downloads' page.

If you send them using the existing one, they'll still get to me as they will be forwarded on from the old email address. Many thanks to everyone who submitted records last year. The DBC received over 35,000 records and these will prove invaluable for many conservation issues and for understanding more about the birds in the county (and for providing a better in-depth annual report!). Unless you send them in, no-one's going to know about them.
Cheers! B

 

[seggs]

A few birds from yest: 3 Long-eared Owls at Boldon Colliery still plus now 3 Short-eared Owls on the Leas. Got the Ruff at Boldon Flats and a Woodcock was seen at East Boldon.

hi ross had 2 l.e.o.s same place today showing better this time(still searching for more)..met the lad from newcastle you where out with yesterday at the leas tonight...pity about not getting 5 owls just when you want more dog walkers to get the s.e.o.s up they don`t appear!!! :-O

 

[ted hilland]

Chapman Wells

Yesterday was a breath of fresh air. 20 + Skylark , many in song flight. 6+ Reed Bunting,1pair Stonechat. At least 3 Green Wood and up to 6 GSW.In excess of 10 singing Song Thrush between Stanley and Chap Wells. 2pair of Mistle Thrush and vocal Jay in two locations. Pairs of Partridge, and Mallard were flushed.
South Moor Wood , which is enroute to Chap Wells is in the process of being obliterated, thinning I think they call it. I dont soppose Ill see a Spot. Fly. there again as I did two seasons back and I was just in time to see the demolition of a tree which has been home to broods of Sparrow Hawk for a few years now.
Poss Water Rail calling at a setaside site near South Moor Wood, will return to confirm. Oddly I havent seen either Kestrel or Sparrow Hawk recently in the area.

I had goose pimples for a second when a Robin did a very convincing Willow Warbler but then it finished off the call in good old fashioned Robin style.

Looking forward to the next few weeks and onward, looking for Wheatear and listening for Chiffchaff

Good birding
Ted.

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Thanks Ross,

Are these wintering birds leaving, birds from further north coming here to breed or just movement from winter to summer areas within the UK?

Steve there's a regular but small passage through Britain in late Feb

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Hi Ted,

I had a Robin at Hurworth Burn yesterday doing a perfect Whitethroat impersonation - unless it was a Whitethroat!

Cheers,

I had goose pimples for a second when a Robin did a very convincing Willow Warbler but then it finished off the call in good old fashioned Robin style.

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Thanks Ross,

Are these wintering birds leaving, birds from further north coming here to breed or just movement from winter to summer areas within the UK?

Not certain Steve, although presumably wintering British birds moving back north.

I had some over the Leas a few years back. I remember being surprised by them so did a bit of homework and realised their a regular late Feb feature.

 

[StevieEvans]

DBC Trip to Scotland

Another great day out yesterday.

Many thanks to John Todd & Dave Phillips for organising....

Many thanks to CW for getting us the GOLDEN EAGLE again....!

Who would believe that we'd see the pair mating two years off the belt..... :-O

Other birds seen included

Peregrines, massses of Buzzards, Red Kites, a Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Ravens, Crossbills, GSW, Treecreeper, Goosander, Pintail, Goldeneye, LBBGull etc etc

Caerlaverock to end the day with Black tailed Godwits, a Lesser Scaup, Whooper Swans, Tree Sparrows & probably 15,000+ Barnacles in view including a huge flock of 4,000 or so overhead... excellent.

Stevie

 

[Mark Newsome]

Another great day out yesterday... Stevie

Sounds a great day Steve. Wish I'd come along instead of battling with the mud and showers at Croxdale and Bish Midd. And nice when you can chuck in a Lesser Scaup in the same breath as Black 'wits and Whooper Swans - DBC coach trip members are being spoilt!

 

[StevieEvans]

Birdnews

A Common Redpoll ( aka Mealy ) at Joes Pond yesterday & 7 Shelduck at Ho'ton Gate (MH)

SE

 

[StevieEvans]

...<snip>...
Oddly I havent seen either Kestrel or Sparrow Hawk recently in the area.
Ted.

H'lo Ted
wonder if that bloke is still flying his "pet" Goshawk there or thereabouts.... may explain lack of raptors....?
Ste

 

[ted hilland]

H'lo Ted
wonder if that bloke is still flying his "pet" Goshawk there or thereabouts.... may explain lack of raptors....?
Ste

Hi Steve. I aint seen hide nor hair of him as a matter of fact but it is mighty odd not seeing either of those birds. Its not impossible that hes still about so Ill change my routine for a week or so and see what happens. Incidentally do I have the full backing of the DBC committee to teach him the error of his ways :t: Only joking , my sense of humour aint goin down too well on the forum lately

Good birding
Ted

 

[DEREK.C.]

Springs not far away now, lots of snowdrops out today round elemore hall+ around 30 rooks back in the rookery. The wetland between elemore hall and littletown was full of life with 100+ lapwing, 10 snipe,20 mallard and 5 curlew. A buzzard flew across and landed in the middle of a tree full of wood pigeon and stock dove, amazingly none of the pigeons and doves battered an eyelid. The rest of the wood held 2 nuthatch, 10 mistle thrush , 3 pair of jay; along with the usual titmice and great spotted peckers.

 

[Shaggy2070]

A few hours on the breezy cliff tops at Souter Lighthouse today.
I'm not much of a sea-watcher but really enjoyed watching the Fulmars soaring in the wind.

A couple of Eiders just off shore and 2 Rock Pipits on the rocks, quite a few Skylark about now as well.
My first Shag of the year about 600 yrds south of the lighthouse :bounce:

 

[[email protected]]

washingwell woods

Liam and i had a couple hours at our local woods after school today to see what was about Fairly quiet
jays 2
herons 2
mistle thrush 3
treecrepper 1
l t tit 3
woodys 70
were looking for peckers but you can,t win them all

 

[johnmichael]

A couple of hours canopy watching proved fruitful today at Hamsterley Forest et.environs.
Large female N.Goshawk
Male Merlin scudding over the moors
4 C.Buzzards
Pr.Sparrowhawks in display
~20 Siskin
Pr.Stonechat
Green Woodpecker

 

[Duckman]

Duck oddity posted by Ian F of Billingham on 21/02/07

What is the general consensus as to the parentage of the duck oddity photgraphed by Ian F on 21/02/07? Clearly it is based on a Golden eye but could it also be part Eider, Long tail or just a lucistic version of the real thing. The head and beak are definately that of a Golden eye but the rest is open to 'interpritation' I feel - any suggestions? please.

 

[Mark Newsome]

What is the general consensus as to the parentage of the duck oddity photgraphed by Ian F on 21/02/07? Clearly it is based on a Golden eye but could it also be part Eider, Long tail or just a lucistic version of the real thing. The head and beak are definately that of a Golden eye but the rest is open to 'interpritation' I feel - any suggestions? please.

The general feeling is that it's an aberrant Goldeneye, and not a hybrid. There's nothing in the structure or bill shape to indicate another species is involved - certainly if something like Smew was involved (as has been recorded before in Europe), then the bill would be quite different. The only difference to a normal Goldeneye is the leucistic look to some parts of it's plumage - must be leucism rather than bleaching as it showed a similar pattern last winter.
I've not sure of the full range of species Goldeneye has been proved to hybridise with, but my moneys firmly on an aberrant Goldeneye.