rokermartin
Well-known member
Went to Hurworth Burn this afternoon and saw a Hobby chasing hirundines also there 4 Green Sands and Greenshank.
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Durham Birding (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Skelly
- Start date
Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
Hi Martin,
Any reason why they weren't happy about news being put out? And any reason to single out a DBC member as being at fault?
I'm not having a dig at you Martin, just wanting to know the facts. There have been several cases in the last 2-3 weeks of birders/photographers (and the public) deliberately disturbing Schedule 1 species which are potentially/definitely breeding in the county. All these instances have been totally out of order (eg constant use of tapes) and the people concerned are actually committing a criminal offence. These recent events will definitely determine what bird news is held on the DBC website in the future or how news is passed on between county birders (ie not at all).
The welfare of the birds always has to come first, but with the case of the Hurworth Burn Osprey, I don't know what potential damage has been caused by people knowing.
Cheers,
Mark
Ray.Scott
Well-known member
Tried a few hours at Hetton Bogs This afternoon:
Very quiet most of the time with only a few mallard, 1 coot, 1 moorehen and a pair of Broad Bodied Chasers in the feeding station for the first 3 hours.
Just befor leaving a G.S. woodpecker flew over to the dead tree, 1 male reed bunting and 1 chaffinch made a brief visit and finaly, the bonus, as the kingfisher made an appearance for about 5 sconds.
As I say, very quiet, not even a blue or great tit and definately no water rails.
Very quiet most of the time with only a few mallard, 1 coot, 1 moorehen and a pair of Broad Bodied Chasers in the feeding station for the first 3 hours.
Just befor leaving a G.S. woodpecker flew over to the dead tree, 1 male reed bunting and 1 chaffinch made a brief visit and finaly, the bonus, as the kingfisher made an appearance for about 5 sconds.
As I say, very quiet, not even a blue or great tit and definately no water rails.
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rokermartin
Well-known member
Hi Mark i was chatting to couple of birders when i was at Hurworth Burn and i mentioned that there had been a Osprey seen recently they already knew about it and they asked how i got to know.I told them that JO put the sighting on the DBC sightings page i have to say they were'nt pleased at all with JO putting it on.I said there is no harm by doing so but they said they did'nt want loads of birders there.Also one of the birders mentioned about some Quails not far from Hurworth Burn and he told me not to tell anyone about them.Seems to me that there is still a few birders who like to keep birds quiet.
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AndyMc
Well-known member
Very disturbing news:eek!:. Also dissapointing that good news will not be reported on the DBC site. Yet again the minority spoil it for the majority ( I do hope that's the right way round).
Without going into the detail that would get you into trouble
, can you elaborate on some of these events please for those not on the grape vine. If these people are known then they should be reported :C.
Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
Very disturbing news:eek!:. Also dissapointing that good news will not be reported on the DBC site. Yet again the minority spoil it for the majority ( I do hope that's the right way round).
Without going into the detail that would get you into trouble
If these people are known then they should be reported :C.
Recent events include:
Peregrine killings - well publicised and obviously done by those with a grudge against the species. But hard to keep certain nest sites safe and quiet when the species is high profile.
Marsh Warblers on territory recently - several paths trampled through areas where they shouldn't be.
Corncrake - by far the worst. A bird recently on territory was continuously taped lured ("alledgedly") just so that it could be videoed. The bird has now left the area. The RSPB are aware and further action may be taken.
I don't mean that the DBC website will no longer put good bird news out, I just mean that everyone should be much more careful over what news is made public when it concerns rare potentially breeding species. The bird and the potential damage to the site need to be considered and sometimes, it may be necessary to keep quiet. It's obviously up to individual people whether they pass news on, but I wouldn't like to see the DBC website pointing people to birds and there being a resulting negative impact. I just hate to see birds driven off territory by idiots overusing tape play back etc.
Hurworth Burn Res - all the recent habitat management work has been done to make it better for birds and visiting birders. The site already attracts many non-birding walkers/cyclists. A bit of a strange attitude it seems.
AndyMc
Well-known member
Thanks Mark, the 2009 moron list gets longer doesn't it. The igorance & selfishness of folk never ceases to amaze me.
I suppose there also may be some people who think they are being responsible & thoughtful as they have only lured the creature once - trouble is that critter doesn't recognise individuals so thinks it's been harrassed constantly. People who do lure should be thinking how many others have been there before, & will follow after them.
Personally, I don't sgree with such luring tactics- I get more out of it seeing them 'au naturalle'. I even feel like it's cheating hanging around feeding stations (saddo), but I still do though on occasions.
As for the Hurworth Burn bunch, of the few I have met, they all have been very helpful in the past in pointing me in the direction of interesting wildlife. I wouldn't like to see them all put in the same bad pot.
