Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

.............
Stunning piece of work Ian, Leo flight shot is ace, but i love the difference in facial expresions between images 2 & 3.
It seems a very frosty grey headed bird ? is this a true colour likeness or is my monitor dodgy ?
........................
SteveE

I figured the paler one maybe a youngster from last years brood - just a guess really - though other owl species (Barnies) vary in colour so I dare say LEO's may as well. Two of them are quite pale and the others have been the more usual darker colours.

Having said that bird 2 was sat with it's back to the sun whereas the others were all facing into the sun which accounts for colour differences.

 

[JBee]

John, looks like your Kes has a rat as prey ?
( keep trying & you'll get up there with the likes of Ian & Mark )

SteveE

I can only hope.

Hard to resist a cock pheasant in full sun.
The water rail wont let me leave the feeding station unless I take his/her photo.
Couple of cormorants from Marsden on the way back from Washington WWT yesterday.

 

[JBee]

On the stack at Marsden yesterday there was a lot of "sky watching/pointing" (?????) going on. Also lots of seedweed being brought in as "presents"
With that in mind I'm uncertain as to wether the gull is chasing the cormorant because it is carrying a pipe fish or wether the cormorant is simply carrying a kelp stalk. Birds were a long way off so dificult to see exactly what it is carrying.
Anyone shed light.

 

[ted hilland]

Kestrel

Had a ride to Washington WWT today with CW to try for a few avocet photos.
Unfortunately they didnt want to play - 1 sat pretty much glued to the island while the other wandered around pretty aimlessly. Neither wandered up to the narrower and shallower stretch of the lake in front of Paddys hide (the best place to photograph them)
I hope sharpy had better luck as he stayed a little longer.
Picked up a few other photos throughout the day - a selection below.

John, I have read the posts praising your Kestrel however if I may just give my pennys worth. The whole shot is framed incorrectly, and have you slightly over exposed a tad?. Were you using the right ISO, as I might have gone a tad higher as the light was just not quite right. The overall picture lacks sharpness in my opinion but on the whole not a bad attempt :t:

If you require any help just pm me

 

[June Atkinson]

Events in the Northern Kites Calendar

Here are some of the future Events with Northern Kites, courtesy of Rhianne Dixon Events Officer for Northern Kites Project..

Red Kite Ramble in Teesdale
Saturday 7th April, 10am - 12.30pm (Booking is essential)
Join Northern Kites staff and volunteers on this guided walk to see red kites in the wild while exploring the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Teesdale’s beautiful countryside. Suitable for all ages but please be aware the route is over rough ground.
Cost: FREE EVENT
(Booking is essential)
For further information contact: North Pennines AONB on 01388 528801

Red Kite Ramble in Chopwell Wood
Tuesday 10th April, 2 - 4pm (Booking is essential)
Join Northern Kites staff and volunteers on this guided walk to see red kites and other wildlife while exploring the beautiful Chopwell Woods near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. Suitable for all ages but please be aware the route is over rough ground.
Cost: FREE EVENT
(Booking is essential)
For further information contact: Chopwell Woods on 01207 542231

Saltwell Park Show
Saturday 21st April and Sunday 22nd April, 10am - 4.30pm
Northern Kites staff and volunteers will be joining the Gateshead Council Countryside Team at the Saltwell Park Show in Gateshead. Come along to enjoy all elements of the show and find out more about red kites. Children can enjoy free red kite activities.
Cost: FREE EVENT
(Booking is not required)
For further information contact: Gateshead Council Events Team: 0191 4333000

Red Kite Ramble in Gibside Estate
Sunday 6th May, starts at 12pm (Booking is essential)
Join Northern Kites for this guided walk to see red kites while exploring the beautiful National Trust’s Gibside Estate near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. Suitable for all ages but please be aware the route is over rough ground.
Cost: National Trust admission prices apply, plus an additional charge for the event (to include refreshments).
(Booking is essential)
For further information contact: The Gibside Estate on 01207 541824

 

[Mark Newsome]

A few pics from a trip up Weardale and Teesdale yesterday. A fabulous day with blue skies and sunshine, although there was frost in the valleys to start with! The breeding waders were fantastic - we're very lucky having the densities of Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing and Redshank breeding that we do.
Most winter thrushes had left, with just small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare. Summer migrants were virtually non-existent, with no Wheatears or Ring Ouzels found. Raptors were surprisingly few considering the sunshine, with 2+ hours of watching at 3 sites near Hamsterley producing zero Buzzards! Amazing considering how obvious they are at other times. A few Buzzards were up in the air later in the day near Derwent Res. along with a Goshawk. Sparrowhawks were obvious all day.
Closer to home, Lamesley Pastures was productive with 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Redshank and 1 Snipe on one small pool.

 

[JBee]

John, I have read the posts praising your Kestrel however if I may just give my pennys worth. The whole shot is framed incorrectly, and have you slightly over exposed a tad?. Were you using the right ISO, as I might have gone a tad higher as the light was just not quite right. The overall picture lacks sharpness in my opinion but on the whole not a bad attempt :t:

If you require any help just pm me

Thanks Ted, I really appreciate you taking time to pass on your wise words and your comments are logged in the memory bank for future reference.
Possibly one day I may manage to get half decent shot provided I continue to study the work of masters like yourself

CW and I had ride to Weardale today.
By the time we found a black grouse anywhere near enough for a photo the early morning sun had gone
One day things will go right.

 

[ALFIE TEMPLE]

Two Little Owls showing well in Marsden Quarry.
Couple of Razorbills on "cormorant" stack

 

[Julie10_10]

I went for a walk at Hurworth Burn Reservoir tonight a had good views of a Swallow, LEO's and Yellowhammer. Also seen were 2 hares, 1 toad and 2 pipistrelle bats. The bird song was very good in the absence of any wind.

