Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[smrtyr1]

Is this a Snipe's Ear

Hi was at RSPB Saltholme yesterday afternoon in P S Hide at about 3pm when a fox ran in front of the hide, I was photographing a snipe at the time and st stood bolt upright and froze I took a picture and on closer viewing saw this is this the snipes ear?
I don.t think I've ever seen a birds ear.

 

[IanF]

Hi was at RSPB Saltholme yesterday afternoon in P S Hide at about 3pm when a fox ran in front of the hide, I was photographing a snipe at the time and st stood bolt upright and froze I took a picture and on closer viewing saw this is this the snipes ear?
I don.t think I've ever seen a birds ear.

Could well be. Birds ears are often located below and slightly behind the eye. Couldn't say for certain though.

 

[IanF]

Tilery Wood/A689 - am - Siskin c.100, Crossbill x3, Lesser Redpoll x3, Marsh Tit x3, Long-tailed Tit x5, Jay x2, Great Spotted Woodpecker x2, Marsh Tit x3, Bullfinch x6. Lots of Chaffinches about today as well with 20+ in one group.

For information a birders car had two tyres slashed when parked in the car park on Friday.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Greenabella

Can anyone identify this bird please, I saw it today at Greenabella. I have an idea what I hope it is but thought I would ask first to be sure.

Cheers

 

[Rob Stonehouse]

Spotted Redshank. Nice shot Ron.

 

[Ray.Scott]

few shots from Hardwick Park today:
Plenty of the regular birds about, including, nuthatch, robin, wren, pair GC grebe, gadwall, pochard, teal, wigeon etc, also pair of goldcrest which were mainly in the canopy, feeding on flies.
Also grey squirrels and a weasel.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Spotted Redshank. Nice shot Ron.

Thanks Rob that's what I thought it was but thought I would just check.

 

[2slo]

Good result Ron, you were right.

 

[The Liverbirder]

Your Support, Please

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2943099#post2943099

 

[Michael A]

Upper Teesdale

Visit to Weardale and Upper Teesdale today Black Grouse 50+ Fieldfare several hundred. Curlew, Lapwing and Oyster Catcher returning in numbers to nesting sites. A few record shots:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trampsandhawkers/
http://www.trampsandhawkers.co.uk/gallery/

 

[Ray.Scott]

Not a lot about at shields this morning:
Only real thing of note was a single pink footed goose wandering about the Leas, nice to see the BH gulls changing to breeding colours.
Still a few cormorants on Souter stack, but thats all, apart from a few gulls and fulmar.

 

[2slo]

Just north of Consett

Pulled in just off the A68 this morning to watch a Buzzard hunting just overhead. I didn't see it catch anything but I did see a distant group of Fieldfare, approx 35 birds, feeding on the farmland. One quick shot below (700mm and 100% crop)

 

[degsy_safc]

Unusually for me i was out of the house at 5.30am and heading up to the dales in the hope of seeing Black Grouse displaying, i've never seen this before. Anyway got to Langdon Beck just as the first signs of pink clouds were appearing from the east. To my dismay there were no Black Grouse visible on the usual fields so parked up and waited for about 20 mins before the first birds dropped in - they stayed in the furthest field so no good for pictures, but was able to watch them displaying / fighting through the bins. Had a ride around seeing a young Roe Deer crossing the main road in front of me, loads of Lapwing and Curlew plus a very good sized flock of Fieldfare. The bonus was dozens of singing Song Thrushes on virtually every high point - great to see and hear:t:

Headed back into Weardale and had a ride across a moor where i've seen Black Grouse before - bingo half a dozen male birds still at a distance but just in photograph range, grabbed a couple of pics and as i drove approx. a mile further on saw another male bird displaying on his own and from what i could see no other birds anywhere near, great few hours and nice to see the Black Grouse displaying for the first time :t:

Couple of pics..

 

[Ray.Scott]

Few from Saltholme pools hide today:
GW Teal very distant, as were the 3 whooper swans, also a couple of snipe seen.

 

[degsy_safc]

Very nice day at Saltholme and the surrounding area.. Met up with Hilary and started off at Saltholme Pools hide where i saw my first Green Winged Teal, thanks Ian F :t:. Pintail, 7 Whooper Swans and a single Little Egret were the other things of note.

We had a look at Paddy's and the Wildlife Watchpoint with nothing of interest, then an hour at Phil Stead produced M&F Siskin along with F Redpoll and a single Little Egret.

Finished the day with a walk along Greatham Creek to the sea wall - Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwit, and the Avocet were the highlights..

All in all a great day:t:

Couple of pics..

 

[Michael A]

Garden Birds

Today home garden Siskins, Redpolls, Brambling Bl,Grt and Coal Tits.
http://www.trampsandhawkers.co.uk/gallery/

 

[dannyboy]

Garden Birds

Love the second picture Michael:t:

 

[ColinSev]

Teesdale Area

Yesterday I was in the Black Grouse area in Teesdale before dawn but the lekking was already underway in the dark. The lekking was all over and done before it got light - about 6:20 it finished. Not good for photography but a great experience.
Curlew, Snipe, Skylark, Oystercatcher, and Golden Plover were all singing and displaying well on a nice sunny morning - still only 2 degrees though.

Check out my blog for more detail of trip

http://colsdigiscope.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[Ray.Scott]

Far Pastures yesterday.
At least 3 buzzards, kites, common snipe, 2 kingfisher, sparrow hawk, LT tits and the usual teal, coots etc.

Leucistic Pheasant at Houghton Gate area, seen while on our way to Far Pastures. A first for me.

 

[Ray.Scott]

also managed a couple of shots of this unfortunate bat, Yesterday.
I say unfortunate, as a female Sparrow Hawk claimed it and drowned it befor flying off with It.

Maybe thats why we don't often see bats during the day .