Durham Birding (8 Viewers)

[NeilF]

Theres a very long section of the Team thats in a tunnel, right ? Approx 1.5KM?
Wonder if they fly through it......?

That's correct Stevie, I believe it re-appears near the Team Valley/A1 roundabout then meanders south past Lamesley.
When viewing from the hide at Lamesley the river is not immediately obvious what with embankments, fences, trees etc. so difficult to tell whether Kingfishers are active on this stretch as well.

Neil

 

[will@bill]

goshawk?

Had a trip to Hamsterley this morning to try and bag a goshawk. picked up mouldy on the way for some reinforcements. The trip got off to a good start with a little owl seen on a barn roof on the edge of the forest. We parked up at good vantage point but think it was a bit too windy the sun was out but was freezing cold. only seen two very distant raptors doing big dives maybe gossies or sparrowhawk? Decided to go for the black grouse at Langdon beck on the way seen 3 buzzards together doing a bit of displaying. never been to Langdon for the black grouse before so we were over the moon when they were the 1st birds we seen.16 were counted along with a grey partridge and 3 snipe flying overhead
A good day was had by all:t:

 

[will@bill]

kingfishers everywhere!

Theres a very long section of the Team thats in a tunnel, right ? Approx 1.5KM?
Wonder if they fly through it......?

That's correct Stevie, I believe it re-appears near the Team Valley/A1 roundabout then meanders south past Lamesley.
When viewing from the hide at Lamesley the river is not immediately obvious what with embankments, fences, trees etc. so difficult to tell whether Kingfishers are active on this stretch as well.

Neil

we have seen a kingfisher from the hide and at the reed beds only a few weeks ago
not sure if they could make it through that tunnel its pitch dark and not straight a dog leg in the middle should know been through it when i was a kid with my lamp of bike! maybe an owl could do it

 

[IanF]

This morning I had a look along to Hardwick Hall Country Park.

Drake Goosander on the Serpentine along with several Coot, Moorhen and Mallard.

The south end proved the most productive for woodland bids - less disturbed I suppose. Kestrel, Goldfinch c.40, Long-tailed Tit c.12, Willow Tit, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Blackbird. Robin, Wren and pigeons just about everywhere.

The main lake - Coot, Moorhen, Pochard, Mute Swan x8 (2 adults), Greylag Goose x5, Little Grebe, Mallard.

 

[seggs]

we have seen a kingfisher from the hide and at the reed beds only a few weeks ago
not sure if they could make it through that tunnel its pitch dark and not straight a dog leg in the middle should know been through it when i was a kid with my lamp of bike! maybe an owl could do it

i had the same thought years ago about kingfishers flying thro- tunnels..(when i was a lad:-O)..
the section was between the scotch est. dene and the now called station burn..(under the railway embankment now metro, and the section under the A19) along the don.
i often seen a kingfisher enter the tunnels but could never be certain if they came out on the other side...also pitch black..great places for bats then.
and for dares:t:
blackie singing at 3.15am. this morn. as mad as me..lol.

 

[StevieEvans]

i had the same thought years ago about kingfishers flying thro- tunnels.....<snip>......
i often seen a kingfisher enter the tunnels but could never be certain if they came out on the other side.....lol.

Hi Steve
theres no doubting that Kingfisher (& Dippers) do fly through tunnels, my interest in Will's birds is the tunnels length.
The section is question is approx 1.5km long.

Vis mig of small nos of Mipits & alba wags at CLStreet today.
Wood Pigeon on eggs in Leyland Cypress trees
Blackbird with 4 young at Penshaw.
SE

 

[rokermartin]

Hamsterley Forest excellent morning and early afternoon there today ,soon as i got out of the car saw a pair of Goshawks displaying and a little later a imm male Goshawk put on a brief display.Other raptors 4 Buzzard and a Kestrel ,while driving along the road at another part of Hamsterley a Tawny Owl flew over the road.Also Green Woodpecker today.If any one whats to see Gos its peak time for them displaying now should'nt have any problems if you pick a nice breezy sunny day, mid morning to mid afternoon is the best time to see them flying.You may have to wait a while for them to show.

