Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[StevieEvans]

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

Hi sadinall

The damage done to the whole records submission process by the previous farcical situation regarding the Annual Reports backlog, cannot be underestimated.

The Grasshopper Warbler record on 13th came from GBWS (Gateshead Birders Website) - Unfortunately, they dont specifically contribute their records.
it may be the Lek compiler "picked it up" as he is Gateshead based

Best to check with GNS on phone re putting a shout out.

SE

 

[rayl]

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..."

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Ray

 

[IanF]

On Saltholme Ponds today.

Smew still showing well as was a single SEO. Two Peregrines were repeatedly putting up the waders and a Sparrowhawk still pestering the Starlings.

RN Grebe on both Rec Pond and at Cowpen Bewley WP.

500-600 Golden Plover and similar numbers of Lapwing

Quite a few Goldeneye and Pintail as well as normal range.

 

[StevieEvans]

10 more nest boxes up this morning, only bird of note was a Woodcock

400+ Curlew Houghton Gate

Another singing Bullfinch on my first visit with nephew to the excellent Thornley Woodlands hide.

Excellent views of Kites at Far Pasture, tricked by a drawing of an Otter in the condensation on hide windows.... ;-)

Had a drive out to get the little fella asleep, parked up nr Hetton & got Little Owl 1+1H, Barn Owl hunting hedgelines & a Woodcock over at dusk.

SE

 

[ukjesters]

10 more nest boxes up this morning, only bird of note was a Woodcock

400+ Curlew Houghton Gate

Another singing Bullfinch on my first visit with nephew to the excellent Thornley Woodlands hide.

Excellent views of Kites at Far Pasture, tricked by a drawing of an Otter in the condensation on hide windows.... ;-)

Had a drive out to get the little fella asleep, parked up nr Hetton & got Little Owl 1+1H, Barn Owl hunting hedgelines & a Woodcock over at dusk.

SE

Good to finally put a face to a name Stevie, i was wondering about that PM mate seeing how i'm off work this weekend, it would be very much appreciated and those country roads are just beckoning me (i just need to be told which ones to travel on ....LOL)
Cheers
Rick

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Good to finally put a face to a name Stevie, i was wondering about that PM mate seeing how i'm off work this weekend, it would be very much appreciated and those country roads are just beckoning me (i just need to be told which ones to travel on ....LOL)
Cheers
Rick

Hopefully not the same one as me rick as i snapped my exhaust in half! well i was off road, i should no better! :-C
steve

 

[StevieEvans]

Coalfields area

A further dead Barn Owl but another hunting close by yesterday morning.
SE

Just returned from Barnard Castle with the little lad and just about home, large female peregrine over road in front of car at the old Lumley brickworks site nr Fencehouses.

Nice chris, hope it doesnt like BO's......

 

[chrisren]

Just returned from Barnard Castle with the little lad and just about home, large female peregrine over road in front of car at the old Lumley brickworks site nr Fencehouses.

 

[john gardiner]

40 Siskin & 4 Tree Sparrow at Holmside Lane and a pair of Buzzards being mobbed in Lanchester area today.

 

[DenBee]

What have I missed

Hi North East Bashers
Most upset that I was unable to join you all today as I was hoping to put faces to names off the Forum, however was able to put a couple of hours in at Hurworth before dashing off to that dreaded Place Called "WORK".
Hope your day was a success and hope to catch you all at the next gathering of the Clan.
My couple of hours at Hurworth Burn were reasonbly rewarding with the following sightings.
Wigeon x c300
Pintail x 1 (This was a difficult one that I nearly missed as it was well and truly hidden in the midst of the Wigeon till it decided to venture out into the middle of pond)
Pochard x 20
Goldeneye x 6
G C Grebe x 4
Fieldfare x c20 (Biggest flock for me to date)
Starling x 10
Greylag Geese x c200
Sp Hawk x 1
Yellowhammer x 6
Shelduck x 6
Comorant x 5
Lapwing x 20
Redshank x 10
Oystercatcher x 6
Ruddy Duck x 2 (? breeding pair)
Coot x c500
Mallard x c50
Blkheaded gull x c200
Moorhen x 10
Mistle Thrush x 1
Greenfinch x 4
Robin x 1
C Crow x 8
Chaffinch x 1
Collared Dove x 1
Grt Tit x 2
Magpie x 2
Tufted Duck x 10
A grand total of thirty not bad for me for a couple of hours
I await your report of the day down on Teeside

 

[IanF]

It was a pretty good day and we saw much the same birds - though you beat us with the Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare. Both should have been around though we dipped on them today.

I think it was 62 species or thereabouts that we managed.

There's a report here

 

[StevieEvans]

Death & Spring

A roadkill Long-eared Owl picked up today.

spring migrants in the form of 18 passage Oystercatchers & 5 Redshank at R.Meadows & GCGrebe returned to Joes, with 3 overwintering Jack Snipe nearby.

male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker active at another location (for first time this year)

SE

2,200 Wood Pigeon in single flock nr Herrington Country Park, making a nice job of autumn sown crops :eat:
10 Pochard on lake there.

 

[Skelly]

Pair of Kestrels getting very vocal at Rainton Meadows yesterday.

Both were sitting on top of one of the Kestrel boxes, nice to see them being used for a change.

B

 

[One Man and His Dog]

green winged teal

green winged teal back at shibdon pond today and lesser spotted woodpecker at clara vale.

 

[StevieEvans]

green winged teal back at shibdon pond today and lesser spotted woodpecker at clara vale.

H'lo Steve
good to hear of another LSW; thats 6 well spaced locations reporting birds so far this year.

Maybe some Little Auks passing in next few days......?
SE

 

[level seven]

H'lo Steve
good to hear of another LSW; thats 6 well spaced locations reporting birds so far this year.

I'm guessing the precise locations are being kept quiet?

 

[StevieEvans]

I'm guessing the precise locations are being kept quiet?

you dont read very carefully, do you.....?
the location is clearly stated in the previous post..... as it is on Gateshead Cuddly Animals Website

try any good quality semi natural decidious woodland between Tees & Tyne... they've come on leaps & bounds in recent years as have the other wpkrs & nuthatch
SE.

 

[level seven]

you dont read very carefully, do you.....?
the location is clearly stated in the previous post.

Never having been to Clara Vale, I don't know how large an area it covers. I just wondered if a particular part of it was a better bet than others.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Skelly]

Pair of Goosanders on the river at CLS this afternoon.

Also good numbers of Common and Black Headed Gulls on the grassy banks. Worth a proper look at the gulls on the riverside, without a dog that tries to catch them.

B

 

[One Man and His Dog]

clara vale

Never having been to Clara Vale, I don't know how large an area it covers. I just wondered if a particular part of it was a better bet than others.

Thanks for the reply.

hi level seven
clara vale reserve at the new hide for lesser spotted ! when heading into clara take first left along dirt track, park at pravilion and follow hedge line on right, theres a gap in hedge which leads to hide. Its not very big so just look at peanut feeders!, You need a key for hide which costs £3 from thornley woodland centre, the key gives you access to shibdon, far pasture, thornley wood and clara!
thanx