Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[One Man and His Dog]

reed bunting

can someone tell me what this bird is in the photo

thanks

hi dicky
its a male reed bunting, and if for some reason im wrong i'll just use my excuse which is (colour blindness), it works every time but its true!
cheers

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Called at West pasture just on dusk,flock of Greylag with a single Pinkfoot by the pond, three pairs of Partridge and two Short eared owl's.Cut short my visit,hounded out by the local doggers.Do we have to put up with these people(perverts) ?

For a minute i thought you said "what do we have to put up these people", theres no need to worry they never bother any of us as they arn't into birds! unless that is you walk like a pair of scissors of course! . Joking aside its safe to go to west pastures and they tend to no there own kind.
cheers

 

[Mark Newsome]

For a minute i thought you said "what do we have to put up these people", theres no need to worry they never bother any of us as they arn't into birds! unless that is you walk like a pair of scissors of course! . Joking aside its safe to go to west pastures and they tend to no there own kind.
cheers

I can back you up on that Steven. Myself and 'Boldon Buzzard' have watched the area on a regular basis and never had any 'inappropriate' comments, never mind any actual 'close encounters'. The increased interest by birders may actually make the other visitors to the area a little uncomfortable and they may get fed up and move elsewhere. What concerns me more is the roadside tipping. Or maybe a considerate birder has put the settee and armchair there to make watching the owls more comfortable...! I'd urge any visiting birder who witnesses fly-tipping to get the registration and phone the police asap. It'd be a shame to have such a good area spoilt.

 

[StevieEvans]

Called at West pasture just on dusk..................Cut short my visit,hounded out by the local doggers.
Do we have to put up with these people(perverts) ?

Patmartin
i agree with you on this 100%, its totally sinister having some sick freak cruising about & parking alongside your vehicle.
Its the same at many birding spots Waldridge Fell, North Gare etc.

I use Churchills inverted Victory Salute at every oppurtunity.

I can back you up on that Steven. Myself and 'Boldon Buzzard' have watched the area on a regular basis and never had any 'inappropriate' comments, never mind any actual 'close encounters'. The increased interest by birders may actually make the other visitors to the area a little uncomfortable and they may get fed up and move elsewhere. What concerns me more is the roadside tipping. Or maybe a considerate birder has put the settee and armchair there to make watching the owls more comfortable...! I'd urge any visiting birder who witnesses fly-tipping to get the registration and phone the police asap. It'd be a shame to have such a good area spoilt.

I'd rather have the fly-tippers than those undesireable weirdos any day.
A pile of disgarded rubbish at a site doesnt spoil my enjoyment whatsoever.
Rubbish = Rats ........ More Rats = More Owls ;-)

SE

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Fly-tipping

Speaking of fly-tipping, Ryhope Dean was an absolute mess last time I was there (and every other time for that matter). I don't know what was there first, the setee cushions, the fridges, the tyres or the sign saying no fly-tipping. Fortunately the vegetation is so dense, the rubbish is mostly out of site.

Based on Steve's logic, should I be hanging around Ryhope Dean in the evenings looking for owls? Come to mention it I may have noticed some unsavoury characters hanging around there too!

I can back you up on that Steven. Myself and 'Boldon Buzzard' have watched the area on a regular basis and never had any 'inappropriate' comments, never mind any actual 'close encounters'. The increased interest by birders may actually make the other visitors to the area a little uncomfortable and they may get fed up and move elsewhere. What concerns me more is the roadside tipping. Or maybe a considerate birder has put the settee and armchair there to make watching the owls more comfortable...! I'd urge any visiting birder who witnesses fly-tipping to get the registration and phone the police asap. It'd be a shame to have such a good area spoilt.

 

[Mark Newsome]

I'd rather have the fly-tippers than those undesireable weirdos any day.
A pile of disgarded rubbish at a site doesnt spoil my enjoyment whatsoever.
Rubbish = Rats ........ More Rats = More Owls ;-)
SE

Don't you ever think about anything other than owls?! Were you a Long-eared in a previous life?! 3

 

[StevieEvans]

I've only just got off the phone with 'Super Geoff', with him telling me that the next annual report is at the printers and will be posted out in the next week or two! (won't tell you which year, 'cos that would spoil the surprise!).

1843 ? :-O

We'll soon be getting reports out before the birds are actually seen...!

i wouldnt be surprised.... rumour has it the national grid get a phone call warning that the GNS computer is about to be switched on..... :eek!:

SE


The DBC George Wilson Award.

