• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Durham Birding (7 Viewers)

Confucious he say funny words

Checked a few Gropper sites when light had gone, none heard, although Woodcock roding high over stubble fields.

Steve
Am I right in assuming when you say Groppers you are refering to Nightjars, or am I showing my ignorance.
 
Oh Ignorant One !!!!!!!!

Gropper = Grasshopper Warbler

Thnx Ian
I am still trying to get my head around the various terminology that springs up.
The fact that the sites were apparently visited after dark gave me the impression that they were of the nightjar species.
 
Thnx Ian
I am still trying to get my head around the various terminology that springs up.
The fact that the sites were apparently visited after dark gave me the impression that they were of the nightjar species.

Thats right Denis, "Gropper" is this years secret code word for Nightjar ;)


JBee said:
Well I know he has a swallow cos we had it at the same time - South Hetton to Haswell footpath.
93 species & counting (CW has a mere 78)...... no Barn Owl, though theres time yet, ay John.....
 
Thats right Denis, "Gropper" is this years secret code word for Nightjar ;)



Think I will have to amend my forum name Denbee to "Whopper Cropper Dropper" Steve
Bumped into Mark N at Seaton on my way back from a quick visit to Hedley Hall Wood, it appeared as though he was having a slightly fruitless visit like I had yesterday
 
Greatham Creek - 2:00pm - roadside pool Avocet x2 (+mating), Canada Goose x2, Coot x2 and Shelduck x2 plus a few Swallow.

Another Avocet x2 and Little Egret on Greenabella Marsh - viewed from road bridge.

Seaton Common - Wheatear x4, Grey Partridge x2, Golden Plover c.80.

I wonder if Prince William has a mate working in the power station and dropped in to see him today - with RAF approval of course ;)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4895ao.JPG
    IMG_4895ao.JPG
    143 KB · Views: 52
  • IMG_4979ao.JPG
    IMG_4979ao.JPG
    132.9 KB · Views: 51
  • IMG_4992ao.JPG
    IMG_4992ao.JPG
    137.7 KB · Views: 57
  • IMG_4984ao.JPG
    IMG_4984ao.JPG
    110.3 KB · Views: 53
  • IMG_5010ao.JPG
    IMG_5010ao.JPG
    77.8 KB · Views: 83
the king of hides

Oh come on share the experience lets see a shot of the new and improved hide so i know what to aspire to ;)

this is the will@bill`s "patent pending" hide mark11 and this is Bill doing the Finishing touches :t:
its a work of art:-O
 

Attachments

  • 22nd teams kingfisher 011.jpg
    22nd teams kingfisher 011.jpg
    283.3 KB · Views: 123
tawny owl ..where are you!

A mate from work told me he seen a tawny going into a little wooden area (200 yards SQ) at chowdene the other morning so we went for a look around today
2 goldcrests
3 chiffchaffs
10 or so blue tits
3 l/t/tits
3 chaffinch
3 bullys
no sign of owl but this big hole in a tree..what do you think stevie could this have been its nest?
 

Attachments

  • 22nd chowdene (3).jpg
    22nd chowdene (3).jpg
    150.5 KB · Views: 64
  • 22nd chowdean 053.jpg
    22nd chowdean 053.jpg
    194.8 KB · Views: 56
Escaped Goshawk with jesses flying over Marine Park South Shields this morning.The local Swallows are certainly back now at Boldon Flats and Whitburn,Very quiet for migrants in South Tyneside area.Pager report singing Pied Flycatcher and 2 Redstarts at Bedburn today.
 
Sand Martin & Common Sandpiper noted back on territories at Bollihope Burn this am

Hedleyhope Fell DWT - loads of Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff, also Yellowhammer & Linnet

Waldridge Fell - NW corner - 20+ Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, brief sight of Whitethroat, no Blackcap, 2 Grey Partridge flushed by Royal Navy Sea King!, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Willow Tit, Roe Deer & a Fox
 
Wigate Quarry today heard a Green Woodpecker. Little Owl flew from cliff side and two Partridge scared the crap out of me when they flew up about ten yards in front:eek!:.
 
Goshawk in Crook

Right outside my front window took a huge crow down, submitted it then left with the prey. This crow was BIG so it must have been a Goshawk. It was amazing to watch anyways, wish I had my camera on hand - isn't that always the case :-C
 
more migs

Houghton area
Cuckoo added to the species list.
Several Nightj.....Grasshopper Warblers back reeling, including an "easy" roadside one..
Few more Whitethroats in overnight, inc 3 at Bogs with 3 Rails there.
House Martins & another sighting of the elusive patch bogey (for some !)Green Woodpecker at RM's.
Little out of the ordinary at Ho'gate other than 2 Ringed Plovers, but pool then "emptied" by a male Peregrine.

Both Chiffchaff & Blackcap pairs in the same tree in a large Durham garden, with the males singing over the top of one another. I shared a tree with a Jackdaw as it collected deadwood twigs, snapping them off from inside the canopy, whilst it ignored masses of the same on the ground.
A noisy House Martin buzzed the eaves.

Swallow added to garden yrlist & obliging roadside Little Owl while traveling this AM.

Just under 100 species seen on the patch over last day & a half...... as its not too long to the Bird racing time of year is there an argument that earlier may be more productive?, rather than wait till the traditional mid-May dates....?


An interesting one this morning:
Visible passage of species moving South East ( !) inc several Meadow pipits & alba Wags, 13 Fieldfares & 4 Redwings.... presumably these have headed north last night from the continent & "overshot" in the fog, & are re-orientating themselves....? any thoughts Michael Fish ? (had a machine running half the time so no-doubt missed other stuff)
 
Last edited:
Shibdon Pond this am
1pr Blackcap
1 Common Whitethroat
numerous Sand Martin, Swallow, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff, also 2 Shelduck, drake Shoveler, Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, 2pr Teal etc

Lamesley
2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 nesting Coot's & fem Mallard with 15 ducklings... but for how long...
 
Last edited:
First Grasshopper Warblers back at Elemore today with 3 seen this morning (2males), a good ten days later than last year. Several Whitethroats also back .
Might pop back over this afternoon and maybe hit on with an early Cuckoo.
 

Attachments

  • groppa 003.jpg
    groppa 003.jpg
    173.4 KB · Views: 85
  • groppa1 004.jpg
    groppa1 004.jpg
    139.4 KB · Views: 60
  • groppa 004.jpg
    groppa 004.jpg
    111.2 KB · Views: 84
Dalton Moor Update

Apparently a DBC member while over at Seaton Pond yesterday heard shooting over on Dalton Moor which is now set-aside. and part of the Great North Forest Scheme
As I was unaware that shooting had been granted on this area, , I enquired with the landowner if he was aware of this practice on his land. I was informed that because of increased trespass of Quad bikers & scambler bikes using this area he has been forced to dig trenches & erect concrete bollards at all known access points to this area to try and reduce such access, he has also placed insitu a group of eight men from the local area to oversee as volunteer gamekeepers of such, therefore gunfire may be heard occassionly in the following Grid referances
The 1km squares involved are NZ3948,NZ3848 (SE Corner),NZ3847 & NZ3947(NW & NE Corners) .
Hope this helps clear up any concerns.
 
Last edited:
Warning! This thread is more than 5 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top