Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[gogsy]

Went for my long walk again yesterday,GSW at The Dell along with Chaffinch and Lots of Blue and Great Tits calling.A pair of Long Tailed Tits near Watertower, nesting i think.Walked across golf course to White horse.Along from the pub lots of Goldfinches,Greenfinch and a Large flock of Long tailed Tits foraging.Little owl at Old Marsden Quarry in usual place.Down to coast Male Stonechat still near bushes on Leas up from Camels island.Only 3 Eiders one male and two females North of Marsden bay.

 

[seggs]

had a GOOD search this morning( got scatches to prove it) and it appears that the l.e.owls have left the boldon winter roost..UNLESS anyone knows otherwise...
3 pair of canadas on boldon flats now and the usual suspects.. i think the wigeon numbers are slowly going down now maybe 40+..the farmer will be taking it over soon i suspect :-C

 

[The Liverbirder]

had a GOOD search this morning( got scatches to prove it) and it appears that the l.e.owls have left the boldon winter roost..UNLESS anyone knows otherwise...
3 pair of canadas on boldon flats now and the usual suspects.. i think the wigeon numbers are slowly going down now maybe 40+..the farmer will be taking it over soon i suspect :-C

Had a good search yeaterday morning for the same quarry at the same place and got a full Katie Boyle (two in two days). I did NOT go beyond the fence though so my Tom Cruise-like good looks and bronzed Adonis skin remain intact!!!!

 

[great bustard]

drove past elemore hall today, just wondering where do you park the motor and where do you go to spot the birds? is there any tracks or walks? cheers, bye

 

[DEREK.C.]

drove past elemore hall today, just wondering where do you park the motor and where do you go to spot the birds? is there any tracks or walks? cheers, bye

Personally parking is not a problem for me as the woods is only a 15 minute walk away,but i think the best bet is to park at littletown at the western end of the woods .A public footpath goes along past elemore hall school ,from there public footpaths lead always , but the land directly around the school is private.
As to be expected in a large mixed woodland birds can pop up anywhere, with woodpeckers , tawny owls, treecreeps etc in every part of the woods on different days.

 

[lil-lisa]

Haven't posted for a while as unfortunately I haven't been able to get out and about much lately. Im off work next Friday and cant decide where to go, Id love to see owls in the wild or maybe head up to Hetton Bogs. Can anyone suggest anywhere not to far from Sunderland centre, taking into consideration i dont drive and am 5 months pregnant-- thanks in advance

 

[StevieEvans]

friendly ( & hopefully, not too overbearing ) advice

had a GOOD search this morning( got scatches to prove it) and it appears that the l.e.owls have left the boldon winter roost..UNLESS anyone knows otherwise......<snip>......

Steven
Good to see youre interested in looking for owls.
As we've met a few times i hope you'll consider this friendly advice......

We have established over recent years, that the vast majority of winter roost areas also hold resident breeding birds.
Therefore, crashing through thorn bushes at the start of the breeding season isnt such a good idea .
Pairs are currently especially susceptible to disturbance while they are in the middle of setting up territories & the females selecting nests (which they will roost on for weeks before laying).

Had a good search yeaterday morning for the same quarry at the same place ........<snip>........ I did NOT go beyond the fence....<snip>.....

Gordon
Plenty of helpful advice on DBC website (downloads page) if you're interested in hunting for your leo quarry.
At this time of year, a dawn or dusk visit may well pay off, you'll have a chance to see the birds doing something (hunting/displaying etc) rather then them simply sitting bolt upright looking alarmed.
Failing that, you wont have to wait that long (late May/early June) till the adults are feeding hungry mouths & hunting early evenings in perfect daylight.

Cheers
Steve

 

[gyrfalcon]

Steven
Good to see youre interested in looking for owls.
As we've met a few times i hope you'll consider this friendly advice......

We have established over recent years, that the vast majority of winter roost areas also hold resident breeding birds.
Therefore, crashing through thorn bushes at the start of the breeding season isnt such a good idea .
Pairs are currently especially susceptible to disturbance while they are in the middle of setting up territories & the females selecting nests (which they will roost on for weeks before laying).

What about letting your dog tear through the undergrowth on your behalf?
Presumably that is fine?!

Cheers,
Confused,

 

[seggs]

crashing tro- undergrowth?

Steven
Good to see youre interested in looking for owls.
As we've met a few times i hope you'll consider this friendly advice......

