Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

Saw this on another thread - thought some people might be interested:

I went for a look when it was reported but it was high tide so the mud was covered and the birds were on the grassy plateau 300yds away looking into the sun. The grass is 6" high and the birds 4"-6" so viewing wasn't brilliant as there's hundreds of Dunlin and Redshank. Maybe when the tide drops a bit viewing will be better.

On the opposite side of the road was a Greenshank and a Peregrine diving on waders and nearby a Tawny Owl showing well.

 

[ColinSev]

Barmpton Village

Had a walk through along river skerne at Barmpton Village just to the North of Darlington.
In what is locally known as the "welsh mountains" there was a little owl calling and I eventually found it on the lower branches of an ash tree. Only 1 seen. On the river a kingfisher flew past me downriver towards Barmpton village.
Plenty of Linnet, Goldfinch and Yellowhammer about too.

Low Barns
Last night I was at Low Barns and saw single Kingfisher from the west hide and it caught a fish and carried it away - so the young must be somewhere around there. Also saw a Jay, family of 7 Grey Wagtails, Dipper, 2x Little Grebe families with very small young.

An angler said he had seen a Nightjar down near the river recently, he seemed to know about birds and lived at Hamsterley so I assume it is a fairly reliable observation.

Saw a rabbit on the path near the marsh walkway that had miximitosis - its eyes were totally gunged up and didnt even know i was with 3 yards of it.

 

[The Chairman]

Saw this on another thread - thought some people might be interested:

Red hot news from the site 2 mins ago is that the Buff breast has NOT been seen since about 5.15pm but is thought to be still present - just not visible due to very long grass (per PHindess)

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

Had a walk through along river skerne at Barmpton Village just to the North of Darlington.
In what is locally known as the "welsh mountains" there was a little owl calling and I eventually found it on the lower branches of an ash tree. Only 1 seen. On the river a kingfisher flew past me downriver towards Barmpton village.
Plenty of Linnet, Goldfinch and Yellowhammer about too.

Low Barns
Last night I was at Low Barns and saw single Kingfisher from the west hide and it caught a fish and carried it away - so the young must be somewhere around there. Also saw a Jay, family of 7 Grey Wagtails, Dipper, 2x Little Grebe families with very small young.

An angler said he had seen a Nightjar down near the river recently, he seemed to know about birds and lived at Hamsterley so I assume it is a fairly reliable observation.

Saw a rabbit on the path near the marsh walkway that had miximitosis - its eyes were totally gunged up and didnt even know i was with 3 yards of it.

hi colin
how do you know it was miximitosis,i thought that disease was wiped out.

 

[DEREK.C.]

hi colin
how do you know it was miximitosis,i thought that disease was wiped out.

Its still on the go over my way Ian ( Elemore, Pittington etc) .You still see the odd one with Mixi now and again, although its not a common a sight as it once was.

 

[ColinSev]

Mixied Rabbit at Low Barns

hi colin
how do you know it was miximitosis,i thought that disease was wiped out.

THe rabbit had very gunged eyes - almost closed and its ears were swollen - a pretty good sign its mixi - although I am no expert. The fact that I could have walked up to it without it sensing is also a good sign it was in the late development of mixi.
I don`t think it has ever been truly eradicated and reports on internet suggest its still about.
Its a shame but it will probably mean even less wildlife at Low Barns.

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

if any one has visited barmston pond in the last few days or is planing to
visit in the next week could some one please tell me if they have started to
lower the water level yet,i was there last tuesday and it was still quite
deep and i wont be able to have my usual weekly visit this week.

THANKS

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Only small numbers of terns/gulls on Sandhaven Beach early am but amongst these were 5 Roseate Terns (5 ads & juv), 2 Little Terns (ad & juv), 2nd-sum Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, Purple Sandpiper and 24 Sanderling.

 

[Dab-chick]

DBC Castle Lake Nature Reserve

STOP PRESS!!!

1 Wilsons Phalarope (SE & DC) - View only from west side, off farm track please, so as not to disturb the bird. :t:

Numerous passage waders also present.

 

[StevieEvans]

Wilsons Phalarope

STOP PRESS!!!

1 Wilsons Phalarope (SE & DC) - View only from west side, off farm track please, so as not to disturb the bird. :t:

Numerous passage waders also present.

Still present on Durham Bird Clubs Castle Lake Nature Reserve at 18:45

Also :-
4-5 Greenshank
6 Little Ringed Plover
11 Ringed Plover
4 Ruff
juv Cuckoo
juv Whinchat
Corn Bunting
Yellow Wagtail
Tree Sparrow
Willow Tit
SE


NB.
It would be helpfull if visitors could view from the public footpaths & vantage points on the high ground away from the water, (to avoid disturbance / accidental flushing ) untill the hide, interpretive materials & directional signs are in place.
Cheers
Steve


CASTLE LAKE is just south of Bishop Middleham
Park with care at / nr ruined farm in SW corner of village at NZ 326 313
Lake is 250 metres south of here. (water body not shown on maps)

 

[DEREK.C.]

Still present on Castle Lake at 18:45

Also :-
4-5 Greenshank
6 Little Ringed Plover
11 Ringed Plover
4 Ruff
juv Cuckoo
juv Whinchat
Corn Bunting
Yellow Wagtail
Tree Sparrow
Willow Tit
SE

Owl Eye Evans strikes again
I was pleased with the starters of 3 Ruff and 4 Greenshank and a juvenile Whinchat on the cattle feeder, that was until Steve spotted a small illuminous white wader , just visible at the far end.
Great find mate:t:

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Great find Steve -well done. Bird still showing c7.45pm when I left.

 

[seggs]

well done ross getting the first pic on the thread..
hope it hangs around till i can get down there!!

 

[phil sharp]

I got their around 7.50 and I seem to have missed it by around 5 minutes as saw a few Greenshank but no Phalarope or Ruff for that matter.

 

[sharpy]

Dipper dipping

Quite nice to see this little guy on the Wear at Shincliffe.

 

[sharpy]

Fieldfare

Also at Shincliffe - Fieldfares - I think! Poor quality as these guys are difficult to get close to.
Regards Alan.

 

[Mark Newsome]

Spot the phalarope....!

 

[StevieEvans]

......... spotted a small illuminous white wader , just visible at the far end.

ha ha, better than my stringy attempt there last year ! :-

.....a juvenile Black headed Gull, (non-breeding site) - very dark brown individual & initially threw me watching at long range as it probed about in mud...thought it was a phalarope !

Hopefully there still be a few bits & bobs down there for folks to see this Saturday...

SE

 

[IanF]

Great find Steve and Derek :t:

Hopefully it will stay around a couple of days.

 

[Mark Newsome]

The Phalarope is still there this morning (according to BirdGuides). First record away from the North Tees Marshes since 1974! Great find lads! I'm sure this won't be the last rare wader at Castle Lake this autumn.