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Durham Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Skelly
- Start date
Skelly
Durham Birder
Low Barns Feeding Station
Coal Tit
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Siskin
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Pheasant
Moorhen
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Nuthatch
3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
Salters Gate area
Green Woodpecker
Jay
Redpoll
Chaffinch
Mistle Thrush
Fieldfare
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
Linnet
B
Coal Tit
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Siskin
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Pheasant
Moorhen
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Nuthatch
3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
Salters Gate area
Green Woodpecker
Jay
Redpoll
Chaffinch
Mistle Thrush
Fieldfare
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
Linnet
B
Attachments
Last edited:
IanF
Moderator
Good going Ian. I tried for Siskin at Low Barns last week but no joy. Perhaps the colder weather has brought them to the feeders more.
This afternoon I had a ride up to Rainton Meadows for a couple hours walk around. No SEO's by 15:30 hrs but Kestrels seemed to be everywhere. Grey Wagtail on the main pond and a mixed flock of Canada and Greylag Geese.
This afternoon I had a ride up to Rainton Meadows for a couple hours walk around. No SEO's by 15:30 hrs but Kestrels seemed to be everywhere. Grey Wagtail on the main pond and a mixed flock of Canada and Greylag Geese.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Local Bird News
25 Snow Bunting around the north end of the golf corse area at Crimdon with 2 Stonechat in the area.
10 Snow Bunting at Hendon.
2 Snow Bunting at Chourdon Point, nr Hawthorn.
report of a possible Black Redstart at Blast Beach ?
3 Scaup on Brasside Pond
Rainton Meadows 10:30 - 12:00
Huge gull flocks on lakes, field & tip. Conservative estimate of 5,500. (someone else has suggested 6-8,000)
Adult Yellow legged Gull on main lake, walking around on bankside.
Adult Lesser Black Backed Gull seemed to be an intermedius type (SW Scandinavia)
adult Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Snipe one mobbed by Crows forcing it to flush.
Water Rail as usual in roadside culvert before carpark, Chiffchaff in Alder scrub at south east side of main lake. It remained in these trees while the 5 Goldcrest & 10 LTTit it was loosely associating with, continued on out into open saplings area.
6+ Kestrel, single Short eared Owl over hilltop at 11:40
Sunderland Bridge & Croxdale Estate 12:30 - 16:30
River
Compact group of 8 Dabchick feeding together downriver of roadbridge.
Dipper feeding underwater & singing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Heron
Avenue & Hall
MAP - www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.7353&lon=-1.5776&scale=25000&icon=x
Nil Hawfinch. 6 Nuthatch, 1 GSW, 2 Treecreeper, 5 Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush protecting its Yew trees from Blackbird & Redwing berry thieves. Small no's of Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Greenfinch. Also a one legged Wren.
North Park to Crox Wood House.
Pr Stock Dove, a single Red-legged Partridge sitting in the afternoon sun with numerous Pheasants. Evidence of a active Kestrel roost in a large hedgerow Ash tree, with many pellets & whitewash. 50 field feeding Redwing. 2 Jays silently overhead with a large feeding flock of approx 230 Fieldfare.
Stopped at Croxdale Wood House to check the garden for Hawfinch (nil) & a Woodcock shot out from under the garden hedge.
Croxdale Wood
13 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, another Woodcock came up from under the shelter of a pathside Honeysuckle clad Hazel.
Low Butterby Meanders
A Water Rail gave its distinctive & loud sharming call as i passed at 15:08
Low Butterby, riverside
Handsome drake Goosander fishing at close range with a redhead overhead upriver. A Kingisher was perched nicely in the open on an overhanging dead Crack Willow branch. It made an unsuccessful dive but then appeared anxious & began calling frantically, as it took off a adult male Sparrowhawk broke cover & shot across the river.
Very little else at this dead end path, but a large Jackdaw flock of 500+ on the Houghall side.
Low Butterby Meanders
MAP - www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.7434&lon=-1.5728&scale=25000&icon=x
2 female Mallard, a drake Teal, a Common Snipe inadvertantly flushed from trackside. Single Willow Tit & a Green Woodpecker calling late on at 16:07
Best of all & highlight of the day was watching 4 Water Rails with at least 2 others calling. Will add notes on this later, but watched a pair interacting & feeding for 20 mins, often comical on the ice, from 15:35.