We have established over recent years, that the vast majority of winter roost areas also hold resident breeding birds.
Therefore, crashing through thorn bushes at the start of the breeding season isnt such a good idea .
Pairs are currently especially susceptible to disturbance while they are in the middle of setting up territories & the females selecting nests (which they will roost on for weeks before laying





Gordon
Plenty of helpful advice on DBC website (downloads page) if you're interested in hunting for your leo quarry.
At this time of year, a dawn or dusk visit may well pay off, you'll have a chance to see the birds doing something (hunting/displaying etc) rather then them simply sitting bolt upright looking alarmed.
Failing that, you wont have to wait that long (late May/early June) till the adults are feeding hungry mouths & hunting early evenings in perfect daylight.

Cheers
Steve

hi steve
your advise taken on board( which i already knew, but good for people who did`t)
just for the record- at no point on this search and any other one i have done in over 20years of watching have i ever `crashed thro- undergrowth`...
i grew up in this area and it is my old stomping ground... so i know every old trail and path under trees and off main cinder track..the owls well being was never compromised( if still here)..as i never approached near enough the favoured roost only enough to get a better look..
will let the pot bellied pigs know not to crash the undergrowth next time i see them!

 

[StevieEvans]

hi steve
your advise taken on board( which i already knew, but good for people who did`t).........<snip>........just for the record- at no point on this search and any other one i have done in over 20years of watching have i ever `crashed thro- undergrowth`........<snip>...........as i never approached near enough the favoured roost only enough to get a better look..

Okay Steve, you have been found not guilty & i will switch my blue "bird police" siren off now, lol

( most people i know who have enjoyed watching these particular birds, over the past few winters have done so with relative ease & without having to leave the hard farm trackway. )

There will certainly be undiscovered breeding pairs each year in Sth Tyneside; ( last confirmed breeding was close to the Tyne approx 6 year ago.) - when a DBC member followed up a non birders reports of a breeding Tawny... only to find 2 young owls with bright orange eyes.....

Steve

 

[Paul Mc]

Tree sparrow?

Inspired by Jaybee I thought I really needed to photo this bird.
I cleverly disguised my aston martin to look like any other boring old family saloon and parked it right next to my feeders.
It wasn't long before one of my flock landed on a rusty old plough put there for this purpose (?)
Not sure how this will look on the site, its my first try?

Paul

 

[[email protected]]

spot on

Inspired by Jaybee I thought I really needed to photo this bird.
I cleverly disguised my aston martin to look like any other boring old family saloon and parked it right next to my feeders.
It wasn't long before one of my flock landed on a rusty old plough put there for this purpose (?)
Not sure how this will look on the site, its my first try?

Paul

better than the rubbish i post

 

[seggs]

Inspired by Jaybee I thought I really needed to photo this bird.
I cleverly disguised my aston martin to look like any other boring old family saloon and parked it right next to my feeders.
It wasn't long before one of my flock landed on a rusty old plough put there for this purpose (?)
Not sure how this will look on the site, its my first try?

Paul

hi paul great pic..
hope to get some here myself when the postman delivers my lens off e-bay

 

[StevieEvans]

Inspired by Jaybee I thought I really needed to photo this bird. I cleverly disguised my aston martin to look like any other boring old family saloon......<snip>....... landed on a rusty old plough put there for this purpose (?)
Not sure how this will look on the site, its my first try?
Paul

aston martin.... very cunning of you to disguise your mini metro roof-rack to resemble an old piece of farmyard scrap.
good photo Paul, even better disguise.


Chiffchaff at Sedgeletch today.

 

[The Chairman]

Blowing a hoolie on Tees marshes this pm but pr of Smew still there and 2 Peregrines plus first Marsh Harry of year. Needless to say the Fiend had it well and truly wapped off the list b4 I arrived.

Looks like a canny day for fence building 2morra I'd say?

 

[Paul Mc]

good photo Paul, even better disguise.

Sometimes disguise myself as an overweight balding 40 something as well

 

[DEREK.C.]

Whos this bloke The Chairman posting on here,
is it that big fella from tunstall hills

 

[The Chairman]

Whos this bloke The Chairman posting on here,
is it that big fella from tunstall hills

got it in one Derek

 

[seggs]

adult med gull again in the large carpark at marsden..nearly in full summer plumage best part of the head now dark.. its a different bird to the last one i seen here..this is a great spot for getting close and comparing with black headed gulls..if anyones not seen them before..or try the leas if you don`t pick it up here..
my last post for a while people(thank goodness for that some might think! lol)
be back on in a few weeks...unless my otherhalf writes

 

[Bonsaibirder]

67 Whooper Swans past Whitburn OBS between 6.30 and 9.30 am.

Flocks of 11, 16 and 22 going North and 18 coming in off to the West.

Stunning !!!