I suppose there also may be some people who think they are being responsible & thoughtful as they have only lured the creature once - trouble is that critter doesn't recognise individuals so thinks it's been harrassed constantly. People who do lure should be thinking how many others have been there before, & will follow after them.
Personally, I don't sgree with such luring tactics- I get more out of it seeing them 'au naturalle'. I even feel like it's cheating hanging around feeding stations (saddo), but I still do though on occasions.
As for the Hurworth Burn bunch, of the few I have met, they all have been very helpful in the past in pointing me in the direction of interesting wildlife. I wouldn't like to see them all put in the same bad pot.
Alan Tilmouth
Well-known member
The problem here lies with people's behaviour toward birds rather than the information being published on a website in my view. It would be good to see all of the regions Bird Clubs take a stand and threaten to expel individuals who behave badly in relation to schedule 1 breeding species. It may be that this sanction may not bother some but I'm willing to bet that if the birding community at large were more vocal about unacceptable behaviour and lack of concern for the birds well being that it would change the habits of some birders. There wont be many birders who want to be excluded from their local bird club (or forum thread for that matter).
I hope they do prosecute these individuals. I heard reports that they played the tape so much the corncrake ended up in a tree!
AndyMc
Well-known member
Fell in lucky at Hurworth burn this afternoon with the ospreyB B . Unfortunately on this occasion, it didn't manage to catch anything for tea tonight. Great to watch, hope it manages to get supper.
The local lads, for good reason, are very protective of it and would love it to return in the future with a mate, as would the majority of us I think. That would be fanstastic for the area wouldn't it :t:.
Unfortunately, there are stories kicking about already of such folk as the aforementioned morons :C climbing fences etc. disturbing the bird from it's place of rest, for the sake of a photo. Reasoning for the news not to be made public? If this beauty is disturbed any further, it will not stay or return next year.
Morons: Please stay away, you are not welcome!!!
If you're responsible & unselfish, please make do with record shots......... like me.
_________________________
:t:Andy
B . Unfortunately on this occasion, it didn't manage to catch anything for tea tonight. Great to watch, hope it manages to get supper. The local lads, for good reason, are very protective of it and would love it to return in the future with a mate, as would the majority of us I think. That would be fanstastic for the area wouldn't it :t:.
Unfortunately, there are stories kicking about already of such folk as the aforementioned morons :C climbing fences etc. disturbing the bird from it's place of rest, for the sake of a photo. Reasoning for the news not to be made public? If this beauty is disturbed any further, it will not stay or return next year.
Morons: Please stay away, you are not welcome!!!
If you're responsible & unselfish, please make do with record shots......... like me.
_________________________
:t:Andy
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IanF
Moderator
Lots of Little Tern at Crimdon Denemouth this morning with several juveniles now fledged. Now 109 chicks ringed which is likely to be the final total as the remaining ones are too large/active to catch now. Also several juvenile Sandwich Tern feeding along the edge of the beach. Several Ringed Plover on the beach.
Linnet, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Dunnock in the dunes scrub with Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel and Yellowhammer in/over the bushes at the entrance to the Dene.
No sign of the Osprey at Crookfoot/Hurworth Burn when I was there first thing though I heard it had been around again.
Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve - around 30 Marbled White butterflies on the wing. Very active though hardly settling at all. Lots of other butterflies around though only one dragonfly a Four-spot Chaser.
A quick visit to some local Peregrines. Great to see four fledglings practicing their flying and hunting skills on the Jackdaws and pigeons. Kestrel pair with nestlings as well.
Linnet, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Dunnock in the dunes scrub with Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel and Yellowhammer in/over the bushes at the entrance to the Dene.
No sign of the Osprey at Crookfoot/Hurworth Burn when I was there first thing though I heard it had been around again.
Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve - around 30 Marbled White butterflies on the wing. Very active though hardly settling at all. Lots of other butterflies around though only one dragonfly a Four-spot Chaser.
A quick visit to some local Peregrines. Great to see four fledglings practicing their flying and hunting skills on the Jackdaws and pigeons. Kestrel pair with nestlings as well.
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wilsonz
New member
Good evening new member Wilsonz here. I would just like to say I use Hurworth Burn to exercise myself, my wife and my dog. We love the place and take a keen interest on every part of nature we come across down there. This evening at 2010 we were the only people there and no we did not see the Osprey. Can you tell me if the noisy warbler trying to copy everyone elses calls is a Sedge Warbler or a Chiff chaff or a Whitethroat please? I also think we saw a Hobby, but I cannot tell. Could anyone tell me if Crookfoot is easily accessible, ie, can you walk around it. Thanks. Talking about Ospreys, we have been to Goa (India) twice now and they are forever flying over the beach picking up driftwood, after the initial shock of actually seeing them, they are so common you take them for granted! Regards.