The award goes to DBC members who have shown dedication to field study & surveying of their local area. It is in memory of the late George Wilson, who was one of the clubs keenest fieldworkers.

The Committee are pleased to announce the latest recipient of this prestigious club award as Michael "Sedgeletch" Heron.

Looking through the Lek, the same familiar place names appear time & again….. Lambton, Breckon Hill, Chilton Moor, Rainton Meadows, Joes Pond, Newbottle, Morton Wood, Grasswell, Philadelphia & finally Sedgeletch….

At first glance not the most attractive of venues…. Sandwiched between Scrapyards, Factories, Sewage Works, Pit heaps & the Coke Works… but 15 years of study have shown us trends in breeding populations, evidence of visible migration, early arrival dates in spring and confirmation for rare breeding birds like Little Ringed Plover, Barn Owl & Kingfisher.

The recipient has also found a vast array of more unusual birds on his inland local patches around the Fencehouses area including :-

Yellow Browed Warbler, Rough-legged Buzzard, Black Tern, Turnstone, Smew, Turtle Dove, Firecrest, Snow Bunting, Purple Sand, Bewicks Swan,Siberian Chiffchaff, Blackwit, Spotted Crake, Goshawk, Spotshank, Black-necked Grebe, RNParakeet, Little Gull, Bittern, Iceland Gull, Garganey,Lapland Bunting, with the most recent addition being a Sedgeletch Laughing Gull in December '05

The Wilson brothers were instrumental during Michael's early birding years and its a great testament their knowledge & encouragement that the Fencehouses area is now studied so intensively. Dedicated monthlyrecording, gives DBC a very clear picture of resident & summer breeding visitors and much data to work with.

Micky is also a familiar figure around the County, though he often passes by quietly, often un-noticed due to his army surplus attire.
NB. He is renowned for his fieldcraft, taking it so seriously that he is reputed to be the only DBC member with camouflage socks & pants… :-O

The Award Certificate was presented to MH by the Chairman at the AGM, along with a token for a good quality bird publication.

If you can suggest any likely candidates for the award next year, make it known.

SE

 

[rokermartin]

Sunderland Harbour 1 intermedius LBB Gull and 1 Glaucous gull 1stw south at Whitburn today

 

[DenBee]

Dalton Moor

Once again been out checking this hopefully new site, birds appear to be taking the feed well now, also tried a few fatballs the other day to determine if there would be any interest, "understatement."
Bird activity quite positive today with the following spotted:-
Linnet x c500 (According to Birdtrack Unusually high numbers) 8-P
Yellowhammer x c300 ( As above) 8-P
Goldfinch x 2
Perigrine x 1
Reed Bunting x 10
Song Thrush x 1
Tree Sparrow x 6
Grey partridge x 4
Grt Tit x 3
Bluetit x 4
Chaffinch x 2
C Crow x 6
Collared dove x 4
Magpie x 2
Wood pigeon x 2
Feral Pigeon x 6
Robin x 1

Watergate Fishing Lake:-
Mute Swan x 1
Coot x 4

 

[Kesterel]

For a minute i thought you said "what do we have to put up these people", theres no need to worry they never bother any of us as they arn't into birds! unless that is you walk like a pair of scissors of course! . Joking aside its safe to go to west pastures and they tend to no there own kind.
cheers

Was down West Pasture today and got cruised so left. I find the cottagers quite unnerving. Perhaps visiting in numbers may help?

Went onto WWT and went to the feeding station (I know it is a cheat) but it is a great place to get close up with woodland birds and was amazed by the Bullfinches (7 was the best count). Other feeders were Siskin, Robin, Dunnock, Great, Blue, Coal and LT Tits, Tree Creeper, Chaffinch and the GS Woodpecker.

Finally, was drivin past the New Crown in Shields and there were three Med Guls amongst the BH Gulls.

 

[rokermartin]

The bird site at west Pastures just been thinking somebody should really inform the Police about want goes on down there with these perverts.Last year there was a piece in the Sunderland Echo about all the local dogging places in the tyne and wear. It said the police would be interested in any info about these sites so they can stop these perverts from meeting.I am sure there are lot of birders are put off from visiting this good bird place by this problem.Birders and other people SHOULD'NT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS SITUATION ANY LONGER.So I think action should be taken.Thats just my opinion.

 

[DaveB]

Good numbers of birds up at Etherley Moor today.

All the usual, including 6 Tree Sparrows and two Sparrowhawks (a male and a female).

Woodpigeon numbers appears to have increased to at least 200.

