Durham Birding (5 Viewers)

[Auntystatic]

I am a very regular visitor to foxglove, many of my photographs are on display there, I have never seen them use tapes during ringing, last week they started a ringing course that lasts for almost 3 weeks, as I have been ill in bed all week, I've not had a chance to get there, maybe it is just being used for the course.

I will check with Tony the reserve manager about its use and report back on it.

 

[deansmith]

moved to hartlepool marina about a week ago so only had one look around so far apart from looking off the balcony, linnet, redshank, turnstone, oystercatcher, common tern with a few juvs. andof coarse plenty of gulls and cormorants which seem to like to perch under my balcony. apart from the sea not the best birding place but suprising how many dif species seen.

DS

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Saltholme RSPB: from the car park a Marsh Harrier gave fantastic views briefly at about 1:00, 4c Ruff, Dunlin, Common Tern, 1 Pink-Footed Goose, 2c Greenshank, 1 Snipe, Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing, Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, 1 Little Egret, Greylag Geese , Cormorant, and Little Grebe.

Greatham Creek: 2 Curlew Sandpipers showing quite well at times, Dunlin, 6 Ruff, 14c Black-tailed Godwit, 1 pos Whimbrel, Curlew, Ringed Plover, pos Sparrowhawk briefly however a report of a Merlin on TBC website has thrown me slightly on ID, Black-headed Gull, Redshank, Shelduck, and Curlew.

Castle Lake DBC: Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great-Crested Grebe, Teal, 1 Dunlin, many Snipe, 5c Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, Swift, and Black- headed Gull.

None of my fantastic photo's today I am affraid.

 

[IanF]

Greatham Creek - Tidal Pool - 10.00am - no waders at all until Dunlin x7 flew in from Seal Sands followed by Redshank 12.

Greenabella Marsh pools along side Creek - Curlew Sandpiper x1, Dunlin 20+, Green Sandpiper x1, Common Sandpiper x2, Greenshank x1. Black-tailed Godwit x11 & Whimbrel x2 on pools behind sea wall. Kestrel x3 juv hunting over marsh. Whinchat family & Stonechat family still present by sub-station, also Reed Bunting, Wren, Dunnock , Whitethroat & Linnet in same small area.

Dormans Pool Merlin by top car park low over the reeds chased away northwards by Crow.

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Nice setting for the Curlew Sand pics, just a shame about the distance otherwise they would have been superb.

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Pelagics

The following are details of two pelagics out of South Shields which I hope some of you will be able to attend

Two sailings booked for Sun 6th Sept and Sun 20th Sept leaving from Mill Dam, South Shields. Sailing will be 8am-4pm up to 60 miles offshore.

Trips weather dependent and will be cancelled if poor weather, but may be able to be rearranged.

Price is £27.50 per person. Please send full amount to me to reserve place. First 11 payments received will get places (can't think of a better way to do it than that?). If only paying for one trip, please let me know which trip you want to go on. Could arrange more trips if high demand.

Easiest way to pay is to send money to my paypal account. Send to email address [email protected] Otherwise send cheque to 23 Rede Avenue, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 1QT.

Trips open to all including non-DBC members.

To book or if any questions get in touch.

 

[IanF]

Seaton Snook for the high tide this morning.

Following the track through the sand extraction works and passing between the dunes a Sparrowhawk carrying prey flew across the track a few metres in front of me heading from the north side migrant bushes to the ones on the south side. Quite a racket from the 30 or so Swallow mobbing and screaming at it!

The beach itself was dotted with Ringed Plover 100+ with a few Dunlin amongst them. Most of the Dunlin were on the end of the Snook with easily 200+. Not much else amongst them apart from Knot x4 and Turnstone x2. Not so many terns around today with Common Tern c.40, Sandwich Tern c. 20, Arctic Tern x4 and Little Tern x3 one a juvenile.

Oystercatcher x33 flew in off the sea as did Grey Plover x23 one of which was colour ringed - from the ring combination probably ringed at Teesmouth in 2001 though I've sent off the report for confirmation.

Whinchats still on Greenabella Marsh. No waders of note on Tidal Pools at 11.30am. Swallows there feeding nestlings once again - a fourth brood I think.


Edit: Colour ringed Grey Plover details rec. 16/09/2009 - This individual (BTO ring DK77913) was ringed (by Durham University) as 1st summer bird (hatched in summer 1993) on the 13th May 1994 at the Peninsula, Seal Sands. It has been recorded almost annually ever since on the Tees Estuary, the last two occasions being September 2008. It has not (yet!) been recorded away from the Tees Estuary.

 

[barnstormer]

Has our hurworth burn osprey been spotted lately ? i was there yesterday but didn't see him, but i did see a buzzard which was a bonus.

