barnstormer
Well-known member
I've got between 5 and 20+ coming into my feeders,some young ones too, but they are mainly on the sunflower hearts and boy do they make a mess when eating.I've got all kinds growing in the turf.
Ian,
With the two at WWT Washington that makes 9 this year for the county I believe.
Don't want to nit pick but neither Greatham Creek or wwt is in County Durham.
Greatham Creek is in Cleveland and the wwt is in Tyne and Wear, for info though, there are another 4 chicks at nosterfield LNR near Masham (north yorks), apparently ( I was told) its the furthest inland they have been recorded breeding. Saw them yesterday while I was there photographing the bee orchids.
Thanks for that. At least two Avocet clutches went astray I'm afraid - cause unknown though I have my suspicions. The two successful nests were in slightly different positions to the ones that lost eggs. Regardless though the successful breeding is an excellent result for the region.
For camera equipment I mostly use a Canon 40D and Canon 400mm f5,6 lens.
Don't want to nit pick but neither Greatham Creek or wwt is in County Durham.
Greatham Creek is in Cleveland and the wwt is in Tyne and Wear, for info though, there are another 4 chicks at nosterfield LNR near Masham (north yorks), apparently ( I was told) its the furthest inland they have been recorded breeding. Saw them yesterday while I was there photographing the bee orchids.
Lol! Neither Tyne and Wear nor Cleveland exist any more as 'counties' - they were done away with several years ago!
For birding purposes County Durham area covers everywhere bewteen the Tyne and the Tees.
Whilst i'd love to bask in the glory of having found such a prize... i must point out i was in exalted company.... but it was one of our target species.
My mentor advised me along the way (being well acquainted with the species in the Cheviot valleys), and I now know to listen out for a Bullfinch-like contact call, coming from the Bracken followed by a tick tick tick.
pictures courtesy of DC, my guide on the day. (he's quite good, usually has chocolate in the jeep, is based in Dodge City & doesnt charge too much either )
After forking out a lot of cash keeping the feeders full all through last summer when the station was so quiet Colin and I decided this year (had I still been supplying the food) that it was a waste of money.Went down to hetton bogs 8-10 am this morning, all was very quiet apart from 3 visits from the kingfishers and a dozen mallard.no food in feeders again, stocked up and left remainder in the bucket.
RE : WHINCHATS
There was still a singing male whinchat on Greenabella Marsh yesterday. I presume that it was the same bird that was present there last year as it was holding the same territory. We watched the bird for around half an hour in the hope of seeing a female, without any joy. It's sad to think that the bird might make its way over here each year, sing its head off for weeks on end and then fail to find a mate.
John Cooper
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Cleveland on the other hand seems to be a mess, abolished and now split into 4 UA's, the area from hartlepool to the Tee's is called Teesside, Darlington towards Middlesborough is Tees Valley, only people living in the other 2 UA's know what they are called lol. Strange but the police, fire brigade etc are all retaining the county name. This is where my confusion over the county came about...................
Castle Lake:
Returning / failed breeding waders starting to return....
1Green Sandpiper, 3Common Sandpiper, 1Redshank, 9Teal, 2Pochard, drake Wigeon, 6+Little Ringed Plover, several broods of Gadwall, singing Corn Bunting, 3+Yellow Wagtail inc 1 with a pale grey head.
Durham ring ousels.
Friend is staying near sunderland over weekend and wants to see ring ousels, any suggestions plz?