SE
25 Snow Bunting around the north end of the golf corse area at Crimdon with 2 Stonechat in the area.
10 Snow Bunting at Hendon.
2 Snow Bunting at Chourdon Point, nr Hawthorn.
report of a possible Black Redstart at Blast Beach ?
3 Scaup on Brasside Pond
Rainton Meadows 10:30 - 12:00
Huge gull flocks on lakes, field & tip. Conservative estimate of 5,500. (someone else has suggested 6-8,000)
Adult Yellow legged Gull on main lake, walking around on bankside.
Adult Lesser Black Backed Gull seemed to be an intermedius type (SW Scandinavia)
adult Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Snipe one mobbed by Crows forcing it to flush.
Water Rail as usual in roadside culvert before carpark, Chiffchaff in Alder scrub at south east side of main lake. It remained in these trees while the 5 Goldcrest & 10 LTTit it was loosely associating with, continued on out into open saplings area.
6+ Kestrel, single Short eared Owl over hilltop at 11:40
Sunderland Bridge & Croxdale Estate 12:30 - 16:30
River
Compact group of 8 Dabchick feeding together downriver of roadbridge.
Dipper feeding underwater & singing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Heron
Avenue & Hall
MAP - www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.7353&lon=-1.5776&scale=25000&icon=x
Nil Hawfinch. 6 Nuthatch, 1 GSW, 2 Treecreeper, 5 Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush protecting its Yew trees from Blackbird & Redwing berry thieves. Small no's of Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Greenfinch. Also a one legged Wren.
North Park to Crox Wood House.
Pr Stock Dove, a single Red-legged Partridge sitting in the afternoon sun with numerous Pheasants. Evidence of a active Kestrel roost in a large hedgerow Ash tree, with many pellets & whitewash. 50 field feeding Redwing. 2 Jays silently overhead with a large feeding flock of approx 230 Fieldfare.
Stopped at Croxdale Wood House to check the garden for Hawfinch (nil) & a Woodcock shot out from under the garden hedge.
Croxdale Wood
13 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, another Woodcock came up from under the shelter of a pathside Honeysuckle clad Hazel.
Low Butterby Meanders
A Water Rail gave its distinctive & loud sharming call as i passed at 15:08
Low Butterby, riverside
Handsome drake Goosander fishing at close range with a redhead overhead upriver. A Kingisher was perched nicely in the open on an overhanging dead Crack Willow branch. It made an unsuccessful dive but then appeared anxious & began calling frantically, as it took off a adult male Sparrowhawk broke cover & shot across the river.
Very little else at this dead end path, but a large Jackdaw flock of 500+ on the Houghall side.
Low Butterby Meanders
MAP - www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.7434&lon=-1.5728&scale=25000&icon=x
2 female Mallard, a drake Teal, a Common Snipe inadvertantly flushed from trackside. Single Willow Tit & a Green Woodpecker calling late on at 16:07
Best of all & highlight of the day was watching 4 Water Rails with at least 2 others calling. Will add notes on this later, but watched a pair interacting & feeding for 20 mins, often comical on the ice, from 15:35.
SE
Attachments
Last edited:
StevieEvans
Well-known member
R,Meadows
18 Siskin, adult fem Sparrowhawk
Bad weather prevailed, very little else of note; contractors working at main lake demolishing stone screen.
Brasside
10 fem Goldeneye, 3drake Pochard , 42 Tufted Duck, 11 Cormorant, 3 Dabchick, drake Teal, <25 Coot, <12 Mallard No Swans, no geese.
10 Bullfinch (2M, pr, 2M & 3F & 1 heard), 2 Jay, 9 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 5 Wren & pr Dunnock mobbing something at the old pigstys.
Nr Leamside
a dozen Pied Wagtails & a Heron at a rercent subsidence pool.
Local Bird News
No sign of Snow Buntings at Ryhope but a very late Sandwich Tern offshore.
SE
18 Siskin, adult fem Sparrowhawk
Bad weather prevailed, very little else of note; contractors working at main lake demolishing stone screen.
Brasside
10 fem Goldeneye, 3drake Pochard , 42 Tufted Duck, 11 Cormorant, 3 Dabchick, drake Teal, <25 Coot, <12 Mallard No Swans, no geese.
10 Bullfinch (2M, pr, 2M & 3F & 1 heard), 2 Jay, 9 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 5 Wren & pr Dunnock mobbing something at the old pigstys.