 

[StevieEvans]

fantastic plastic

A New bird for Houghton / Hetton study area today -

Egyptian Goose in with large goose flock at R.Meadows. (GS)

The previous two additions here being Mandarin & Ruddy Shelduck . . .

:'D

 

[Cyclops]

Was at Redcar on Thursday and tho I didn't have a great deal of time for birds as I was walking matthew over the slippy rocks I had some bins with me. I could hear a constant squeaking sound and had to look see. There were Oystercatchers everywhere! (See Gallery)
Also lots of unknown big brown gulls and one or two Cormorant.

 

[ian hamilton]

iv sent a email to those people responsible for the care and maintainace of barmston pond asking them why its not being maintained to standerd and why the water levels are not being controlled especially in the autumn when we used to have lower water levels,it'll be interesting to here there response thats if they do respond of cause.

 

[spuggy]

Has our hurworth burn osprey been spotted lately ? i was there yesterday but didn't see him

3 of us watched it catch a fish on Thursday evening at 7-15 ish

 

[malskelton]

Just wondering if any of you amazing photographers have taken photos of the BNG at Saltholme RSPB ?

My dad has just been across to see it, and I said I would ask if there are any photos of it around

Thanks

mal Skelton

 

[IanF]

Just wondering if any of you amazing photographers have taken photos of the BNG at Saltholme RSPB ?

My dad has just been across to see it, and I said I would ask if there are any photos of it around

Thanks

mal Skelton

I called in this morning but it was much too distant for photos - about as far away as it could be from the visitor centre which is also the best place to view it from. Sounds like it had been a little closer in the morning but not by much. It's a juvenile.

Quite a few Yellow Wagtail in front of the viewing window and 100+ Sand Martin still.

 

[StevieEvans]

Bish Midd / Hardwick areas

Spent a while walking around the DBC's Castle Lake Nature Reserve at Bishop Middleham, and some surrounding areas.

Selected counts include:-
37Swift, 120+Sand Martin, 200+Swallow

60Curlew, 1Redshank, 5Green Sandpiper, 2Ringed Plover, 3Common Sandpiper, 30+Snipe, 17Ruff, 11-12Greenshank, 850+Lapwing.

7Common Buzzard in the air together, female Marsh Harrier, adult Peregrine, 5Sparrowhawk, 7Kestrel, 2Little Owl.

5Pochard, 34Shoveller, 72Teal, 600+Greylag geese.

2Grey Wagtail, 15Pied Wagtail, 25+Yellow Wagtail, 2Kingfisher.

200+Goldfinch, 165Linnet, 22Tree Sparrow.

1Green Woodpecker, 2GSW, 2Treecreeper, 4Willow Tit, 7Stock Dove.

1Willow Warbler, 5Whiethroat, 4Blackcap etc.


Excellent variety as expected in this bird rich area.
The highlight being a Flock of 34+ Corn Bunting, including many juveniles.

NB: Keys for the C.Lake hide are available to all on request.

54 species noted from the hide during 90mins today ;-)

Steve

 

[IanF]

North Gare Pier - 8.30 am - Whimbrel x2, Golden Plover x2, Curlew c.20, Common Sandpiper x1, Turnstone x8, Oystercatcher c.20, Redshank, Cormorant x8, Shag x3. Wheatear x3 amongst the rocks.

Dormans Pool - 9.45-11.00 am - Marsh Harrier x2 same pair seen yesterday over Cowpen Marsh. Afterwards one headed south over tip and the over to Saltholme. Little Egret x5.

RSPB Saltholme - Ruff x2 & Greenshank x2 Paddys Pool. Greenshank on main pool plus BN Grebe still. 1.00pm Marsh Harrier flying east over Wildlife Watchpoint and back to Dormans Pool.

Dormans Pool again this evening - both Marsh Harriers around again plus a juvenile Peregrine that twice flew directly over the car in the top car park.

 

[IanF]

Black-necked Grebe still present on main pool at RSPB Saltholme with Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe plus Greenshank and lots of Sand Martin. Yellow Wagtail and Pied Wagtail in front of glass windows of centre.

Paddys Pool Hide - Ruff x2, Greenshank x2, Cormorant, Tufted Duck with chicks, Little Grebe and a few lingering Common Tern.

Seaton Snook over high tide still holding Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Knot, Common Tern, Sandwch Tern, Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oystercatcher.

Family of nine Grey Partridge along Zinc Works Road.

 

[ColinSev]

Kinninvie area

Had a nice morning watching 4 buzzards hunt. Also Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest and Hare.

 

[Boy Wonder]

Juvenile Citrine Wagtail in front of Visitor Centre at RSPB Saltholme this afternoon

 

[jason-t-71]

The Citrine Wagtail was showing very well between 3.30 and 4.00, right next to the Sand Martin colony. Viewing from the cafe balcony, I didnt even need the bins at times!