Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[geordie graham]

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

Glad I managed to get to Castle Eden Walkway on Sunday lunch time to see the Waxwings seeing as how they have all gone.It`s the first time I have seen that many that close.Moving back to Billingham next week and looking forward to all the birding action.It seems a lot more active than here in Bishop Auckland.

Graham

 

[loppydog70]

Cheap binos

Just seen these binos on the Lidl website, probably wont be that good but for this price will be alright as a second set to keep in the car, or as a starter pair for the kids.

Click Here to see them.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from Cowpen Bewley main pond yesterday:

Much the same, bird wise as my last visit, but the birds were closer due to the pond being frozen.

 

[StevieEvans]

End of the Winters day

Highlights of an hour stood in near to perfect conditions at one Local Patch vantage point yestday.

Several Water Rails active, fly-bys from Kingfisher, Woodcock, & Jack Snipe dropping in to feed at 15:45-16:40 .

A little more surprising was a Hedgehog clambering on top of a pile of grass/hay cuttings at 16:40, in the icy conditions.

 

[Ray.Scott]

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.

Just a further update:

Popped in to see JBee today and good news is, He'll be out on Friday and as Dave mentioned he will have to rest up for about a month indoors.
He looks well and apparently, the latest antibiotics seem to be working.
I've passed on all your comments, which he appreciates, if I've forgetting to mention anybody I'm sure he'll read all your comments when he gets back online.

Oh! he's still very capable of talking a glass eye to sleep :-O, you should have heard the cheer from the nurses when they found out he was going home:king:.

 

[Shaggy2070]

Just a further update:

Popped in to see JBee today and good news is, He'll be out on Friday and as Dave mentioned he will have to rest up for about a month indoors.
He looks well and apparently, the latest antibiotics seem to be working.
I've passed on all your comments, which he appreciates, if I've forgetting to mention anybody I'm sure he'll read all your comments when he gets back online.

Oh! he's still very capable of talking a glass eye to sleep :-O, you should have heard the cheer from the nurses when they found out he was going home:king:.

That's great news about him getting out:t:, but not being stuck in for a month:-C.
I can imagine the ward when he's left, quiet and peacfull.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Last Reminder:t:

Durham Bird Club Quiz and Social Night

Tonight at WWWT open 7pm

 

[StevieEvans]

Last Reminder:t:

Durham Bird Club Quiz and Social Night

Tonight at WWWT open 7pm

Wasn't your avatar picture taken on the Clubs last Xmas do....?

No, dont worry thats not Derek in the picture... its his twin cousin :-O

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

H'ton patch
an unseasonal visitor in a quick visit this aftnoon - an Oystercatcher roosting on the ice
Others included Kingfisher, Fieldfare, Woodcock, Redshank, Water Rail etc

 

[ColinSev]

Barn owl

A barn owl flew in front of car and up the hedgeback on main road out of Spectrum Industrial estate at Seaham tonight.
First one I have seen in ages.

 

[Auntystatic]

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

Too close to fit it all in. :t:

 

[Jumpin 4 Joy]

Just heard about wor JB. What a shame, eh ? It will be fantastic once he's running around the local patches again for his ticks. No, he hasn't got an infestation of creepy crawlies :-0

 

[IanF]

Hartlepool Headland - pm - Common Scoter x1 with Eider x12 inside Heugh Pier.

Also Med Gull, Rock Pipit x3, Linnet x4, Knot c.30, Ringed Plover x1, Purple Sandpiper c.15, Turnstone c.20, Pied Wagtail x1, Oystercatcher c.40, Great Crested Grebe. Possible Red-necked Grebe by Ferryboat steps - the sea was a bit too choppy to say for certain.

Jacksons Landing - Great Northern Diver x1, Shag x4, RB Merganser x1, Little Grebe x1.

Photos: 1. Common Scoter - 2. Great Northern Diver - 3. Rock Pipit - 4. Red-breasted Merganser - 5. Great Crested Grebe

 

[Mark Newsome]

Durham Bird Club Quiz and Social Night
Tonight at WWWT open 7pm

Thanks to all who attended last night and made it a enjoyable night. About 34 turned up, including a few new faces.:t:
Ando's quiz was planned with military precision (well, except the finish time!) and the winning team got prizes of a free DBC coach trip of their choice.
The raffle raised £60 for conservation in the county - likely to go towards planting at Bishop Middleham or to help with the superb plans in store for Hurworth Burn Res. Prizes given away included several decent bird books, chocs and wine, BirdGuides DVDs framed bird photos, a nest box and about 10 stone of bird seed (very generously donated by [email protected]). Oh, and about 20yrs worth of Scottish Birds mags as a booby prize (I bet that cleared your loft out a bit, Mr Olley!).
John from Teesmouth Bird Club also attended to distribute copies of their excellent new breeding bird Atlas and the 'hot-off-the-press' 2007 annual report. Great publications!
Thanks to the staff at WWT for putting us up and serving chips, beers and cups of coffee. All in all, a very successful evening. :t:

 

[IanF]

A689/Castle Eden Walkway - am - Waxwing c.30 around north side car park bushes plus Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fiedlfare. Car park surface treacherous black ice.

