Durham Birding (44 Viewers)

[IanF]

Green-winged Teal reported at Bowesfield Marsh am.

Little Auk in harbour at Hartlepool Headland this morning. Feeding and hauling out on rocks at end of pier to preen.

 

[ALFIE TEMPLE]

Waxwings

185 counted at Concorde.
Nice to meet you Spuggy-sorry i couln't stay to talk. Hope we meet again.

 

[IanF]

Green-winged Teal still present at Bowesfield Marsh this afternoon but very distant. Other birds noted - Gadwall x6, Shoveler c.8, Teal 30+, Wigeon x4, Greylag Goose x3 (tho another 60+ on river), Canada Goose x4, Goldeney c.8, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Cormorant.

 

[spuggy]

Waxwings

Good to meet you too Alfie, plenty of Waxwings about today and loads of berries left on the tree so they might hang around for another day or two

 

[Julie10_10]

Teesmouth Bird Club Trip to Holy Island

The Teesmouth Bird Club has organised a trip to Northumberland and Holy Island on Sunday 15th February 2009. There are still 15 places available on the 49-seated coach, so if you are interested please send a £5 cheque (non-returnable deposit) payable to the Teesmouth Bird Club to Julie Mason (address below). There are three pickup points, Dorman's Museum in Middlesbrough at 08:00, Swallow Hotel in Stockton at 08:10 and M&S car park in Hartlepool at 08.25.

For those birdwatchers who have visited Holy Island before will know that it is possible to see some superb birds. Don't worry if you are not an expert or an experienced birdwatcher, I am sure everyone will make sure that you enjoy the day.

For newer birdwatchers it is a chance to meet club members and maybe gain a few new birds too.

The full cost of the trip will be £12.50 per person.

Send £5 deposit to

Julie Mason
11 Redmire Road
Grangefield
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 4JR

 

[durham giant]

Didn't get to see seo- i was caught up with a flock of 15 waxwings on my in my village.
Sedgefield, seen at three sites dotted around the area.

Please visit this thread- http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1398905#post1398905

And this video- http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?youtube_france

After the hunting ban in malta, our neighbours our in the lime light. Thats where the lapwings went. SAD.

 

[The Chairman]

c90 Waxwings still present outside Concord vets this morning @ 9:22

I hope they weren't ill:-O

 

[vivster]

Holy Island

The Teesmouth Bird Club has organised a trip to Northumberland and Holy Island on Sunday 15th February 2009. There are still 15 places available on the 49-seated coach, so if you are interested please send a £5 cheque (non-returnable deposit) payable to the Teesmouth Bird Club to Julie Mason (address below). There are three pickup points, Dorman's Museum in Middlesbrough at 08:00, Swallow Hotel in Stockton at 08:10 and M&S car park in Hartlepool at 08.25.

For those birdwatchers who have visited Holy Island before will know that it is possible to see some superb birds. Don't worry if you are not an expert or an experienced birdwatcher, I am sure everyone will make sure that you enjoy the day.

For newer birdwatchers it is a chance to meet club members and maybe gain a few new birds too.

The full cost of the trip will be £12.50 per person.

Send £5 deposit to

Julie Mason
11 Redmire Road
Grangefield
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 4JR

hi Julie:hi:
I would loved to be able to got to Holy Island on Sunday 15th February as im one of thoes birdewatchers who hasent been to holy island yet.But the pick up points are to far for me as i dont drive:-C

 

[rentoncharman]

Owls on Greenabella Marsh

Got some good views of the short eared owls (2) on Greenabella Marsh on Tuesday from 1530hr until ca 1645hr. At one stage one flew straight over my head dropped on to the ground within 10yards and then flew off. When they're hunting, head down, they don't seem to see people watching. Shame the barn owl didn't come closer. It hunted for some time up and down the Tioxide fence on the north side of the marsh but at least managed a shot as it came out of the barn owl nest box.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Decided to pop over Weardale/Teesdale yesterday with JBee.
Bit of a bad move, although the road was passable, once up on the moors we were in the clouds and could barely see 5yds around us.
All we saw were red grouse, sheep, rabits & snow, and even though the grouse were close to the side of the road we were having to use the camera flash to try and get some detail in shots.
On the way back the cloud lifted a bit and we saw hundreds of red grouse in various groups over the moors. Great sight and by far the most grouse I've seen, obviousely due to the snow and the heather being burried.
Nice to see the snow and the grouse in the snow :t:, and nice to be able to leave It behind on the way home.

Not much else seen on the day other than one goosander and one dipper at Stanhope, nevertheless we enjoyed the day:t:.

