Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[rokermartin]

Where is the best place in the county for snow bunting and lapland bunting - they are my bogey birds!?

There have been Snow Buntings seen at North Gare,Seaton Common and on the beach at Seaton Carew recently. There has also been a Snow Bunting on Hartlepool Headland.No news of any Lapland Bunting so far but the Leas at South Shields can be a good place for them.

 

[JBee]

CW expresses concern today over H.Bogs Water Rails - numbers right back, somethings not quite right down there, compared with regular no's at other local sites.... maybe they've been airgunned for the taxidermy trade ?

It's definitely a concern.
To go from having up to 8 birds in view just yards away on a daily basis to non at all begs the question why.
I can only go on my photo data but the rail are now 3 months later than last year (if they show at all)
The odd one can still be heard so there are still rails in the immediate vicinity.
It's not just the rails though - bird numbers are right down - willow tits, reed buntings are showing in 2's and 3's as opposed to doube figures before.
GSW's too - I have had 7 infront of me and between 1 and 3 birds were daily visitors.
I can't help but wonder what effect the ever present sparrowhawk(s) have had (more and more they are landing on the perches within the station as well as surrounding trees)
I suspect a sparrowhawk could (???) take a rail?
Whatever the reason the station is but a shadow of what it was.

 

[IanF]

Where is the best place in the county for snow bunting and lapland bunting - they are my bogey birds!?

North Gare Pier has been very good for Snow Bunting the last week or so - mostly on the south side of the pier on the silty sand between the start of the pier and the rocks. Over low tide they've been on the rocks by the end of the pier south side normally covered by water at high tide. Two Shore Lark were reported there a couple of days ago as well.

They can though turn up just about anywhere along the coast.

Lapland Bunting was reported in that area week or so ago as well but I've not seen one so far.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Best strategy may be to wait till Christmas / New Year time, & watch out for bird news (from whichever source you prefer ) , as there will be a lot more birders visiting over the holiday period.
If there are "regular" birds by this time, then you can guarantee a steady stream of Birders visiting to "get them" on their year lists & lots of "bird news" as a consequence.[/FONT]

I'll be one one of those visiting birders... up North for Crimbo & well lookin forward to gettin round Croxdale Est - top info on that link thanks. Also used to walk from Shincliffe, past the Hall along the wear & up to Bowburn - remember that been a top walk for birds, similar stuff to Croxdale Est, minus the Hawfinch!

Well lookin 4ward to couple weeks in NE :t:B :t:B

 

[DenBee]

Hurworth Burn Reservoir

First visit for a while this morning, quite blustery, the aptly placed feeding Station on the old platform been well used:- by Long tailed Tits, Coal Tits , Great Tits, Bluetits and Robins, with Numerous Redwings in surrounding trees.
Main Reservoir very quite 1 solitary Comorant along with 6 Great Crested Grebe in full winter plumage. Along far bank were 7 Grey Heron, with 200+ Canada Geese grazing in field next to footbridge, also large flocks of various Gull ie HG, BHG, 1 Solitary GBBG.
On the small pool on the Left handside of walkway were Greylag Geese x 300+,Wigeon x 100, Goldeneye x 2 (pair), along with usual waterfowl.
Along the main walkway itself were Redwing x 20, Mistle Thrush x 1, Bullfinch x 2 (Male), Willow Tit x 1, Coal Tit x 4.
Pleased to see more edge cleared of walkway with seating for easier viewing of both areas.

 

[StevieEvans]

..........<snip>...............
I'll be one one of those visiting birders... up North for Crimbo & well lookin forward to gettin round Croxdale Est - top info on that link thanks. Also used to walk from Shincliffe, past the Hall along the wear & up to Bowburn - remember that been a top walk for birds, similar stuff to Croxdale Est, minus the Hawfinch!

Ah yes, the worlds most clarty track... up through the wood to Butterby !

##############################


B4, during, on the way back & after work


B4: Leamside: 1Buzzard heading East over A1M at 8am.

During: Durham City: Vis-mig of Wood Pigeons, Redwings, Fieldfare & Skylark, all heading south on & off today.

