Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

Decided on a visit to the Castle Eden Walkway this morning (after seeing the writings of Master Jedi Ian yesterday). Took Lisa along to see if we could get our first look at the Waxwings. What a success, a flock of 30-40 were about 500m from the car park. Also saw, Dunnock, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, and a single Bullfinch. Got some shots of the Waxwings before they all took off, so we headed back to the car, when we got there they were in the large tree just at the entrance to the car park (north of A689), strangely they were dropping down to the middle of the A689 to drink, narrowly avoiding the cars. The road/paths were like a skating rink, at one point I couldnt even cross the road as it was just sheet ice.

Certainly a great place to see them. I was surprised just how many birds there were along the cycleway. My last visits in May and June there was virtually nothing to be seen so I stopped going. I'll have to get back there this next week for another look. You had much better conditions today - though the ice sounds a bit nasty.

I had a wander around Cowpen Bewley WP in the morning. Loads going on there including my first Redpolls and Siskins of the year - full report on the link below. One of my best visits of the year.

Photos - 1. & 2. Common Redpoll - 3. Siskin - 4. Golden Eye male - 5. Sparrowhawk

 

[rentoncharman]

Just a short post to let people know that JBee was admitted to Dryburn Hospital during the week, to do with recent problems he's been having with his legs. I'm postting this here, as I know that some of you are also members of his Phocus-on site.
I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Sorry to hear the news about Jbee, Ray, pass my best wishes on to him if you see him.

 

[June Atkinson]

Image 3

Thornley Woods area today:

blue, great, coal & LT Tits, brambling, wood pigeon, jay, chaffinch, bullfinch, nuthatch, robin, magpie, blackbirds and a few visits from the sphawk.

Nothing at Far Pastures from the hide other than crows.
Robins, dunnock & chaffinch in the car park bushes.

Called at winlaton and viewed 6 Red Kites at a distance, one of which was being mobbed by a single crow.

Lovely shots of the kites. Very interested to see that No 3 has no tags, so it is either not one of our released birds, or it could be a Juvenile.
May I send it to Ken Sanderson? Or, better still, pehaps you'd be good enough to forward any/all of your images to the NK Office:
[email protected]

 

[balvert]

Sorry to hear about the news about JBee. I wish him all the best. Couldn't meet a lovlier man.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Lovely shots of the kites. Very interested to see that No 3 has no tags, so it is either not one of our released birds, or it could be a Juvenile.
May I send it to Ken Sanderson? Or, better still, pehaps you'd be good enough to forward any/all of your images to the NK Office:
[email protected]

Sorry about that June, I cloned the tags of on that image for printing purposes for a friend of mine. I'll redo the image with the tags and forward it with the others. In future I'll make sure the tags remain, unles of course, I manage to find one without them.

 

[markh606]

Jacksons Landing again Saturday afternoon. Great Northern Diver still present. upto 12 Red Breasted Mergansers of which two drakes were displaying well in the inner harbour. Up at Bracken Hill Business Park, Peterlee this afternoon. first Siskins of the year, small flock of Bullfinches and other mixed finches. Woodcock flushed and resident Kestrel present.

 

[IanF]

Blackcap male in the garden again this morning.

A689 Wynyard/Castle Eden Walkway again this morning. Bright and sunny but a little frosty with quite a bit of ice and snow around still.

Waxwing c.30 again all around the car park on the north side of the road. Just as I was leaving they were coming down to the grass in the picnic area to eat snow and ice! I guess the puddles were all frozen today!

Fieldfare c.150, Redwing c.30, Blackbird c.30 along the Walkway 800m north. Not so many small birds around this visit though several Dunnock, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Robin. Also Heron fly over.

Siskin had been seen earler here as had a Crossbill and a Jay by the Scout Hut on the south side of the A689. Only Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest and Robin seen in that area by me this visit. Several Pheasant in the stubble field by the Scout Hut as well.

Jackdaw x2, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Blue Tit by the south side car park.

Photos - Blackcap, Redwing and Waxwing.

 

[NeilF]

Five Purple Sandpiper in the rock pools next to Roker Pier this afternoon.
Sorry about the photo quality, still getting to grips with modern technology

 

[StevieEvans]

Just a short post to let people know that JBee was admitted to Dryburn Hospital during the week, to do with recent problems he's been having with his legs. I'm postting this here, as I know that some of you are also members of his Phocus-on site.
I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Ray, if you're through visiting JB at Dryburn,
i have a surplus of CE marked Ear Defenders................ the staff & those in adjoining beds can have a loan of them if they need, while he's in
Send him our abuse, i mean regards - hope hes on the mend soon.

---------------------------------------------------------------

100 species seen on Friday / Saturday in Houghton area Local Patch.

A very good run of late with several birders chipping away :-
Common Redpoll(MN), Yellow legged Gull(SE), Glaucous & Med Gull(CW), Goshawk(CR), Snow Bunting(MH), Crossbill(DC), Twite(SE), RNParakeet(CW), Brent Goose(MH), Ruddy Shelduck(WC) & Woodlark(MH) being seen over last few weeks - the last 2 being "firsts" for the area.