 

[rokermartin]

Still 80+ Waxwings at Concord,Washington just after midday with 2 Fieldfare and 3 Redwings feeding on the berries.

 

[IanF]

Seaton Common - 2.30pm - Peregrine Falcon stooping on the waders for 20 minutes before catching something. 10 minutes later it headed off SE over the power station towards Redcar.

Waders - Lapwing c.200, Golden Plover c.50, Curlew c.60, Woodcock 3+, Black-tailed Godwit c.20, Snipe c.10, Teal, Wigeon. Flock of Meadow Pipit c.10 and Slylark 2+ on frozen pools by North Gare access road. Flock of Goldfinch c.30, Stonechat x2. Also Fieldfare c.10.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

CROXDALE ESTATE - This Saturday. Think its a good idea - Hawfinch???
I will take my first attempt to find one! lol
Any one got directions to get there from Great Lumley?
Also where is the white gate where you stand to look for them?
Cheers hope you can help its greatly appreciated
Andrew K

 

[barnstormer]

Judging by the map it's left at nevilles cross and follow the road and it's on the left after a few miles, think i may give it a go too..........

 

[AndyMc]

Got some good views of the short eared owls (2) on Greenabella Marsh on Tuesday from 1530hr until ca 1645hr. At one stage one flew straight over my head dropped on to the ground within 10yards and then flew off. When they're hunting, head down, they don't seem to see people watching. Shame the barn owl didn't come closer. It hunted for some time up and down the Tioxide fence on the north side of the marsh but at least managed a shot as it came out of the barn owl nest box.

Some people have all the luck don't they :t: or is it skill :h?:
I spent 8 hrs on Saturday between Greenabella & the common. No sign of the Barnies, Shorties too distant The only action my index finger had was the dew on the end of my nose. Spent the next 3 days in bed. :storm:
Still not put off, better luck this weekend hopefully :stuck:

Well done :clap:

 

[NeilF]

CROXDALE ESTATE
Any one got directions to get there from Great Lumley?
Also where is the white gate where you stand to look for them?
Cheers hope you can help its greatly appreciated
Andrew K

Andrew, take the A167 to the south of Durham, then take a right turn onto the B6300 Brandon road (might be an idea to have a map book with you).
After about 100 yards turn left onto a dead-end road over the River Wear and park at the top end.
Cross the cattle grid into the estate, follow the tree lined road over another cattle grid, up the bank and continue to follow the road around to the right until it takes a sharp left turn, the white Croxdale Hall gates are here on the right.
Set your birdwatching senses to full power and watch the trees in front of the gates, you might have to stay for a while or you might get lucky straight away.
Plenty of other birds around to keep you busy. Good luck.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Andrew, take the A167 to the south of Durham, then take a right turn onto the B6300 Brandon road (might be an idea to have a map book with you).
After about 100 yards turn left onto a dead-end road over the River Wear and park at the top end.
Cross the cattle grid into the estate, follow the tree lined road over another cattle grid, up the bank and continue to follow the road around to the right until it takes a sharp left turn, the white Croxdale Hall gates are here on the right.
Set your birdwatching senses to full power and watch the trees in front of the gates, you might have to stay for a while or you might get lucky straight away.
Plenty of other birds around to keep you busy. Good luck.

Thanks Neil. Hopefully I will get along this Saturday somehow.
Either with Dad or spuggy.
Thanks for the directions they are greatly appreciated.:t:

 

[Cyclops]

A few from Teesside yesterday.

Oh nice Waxwing capture there! I so want to see those again!

 

[Paul Mc]

Reports of a barn owl hunting in Shincliffe village this morning 7.20. 12 tree sparrows on my feeders. Gorgeous morning for a ride to Saltholm but sadly I have to work. Got a mystery bird of prey as a regular visitor, some birders said it was a Goshawk but don't think so, more likely a female sparrowhawk? Been trying to get a decent pic but just too far with my Nikon DSLR and old 70 - 210 zoom.
Andrew, we live about a mile further along the track from Croxdale hall - its a great place for birding...if only I knew what I was looking at!

 

[rentoncharman]

Some people have all the luck don't they :t: or is it skill :h?:
I spent 8 hrs on Saturday between Greenabella & the common. No sign of the Barnies, Shorties too distant The only action my index finger had was the dew on the end of my nose. Spent the next 3 days in bed. :storm:
Still not put off, better luck this weekend hopefully :stuck:

Some times your lucky, sometimes not. Maybe it's down to good fieldcraft, look at the number of times Ian Forrest gets good pics. - he knows where to go and when and we all benefit from that.