Nr Leamside
a dozen Pied Wagtails & a Heron at a rercent subsidence pool.
Local Bird News
No sign of Snow Buntings at Ryhope but a very late Sandwich Tern offshore.
SE
RAINTON MEADOWS UPDATE
I was chatting to the reserve manager today - the stone screen has now been demolished to make way for a Breeze block hide with roof ! also there will be banks built up along the track to enable access to the hide without disturbing the birds and a small scrape seems to be on the cards.
The paths will be gravelled and also the tracks throughout the reserve will be improved.
This work will take until January at least and will therefore be disruptive to birders and the birds - however the long term benefits dont need to be spelt out.
He did express a desire that birders would enter their sightings in the log inside the visitor centre , so that the staff can be more aware of what is going on, and so that records can be collated. He is hoping that eventually the DWT website will be able to be accessed for electronic sighting records.
there are quite a few long-term projects planned which will increase the size of the reserve and make it more attractive to waders - hopefully in the future we can have a good sized wader trap in this area of county durham.
Nigel
I was chatting to the reserve manager today - the stone screen has now been demolished to make way for a Breeze block hide with roof ! also there will be banks built up along the track to enable access to the hide without disturbing the birds and a small scrape seems to be on the cards.
The paths will be gravelled and also the tracks throughout the reserve will be improved.
This work will take until January at least and will therefore be disruptive to birders and the birds - however the long term benefits dont need to be spelt out.
He did express a desire that birders would enter their sightings in the log inside the visitor centre , so that the staff can be more aware of what is going on, and so that records can be collated. He is hoping that eventually the DWT website will be able to be accessed for electronic sighting records.
there are quite a few long-term projects planned which will increase the size of the reserve and make it more attractive to waders - hopefully in the future we can have a good sized wader trap in this area of county durham.
Nigel
IanF
Moderator
I called in at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park this afternoon. In between the blustery showers decent numbers of birds were visting the feeding station.
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Marsh Tit x2 - a good species for this location as not many about
Treesparrow x7
Robin
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit x27 or thereabouts - the most I've seen in one flock anywhere.
Goldfinch
Wren
Goldcrest
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Rat x2
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Marsh Tit x2 - a good species for this location as not many about
Treesparrow x7
Robin
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit x27 or thereabouts - the most I've seen in one flock anywhere.
Goldfinch
Wren
Goldcrest
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Rat x2
Attachments
StevieEvans
Well-known member
russkie said:
sounds promising.... but i hope they use fire-proof breeze blocks
StevieEvans
Well-known member
russkie said:
Nice pics
Good to see you've got access & a key for down there. Theres some helpfull folks out there !
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
russkie said:
All 5 Owl species on the reserve so far in November.......... roll on Hawk Owl ;-)
Local Bird News
Seaham - 2 Velvet Scoter, 5 Goldeneye, 10 Common Scoter on the sea and a Peregrine over.
Hi Ian, interesting about the Marsh Tits, a bit out of preferred habitat there, im sure nearest breeding sites are at Wynyard.
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john gardiner
Well-known member
Today
Holmside Lane Redwing, pair Bullfinch, GSW, Kestrel
Howhill Lane 21 Curlew
Blackdene Farm mlae Sparrowhawk sitting on TV aerial watching farmyard
Riverside/Great Lumley male Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Little Grebe, pr Cormorant, Mallard, Moorhen, pr Grey Wagtail, pr Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 11 Long tailed Tit, Blue Tit,Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Pheasant, pr Jay, Magpie, 100+ Jackdaw, 6 Black heaed Gull.
Holmside Lane Redwing, pair Bullfinch, GSW, Kestrel
Howhill Lane 21 Curlew
Blackdene Farm mlae Sparrowhawk sitting on TV aerial watching farmyard
Riverside/Great Lumley male Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Little Grebe, pr Cormorant, Mallard, Moorhen, pr Grey Wagtail, pr Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 11 Long tailed Tit, Blue Tit,Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Pheasant, pr Jay, Magpie, 100+ Jackdaw, 6 Black heaed Gull.
IanF
Moderator
Same birds as yesterday at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park. A few more Goldcrest but fewer LTT.
14:45 hrs Dormans Pool a Peregrine dashed through from south to north putting everything up. Still quite a few Northern Pintail flying between all of the ponds. Loads of birds on the Rec Pond but it was a bit too cold to hang around for a good look.
