Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[echo24]

Anyone lost a Canon viewfinder cover/surround?

Found at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park by the twin benches on the lake where you look for the Ring-nekced Duck. Looks like it is maybe from a Canon DSLR possibly 350-400-450-500.

Hi Ian, Steve (Seggs) and I were in that very spot on Saturday afternoon photographing the RND. We both have Canon cameras, my viewfinder cover/surround is still in place, so I'm guessing the one you found could be Steves...

Cheers, Dougie.

 

[IanF]

Hi Ian, Steve (Seggs) and I were in that very spot on Saturday afternoon photographing the RND. We both have Canon cameras, my viewfinder cover/surround is still in place, so I'm guessing the one you found could be Steves...

Cheers, Dougie.

Cheers Dougie, I've sent him a PM. There's been quite a few people still visiting so it may be a long shot finding who may have lost it.

 

[IanF]

Hi Ian, Steve (Seggs) and I were in that very spot on Saturday afternoon photographing the RND. We both have Canon cameras, my viewfinder cover/surround is still in place, so I'm guessing the one you found could be Steves...

Cheers, Dougie.

Looks like you were right - owner found and it's on it's way back :t:

RN Duck and Goldeneye m&f back at Cowpen Bewley this morning.

 

[echo24]

Looks like you were right - owner found and it's on it's way back :t:

Good news, Ian:t:

Cheers, Dougie.

 

[Binocularface]

Hi,

Does anyone know of any recent pics of the Teesmouth Hooded Merganser published on the web? I am quite keen to understand why this bird is being called as a 1st winter drake.

Regards
Tristan

 

[Andy K]

Brasside Ponds Today

Called in at about 1.00.

Usual sights such as Teal,Tufted,Pochard,Mallard,Coot,Moorhen,Canada Geese and as many as 40 Swans, but was pleased to see 5 Goldeneye and 2 Goosanders.

I regularly visit here and generally come away disappointed ? The deep water should hold more, I know in the spring Little Grebes and GC Grebes will return but I always think the site should be more productive ?

Thoughts/opinions anyone. Maybe I am missing something !

 

[StevieEvans]

Called in at about 1.00.

Usual sights such as Teal,Tufted,Pochard,Mallard,Coot,Moorhen,Canada Geese and as many as 40 Swans, but was pleased to see 5 Goldeneye and 2 Goosanders.

I regularly visit here and generally come away disappointed ? The deep water should hold more, I know in the spring Little Grebes and GC Grebes will return but I always think the site should be more productive ?

Thoughts/opinions anyone. Maybe I am missing something !

Gone downhill over last 10 year - now refered to as Backside Pond by some.
Some factors include increased casual disturbance, loss of @ 80% of emergent waterside vegetation, continued decline in water quality.

 

[Andy K]

Thanks Stevie,

So who is responsible now in terms of omnership for the upkeep of the ponds ?

 

[Andy K]

Whoops ! Obviously meant "ownership" !.

 

[StevieEvans]

Thanks Stevie,

So who is responsible now in terms of omnership for the upkeep of the ponds ?

main pond in private ownership
small pond Home Office
Both part of a larger SSSi

 

[Mark Lew1s]

You're not the only ones lamenting the demise of Brasside....although I don't get out there as often as I used to.... Anyone have any info on the lesser spotted woodpecker repoted calling near Prebends bridge in Durham the other day?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[duncan fraser]

You're not the only ones lamenting the demise of Brasside....although I don't get out there as often as I used to.... Anyone have any info on the lesser spotted woodpecker repoted calling near Prebends bridge in Durham the other day?

Cheers,

Mark

It was heard calling on the outer bank by a reliable observer, but I'm not aware that there have been any sightings or further information on the bird since then.

It's suitable habitat, so it might stick around.

 

[IanF]

Pretty dull and miserable again today.

In the morning I had a ride through to Hartlepool. It was nice to see a Great Northern Diver back in the marina at Jacksons Landing. I've not seen one the last few visits. It seemed to be catching plenty of crabs.

Newburn Bridge - much the same as usual with Med Gull, Black Redstart, Wren, Rock Pipit x3 and Pied Wagtail.

Seaton Common - was pretty quiet though there were Barnacle Goose x2 half way along the south side of North Gare access road feeding in amongst some Wigeon and Curlew.

 

[ajaybee]

It may have been a dull and miserable weekend with snow on the hills but down in the Browney Valley at Langley Park the birds certainly think it's spring. Even a local dog walker commented on how they were singing.

Of particular prominance were the song thrushes that seemed to be all over the patch. A couple of Coal Tits were singing nicely by the river as were 3 dunnock who, for a change, were not hidding away in the hedge bottom. The Dunnock that's been visiting my terrace back yard over the winter even joined in perched on the wall 2m from the kitchen winter.

Down at Wallnook brambling x2 in amongst the chaffinches.

 

[AndyMc]

Nice night tonight so thought I'd go prospecting for owls. Plans scuppered when I got home from work:-C, taxi for kids required.
Driving home from Bishopton, lovely sight out of the passenger side window - A Barn Owl hunting by the roadside. Of course I slowed down & we looked at each other wondering who's watching who here. After 100m or so travelling along together it changed down a gear & accelerated past & across my bonnet. Lovely 8-P

 

[Ray.Scott]

Hartlepool - Teesside

Jacksons Landing:
GN Diver, 3 mergansers, cormorants and the usual gulls.

North Gare:
Teal, wigeon, distant golden plover and flock of around 300 to 400 curlew.

Saltholme:
Bottom Tank - 2 shellduck, a few teal and the usual mallards, coots etc.

Very little at the wildlife watchpoint other than dunnock, reed bunting, chaffinch, greenfinch and robin around the feeders. Teal and wigeon on the edge of the pond and kestrel overhead.

Walk round Cowpen Bewley before returning:
RN Duck, male goldeneye, fem goosander amongst the regulars on the pond and single sparrow hawk overhead.
Plenty in the feeding station and the car park feeders including, yellow hammer, tree sparrow, dunnock, chaffinch, greenfinch, blue,great,coal & LT tits, robin, blackbird, magpie etc + stoat near the feeding station.

Male Kestrel on a roadside tree just as we left Cowpen Bewley.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Few from Cowpen Bewley.

 

[IanF]

Just as I thought I'd missed out on Waxwing this winter two turn up in Norton!

 

[birding maniac]

:-CLucky with the Waxies. Missed two flocks.:-C

 

[dannyboy]

I'm thinking of going over to Derwent Resevoir at the weekend, is there any part in particular to go to or is it even worth going to. any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Paul