Durham Birding (31 Viewers)

[StevieEvans]

Wow factor

I had a good look around Greenabella Marsh this morning.

A great find by new BF member Miya from Hartlepool - a pair of Barn Owl. Even better they've been daylight hunting the last 2-3 days. Apparently no sign yesterday when it was bright and sunny but in the dull weather this morning two were out from around 8:30am. I arrived around 10:15am to find one still hunting. It seemed to be making plenty of kills. By just standing still on the path it came hunting within 20m at times. Last seen at 11:00am when it went to ground in the rough grass by a reed bed and didn't appear again. By the sounds of it they're roosting in the old ships in Able UK.

Photos: Barn Owl

Well done "Miya" - that a real % boost there for the Cleveland BO population :clap:
Thanks for the new "screen savers" Ian :t: - hard to decide which one to pick - it wasnt looking too promising for daylight photos when that Station Town bird evaporated

Is viewing restricted to the Seal Sands sea wall at Greenabella ?

Quite possibly some good PR material there for AbleUK . . . .

-------------------------

2nd winter Glaucous Gull at Biffa landfill Houghton today.
Steve

 

[JBee]

Had my first full day out yesterday along with scuzz.
No signs of the BO at Greenabella but for the first time ever I managed to get a couple of shots of a SEO sat on one of the fence posts at Zink Work road.

 

[IanF]

Well done "Miya" - that a real % boost there for the Cleveland BO population :clap:
Thanks for the new "screen savers" Ian :t: - hard to decide which one to pick - it wasnt looking too promising for daylight photos when that Station Town bird evaporated

Is viewing restricted to the Seal Sands sea wall at Greenabella ?

Quite possibly some good PR material there for AbleUK . . . .

-------------------------

2nd winter Glaucous Gull at Biffa landfill Houghton today.
Steve

The Barn Owls were on the north side of Greenabella Marsh between Tioxide and Able UK. There's a couple of footpaths there that lead to the sea wall. however they seem to be moving further afield as the afternoon./evening sightings have been over the marsh between Tioxide and the sea wall. The only access there is to walk down the side of Greatham Creek to the sea wall and then turn left. Don't use any of the roads or cross the marsh. SEO are there plus the Twite and quite a few waders. Hopefully the Barn Owls will make use of the owl boxes and oust the pigeons!

 

[IanF]

Had my first full day out yesterday along with scuzz.
No signs of the BO at Greenabella but for the first time ever I managed to get a couple of shots of a SEO sat on one of the fence posts at Zink Work road.

Good to see you're back out and about John :t:

Great photos of the SEO!

 

[Ray.Scott]

A few from Bowsfield marsh on Saturday.

Plenty of the regular birds on the ponds with:
pochard, mallard, coot, moorehen, tufties, at least 5 cormorant, mute swans, common & BH gulls, single canada goose, grey heron bein mobed by gulls and good number of shovelers.
2 wren and the usual magies and crows in the surrounding reed area.

 

[Ray.Scott]

From Bowsfield came back along the coast in search of the barn owl.
As JBee mentioned we had no luck, didn't even see the twite, not much along Znkwks road, just crows, starlings and single SEO sat on a post which John managed a couple of good photo's before it took flight to feed further South.

Called at Newburn Bridge:
Med gull, BH & Herring gulls, 2 RB merganser, cormorant, small flocks of oyster catchers, redshank and ringed plover.

 

[Ray.Scott]

A couple from yesterdays walk along Seaham Beach.

Not a lot of bird activity, maybe due to there being a fishing competition on.

1 kestrel hunting along the cliff tops, cormorant, Herring & BH gulls, small numbers of turnstone, redshank and oyster catchers near Ryhope Point and single pied wagtail on the cliff top.

 

[IanF]

Seaton Common - am - SEO x1, Kestrel x1, Little Egret x1.

Charltons Pond, Billingham - GSW x3 - two drumming, Goosander (fem) x3, Canada Goose x3, Redwing x11, Little Grebe x1, Tufted Duck c.15, Little grebe x1, Common Gull c.30, BH Gull c.50, Mute Swan x2, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Robin, Wren.