FoghornKinghorn
Durham Recorder
Hello and welcome to the thread. This bird sounds to me like a Sedge Warbler and I have seen and heard a few around Hurworth Burn.:t:
AndyMc
Well-known member
:hi:Hi & welcome.
It was there last night as well doing a chaffinch which totally threw me. Half a dozen of us taking guesses including Wren frrom George :eek!:. I can definately disregard Whitethroat as there was a distinctive eye stripe. I think too large for chiffchaff. Sedge Warbler would be my guess due to the mimickry. Unfortunately, it flit off before I could get close enough - not that I'd know anyway.:-O
No doubt some one on here will be able to nail it for you.
_________________________
:t:Andy
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Rolling Launch of Friends of Red Kites in the North East of England Friday,10th July
Friday, 10th July 2009
Go Northeast has generously given FoRK a bus for our Launch!
The "kite bus" will leave the Metro Centre bus station at 10.00a.m. and make its way to Lintzford Garden Centre with at least eight Friends of Red Kites Volunteers on board, arriving just before 10.45a.m. There will be an information table in the car park next to the bus. FoRK volunteers will present information to the public and will talk to them about red kites, what FoRK are doing and promoting membership.
The bus will leave Lintzford Garden Centre just after mid-day and make its way to the National Trust Gibside car park for 12.30p.m. and do the same thing there. It is scheduled to leave the Gibside car park at approx.13.45hrs to head back to the Metro Centre.
Come along to support us, and help us to launch the Friends of Red Kites. We shall soon be creating a new thread for our group.
June Atkinson
Press & Publicity Officer, FoRK in the North East of England.
Friday, 10th July 2009
Go Northeast has generously given FoRK a bus for our Launch!
The "kite bus" will leave the Metro Centre bus station at 10.00a.m. and make its way to Lintzford Garden Centre with at least eight Friends of Red Kites Volunteers on board, arriving just before 10.45a.m. There will be an information table in the car park next to the bus. FoRK volunteers will present information to the public and will talk to them about red kites, what FoRK are doing and promoting membership.
The bus will leave Lintzford Garden Centre just after mid-day and make its way to the National Trust Gibside car park for 12.30p.m. and do the same thing there. It is scheduled to leave the Gibside car park at approx.13.45hrs to head back to the Metro Centre.
Come along to support us, and help us to launch the Friends of Red Kites. We shall soon be creating a new thread for our group.
June Atkinson
Press & Publicity Officer, FoRK in the North East of England.
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rentoncharman
Well-known member
Osprey at Hurworth Burn
Sat for 4 hours, patiently waiting for the Osprey to return to the Burn yesterday and was rewarded with a 5 minute view at 1530hr. The bird circled briefly, being mobbed by other birds before taking a small fish and heading off to the west. Apparently it had caught fish at 0930hr and 1100hr. Great sighting of a magnificent bird. Also seen, many swifts hawking insects along the bushes on the walkway, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Swallow, House Martins, one Sand Martin, and Common Sandpiper and many young Pied Wagtails on the shores of the Burn. Lots of geese, Canada, Greylag and 5 swans.
Sat for 4 hours, patiently waiting for the Osprey to return to the Burn yesterday and was rewarded with a 5 minute view at 1530hr. The bird circled briefly, being mobbed by other birds before taking a small fish and heading off to the west. Apparently it had caught fish at 0930hr and 1100hr. Great sighting of a magnificent bird. Also seen, many swifts hawking insects along the bushes on the walkway, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Swallow, House Martins, one Sand Martin, and Common Sandpiper and many young Pied Wagtails on the shores of the Burn. Lots of geese, Canada, Greylag and 5 swans.
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AndyMc
Well-known member
Sexing of a Bird?
Until now, I was never able to determine which was the male and which the female.
Ornitoligsts speak about the feathers, the size, the beak and other such ways that require hours upon hours of observing them in their natural habitat and so on.
Of two birds, which is the female? :h?:
Click the pic attached, study it carefully. Have a look and see if you can determine which of the two is the female.
It can be done.
Even by people with limited experience in birdwatching.
_____________________
:-OAndy
Until now, I was never able to determine which was the male and which the female.
Ornitoligsts speak about the feathers, the size, the beak and other such ways that require hours upon hours of observing them in their natural habitat and so on.
Of two birds, which is the female? :h?:
Click the pic attached, study it carefully. Have a look and see if you can determine which of the two is the female.
It can be done.
Even by people with limited experience in birdwatching.
_____________________
:-OAndy