On way back, scenic route: Kaysburn: Dipper singing on R.Browney nr Wall Nook, 1,500 Jackdaw nr Langley Park.
Cocken Bridge: pr Goosander on R.Wear.

After: Rainton Meadows: (15:30-16:30)
Pool1 2femRuddy Duck
Pool2 10Goldeneye, prGadwall, femShoveller, 43Teal, prPochard, 1Little Owl at 16:15.
Pool3 1Kingfisher

Steve

 

[IanF]

A look around North Gare again first thing this morning around high tide - 9:00am - not a great deal to see.

Pier area - Oystercatcher c.20, Redshank c.12, Turnstone x4, Cormorant x2, RB Merganser x2.

Seaton Common - Stonechat x2, Kestrel, Wigeon c.20, Teal x2, Curlew x7.

 

[balvert]

Paid a visit to the Croxdale estate this morning at around 9am. No sign of Hawfinch but plenty of others, including 3 Goosander (2m 1f) on the river, 3 Jay, 4 Nuthatch, 2 treecreeper, 2 dunnock, numerous tits (blue, great, coal and lotti), c.10 fieldfare, 4 redwing.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Just a few more from Jarrow Waxwingery, Taken yesterday.

Still in excess of 150 waxwings, 8 mistle thrush, blackbirds, starlings etc and somebody noticed a female blackcap.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Where abouts in Jarrow do I go to see these Waxwings?

 

[Ray.Scott]

Where abouts in Jarrow do I go to see these Waxwings?

The street Is called Pearson Place where we've been seeing them regular, but be quick cos the berries are going down fast :eat:, and when the berries are gone, they may move on.

 

[barnstormer]

How do i get there from the tunnel

 

[Shaggy2070]

How do i get there from the tunnel

Up the A19, at the Tyne Tunnel round-a-bout, take the second exit (sign posted Jarrow), at the next Round-a-bout turn right, follow the road round and take the second left (there is a sign post for some Day Centre) and just drive along until you see them:t:.

 

[smitsel]

Just follow the link and go to post 1182, all the information is here.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=110408&page=48

 

[loppydog70]

Finally got to see the Waxwings at the usual place in Jarrow this morning :t:.

Called in at Barmston Pond on the way home, birds seen - 23 Shoveler, 7pr Gadwall, 5 Pochard, 4 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Coal Tits at the hide.

 

[StevieEvans]

Jarrow: (9:10)
A huge noisy 350-380 Waxwings at far end of Saxon Way, just past Pearson Place NZ333656 (beside green plywood site fence),
dispersed by Sparrowhawk, but 116 came straight back...
NB: very few berries left in that street though.....

I havnt travelled to see many birds this year, but this morning was an absolute spectacle to behold

 

[JBee]

Jarrow: (9:10)
A huge noisy 350-380 Waxwings at far end of Saxon Way, just past Pearson Place NZ333656 (beside green plywood site fence),
dispersed by Sparrowhawk, but 116 came straight back...
NB: very few berries left in that street though.....

I havnt travelled to see many birds this year, but this morning was an absolute spectacle to behold

Numbers still growing there then.
Two days ago scuzz and I estimated between 150 - 200 in that same tree.
Flock seemed often to split into two groups.
Lot of mistle thrush too with one very vocal and dominant bird protecting the nearest berry tree to the tree used by the waxwings to perch.
Single female blackcap there as well (ID'd for me by a visiting birder)

 

[IanF]

Waxwings have eventually arrived in Billingham :t:

The last week or so I've been checking the usual spots for them but no joy. Today I came across a flock of around 70 in Hawkestone Close, Wolviston Court. Talking with several residents they've been around for several days coming and going. A drive around the estate afterwards found them pretty widespread.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I am going to ask my Dad is he will take me to Jarrow tommorow in a hope I will see the Waxwings.

 

[rokermartin]

I am going to ask my Dad is he will take me to Jarrow tommorow in a hope I will see the Waxwings.

You will have to be quick to see them the berries on the trees wont last much longer.When the Waxwings have eaten them all up they will move on.