great bustard
Well-known member
was that his name today
i dont know, never met him before?:h?:
-
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.
Durham Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Skelly
- Start date
i dont know, never met him before?:h?:
seggs
Alrite!
sure i bumped into your mate will(will@bill) at tunstall..doing his sons garden(first house next to the dam?)..he still has lesser great spotted woodys in the garden...and some goose sized black and white birds with orange cheeks(had me beat!) in the fields at times!(greylags was the best i had to offer..id.wise.)
but he knows oinks now..nice fellow, invited me for tea...left at that point, explaining i had a flask in the car..
but he knows oinks now..nice fellow, invited me for tea...left at that point, explaining i had a flask in the car..
Ray.Scott
Well-known member
will@bill
FATHER AND SON TEAM
malcolm hobbs
Mind the G.A.P......
Tunstall Reservoir
Decided to head west today in search of the sun. Murky when I arrived at Tunstall, but plenty of birds. Found 2 Common Sandpipers, Redstart (1 male), Pied Flycatcher (1 male), Spotted Flycatcher and the Tawny Owl hunting in woods mid morning. When I got back on the dam (10.40) I saw a large bird over the water being mobbed by corvids. My mind thought of Osprey, and it was. It drifted through North quickly. I had just met 2 birders in the woods. I shouted as loud as I could but I guess they couldn't hear me. I drove round to the other end of the reservoir but had no joy.
Went on to Langden Beck where the sun was shining. 9 Black Grouse near the St Johns Chapel turnoff and another 7 behind Widdybank Farm. 3 Ring Ouzels (1 male, 2 females) 400 - 600m downstream of Cauldron Snout, usual Wheatears, Dippers, Common Sands. For once it wasn't windy at Cow Green Res. Couple of Common Sands, pair of Ringed Plover, Tufted Duck and Mallard there. Finished the circuit with a pint in the garden of the Langden Beck Hotel. A great day.
Malcolm.
Decided to head west today in search of the sun. Murky when I arrived at Tunstall, but plenty of birds. Found 2 Common Sandpipers, Redstart (1 male), Pied Flycatcher (1 male), Spotted Flycatcher and the Tawny Owl hunting in woods mid morning. When I got back on the dam (10.40) I saw a large bird over the water being mobbed by corvids. My mind thought of Osprey, and it was. It drifted through North quickly. I had just met 2 birders in the woods. I shouted as loud as I could but I guess they couldn't hear me. I drove round to the other end of the reservoir but had no joy.
Went on to Langden Beck where the sun was shining. 9 Black Grouse near the St Johns Chapel turnoff and another 7 behind Widdybank Farm. 3 Ring Ouzels (1 male, 2 females) 400 - 600m downstream of Cauldron Snout, usual Wheatears, Dippers, Common Sands. For once it wasn't windy at Cow Green Res. Couple of Common Sands, pair of Ringed Plover, Tufted Duck and Mallard there. Finished the circuit with a pint in the garden of the Langden Beck Hotel. A great day.
Malcolm.
Ray.Scott
Well-known member
Spent a few hours at Frosterly today. Birds seen were:
Dipper, common sandpiper, mallard, lapwing with chick, sand & house martin, swallows, pied & grey wagtail, willow warbler, chiffchaff, black cap, blue & great tit, wheatear, crows, starling and jackdaws.
Just out of Frosterley spotted a R.L. Partridge, first time I've seen one let alone photographed It :t:.
Having said that, according to my book It's a RL Partridge.
well!, I've been wrong before.
Dipper, common sandpiper, mallard, lapwing with chick, sand & house martin, swallows, pied & grey wagtail, willow warbler, chiffchaff, black cap, blue & great tit, wheatear, crows, starling and jackdaws.
Just out of Frosterley spotted a R.L. Partridge, first time I've seen one let alone photographed It :t:.
Having said that, according to my book It's a RL Partridge.
well!, I've been wrong before.
Attachments
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
The RLP photo is excellent, watch out JayBee and Seggs (and all the other very accomplished Durham photographers)! Well done!
John Olley
Harrier Olley
Long Legged Buzzard reported to me today seen over the weekend at Kinninvie grid ref approximately NZ 046237. This is a genuine report if anybody has time to spend in this area.
IanF
Moderator
I'll be over that way tomorrow so we'll likely stop off for a look for the Kites and Buzzards anyway.
seggs
Alrite!
did,nt have a bad day myself..apart the weather more towards the coast.
highlights being 34 sanderling on the big beach,shields..with 20 resting sandwich terns..late afternoon..and one of our pets showed well
more on..well you know, below thread.
ps..
great shots scuzz(ray)..like gordan has said..cracking french partridge!
highlights being 34 sanderling on the big beach,shields..with 20 resting sandwich terns..late afternoon..and one of our pets showed well
more on..well you know, below thread.
ps..
great shots scuzz(ray)..like gordan has said..cracking french partridge!
Attachments
IanF
Moderator
Saltholme Ponds and Greatham Creek this afternoon -
Back Saltholme - 2:00pm - Spoonbill, Ruff x3, Knot x1, Swift 50-60, Yellow Wagtail x4, Garganey x3, Little Gull x7 including two adult plumage.
Cowpen Marsh - 4:00pm - Short-eared Owl hunting around Holme Fleet for over an hour before heading off towards the tip. Also Spoonbill by Swallow Fleet. It then moved to Greenabella Marsh - likely the same one that was on Saltholme as it was gone from there when I checked at 5:00pm.
Avocet x6 still around Greatham Creek area.
Back Saltholme - 2:00pm - Spoonbill, Ruff x3, Knot x1, Swift 50-60, Yellow Wagtail x4, Garganey x3, Little Gull x7 including two adult plumage.
Cowpen Marsh - 4:00pm - Short-eared Owl hunting around Holme Fleet for over an hour before heading off towards the tip. Also Spoonbill by Swallow Fleet. It then moved to Greenabella Marsh - likely the same one that was on Saltholme as it was gone from there when I checked at 5:00pm.
Avocet x6 still around Greatham Creek area.
Attachments
Ross Ahmed
Well-known member
Not impossible.
Check out this thread: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=5908&highlight=long-legged+buzzard
Ross Ahmed
Well-known member
Is there definitely just one Spoonbill about? I had a sneaky feeling there was two over weekend.
Probably more likely it's just the same bird being very mobile.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Houghton area Local Patch
An additional 2 male Lesser throats along southern boundary of RMs; close by another male watched feeding his mate.
Elsewhere in NZ34 a Hen Harrier for its 3rd day plus a couple of Short-eared Owls. A new bird of the year, Greenshank over this evening. LRP still incubating clutch of 4.
Recently mentioned all 8 of the breeding warblers when in fact the full complement for the patch is 9.|:S|
ie:- Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow, Garden, Sedge, Reed & Grasshopper Warblers, Common & Lesser Whitethroats.
SE
An additional 2 male Lesser throats along southern boundary of RMs; close by another male watched feeding his mate.
Elsewhere in NZ34 a Hen Harrier for its 3rd day plus a couple of Short-eared Owls. A new bird of the year, Greenshank over this evening. LRP still incubating clutch of 4.
Recently mentioned all 8 of the breeding warblers when in fact the full complement for the patch is 9.|:S|
ie:- Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow, Garden, Sedge, Reed & Grasshopper Warblers, Common & Lesser Whitethroats.
SE
Last edited:
IanF
Moderator
I had thought there may be two but now I think there's just the one. There was some discussion of one being adult and one immature by local birders - but it's only when stretching a wing or in flight that you can make out the black tipped primaries. It does seem to have a well marked bill and yellowish tinge to chest in some light conditions.
Whenever I've checked 'the other one' it was never there. I suspect there's just one of them. Certainly the photos I've taken have all been of the same bird seen at Back Saltholme, Cowpen Marsh and Greenabella Marsh on various days.
ALFIE TEMPLE
Well-known member
Little Owl perched atop roadside tree at dusk on the A19, just North of Easington services. One seen near here on 2nd. May, fliYng across A19
Ray.Scott
Well-known member
Cold, dull morning down Teesside this morning.
Salholme Ponds:
Plenty bird life but mainly very distant and difficult to identify, but here's a few that I managed - male garganey, pair of sandwich turns, ruff, swallows, sand martins and swift, 2 plover (not sure if ringed or LR, turnstone and all the regular geese swans BH gulls etc + spoonbill which was to far away even for a record shot.
Bus stop Hide:
3 avocet, 2 shellduck, 2 canada geese, redshank, coot, oyster catcher and grey heron.