 

[seggs]

couple of hours this pm.

trow and mound area.
the pair of grey partridge were in the quarry area today in the rough grass in the centre..not much else here or in the bays...
nice to bump into you again dougie:t:
we walked up to the mound area and 2 shorties were up hunting...loads of pellets around here..
the little owl appeared on the way back...well could,nt leave him out.:tmy avitar, taken last summer).

 

[joe1969]

yesterday
back on my local patch after 2 weeks in fuerteventura
blue tit,great tit,coal tit,long tailed tit,collared dove,wood pigeon,blackbird,wren ,robin,dunnock,mallard,song thrush,mistle thrush,treecreeper,crow,rook,jackdaw,magpie,kestrel,sparrowhawk,yellowhammer,jay,chaffinch,bullfinch,goldfinch,black headed gull,goldcrest,curlew,grey wagtail,starling,nuthatch,g/s/w,water hen,dipper,heron.wasnt doing to badly until the heavens opened and i had to make my way home.
still it was a canny couple of hours with 30 odd species,compared with a total of 53 in 2 weeks in fuerteventura.just goes to show this little old county of ours is a fantastic place to watch birds.

 

[wongifer]

After a week stuffed in the house with a bad ear and throat infection, went up to langdon beck 1000+ lapwing, 100 curlew. Took us a while to find the black grouse, in the field behind where we usually find them, still that was better since we got a much better view of 14 males at 50ft away. 1 buzzard over the moors as we drove on the road to cowgreen resevoir. Excellent close views of fieldfare, when you see them up close they look like minature male kestrels. Still on the road to cowgreen resevoir 2 dippers, 100+ redshank, 2 purple sands, a pair of golden plovers in breeding plumage, oystercatchers, meadow pipits, skylarks, pair of red grouse the male with the biggest scarlet red wattle I have ever seen, the female nwas more like a willow grouse as she was more golden than rufus. Then drove through the farms back to langdon beck. Whilst driving very slow we male stonechat sitting on the fencepost next to the road. 2 male black grouse either side of the road, they allowed us to get right next to them, could of touched them as they flew away. Round the road where the fields are very boggy flushed a jack snipe out. Then drove to hamsterly to see the goshawks no luck, we know you look over the top of the trees but does anyone know about any really good spots for them?


I am going with the club to musselburgh. I would like to know if I can writs a report for the LEK magazine.

Kieran Lawrence, 10

 

[rokermartin]

Hi Wongifer best place to see the Goshawks is the top road from Hamsterly Village if you come in the from Bedburn direction to Hamsterly village you want to turn right when you get into Hamsterly village and continue along the road which over looks the forest.There are a couple of good view points where you can stop and have a scan for Goshawks.

 

[IanF]

North Gare Pier - 1:00pm-2:00pm - RT Diver c.10, GC Grebe x1, Shag x5, Cormorant x2, Eider x3, RB Merganser x7. Snow Bunting perched actually on the pier flew off towards South Gare, Rock Pipit x2. Grey Plover x1, Knot x6, Redshank x4, Oystercatcher x3.

Seaton Common - Little Egret x2, SEO x1 viewed 2:00pm-3:00pm mostly in area behind dunes. Merlin close views on sheep/cattle enclosure and later on fence line by ditch from Zinc Works Road. Golden Plover c.500, Stonechat x4, Meadow Pipit 12+, Skylark 12+, Curlew c.20, Lapwing c.20, Kestrel.

 

[wongifer]

Hi Wongifer best place to see the Goshawks is the top road from Hamsterly Village if you come in the from Bedburn direction to Hamsterly village you want to turn right when you get into Hamsterly village and continue along the road which over looks the forest.There are a couple of good view points where you can stop and have a scan for Goshawks.

Hi rokermartin thanx

do you mean the road where the bikers go and is there a good time to go and see them.