 

[StevieEvans]

DBC Projects & Surveys...

Hi all

A quick reminder about the flexible surveys that can be carried out on your local patch....

Nuthatch january to may

Long-eared Owl january to august

Further details on DBC site with survey form downloads & bird calls resource.


Projects / Survey News.
Kingfisher & Dabchick surveys will commence in mid April.
Kingfishers seem to be doing well in recent years, but the Little Grebe situation is not so clear... its thought that the majority of regular breeding location on running water courses have been lost...?

NB.
An exciting development in preparation, is the return of the DBC Autumn Migrant Survey....
In the past this has been very interesting & realy caught peoples imaginations...

The whole coastline will be divided into sections & covered on one day, with multi-observers & groups, in order to get an accurate picture of whats moving & whats lurking waiting to be discovered away from the well known hot-spots.

SE

 

[Mark Newsome]

...Birders and other people SHOULD'NT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS SITUATION ANY LONGER.So I think action should be taken.Thats just my opinion.

The police already know about what goes on there and have done for some time. They sometimes do go round the area in police cars and there's often a police helicopter over the area, but short of having a police car permanently there, it'll be hard to stop it happening. Same with the tipping. Maybe if people wrote to the local council or alerted local newspapers to what was happening, it might have some effect?
I could see it happening that if the police do have a clamp down, there'll be several birders arrested by mistake. "But I was only looking at owls officer".... "A likely story young Evans, it's down to the station with you..."

 

[rokermartin]

Good point about the Police arresting birders by mistake.I think the site will be use at night when birders are not there so that would not be a problem with birders getting arrested .But i am sure there are other ways of dealing with this situation.As you say Mark the Sunderland Echo could be informed and even the problem about the fly tipping i think the local council would be interested in that .People can get fined a lot of money if they get caught tipping.You certainly could'nt put West Pastures in a where to watch birds book the way things are at the moment with the doggers and fly tippers.It would certainly put a lot of birders off from going.And you could'nt take children there birding have doggers there seeing those perverts.So think something should be done about the problem because it is spoiling a excellent area.

 

[StevieEvans]

Good point about the Police arresting birders by mistake.But i am sure there are other ways of dealing with this situation.As you say Mark the Sunderland Echo could be informed and even the problem about the fly tipping i think the local council would be interested in that .People can get fined a lot of money if they get caught tipping.You certainly could'nt put West Pastures in a where to watch birds book the way things are at the moment with the doggers and fly tippers.It would certainly put a lot of birders off from going.And you could'nt take children there birding have doggers there seeing those perverts.So think something should be done about the problem because it is spoiling a excellent area.

This matter is now being looked into & dealt with.

After several requests a DBC Membership Card will be going out soon, this will undoubtedly help in situations where members are quizzed by police or landowners as to their presence at any site.

NB. This is Not a "Get out of Jail Free" card :-O - ask permission before entering private land.
The back of the card will have an introduction for surveyors / fieldworkers to use when asking such permission.

SE.

 

[rokermartin]

Just had a excellent idea to get rid of the doggers at West Pastures get a huge female EAGLE OWL and let it chase them.This could become a new sport.Instead of Fox hunting with Eagle Owls we could have chasing doggers as a sport.What do you think.

 

[Mark Newsome]

Just a reminder about records for last year. All records for 2005 have now been distributed to the annual report compilers and the 2005 report should be completely written by end May. If anyone has any late records still to submit, please get them sent to the county recorder asap!
The 2001 annual report will be in the post to DBC members after the weekend. One more step closer to repairing the damage... Other reports to follow soon!

 

[rokermartin]

Whitburn Steel one Adult Med Gull today nothing much else

 

[Bonsaibirder]

Late records

I would like to second what Mark has said. There are a few records which are in The Lek which cannot be included in the 2005 report because they have not been sent to the recorder. I am not quite sure why, but I can give you some examples - Grasshopper Warbler on the 13th April (would be the first of the year). Also, there are no submitted reports for Barred Warblers in October, but there are some mentioned in the Lek.

I wonder if it might be appropriate for compilers to put a list of such reports for which we need records on this forum in case anyone knows who saw these particular birds.

Any thoughts?

Saddinall

Just a reminder about records for last year. All records for 2005 have now been distributed to the annual report compilers and the 2005 report should be completely written by end May. If anyone has any late records still to submit, please get them sent to the county recorder asap!
The 2001 annual report will be in the post to DBC members after the weekend. One more step closer to repairing the damage... Other reports to follow soon!