Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

Hi Guy's,

Have only visited Teesmouth a couple of times over the last few weeks. Managed to find Cowpen Bewley, Saltholme, Zinc Works Road, Greatham Creek, Seaton Snook and North Gare. Have since found out where Firestation Pool is - but can anyone please advise where Greenabella is??

Unfortunately i haven't had much luck on my trips to date, probably as i have always visited late morning / early afternoon - and following Ian's threads the bulk of species seem to be pictured from 15.00 onwards....

Nevertheless i will keep trying ... So any advice on some of the other Teeside locations will be greatly appreciated.. Anyway a couple from last weekend taken down Zinc Works Road - before the snow arrived ||

You did pretty well finding everywhere. If you check the Teesmouth Bird Club on the link below you'll find a site guide showing where everywhere is - some are pretty good and others a little basic such as Greenabella Marsh as it's an ongoing project. Basically it's the area on the north side of Greatham Creek between the Creek and the Tioxide works. The A178 bounds the west side and Seal Sands is to the east.

The tide plays a big part in this area as over high tide the waders from Seal Sands move onto the salt marshes to feed roost - so mornings can be pretty good as well. If looking for the Avocet on Greenabella usually they're on the second pool east of the road - usually viewable from the road bridge or as JBee saw they're on the mud at low tide just west of the roadbridge. Even at high tide it's often worth having a walk down the path along the south side of the Creek to the hide as quite a few birds swim right up to the hide - generally though it's known for the waders over low tide.

Having said that my sightings are as much related as to when I can get out birding - admittedly though the afternoon light due to location of the sun is generally more suited. In the morning it's often in your face but by the afternoon it's to the side or behind you at many locations here.

A regards other locations you've found most of them already. There's a few more though in the list on the TBC web site. Have you ahd a look at Hartlepool as well - the Headland area is quite productive as well and the Black-throated Diver and RB Merganser are still getting into Jacksons Landing.

 

[seggs]

I wish I knew him as I'd love to go birding with him. Mr. Robinson has had some amazing finds over the last couple of weeks! :smoke:

count me in on that also ian!..the blokes finding some great stuff!

 

[degsy_safc]

You did pretty well finding everywhere. If you check the Teesmouth Bird Club on the link below you'll find a site guide showing where everywhere is - some are pretty good and others a little basic such as Greenabella Marsh as it's an ongoing project. Basically it's the area on the north side of Greatham Creek between the Creek and the Tioxide works. The A178 bounds the west side and Seal Sands is to the east.

The tide plays a big part in this area as over high tide the waders from Seal Sands move onto the salt marshes to feed roost - so mornings can be pretty good as well. If looking for the Avocet on Greenabella usually they're on the second pool east of the road - usually viewable from the road bridge or as JBee saw they're on the mud at low tide just west of the roadbridge. Even at high tide it's often worth having a walk down the path along the south side of the Creek to the hide as quite a few birds swim right up to the hide - generally though it's known for the waders over low tide.

Having said that my sightings are as much related as to when I can get out birding - admittedly though the afternoon light due to location of the sun is generally more suited. In the morning it's often in your face but by the afternoon it's to the side or behind you at many locations here.

A regards other locations you've found most of them already. There's a few more though in the list on the TBC web site. Have you ahd a look at Hartlepool as well - the Headland area is quite productive as well and the Black-throated Diver and RB Merganser are still getting into Jacksons Landing.

Ian - Great advice and many thanks for the heads up. Its really ironic that when travelling from Greatham Creek to Zinc Works Road i must have passed greenabella as i drive straight past the Tioxide works on the right hand side |^| It just goes to show how not reading the respective site info really scuppers ones chances of seeing some great stuff..

Once again thanks for the info and tips :t:

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Just as a general point, is it really appropriate to criticise and name someone who doesn't post on this thread simply because of their over-active imagination.

However, I'm all for addressing misidentifications/string (as you may have noticed) that are posted directly on this forum by the actual observer .

On the other hand people who ignore Keep Out signs at local nature reserves are fair game in my book.

