Durham Birding (28 Viewers)

[FoghornKinghorn]

Rainton Meadows: Lapwing, Skylark, Pheasant, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Robin, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Great tit, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Turted Duck, Little Grebe, Redshank, Teal, Goldeneye, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Ruddy Duck and Sparrowhawk.

Great Lumley: Long-tailed tit

No sign of Mandarin on pool 2,1 or Joe's. (bird must have known that I was coming) :-O:-O

 

[NeilF]

Maybe that Mandarin is slowy heading back up Burdon way ?

Maybe Steve, if so its in for a shock as there's still some subsidence work going on up there with associated disturbance.
Don't know much about the history behind the Coxgreen Mandarins, are they seen there every year? Only in spring? Why Coxgreen? some sort of genetic link to Washington WWT?

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Green Woodpeckers

I love these birds. I have never actualy seen one.:-C
Where is the best and most reliable place in Durham, Cleveland, or Northumberland to see a Green Woodpecker?
Thank you,
Andrew K

 

[StevieEvans]

I love these birds. I have never actualy seen one.:-C
Where is the best and most reliable place in Durham, Cleveland, or Northumberland to see a Green Woodpecker?
Thank you,
Andrew K

Waldridge Fell is as good a spot as any, (north & eastern sides) - & approx only 2.5mile from your home as the woodpecker flies :t:

 

[NeilF]

I love these birds. I have never actualy seen one.:-C
Where is the best and most reliable place in Durham, Cleveland, or Northumberland to see a Green Woodpecker?
Thank you,
Andrew K

Hi Andrew,
In the Durham area, Waldridge Fell just south of Chester-le-Street is a very reliable site, especially the South-West corner known as Daisy Hill Nature Reserve. Plenty of car parks to choose from then basically walk down the fell (about twenty minutes) towards the wooded areas, find the burn, follow it to a small bridge, then try to hide next to a tree and wait (learn the distinctive laughing call). Best to go early or on a weekday as its a popular place for the dog walkers though fortunately not many penetrate this area. Your most likely to see one in flight or sat on a fence post/telegraph pole rather than in a tree.
Good luck.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Thank you very much Stevie and Neil,
greatly appreciated.
Maybe this Saturday I shall go for a look and hopefully I shall see one. So close to home aswell! Great stuff!!!
ps. Cracking shot of the Bullfinch from RM's this morning Stevie.

 

[Quacker]

Any hirundines arrived yet?

Hi all

Reason for the question is I am sure in recent years have seen them in first half of March and seems as though none reported this year.

On a separate query,can anyone point me to where I may find migrant arrival data? - I know I have read it somewhere - possibly on Bird Club Annual reports or a Lek from the past? - I refer to local info as opposed to national.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Carrion]

OOOOOOOH Yes :t:
The RSPB came to the birds, not (as some perceive) the other way round.
I suppose the hides are good for getting out of any inclement weather:-O

Look up http://www.teesmouthbc.com/main.aspx & click on the site guide. There's plenty to do. Recommend comparing your arrival time with the tide tables on site selection.
No doubt the local experts on this forum will provide you with the best recommendations on how to enjoy your day.

:t:Andy

yes the reserve has opening times (unfortunatly) im not sure how they extend in the change of it being light longer in the day. there has been alot of passing traffic and a full car park has meant theyve been turning people away at 3pm.

as for other places your spoilt for choice really, you could start of at the headland, hartlepool and make your way down the coast stopping of at seaton common/north gare then greatham creek and greenabella marsh onto rspb saltholme or a detour at the roundabout to cowpen bewley woodland park or travel past saltholme onto the haverton area

all of these sites are confined to a relativly small area and theres more than a days birding in there to visit them all properly

the teesmouth bird club website has a detailed list of all the sites with directions and maps ect

hope this helps

DS

Thankyou both very much for the help & information. Lets hope we get lucky.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from Weardale/Teesdale over the past couple of days.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Also spent a few hours watching and photographing the dippers in action.

 

[MalR]

Called into Herrington Country Park for an hour after work today. The part-albino moorhen was on the small pond. Very strange-looking bird, but obviously surviving okay.

Male mute swan was very pumped up and behaving aggressively to all and sundry.

Malcolm

 

[DEREK.C.]

A few pictures i have managed on my travels round Teesdale this past few weeks...

 

[DEREK.C.]

And a few from my local patch.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Hetton Lyons ponds today for an hour:

The only birds of note were a single GC Grebe on the boating lake which kept to the middle of the water and fly past of kingfisher.
Others included mute swan, coot, moorehen, little grebe, mallards, tufties and the odd BH gull. Very few numbers compared to the other day.

 

[StevieEvans]

DBC Castle Lake Nature Reserve

A few pictures i have managed on my travels round Teesdale this past few weeks...

Not many Stock Pigeon pics on 'ere ! Thats a beauty.:t:

Working at Castle Lake today - nice selection of Spring migrants including :-
Wheatear, Sand Martin, White Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover
also Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Goosander, GCGrebe etc

Called at Stoneybeck on way back & managed a long distance photo of a Pintail

Final pic is of one of the islands we created Summer 07
Steve

 

[ian hamilton]

Timber Beach 0520-0620;
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
2 Shelduck
7-8 Teal
Mallard
Moorhen
3-5 Curlew
60+ Redshank
Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow

Chiffchaff singing off queens road,southwick at 0650.

 

[spuggy]

Siskin

A Siskin was on the feeders at Low barns this lunchtime

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Not getting sentimental or anything but the Chester-le-street Park Dipper is now called Dave.

Chester-le-street park: Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 53c Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Chaffinch, Great tit.
Not a cheep of any Chiffchaff to be heard today.

 

[deansmith]

few pictures from crimdon dene

DS

 

[StevieEvans]

Houghton Patch 09

it was looking very much like a bird free day, then went to pick little 'un up & 11 noisy Waxwings were sitting in tree tops at side of car park as i pulled up . . .
Seems strange seeing then in such nice weather.