Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[NeilF]

Black Redstart still present on the cliffs just south of Camel Island this morning.

 

[seggs]

Just came in from my early evening walk the dogs and logged onto the site as a very excited person. Decided to check guides before posting and had several books out.
BARN OWL so excited I have to say it again BARN OWL, flew past me just a few feet away, in my 'garden'.
Stevie said he saw pellets here but now...I bet there is no other person on this site as excited as me right now!
Think I need a long drink and some medication!

Sorry people, hope you can undulge me just this once?

Paul

nice one paul! :clap:
its great feeling when get something new..especily on your doorstep..
now go and have a stiff drink..lol B

 

[Paul Mc]

nice one paul! :clap:
its great feeling when get something new..especily on your doorstep..
now go and have a stiff drink..lol B

Brilliant, thanks, hope you will join me!

 

[gogsy]

Male Stonechat in hedges up from Camels Island, 8 Eiders offshore, quite close in to shore this afternoon.

 

[StevieEvans]

.....<snip>........ Seemed like just the time to break out that Chateau Musar!!!

Paul, you'd better get your thinking cap on.....
theres only a few months left to deceide what you'll have to drink when you see it flying back to that nest box with prey....

Barn Owls also recently in the Tyne, Browney & Gaunless valleys.
Siskin over high to the East at Durham today with unseen Pink feet heard overhead.
3 Waxwings were at Hetton Lyons on Sunday.

We added a decent garden tick while watching the eclipse - a Woodcock over Eastwards.

SE

 

[Paul Mc]

Paul, you'd better get your thinking cap on.....
theres only a few months left to deceide what you'll have to drink when you see it flying back to that nest box with prey....

...and when it happens I hope you will join me? Lovely wine, from Lebanon don't you know, hic

Paul

 

[StevieEvans]

DBC Committee Meeting

Meeting tomorrow evening.

If anyone wants to pass comment, or has anything that they want raised, be it good, bad or ugly then please feel free to drop a line or phone any committee member.

Any points can be raised anonymously.

SE

......and when it happens I hope you will join me? Lovely wine, from Lebanon don't you know, hic.....

ahh, yes my dear fellow, a fine vintage indeed.... i must send one of the staff down the cellar to see just how many i have left....
i think come late June your fields could well be echoing to the sound of popping corks.
& im sure the Barn Owl survey would have its fair quota of volunteers if we lured them with the promise of drink at mid summer BBQ.....?
SE

 

[StevieEvans]

Castle Lake, Bishop Middleham, Next Monday 12th March

If anyones interested, a chance to meet club representatives & find out / see whats been happening & what else is proposed for this large site.
Afterwards, a couple of hours spadework & nest boxes to go up.

Do you have any ideas of what you would like to see being done there...?

Phone J.Olley (see DBC website) if interested & / or meet at Stoneybeck Lake (the roadside pool ) at 09:30.

A reasonable chance to see Peregrine falcon, Little Owl & maybe the first of our returning Sand Martins..... ?

SE

 

[DaveB]

Corn Bunting back on Etherley Moor. Hopefully the Yellowhammers will return soon.

Tree Sparrows definately appear to have taken up residency of the new nest box.

DaveB

 

[Mark Newsome]

Influx of buntings into my garden yesterday - 16 Yellowhammers and 3 Reed Buntings were feeding on seed when I came home. There's only been 4-6 Yellowhammers through the winter, so I presume these will be birds returning to the area pre-breeding? Also still 6+ Tree Sparrows. Not bad for a small garden on outskirts of Jarrow! (but not quite up to Paul's standard with Barn Owls and rare wines....!)

 

[StevieEvans]

Influx of buntings.......<snip>....

2 Snow Buntings near the hill top at Rainton Meadows.

Barn Owls also near Egglestone in Teesdale recently.

SE

 

[malcolm hobbs]

Low Barns RN Duck

And still there this morning from South Hide. Good to put a face to a name, MalR.

Malcolm.

 

[Mark Newsome]

2 Snow Buntings near the hill top at Rainton Meadows. ....SE

Very interesting Steve. With these and the one at Castle Lake a few weeks ago, it seems like there's been more Snow Buntings inland than there has on the coast (if you don't include the regular North Gare flock). South Shields Leas has held regular birds over the last few winters, but this winter seems to be very poor there. Maybe something to do with there being little food for larks and buntings due to the NT scalping the grasslands last summer?

 

[Mark Newsome]

Whitburn CP

Just to let BF members know of National Trust plans for Whitburn CP. I was more than a little dismayed when I read in the NT newsletter that its been agreed that the nature reserve part of Whitburn CP will be opened up to the public, with a footpath through the middle, and facilities for pond dipping etc. This is the part of the CP between the carpark and the Obs, with the pond, reedbed and undisturbed grassland.
Basically, the plans are for a path to run diagonally through the middle of the field, past the pond. This will be for the public, with the intention to turn the existing path into a horse bridleway. So it'll be dogwalkers through the middle and horse riders round the edge. As to what will happen to the breeding pairs of Reed Buntings, Grasshopper Warblers, Meadow Pipits etc.....? Surely a 'nature reserve' should be managed primarily for nature? This is currently the only undisturbed part of the whole Leas/Whitburn CP area not open to dogs running through.
The NT article naively said visitors will be able to watch Tufted Ducks etc at the pond. When the pond was not fenced off in the past, it became a paddling pool for local kids and target practice area for empty beer cans.
I for one will be writing to the NT to express my concerns. Anyone with feelings for the area may want to do the same.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Just to let BF members know of National Trust plans for Whitburn CP. I was more than a little dismayed when I read in the NT newsletter that its been agreed that the nature reserve part of Whitburn CP will be opened up to the public, with a footpath through the middle, and facilities for pond dipping etc. This is the part of the CP between the carpark and the Obs, with the pond, reedbed and undisturbed grassland.
Basically, the plans are for a path to run diagonally through the middle of the field, past the pond. This will be for the public, with the intention to turn the existing path into a horse bridleway. So it'll be dogwalkers through the middle and horse riders round the edge. As to what will happen to the breeding pairs of Reed Buntings, Grasshopper Warblers, Meadow Pipits etc.....? Surely a 'nature reserve' should be managed primarily for nature? This is currently the only undisturbed part of the whole Leas/Whitburn CP area not open to dogs running through.