 

[StevieEvans]

dusk

took the bairn out towards dusk
no surprise to see a great performance from a pair of Long-eared Owls, on a nigh perfect night - both weather wise & time of year.

wasnt sure if it was going to be worth the effort..... raucous youths in wood and what sounded like the odd 4:10 shot going off.
As we got closer @ 18:05 could hear the female calling, although there were 2 numbskulls with air rifles taking potshots at roosting Wood Pigeons - walked further on & then back tracked hoping they had moved on but they were still close (too close) to the calling female owl.
Unseen, I bellowed out a not so polite version of "get on your bikes !". Which instantly had the desired effect.
The female only stopped calling for 30 seconds or so, then continued at regularly spaced 8 second intervals. After a minute or so the tempo of the calls suddenly increased in response to the males approach.
We could hear him letting off half a dozen wing claps before he came into view, although he landed (unfortunately obscured) but went straight back out wing-clapping over the open track & field on the sheltered side of the wood.
The female flew to perch openly, by this time silhouetted on the edge of the canopy, calling steadily encouraging him to return, but only 25' away from us.
Crouching on the track we pointed up with our sticks, she was certainly aware of us - i stood & she didnt fauter.
We took turns to mimic her, resulting in fits of giggles & she still wasnt bothered in the least.
Could still hear the calls faintly @ 80m away as we left the little un said "im going to miss the owls" - couldnt agree more, but theres always tomorrow.

several each of Snipe & Redwing over high going east as light went

Steve & Jack


Wall Brown butterfly out at Ch-le-St today

 

[DEREK.C.]

I am going with the club to musselburgh. I would like to know if I can writs a report for the LEK magazine.

Kieran Lawrence, 10

A trip report would be fantastic Kieran , i`ll send you a PM .
See you on Sunday :t:

 

[rokermartin]

Hi rokermartin thanx

do you mean the road where the bikers go and is there a good time to go and see them.

Dont know if bikers use the road or not.There is a mountain bike track and small car park a few miles down the road on your right handside.Also there are a couple of forest roads leading into Hamsterley Forest off the road where you can see Gos from.

 

[The Chairman]

After a week stuffed in the house with a bad ear and throat infection, went up to langdon beck 1000+ lapwing, 100 curlew. Took us a while to find the black grouse, in the field behind where we usually find them, still that was better since we got a much better view of 14 males at 50ft away. 1 buzzard over the moors as we drove on the road to cowgreen resevoir. Excellent close views of fieldfare, when you see them up close they look like minature male kestrels. Still on the road to cowgreen resevoir 2 dippers, 100+ redshank, 2 purple sands, a pair of golden plovers in breeding plumage, oystercatchers, meadow pipits, skylarks, pair of red grouse the male with the biggest scarlet red wattle I have ever seen, the female nwas more like a willow grouse as she was more golden than rufus. Then drove through the farms back to langdon beck. Whilst driving very slow we male stonechat sitting on the fencepost next to the road. 2 male black grouse either side of the road, they allowed us to get right next to them, could of touched them as they flew away. Round the road where the fields are very boggy flushed a jack snipe out. Then drove to hamsterly to see the goshawks no luck, we know you look over the top of the trees but does anyone know about any really good spots for them?


I am going with the club to musselburgh. I would like to know if I can writs a report for the LEK magazine.

Kieran Lawrence, 10

Hi Kieran

it would be great if you could write a trip report for The Lek. I shall speak to you about it on the trip on Sunday

Paul

 

[MalR]

Ian,

Those goosander pics are superb. I especially like the unusual angle on the second one. You've done justice to a magnificent bird.:t:

Malcolm

 

[will@bill]

great view of a heron taking a big fish back to its nest at winlaton mill flew right over my head. dipper and little grebe on the river

 

[seggs]

Ian,

Those goosander pics are superb. I especially like the unusual angle on the second one. You've done justice to a magnificent bird.:t:

Malcolm

spot on mal..
brill shot this one...:t: