Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[The Chairman]

The DBC committee (or for that matter any committee) are in place primarily to serve the membership of the club.

Regarding the sightings page etc the general concensus among the committee (based upon discussions and opinion of members with whom committee members regularly meet) was that it would be a benefit of membership to have certain parts of the website for members only.

It is clear from some of the postings that certain people disagree with this approach whereas others think it is appropriate. Other people have opposing views on various aspects of club business. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and the commitee respect individual views. Much more than that it is very helpful to the committee who have to decide on DBC policy to have members views aired.

What is difficult to gauge however is the overall opinion of the membership as the vast majority remain silent on issues for whatever reason. Is it reasonable for the committee to take this as an indication that almost everyone is satisfied with the way things are run?

You tell me.

Feedback and constructive criticism is welcomed by the committee. It helps us to run the club the way you want it (or how we assume you want it) to be run.

Remember it is YOUR club - help us to run it the way you want it.

 

[The Chairman]

Seekng folks advice. I am going to ask for Swavoski 10x42 SLC binoculars, are they any good? please get back to me soon.
Cheers
Andrew K
(Haven't been birding for ages )

Hi Andrew

I would strongly agree with Ian F that it is well worth taking the time to try out several types of binos under varying conditions. Ask other people if you can try theirs out - most will be happy to oblige - or attend one of the In Focus workshops.

One point however - it doesn't matter how good your optics are they won't be much good if you don't go birding:-O

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

One point however - it doesn't matter how good your optics are they won't be much good if you don't go birding:-O

:-O
I know I really should try and get out more. I should pass my driving test this year so I can get out more. Lend someone's car.:t:

 

[ColinSev]

Waxwings at Jarrow

Had a run up to Jarrow yesterday to see the waxwings, spent nearly 2 hours watching them - I reckon they are my favourite bird. Although obviously not the mistle thushes - met echo there too, who pointed me in direction of med gull near marsden, also went down to trow quarry only to find a lot of the coast inaccessible due to some kind of works going on - saw the little owl in usual tree.
Dropped back into Elemore to try and find crossbills - but didnt have a clue where to start - any advice on where the feeding station is would be gratefully received.

 

[StevieEvans]

Hen Harrier, Peregrine, various Red Kites, Ravens & a probable Rough-legged Buzzard seen by DBC members in Western Durham yesterday

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from Teesside yesterday:

Nice meeting IanF again :t:.

North Gare pretty quiet with the resident kestrel hovering overhead and sat a couple of times on the fence posts :t:.
A flock of around 20 snow buntings flying near North Gare pier area, but not settling due to dog walkers etc.

Virtualy nothing seen at Znkwks Road apart from a couple of mallard and starlings.

Called at Saltholm: Plenty of the regulars, wigeon, teal, greylags, canada geese etc, etc and a couple of distant pintail.
No sign of the BW teal or cattle egret.

Ended the day just South of the Calor Gas pool where at least 3 SEO's were hunting :t:.

 

[NeilF]

Good weather for ducks

Seen amongst others today 2 Shelduck & a female Goldeneye around Washington WWT plus a pair of Pochard on Barmston Pond.

Great to finally bump into Will & Bill :t:, enjoyed our chat, hope the new feeder is a great success :eat:

 

[thembwoman]

Hello everybody

I thought I'd join in, if you don't mind.

My husband and I went to Jarrow yesterday and saw those waxwings. Aren't they stunning. I asked a chap at the WWT where to find them, as I've never seen them before. We managed to get there just before dusk to have a look. Will have to go back sometime before they take off.

Would someone tell me what the chances are of seeing that spoonbill at Seal Sands at the moment? I've done a bit of a search on here but it doesn't seem to be mentioned much lately. That's another bird I'd like to see.

Happy birding folks.
x

 

[rokermartin]

Hello everybody

I thought I'd join in, if you don't mind.

My husband and I went to Jarrow yesterday and saw those waxwings. Aren't they stunning. I asked a chap at the WWT where to find them, as I've never seen them before. We managed to get there just before dusk to have a look. Will have to go back sometime before they take off.

Would someone tell me what the chances are of seeing that spoonbill at Seal Sands at the moment? I've done a bit of a search on here but it doesn't seem to be mentioned much lately. That's another bird I'd like to see.

Happy birding folks.
x

You have'nt got much of a chance of seeing a Spoonbill they are rare at this time of year,we do get Spoonbills most years turning up in the spring and summer at Teeside.I certainly have'nt heard of a Spoonbill being seen down at Seal Sands recently.You do get the odd one or two wintering down south.So i think you will have to wait till next year to see one.

 

[Jumpin 4 Joy]

Missed all the aggro about the Sightings and I think that the DBC didn't think about the birders who come from other parts of the country. Obviously it wouldn't be worth it for them to be a member (what would they get in return ?), but what if they planned a trip up here ? They will need previous days information of the birds recently seen so they know what to look out for.