 

[Shaggy2070]

Hartlepool Headland

An Hour at the Headland yesterday, not a lot about.
3 Cormorants, 10+ purple sandpiper, 15+ turnstone, 5 Oystercatcher, Feral Pigeons, Starlings, 5-6 Eiders and a load of Gulls being fed from people in cars.
Also a young Grey Seal on the beach at the Heugh.

 

[ted hilland]

Thanks Ted, I really appreciate you taking time to pass on your wise words and your comments are logged in the memory bank for future reference.
Possibly one day I may manage to get half decent shot provided I continue to study the work of masters like yourself

CW and I had ride to Weardale today.
By the time we found a black grouse anywhere near enough for a photo the early morning sun had gone
One day things will go right.

Morn John, I see you sussded my post out. The Kestrel shot (with short tailed vole, I think) is nothing short of perfection mate. Its alright having all the gear but if you dont know how to use it...whats the point, which is kinda my problem except I dont have all the gear but what I have I still struggle with. I have shown all my family your Kestrel pic, its as if I am proud to just show off that I know the guy who took it. I look forward to your posts John as a picture paints a thousand words, in your case a million. ps I would be interested in buying an A4 print of the Kessy on the post with the vole if there for sale, Cheers Ted.

 

[Cyclops]

Well, we have a newish nature reserve in my area, practically on my door step.Brinkburn Nature Reserve, Darlington
I have ben a couple of times with the kids but its pretty quiet and there was an algae breakout on the lake a while ago. Also there are a lot of riff raff use it for taking their noisy motorbikes and stuff thru it and generally causing trouble, and I dont feel that safe to be in there with binos looking at birds. I suppose its the same wherever you go now but where i used to live, near wolverhampton, I never felt threatened! But when i moved up here i had a bad experience with druggy neighbours in our first flat and they got quite nasty with us.(The police did nowt and theyre still in that flat!)
Anyway on a brighter note, I would like to check out this reserve out some time and see whats about!
Anyone in the area visited it yet?Any fellow birders/naturalists in Darlington?

 

[DaveB]

Etherley Moor

Corn Bunting (at least two) now singing / calling on a daily basis.

The feeding station is still busy with Tree Sparrow (1 nestbox taken), House Sparrow, Blue Tit (1 nestbox taken), Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Blackbird (taking food to the nest), Song Thrush, Robin and Dunnock all visiting regularly. Pheasant and Grey Partridge have been visiting this past week.

Other: Green Sandpiper still at Bishops Park and 10+ Sand Martins at Escomb (both yesterday evening)

 

[Cyclops]

Is this Drinkfield Marsh or another one? I've visited Drinkfield Marsh a few times but not yet this year. Most winters it's a good spot for Redpoll and Siskin. In 2004 the pond which I think is spring fed held a Black-necked Grebe for a few weeks and a Kingfisher occasionally visits - though I've only seen it once. There's usually a couple of Little Grebe as well. We do have a couple of members who live nearby.

No its Brinkburn Nature Reserve, off the Brinkburn road and not faer from the pub of the same name.
Its only small so far but it is within a large patch of woodland which is in a general path we call the Black Path.(Or Chavs Hangout!)

 

[IanF]

Lol! I just realised it's another reserve. I haven't been to that one yet.

 

[Cyclops]

Lol! I just realised it's another reserve. I haven't been to that one yet.

Ah I see you live in Billingham, very green up there if I remember rightly, very much in the sticks!

 

[The gaffer]

3 razorbill just south of Marsden Rock late afternoon.

Boldon flats has 3 mute swans, 4 grey lag geese, 2 canada geese, plenty of mallard, teal, coot, lapwing, heron but no sign of any wigeon. Approximately 16.50 saw a buzzard sized raptor circling above Moor lane, from Boldon flats, heading towards the coast. But could not get a positive identification. Dark back, lighter under parts rounded wing tips but could not see any 'fingers' and could not make out any underwing patterns.

I would be interested to hear if anyone else saw it and got a positve ID

 

[Quacker]

Had a few hours with David (Fatrat) on Teesside today as he'd never been birding in the area. Mixed bag, (no Peregrine today) but Little Ringed plover x 2 (Calor Gas) a few Ringed Plover & Gadwall (Back Saltholme) and didn't go to Dormans for the Great White Egret that was seen briefly by 4 people last heading there! (It's not allowed for us none Tees Bird Club members).

Was happy to see my first Wheatear of the year, having drawn a blank last Saturday at Greatham/Greenbella - you know the one - right hand side on the way to Seal Sands hide :t: - sadly, Zinc Works road didn't bring anything further save a few Linnet & Meadow Pipit.

An afternoon stroll around Hurworth Burn Reservoir brought more Ruddy Duck, and several Great Crested Grebe & Goldeneye - as reported yesterday, a couple of Swallow also were year'r first.

Glorious sunshine - mebbe one Swallow does make a Summer? :clap:

 

[DaveB]

Bollihope

An afternoon visit to Bollihope produced several Red Grouse and a single Ring Ouzel.

Other birds seen during the afternoon included Merlin (2), Sparrowhawk (1), Pied Wagtail (at least 2), Meadow Pipit (10+), Chaffinch (2), Mistle Thrush (1), Common Gull (2), Black–headed Gull (20+), Curlew (5+) and Lapwing (10+).

Before departing for Bollihope, we found the Green Sandpiper at it’s usual location (Bishops Park).

 

[NeilF]

3 Sand Martins yesterday lunchtime over the river in Durham city centre in the regular spot next to the new hotel development.