Let's see the photos Steve
:t:

Cheers,

Steve

 

[[email protected]]

washingwell wood

5 swans flew off watergate lake at 6.30am leaving the 2 that are nesting there.there must have spent the night .reed bunting and pied wag at lake side 3 little grebe on lake .we did not see the water rail.2 kestrel were calling but could not see them. 4 bullys 4 l/t tits 3 yellowhammers on the way to our small scale feeding station. at the feeders 3 linnets have turn up to last years nesting site 1 chiffchaff still hanging around.. just waiting for last years willow warblers to clock in now..chaffinch and the tits are doing most of the eating at feeders
had a look down lamesley for the LRP but no luck 10+sand martins and no ruff. 2 r/l partridge a few lapwings sitting on what there call nests:t:

 

[IanF]

Just as a general point, is it really appropriate to criticise and name someone who doesn't post on this thread simply because of their over-active imagination.

However, I'm all for addressing misidentifications/string (as you may have noticed) that are posted directly on this forum by the actual observer .

On the other hand people who ignore Keep Out signs at local nature reserves are fair game in my book.

Let's see the photos Steve
:t:

Cheers,

Steve

Oh I think it's fair game Steve. Several 'pager reports' have been posted on Bird Forum - ordinarily they'd be assumed to be genuine - but their origin from the times and desciptions has obviously been from TBS sightings page.

Someone reports a sighting on a site which the news services then pick up and repeat without stating the origin of the info. These reports may be genuine, they maybe stringing or down to inexperience - whatever the reason they need to be questioned so the reports can be put in perspective.

I'd advise if close to a computer and another similar pager report comes in it may be worth checking out first.

These reports have been traceable to sightings on TBC web site - it makes you wonder just how many other pager reports are infact credible.

 

[IanF]

An early morning visit at 7:30am to Back Saltholme bagged the Spoonbill. Mind you another BF member had beat me to it by nearly an hour. It was already awake and preening sat in amongst the gulls. A little after 7:45am though it took off northwards soaring very high eventually disappearing from sight.

 

[StevieEvans]

#128 Houghton patch

House Martin singles over Houghton & Lyons Pk this AM.
SE

 

[matthall]

Oh I think it's fair game Steve. Several 'pager reports' have been posted on Bird Forum - ordinarily they'd be assumed to be genuine - but their origin from the times and desciptions has obviously been from TBS sightings page.

Someone reports a sighting on a site which the news services then pick up and repeat without stating the origin of the info. These reports may be genuine, they maybe stringing or down to inexperience - whatever the reason they need to be questioned so the reports can be put in perspective.

I'd advise if close to a computer and another similar pager report comes in it may be worth checking out first.

These reports have been traceable to sightings on TBC web site - it makes you wonder just how many other pager reports are infact credible.

I think TBC shouldn't have that page where anyone can submit their sightings . The DBC have a much better system where you have to email your sightings to the County Recorder then he/she decided whether it is put up on the page .
On TBC , this Will Robinson is seeing some great birds but are they the real thing ? And then people are paying money for pagers to find sightings of what could be dubious sightings from people like Will Robinson.

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Hi Ian,

It is worrying that pager companies are taking unconfirmed news from local websites and publishing it. I can understand that people who are paying for the duff gen might be a bit miffed.

But this guy is only sending his sightings to the TBC website - it is not his fault if someone else then broadcasts it to the whole country. As a general rule I don't like seeing people being named when they can't respond. What's more, he is surely not the only stringer in the county, he's just upping the rarity level a bit quicker than most!

Someone needs to have a gentle word with him or take him birding and give him some tips.

Cheers,

These reports have been traceable to sightings on TBC web site - it makes you wonder just how many other pager reports are infact credible.

 

[matthall]

Someone needs to have a gentle word with him or take him birding and give him some tips.

Cheers,

This person might be seeing these birds . I doubt it but I think a lesser spotted woodpecker wouldn't be out of the question at Low Barns . However some of his other sightings look strange .

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Hi Northern Birder,
I think you are confusing two different things.

There is a big difference between up-to-the-minute bird news (like on the TBC website) and an Annual Report, for which sightings are submitted to the county recorder and published.

There is always a chance that very recent news might be wrong, from any source.

The DBC does not have a bulletin board (although it has been suggested that we should). Instead people are encouraged to use Birdforum to report recent sightings in a quick convenient way so that other local birders have an idea what is about.