Zinkwks road and North Gare very quiet with a few regular lapwing, curlew, crows, rooks, jackdaws, swallows, mallards, mipits, skylarks, kestrel and 1 wheatear.
Salholme Ponds:
Plenty bird life but mainly very distant and difficult to identify, but here's a few that I managed - male garganey, pair of sandwich turns, ruff, swallows, sand martins and swift, 2 plover (not sure if ringed or LR, turnstone and all the regular geese swans BH gulls etc + spoonbill which was to far away even for a record shot.
Bus stop Hide:
3 avocet, 2 shellduck, 2 canada geese, redshank, coot, oyster catcher and grey heron.
Zinkwks road and North Gare very quiet with a few regular lapwing, curlew, crows, rooks, jackdaws, swallows, mallards, mipits, skylarks, kestrel and 1 wheatear.
Attachments
IanF
Moderator
A full days birding today with friend and BF member RobK.
An early start was needed so Rob picked me up at 6.30am and we headed off to Tunstall Reservoir. One of the first birds we came across was a Common Sandpiper feeding along the dam wall. Also present along the dam were Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Goldfinch and Grey Heron with Grey Wagtail in the outfall area. House Martin and Swallow were present feeding over the grassy dam with Swift overhead.
In Backstone Wood it was amazing just how much the tree leaves had come out in less than a week. Instead of the wood being bright and airy it was pretty gloomy compared to my last visit - though not helped by the overcast skies. There was no sign of the first two pairs of Pied Flycatcher I'd seen previously nor the first Redstart but the second one a short distance along the path was still singing heartily - occasionally coming quite close but mostly at a distance. Just a few yards along the path Rob spotted a Tawny Owl sat on a wooden post fully out in the open making for a great photo opportunity. Moving along the path we came across several singing Blackcaps and then a singing male Pied Flycatcher. Other Redstarts and Pied Flycatcher were heard but not seen. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and various tits were seen and heard. We retraced our steps seeing much the same range of birds again.
Next stop was Bollihope. I didn't expect too much from this location following several negative reports for Ring Ouzel. However as soon as we got out of the car we spotted one above the quarry north of the bridge over the stream which turned out to be female. As we walked towards the quarry a male appeared chasing a Jackdaw along the quarry face. It chased it a good few minutes before landing above the quarry. By this time the first one had gone from view but pretty quickly another Ring Ouzel appeared and chased the other one along the quarry face. Eventually they moved off to the small quarry 1/4 mile to the east. Certainly two there but possibly three. Heading back down to the bridge over the stream both Pied Wagtail and Grey Wagtail were present. I walked up the bank to the small quarry to the south where I'd seen on on my last visit and sure enough a male was sat in almost the exact same place as last time. Unfortunately it didn't hang around for photos. We then headed along the road and up the hill towards Egglestone stopping off above the small valley. Just one Ring Ouzel was in view near the soil patches on the opposite valley side and even that took off up along the valley disappearing from view.
Heading over to Egglestone Common the sun came out and we saw a few Red Grouse and Wheatear but no Golden Plover. We took the right turn towards Middleton-in-Teesdale where on gaining the moor top we came across a single Red Kite being mobbed by two Lapwing and then two Black-headed Gull. A Redshank was stood on a wall top but that was about the only other bird of note.
Cow Green Reservoir was next - on the way up we saw Lapwing, Curlew, Wheatear, Pheasant and Red Grouse with much the same on the way back down with the addition of Kestrel and then Golden Plover x5 at a good distance.
Harwood was pretty quiet too with just Redshank, Snipe, Grey Wagtail and Mistle Thrush. Very little around Langdon Beck as well with just five rather distant Black Grouse and one Snipe sat on a wall top.
We then headed back down the valley to Barnard Castle where we lunched by the river at the Bandstand below Raby Avenue. A Dipper was on the far side of the river with Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Robin and Chaffinch coming onto the stones on our side of the river as did the Dipper very briefly. Chaffinch, Robin, Willow Warbler and Nuthatch repeatedly came into the small trees a few yards from where we were sat also briefly a Spotted Flycatcher. We then headed into Deepdale to cover the first 1/2 mile. Plenty of birds singing but of note really were only Dipper x2, several Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and one male Pied Flycatcher plus a Sedge Warbler taking a drink from the beck. As we retraced our steps to the river a Spotted Flycatcher was sat on the wires opposite the entrance to Deepdale - a regular perch for them.
Last stop was Tees Banks Woods - I thought I'd save the best birding location until last - only it was a big disappointment this visit. On the walk to the viaduct and back we saw no Pied Flycatcher and in fact only heard one singing. No Redstart and no Wood Warbler. On returning to the car though another Spotted Flycatcher was in the trees above.
I should have taken notes as no doubt I've missed out a few
All in all it was a very good day out :t:
An early start was needed so Rob picked me up at 6.30am and we headed off to Tunstall Reservoir. One of the first birds we came across was a Common Sandpiper feeding along the dam wall. Also present along the dam were Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Goldfinch and Grey Heron with Grey Wagtail in the outfall area. House Martin and Swallow were present feeding over the grassy dam with Swift overhead.
In Backstone Wood it was amazing just how much the tree leaves had come out in less than a week. Instead of the wood being bright and airy it was pretty gloomy compared to my last visit - though not helped by the overcast skies. There was no sign of the first two pairs of Pied Flycatcher I'd seen previously nor the first Redstart but the second one a short distance along the path was still singing heartily - occasionally coming quite close but mostly at a distance. Just a few yards along the path Rob spotted a Tawny Owl sat on a wooden post fully out in the open making for a great photo opportunity. Moving along the path we came across several singing Blackcaps and then a singing male Pied Flycatcher. Other Redstarts and Pied Flycatcher were heard but not seen. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and various tits were seen and heard. We retraced our steps seeing much the same range of birds again.
Next stop was Bollihope. I didn't expect too much from this location following several negative reports for Ring Ouzel. However as soon as we got out of the car we spotted one above the quarry north of the bridge over the stream which turned out to be female. As we walked towards the quarry a male appeared chasing a Jackdaw along the quarry face. It chased it a good few minutes before landing above the quarry. By this time the first one had gone from view but pretty quickly another Ring Ouzel appeared and chased the other one along the quarry face. Eventually they moved off to the small quarry 1/4 mile to the east. Certainly two there but possibly three. Heading back down to the bridge over the stream both Pied Wagtail and Grey Wagtail were present. I walked up the bank to the small quarry to the south where I'd seen on on my last visit and sure enough a male was sat in almost the exact same place as last time. Unfortunately it didn't hang around for photos. We then headed along the road and up the hill towards Egglestone stopping off above the small valley. Just one Ring Ouzel was in view near the soil patches on the opposite valley side and even that took off up along the valley disappearing from view.
Heading over to Egglestone Common the sun came out and we saw a few Red Grouse and Wheatear but no Golden Plover. We took the right turn towards Middleton-in-Teesdale where on gaining the moor top we came across a single Red Kite being mobbed by two Lapwing and then two Black-headed Gull. A Redshank was stood on a wall top but that was about the only other bird of note.
Cow Green Reservoir was next - on the way up we saw Lapwing, Curlew, Wheatear, Pheasant and Red Grouse with much the same on the way back down with the addition of Kestrel and then Golden Plover x5 at a good distance.
Harwood was pretty quiet too with just Redshank, Snipe, Grey Wagtail and Mistle Thrush. Very little around Langdon Beck as well with just five rather distant Black Grouse and one Snipe sat on a wall top.
We then headed back down the valley to Barnard Castle where we lunched by the river at the Bandstand below Raby Avenue. A Dipper was on the far side of the river with Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Robin and Chaffinch coming onto the stones on our side of the river as did the Dipper very briefly. Chaffinch, Robin, Willow Warbler and Nuthatch repeatedly came into the small trees a few yards from where we were sat also briefly a Spotted Flycatcher. We then headed into Deepdale to cover the first 1/2 mile. Plenty of birds singing but of note really were only Dipper x2, several Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and one male Pied Flycatcher plus a Sedge Warbler taking a drink from the beck. As we retraced our steps to the river a Spotted Flycatcher was sat on the wires opposite the entrance to Deepdale - a regular perch for them.
Last stop was Tees Banks Woods - I thought I'd save the best birding location until last - only it was a big disappointment this visit. On the walk to the viaduct and back we saw no Pied Flycatcher and in fact only heard one singing. No Redstart and no Wood Warbler. On returning to the car though another Spotted Flycatcher was in the trees above.
I should have taken notes as no doubt I've missed out a few
All in all it was a very good day out :t:
Attachments
loppydog70
Local Patcher
excellent report ian, might try and get down there this weekend