There is no doubt that some of these websites have came under abuse from some 'birders' who might think it funny to send people half way around the county for a bird that wasn't even there. I fell victim to Will Robinson after he said there was a Bittern at Low Barns.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I fell victim to Will Robinson after he said there was a Bittern at Low Barns.

With birding no birds are guaranteed. Especially with Bittern. I had one on holiday in Scotland about 3 weeks ago and I was not expecting it. Whoever Will Robinson is he was obviously trying to be helpful so I wouldn't be like that if I where you.
Some birds excape birders......that's the way things are.

 

[thembwoman]

You have'nt got much of a chance of seeing a Spoonbill they are rare at this time of year,we do get Spoonbills most years turning up in the spring and summer at Teeside.I certainly have'nt heard of a Spoonbill being seen down at Seal Sands recently.You do get the odd one or two wintering down south.So i think you will have to wait till next year to see one.

Ah right. Okay, thanks for that. I'll wait 'til spring then and maybe take a trip out there then.
x

 

[Ray_S]

DBC Website

My pennyworth on this.

I join a number of clubs, RSPB, WWT, TBC, etc. and there is obviously a limit financially to what I can justify, I would like to join everything but just cannot. When I was looking around for information, etc. I came across the DBC website but because I was locked out of areas I couldnt assess its usefulness (to a newbie like me), so moved on to other sites.

I consider this a gut reaction and if it seemed this way to me then I presume others may also be put off like this.

 

[Stephen C]

Hi jack

Hi guys

Just hi-jacking the thread so I get the posts and can see if anything turns up worth seeing whilst I'm over in the UK during Christmas. Generally interested anyway and can't think why I didn't think of this before.

All the best

 

[IanF]

Hi guys

Just hi-jacking the thread so I get the posts and can see if anything turns up worth seeing whilst I'm over in the UK during Christmas. Generally interested anyway and can't think why I didn't think of this before.

All the best

One way of doing it. An alternative is to go to 'thread tools' below the page numbers and select 'subscribe to this thread' you'll get notifications of replies to the thread.

I'm sure there'll be plenty around to see you you come over :t:

 

[Jumpin 4 Joy]

With birding no birds are guaranteed. Especially with Bittern. I had one on holiday in Scotland about 3 weeks ago and I was not expecting it. Whoever Will Robinson is he was obviously trying to be helpful so I wouldn't be like that if I where you.
Some birds excape birders......that's the way things are.

Don't get lippy, pal ! :-O:-O

Will Robinson had been posting 'bird sightings' on TBC message board which turned out to be a load of baloney. I had my suspicions of who it was, but I'll keep those to myself, so no-one will get offended.

 

[StevieEvans]

....<snip>......There is no doubt that some of these websites have came under abuse from some 'birders' who might think it funny to send people half way around the county for a bird that wasn't even there. I fell victim to Will Robinson after he said there was a Bittern at Low Barns.

Funny that.... i thought Will Robinson & Jumpin 4 Joy were the same person....
Funnily enough there was a Bittern at Low Barns around the time he posted on the TBC website...

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Ho'ton Local Patch (AM)
Southerly movement this morning of M.Pipits & various finch species including x2 Crossbill... perhaps ahead of forecast bad weather

Western Co.Durham (PM)
Another visit "Way out West" with a fellow DBC member, where we bumped into 2 of the regions raptor experts (funnily enough also DBC members)
Very happy to have discovered an active Barn Owl roost above 400M /asl and within 5KM of Langdon Beck.
(No prizes for guessing where you'll find further details )
Good Birding to all
Steve

 

[Ray.Scott]

Weardale/Teesdale today:

Plenty red grouse over the moors, the only raptors seen were 2 kestrel. Not much else in the fields other than loads of pheasant and a couple of small flocks of fieldfare.
Langdon beck area, at least 23 black grouse about a field and a half away with also 1 song thrush, 1 kestrel hunting, a small flock of fieldfare and redwing which were in the same area.
Cow Green Resovoir and around the farm area, produced nothing but the large numbers of pheasant and a couple of pied wagtail.

On the way back noticed the attached goose, maybe someone can Ide, It for me, or is It a domesticated cross breed ??.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Weardale/Teesdale today:

On the way back noticed the attached goose, maybe someone can Ide, It for me, or is It a domesticated cross breed ??.

Hi Scuzz.
I think it is a Swan goose.:-O I kid you not!:-O That's what they are called a swan goose. It will probably be domesticated but am pretty sure that's what it is.
Sorry if it turns out to be wrong
Andrew K

 

[rokermartin]

Hi Scuzz.
I think it is a Swan goose.:-O I kid you not!:-O That's what they are called a swan goose. It will probably be domesticated but am pretty sure that's what it is.
Sorry if it turns out to be wrong
Andrew K

You are right it is a Swan Goose they come from China they are common in wildfowl collections.