The DBC website manager puts recent bird news on the website when he has time. The news on the DBC website is from many different sources but it should not be assumed that any records on there have been submitted to the county recorder.

Cheers,

The DBC have a much better system where you have to email your sightings to the County Recorder then he/she decided whether it is put up on the page .

 

[matthall]

This might be a very strange question but here goes :

In 2002 , bee-eaters succesfully bred at Bishop Middleham and I as lucky enough to see them . But how come they don't come back to BM ?

 

[The gaffer]

Hetton Bogs

Spent an hour here this morning on my first visit and was very impressed with the place. I have seen many reports on this thread which mentioned how tame the water rails are but I had not expected seeing one within 5 minutes of sitting down. On my way to the bogs what looked like a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew off.

Here are a few photos from the visit.

 

[joe1969]

tuesday evening,page bank
14 sand martin,2 swallow,chiffchaff,20+pied wagtail one of which had a brighter white head than the rest and a grey back am i right in thinking this to be a white wagtail?also whilst at page bank gravel beds(which is sadly almost completely filled in) approximately a 100 geese flew over heading north east i thought they may be pink feet but not really sure?
local patch
had a walk round the local woods noted 36 species before the heavens opened and i had to make my way home soaked to the skin,highlights been chiffchaff10,jay+,kingfisher,g/wagtail,


willow tit,coal tit,goldcrest,2 sand martin and my first local blackcap of the year

ps derek thanks for showing me round teesmouth

 

[JBee]

Spent an hour here this morning on my first visit and was very impressed with the place. I have seen many reports on this thread which mentioned how tame the water rails are but I had not expected seeing one within 5 minutes of sitting down. On my way to the bogs what looked like a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew off.

Here are a few photos from the visit.

Glad you finally got to visit the Bogs station.
The rail made you wait a whole 5 minutes????
Three GSW are not uncommon in the station at the same time and when juveniles start visiting later you can have many more in (I had 7 together one day last year)
Chiffchaff and willow warblers should soon begin to be regular visitors.
Possibly a month before the kingfishers (up to three) start spending several hours a day in the station with hopefully the jay revisiting again this year.
Unfortunately (if last years pattern is followed) the rails will soon become less an less frequent to the point of disappearing from the station totally for a couple of months as they pair up an nest amongst the reeds.
Over the next month and a bit visits will still be profitable but after that and up until August (ish) it becomes very very quiet.

 

[JBee]

What is a Stringer???

 

[malcolm hobbs]

I agree with you Ian. The assumption of any birder visiting the TBC site, this forum or any another for that matter is that the information provided is genuine. Those that are experienced, or for example can check out reports using a local grape-vine will soon recognise questionable postings. However, many may not, and as this fourm is here to serve the community that uses it I feel that in this instance the benefit of a member identifying to others potentially false claims outweighs the possible inappropriateness of naming an individual. That said the sooner someone can catch up with Mr.R, understand his motivations or lack of experience and tactfully discuss the issue with him the better. I've yet to meet him in the field, but I'll be introducing myself to anyone I don't recognise birding in the Tees Marshes in the near future.

Malcolm.

Oh I think it's fair game Steve. Several 'pager reports' have been posted on Bird Forum - ordinarily they'd be assumed to be genuine - but their origin from the times and desciptions has obviously been from TBS sightings page.

Someone reports a sighting on a site which the news services then pick up and repeat without stating the origin of the info. These reports may be genuine, they maybe stringing or down to inexperience - whatever the reason they need to be questioned so the reports can be put in perspective.

I'd advise if close to a computer and another similar pager report comes in it may be worth checking out first.

These reports have been traceable to sightings on TBC web site - it makes you wonder just how many other pager reports are infact credible.

 

[malcolm hobbs]

Stringer

What is a Stringer???

Someone who reports duff gen.

Malcolm.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Durham Bird Club ID Workshop

Just a reminder, there is an identification workshop this Sunday at Teesdale.
Anybody interested please meet at the car park at Cow Green Reservoir at 9 am.
Birds we hope to see include Black Grouse, Ring Ouzels, Buzzards and Wheateaters
Plus an outside chance of Merlin, Goshawk or even a Hen Harrier moving through , ( If Mr Hobbs comes along):t: