Durham Birding (3 Viewers)

[degsy_safc]

Great to catch up with a lot of the locals at the Whitburn Ringing Hut and have a good old chin wag....

Also must say a big thanks to the ringers (Adrian, John & Graham) who allowed my Granddaughter (Lillie) to release a couple of the birds once ringed and recorded - it made a little 6 year old very happy, she's talked about it most of the afternoon :t:

Another mega crop of one of the Richard's Pipits from Whitburn - birds were staying very distant and the heat haze from the cut grass field was awful..

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Another mega crop of one of the Richard's Pipits from Whitburn - birds were staying very distant and the heat haze from the cut grass field was awful..

Superb pic of the Richard's this...

 

[Adam W]

Well done Derek, you did well to get a shot that good given the distance and conditions.

 

[degsy_safc]

Thanks Andrew & Adam - shame when it did come close for 3 seconds, someone walked straight past it and flushed it :eek!:

 

[2slo]

A couple of visits to the Durham moors over the last few days where I've seen Golden Plover, Red Grouse in abundance and a female Wheatear (v. heavy crop):

 

[IanF]

Quite a lot of migrants around this week. Best of the bunch local to me is the Western Bonelli's Warbler in the Borough Hall Gardens area at Hartlepool Headland - a first for County Durham.

Other birds there include Brambling x3, Chiffchaff, 3-4, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodepcker juv. x2, Redwing 12+, Woodcock, Goldecrest, Blackcap 5-6, Meally Redpoll x3, Brambling x3. Lots of Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens.

A male Crossbill flew in on Tuesday - very loud calls - possibly a Parrot Crossbill but didn't stay still long enough to get a good look at it.

 

[Andy Atkinson]

Quite a lot of migrants around this week. Best of the bunch local to me is the Western Bonelli's Warbler in the Borough Hall Gardens area at Hartlepool Headland - a first for County Durham.

Other birds there include Brambling x3, Chiffchaff, 3-4, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodepcker juv. x2, Redwing 12+, Woodcock, Goldecrest, Blackcap 5-6, Meally Redpoll x3, Brambling x3. Lots of Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens.

A male Crossbill flew in on Tuesday - very loud calls - possibly a Parrot Crossbill but didn't stay still long enough to get a good look at it.

Cracking bird Ian. Amazed you got this shot of it as it was never still. My patch is Druridge Bay but as I work in Sunderland I ventured out to the Headland to see it. The trees were so full of moving birds when I was there so it was hard to pin down. Could be years until another one lands in the North East.

 

[IanF]

Pretty much the same again on the Headland today though this afternoon a Pallid Swift was a fine addition.

Bonelli's Warbler video - http://t.co/ewMwZiegrL

Great Spotted Woodpecker video - http://youtu.be/vy2NMXiC2to

 

[degsy_safc]

Canny morning at Hartlepool Headland and nice to catch up with a few friendly faces - Ian Forrest, Dave & Mark Fullerton, Dave Johnson, Hilary Chambers, plus a good few others ..

Nice to catch up with the Bonelli's Warbler and also get a canny sighting of the Pallid Swift..

Couple of shots of the warbler which was very mobile and then seemed to disappear when the winds got up..

 

[Mark Harper]

The Hoopoe at Bishop Auckland was showing very well this morning. A long overdue British tick for me and particularly welcome as there is currently one close to where I used to live in Nottingham. A couple of digiscoped shots attached.

 

[ColinSev]

Hoopoe - Tindale Crescent, West Auckland

A first for me in this country, although 3 weeks ago I was watching them at close quarters in Gran Canaria. Great to see.

 

[Adam W]

Can anyone tell where exactly the Hoopoe is? Every report seems to mention something different are the Premier Inn, The March Hare pub and the football ground all near each other?

 

[IanF]

Can anyone tell where exactly the Hoopoe is? Every report seems to mention something different are the Premier Inn, The March Hare pub and the football ground all near each other?

It's been on the waste ground behind the Premier Inn on the A689 at Tindale Crescent. It disappeared at around 12.45 though I think it was relocated around 3.00pm tho. I'm not sure where exactly.

 

[Adam W]

Thanks Ian, fingers crossed its there tomorrow.

 

[Mark Harper]

Can anyone tell where exactly the Hoopoe is? Every report seems to mention something different are the Premier Inn, The March Hare pub and the football ground all near each other?

If you cross the fence at the Premier Inn and walk to the far end of the waste ground the bird flew in this morning from over the hedge at the end. It then initially fed in the far left corner of the waste ground (looking from the Premier Inn) this was also apparently the area it favoured yesterday. So a good option would be to position yourself on one of the mounds which offer good visibility and wait for it to hopefully reveal itself.

 

[Adam W]

Thanks Mark.

 

[camper9110]

Found Snow Bunting on path to rear of second hide at Greatham Creek Tuesday at around 14:00, have photograph which I am trying to sort out for publication.

Mark.

 

[camper9110]

Photograph here as promised.

Mark.

 

[AndyEmery]

What's the deal with Brasside ponds? I found somewhere saying you needed permission to visit. Is this true? If so, who do you need to ask for permission? Do you drive through the prison car park to reach the lane on which you park?

Cheers, Andy

 

[Mark Newsome]

What's the deal with Brasside ponds? I found somewhere saying you needed permission to visit. Is this true? If so, who do you need to ask for permission? Do you drive through the prison car park to reach the lane on which you park?

Cheers, Andy

Brasside was a DWT reserve (don't think it currently is though) and visiting details are shown on:www.durhamwt.co.uk/pdfs/.../BRASSIDE%20CARD.pdf

As far as I know, you still just park up at the end of the lane and follow the footpaths around the pond. Although the helpcard says about prior permission, I don't know of anyone who has been challenged.

Mark