South side of A689 Siskin x2, Crossbill x1, Great Spotted Woodpecker x1, Jay x1, numerous Coal Tit and Goldcrest.

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park early afternoon Waxwing 50-60 with 20 in NE corner of main pond feeding on hawthorn berries, 12 in ash tree above old hide, 17 flying over visitor centre and c.12 perched in trees on side of A1185 at entrance to Park.

Also Treecreeper, GSW, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow plus other regulars in feeding station.

Photos: 1. & 2. Waxwing - 3. Treecreeper - 4. Great Spotted Woodpecker - 5. Coal Tit

 

[StevieEvans]

Thanks to all who attended last night and made it a enjoyable night. About 34 turned up, including a few new faces.:t:
Ando's quiz was planned with military precision (well, except the finish time!) and the winning team got prizes of a free DBC coach trip of their choice.
The raffle raised £60 for conservation in the county - likely to go towards planting at Bishop Middleham or to help with the superb plans in store for Hurworth Burn Res. Prizes given away included several decent bird books, chocs and wine, BirdGuides DVDs framed bird photos, a nest box and about 10 stone of bird seed (very generously donated by [email protected]). Oh, and about 20yrs worth of Scottish Birds mags as a booby prize (I bet that cleared your loft out a bit, Mr Olley!).
John from Teesmouth Bird Club also attended to distribute copies of their excellent new breeding bird Atlas and the 'hot-off-the-press' 2007 annual report. Great publications!
Thanks to the staff at WWT for putting us up and serving chips, beers and cups of coffee. All in all, a very successful evening. :t:

Many thanks to Paul, Mark & everyone else involved for an entertaining evening:t:

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

Male Snow Bunting over Hetton Lyons today

Highlights of a trip to a crisp, sunny, flat calm Teesdale today:-
2RedKite
2Common Scoter
2Goldeneye
5Blackcocks
Dunnock pair at 300m/asl
Stonechats
Dipper
Barn Owl

cheers

 

[loppydog70]

Barmstom Pond this morning very cold and icy.

51 Teal,15 Lapwing resting on frozen pond,1pr Gadwall,4 Mute Swan,17 Mallard,2 Goldcrest,2 Greenfinch,6 Long Tailed Tit,4 Blue Tit,2 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush,1 Dunnock,3 Wren.

 

[JBee]

Thanks for the kind words - got home today though getting home is just the start of a 3 month battle to full recovery.
1 month basically with legs up and constantly bandaged with more high powered antibiotics four times a day. Then two months of bandages and support stockings.
My temperature when I got into hospital was 40.1 so I was quite delirious - apparently the infection was so bad it could very easily have killed me.
A word of warning - the infection could have been caused (though not proven) by either an insect bite or by kneeling in something unpleasant when taking photos.
All in all I've been pretty lucky.

 

[DerekK]

Waterboard Bridge Barnard Castle

For the people who don't already know the waterboard bridge over the river Tees at Barnard Castle has been closed for the last 3 weeks and will remain so until the 31st. of March.

 

[beetlebug]

Jbee recovery

JBee, glad to hear you are on the mend. It will be a good time to go through your zillions of photos and find the hidden gems!
All the best, hope to see you soon.:t:

 

[IanF]

I didn't get out today with the weather being so dull. Non-stop rain!

The birds came to the garden instead

Blackcap male this morning and then this afternoon Long-tailed Tit x11 (only seen in the garden once before) and a Goldcrest (new garden tick)! :t:

Half the LTT's were ringed so I'd guess they're from Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park 1/4 mile away. I was present when seven were caught and ringed a couple of weeks back. No sign of the Treecreeper though that usually hangs around with that flock!

A new Sparrowhawk as well. A very young looking bird - pale milk chocolate brown colour rather than the deeper brown coloured usually seen around Cowpen Bewley though a similar one was present perched on the feeding station gate a week or so ago.

A bit too dull for decent photos 1/15 sec f5,6 ISO1600!

The Wren is back in it's nest in the porch above the front door tonight as well.

Photos - 1. Long-tailed Tit - 2. Goldcrest - 3. 'Porch' Wren