The way the weathers been, we're hoping for a nice early Xmas present like a Bittern, Smew or Water Pipit...
...........failing that someone might be brave enough to claim a Caspian Gull
Steve

 

[Ray.Scott]

Ray, if you're through visiting JB at Dryburn,
i have a surplus of CE marked Ear Defenders................ the staff & those in adjoining beds can have a loan of them if they need, while he's in
Send him our abuse, i mean regards - hope hes on the mend soon.

Will do Steve, they reckon all the staff are walking round with MP3 players, the ear defenders will have to be the best.

Called at Cowpen Bewley today then on to the 689 for the waxwing. We walked along the track for about 1/2 mile and only saw the 1 waxwing, but on returning to the car park were met by at least 30, which were in the trees and bushes around the car park.
Nice to see them, but the light was poor for photo's.

 

[DenBee]

Just a short post to let people know that JBee was admitted to Dryburn Hospital during the week, to do with recent problems he's been having with his legs. I'm postting this here, as I know that some of you are also members of his Phocus-on site.
I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Hi Scuzz
Sorry to hear about JB give my regards to him if and when you see him, will miss his coffee and his friendly jibes on IDs.

 

[durham giant]

JBee -get well soon!

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I only met JBee once but please tell him I said get well soon.

 

[barnstormer]

That bloke will do out for a lie down ! i bet the nurses have got proper ear ache. Aye hope he gets well soon. He'll be after a sherpa for a while to carry his sigmonster once he gets out.

 

[StevieEvans]

Cushats / snippets

Have you got any big Wood Pigeon roosts locally ?

Have you got large flocks moving first thing in morning & / or back again mid/late afternoon...?

Not everyones cup of tea, but where are the double figure Magpie roosts at present ?

Houghton Patch
Little Owl in new location in NZ34 yesterday - looks suitable for a territorial pair...
Recent hard weather Water Rail census reveals double figures in Houghton area.
Small single figure flocks of Brambling at Sedgeletch & Cocken recently.
Big no's of gulls (up to 5,000) using Biffa tip & loafing nearby - Glauc, Med & Yellow legged have been picked out so far.......

cheers
Steve

 

[[email protected]]

lamesley

there cant have been many people who have had a closer look for a kingfisher then today at lamesley hide maybe 12 feet from me as it landed on the fence to eat its catch and there were two other lads even closer

 

[Paul Mc]

Have you got any big Wood Pigeon roosts locally ?

Have you got large flocks moving first thing in morning & / or back again mid/late afternoon...?

Hi Steve,

Yes loads of pigeons round here, mostly in an area behind us known as believe it or not as 'Pigeon Wood'! Seems to be fewer magpies around, tho usually a few early morning around my feeders...I don't miss em tho.
This afternoon over 20 tree sparrows on and around my feeders also.
Best wishes to JBee

Paul Mc

 

[Mark Newsome]

Have you got any big Wood Pigeon roosts locally ?
Have you got large flocks moving first thing in morning & / or back again mid/late afternoon...?

The Nissan roost is strong again this winter. Last winter, up to 3-4000 roosted in Pepe Plantation and these could be seen flying south and east just after dawn each day. I presume some go off to the SW towards your neck of the woods too? I've not been there at the right time of day lately, but its quite some sight to see the fields to the north of Nissan fill with Wood Pigeons prior to roosting. This is just a winter roost and presumably most of these are continental birds.

Cheers, Mark.

 

[IanF]

A689/Castle Eden Walkway - pm - wood on south side of road - Crossbill x5, Siskin x6, Lesser Redpoll x6, Coal Tit c.12, , Great Spotted Woodpecker x1.

North side of road Redwing c.30, Fieldfare c.30, Little Owl x1, Sparrowhawk x1. No Waxwing at all.

No sign of any Redpoll or Siskin at Cowpen Bewley WP this morning. Loads of Goldfinch around feeding in alders plus in the large mixed flock with Linnet and Greenfinch near Cloff Bridge. Treecreeper and around 10 LTT still visiting the feeding station regularly. Goldeneye x5, Gadwall x4 on main pond. Water Rail on frozen ponds by car park. Most notable sighting apart from Scuzz - Brent Goose x48 flying NW over hill towards Greatham area.

This afternoon we noticed a nest with fresh green moss in the porch over the front door. Sure enough this evening there's a Wren poking it's head out. We've also a Blue Tit roosting most nights in a nest box on the back of the house. Makes you wonder what else is around?

Photos - 1. Little Owl - 2. Redwing - 3. Goldfinch - 4. Brent Geese - 5. Goldeneye female

 

[spuggy]

Jbee update

Just a quick note to say that Jbee is making a steady recovery and maybe allowed home on Thursday but will have to rest for while.