14:45 hrs Dormans Pool a Peregrine dashed through from south to north putting everything up. Still quite a few Northern Pintail flying between all of the ponds. Loads of birds on the Rec Pond but it was a bit too cold to hang around for a good look.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Local Bird News
Winter specialities as usual in Sedgeletch / Philidelphia area including :- Water Rail, SEO, Jack Snipe, Kingfisher, Woodcock, 31 Siskin. Dead Tawny Owl found outside local factory.
2pr Shoveller & 7pr Wigeon on Houghton Gate.
Unusually a GCGrebe back on at R.Meadows
A female Ruddy Duck at Herrington C.P with the 3 Pink footed Geeese flying about trying to look wild.
Black Redstarts today at Whitburn & Sunderland Yacht Club.
Small no's of Little Auks at coastal sites, including one reported being taken by a H.Gull at Hendon.
Bittern at Low Barns has apparently been seen by 3 persons.....
Greenland White-fronted Goose with mixed flock on farmland near Sadberge.
Willow Tit visiting a garden feeder at Thornley during recent cold snap, but no sign of any SEO's; 2 there last winter plus BO & LO.
SE.
Winter specialities as usual in Sedgeletch / Philidelphia area including :- Water Rail, SEO, Jack Snipe, Kingfisher, Woodcock, 31 Siskin. Dead Tawny Owl found outside local factory.
2pr Shoveller & 7pr Wigeon on Houghton Gate.
Unusually a GCGrebe back on at R.Meadows
A female Ruddy Duck at Herrington C.P with the 3 Pink footed Geeese flying about trying to look wild.
Black Redstarts today at Whitburn & Sunderland Yacht Club.
Small no's of Little Auks at coastal sites, including one reported being taken by a H.Gull at Hendon.
Bittern at Low Barns has apparently been seen by 3 persons.....
Greenland White-fronted Goose with mixed flock on farmland near Sadberge.
Willow Tit visiting a garden feeder at Thornley during recent cold snap, but no sign of any SEO's; 2 there last winter plus BO & LO.
SE.
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
DaveB said:
Im keeping them secret-ish for our New Years Birdrace ;-)
(In all seriousness, they're on an old works site private, fenced off & security guarded)
River Gaunless Flats have all 3 though......
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=54.6323&lon=-1.6917&scale=25000&icon=x
Also Kingfisher, Teal & occassional Barn Owl here.
Steve.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Local Bird News.
Field House Fm, West Rainton,
Pr of Buzzards sitting on a hedge this morning also 14 Waxwings over. Tree Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll, Sparrowhawk etc.
Chester Moor
100 Golden Plover on autumn sown land
R.Meadows
6 Short eared Owls, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull,
Field House Fm, West Rainton,
Pr of Buzzards sitting on a hedge this morning also 14 Waxwings over. Tree Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll, Sparrowhawk etc.
Chester Moor
100 Golden Plover on autumn sown land
R.Meadows
6 Short eared Owls, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull,
IanF
Moderator
Seaton Snook, Seal Sands yesterday afternoon
On the shore -
Twite x70 on the shore at high tide eventually headed up towards Greatham Creek
Merlin x1 which seemd to be following the Twite about
Powerstation field behind dunes -
Oystercatcher x50
Reshank 30+
Golden Plover 300+
Grey Wagtail x2
Curlew 50+
Pied Wagtail
Song Thrush
Redwing
Fieldfare
On the Snook -
Red-breasted Merganser x8
Sandpiper x1
Redshank
Teal
Oystercatcher
Cormorant
Golden Plover
Knot
Curlew
Red-crested Pochard
Shelduck
On the shore -
Twite x70 on the shore at high tide eventually headed up towards Greatham Creek
Merlin x1 which seemd to be following the Twite about
Powerstation field behind dunes -
Oystercatcher x50
Reshank 30+
Golden Plover 300+
Grey Wagtail x2
Curlew 50+
Pied Wagtail
Song Thrush
Redwing
Fieldfare
On the Snook -
Red-breasted Merganser x8
Sandpiper x1
Redshank
Teal
Oystercatcher
Cormorant
Golden Plover
Knot
Curlew
Red-crested Pochard
Shelduck
Attachments
StevieEvans
Well-known member
IanF said:
Hi Ian
Thats a decent flock, is someone feeding them ?
Like that flight shot. SE
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