You would think the national trust would have more sense, if it was a council idea i would understand it. The woodland trust are exactly the same at elemore woods, after keeping close contact with them over the years i`ve realised what poor knowledge they have about birds and wildlife. Pity you couldnt try and organize an on site meeting with someone from nt to express your concerns

 

[seggs]

Just to let BF members know of National Trust plans for Whitburn CP. I was more than a little dismayed when I read in the NT newsletter that its been agreed that the nature reserve part of Whitburn CP will be opened up to the public, with a footpath through the middle, and facilities for pond dipping etc. This is the part of the CP between the carpark and the Obs, with the pond, reedbed and undisturbed grassland.
Basically, the plans are for a path to run diagonally through the middle of the field, past the pond. This will be for the public, with the intention to turn the existing path into a horse bridleway. So it'll be dogwalkers through the middle and horse riders round the edge. As to what will happen to the breeding pairs of Reed Buntings, Grasshopper Warblers, Meadow Pipits etc.....? Surely a 'nature reserve' should be managed primarily for nature? This is currently the only undisturbed part of the whole Leas/Whitburn CP area not open to dogs running through.
The NT article naively said visitors will be able to watch Tufted Ducks etc at the pond. When the pond was not fenced off in the past, it became a paddling pool for local kids and target practice area for empty beer cans.
I for one will be writing to the NT to express my concerns. Anyone with feelings for the area may want to do the same.

:C this is indeed bad news....
like you have already said.. whats in it for the inhabitants of this sectioned off area?...nowt!! thats what...again another bad move by the nt..we should have more sectioned off areas(especialy on the leas).. for local wildlife to be understurbed..let the duck feeders go to marine park!..if it was supervised educational trips visiting the area i could understand.. but not this..and i bet the locals that live facing the area will love all the wild drunk kids having parties there in the summer!!

 

[seggs]

quick visit to trow and leas mound area this pm..
the lovely little fellow in usual tree..nowt else around the quary to speak of..
15 turnstone with 9 purple sands(most ive seen here)and one curlew in the south bay... only 2 eiders here today..
lots of skylark now in full song dispite the wind..
one g.c.grebe off marsden bay

 

[malcolm hobbs]

Whitburn CP

Just to let BF members know of National Trust plans for Whitburn CP. I was more than a little dismayed when I read in the NT newsletter that its been agreed that the nature reserve part of Whitburn CP will be opened up to the public, with a footpath through the middle, and facilities for pond dipping etc. This is the part of the CP between the carpark and the Obs, with the pond, reedbed and undisturbed grassland.

This is worrying news. What stage of planning are they at? Is there time for any objections to be made in a more formal/ official manner, by the DBC for example, who might carry more weight than any one individual?

Malcolm.

 

[MalR]

And still there this morning from South Hide. Good to put a face to a name, MalR.

Malcolm.

Good to meet you too, Malcolm. Hope you got some decent pics of the ring-necked!

Called into Croxdale on the way home. Fairly quiet. Little party of four redwing, three great spotted woodpeckers, treecreeper, nuthatch, long-tailed tit, mistle thrush, six grey heron in the air together, greylag flock in the riverside field.

Disturbing news about the plans for Whitburn CP nature reserve. Is it worth DBC members writing to the National Trust individually? Maybe a sackload of letters might make them realise the strength of feeling on the subject.

Malcolm

 

[StevieEvans]

National "trust"

This is worrying news. What stage of planning are they at? Is there time for any objections to be made in a more formal/ official manner, by the DBC for example, who might carry more weight than any one individual?

Malcolm.

Hi Malcolm
This was discussed at comm meeting last night, a formal letter will certainly be sent.

Disturbing news about the plans for Whitburn CP nature reserve. Is it worth DBC members writing to the National Trust individually? Maybe a sackload of letters might make them realise the strength of feeling on the subject.

MalR
As whitburnmark says, Individual letters direct to the Trust from anyone concerned would be ideal.

....<snip>.....poor knowledge they have about birds and wildlife. Pity you couldnt try and organize an on site meeting with someone from nt to express your concerns

Derek
I would expect that the Trust should have carried out some sort of wildlife audit / impact assesment before planning any changes........ :h?:
Theres been a meeting in which DBC were represented, hopefully there'll be another, as you say - "on site".

.....<snip>.........This is currently the only undisturbed part of the whole Leas/Whitburn CP area not open to dogs running through.....

You obviously know the place better than most Mark, but its probably the only undisturbed piece of coastal land between the Wear & Tyne !
I think we should ensure the integrity of the nature reserve remains intact. Theres plenty of scope (& funding) for pond dipping & nature trails etc on / over other parts of this very large country park.
The nature reserve field could easily be vastly improved for wildlife & all visitors alike, by inplementing a scheme similar to the St.Marys island one.....

SE

On a brighter note flat calm conditions last night were perfect for perch hunting owls & we had roadside Barn & Tawny last night after comm. meeting between Seaham & Houghton.

Steve