Photos: 1. Kestrel (fem) - 2. Red Bunting (male) - 3. Dunnock - 4. Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming) - 5. Goosander (fem).

 

[DenBee]

Had a walk over to suss feeding station out, on arrival nothing of note about until I topped the feeders up then I was inundated with birds.
They were not timid to say the least, as I sat on old tree trunk I was joined by Nuthatch x 3, Willow Tit x 4, Marsh Tit x 6 on tree trunk not 10feet away.
Also present Coal Tit x 6, Treecreeper x 1 the birds were having a hard time after awhile as three Grey Squirrel descend onto the feeders and table.
While there, I assumed it was the little lady who keeps the feeders topped up arrived carrying replenishments, so once again deluge of birds from tree tops

 

[great bustard]

Parked at Windmills at Seaton looking east trough the gap in the hedgerow onto the common. After 5 minutes a Barn Owl came up from the rough only 20ft away before heading north around the barn, and into field behind me before losing sight as it flew into the distant end of windmill field.

A second BO seen almost instantly as i checked the common again. This one sat on a short post in middle of common before zig zagging away east and outta sight....

PS...I cant post on the DBC forum?? Anyone else struggling?

 

[DEREK.C.]

PS...I cant post on the DBC forum?? Anyone else struggling?

Me !

 

[StevieEvans]

Houghton / Durham City Local Patches - BTO Atlas Roving Records

I Walked from Houghton to Brasside (the scenic route) & back, approx 24KM's (15mile) & saw 84 species, and producing numerous Roving records for the BTO Atlas, from 7 Tetrads.
( DBC will be producing a Vice-County Atlas after the Survey ends in 2011 - so all / any local records are helpful :t

Gadwall & LBBGull were new for the year.

Dairy Lane
450+Redwing GreyWagtail prStock Dove 3cock Greenfinch singing in close proximity 3cock Chaffinches in dispute, with 1 tuning up with a bit sub song. Multiple thrushes & Robins singing all day.

Joes Pond + Rainton Meadows area
60-70 Siskin along the driveway & a single pair elsewhere with the male singing strongly. A large Redpoll flock including 2+Mealies gave great views looking down at them on the hill behind the Visitor building. Nice surprise in form of a pair of Gadwall asleep on pool2, with winter plumage drake Ruddy Duck.
A Water Rail was on the Red Burn next to the car park Willows (calling here last week). Four pair of Willow Tit around the site, with a tame pr along track to Joes, which held drake Pochard, 1Treecreeper, Heron, Jay & a female Kingfisher. A surprising absentee was Kestrel - none seen at all !

West Rainton Stables Fm
Large no's of birds along the lane at side of farmyard including 44Chaffinch (sev cock birds in sub song), 10Bullfinch, 25+Yellowhammer (1cock attempting to sing, but only getting the "a little bit" part out - but no cheese yet im afraid ) , 4Tree Sparrows fed on spilt grain & a Willow Tit & Goldcrest pair in the damp lane. Surprise here was a noisy pair of LBBGull going over north.

Leamside area
Single flock of 78 House Sparrow straggling along a roadside hedge near feeders - the largest winter flock ive seen for a while. 27Collared Doves nearby & a Goldcrest fly-catching from a young Larch.

Finchale Banks Fm area
61Curlew feeding on damp stubbles, good nos of birds using waterlogged grazing including 33Meadow Pipit, 150Redwing & 100 each of Starling + Fieldfare. A Buzzard went north towards Lumley, where a pair of Little Owl were later seen in a large Ash nr Cocken Lodge.

Rainton Park Wood / Finchale Abbey
7-8Nuthatch, 3Treecreeper, 2Jay, 1GSW drumming, 2pr Goosander, 1Grey Wagtail, 117Fieldfare

Brasside Stores
4 Jay, at last a Kestrel ! - the only one all day!, prWillow Tit feeding together, 1 flyover GSW, pr Stock Dove, 1Little Owl sitting in the sun, an active Barn Owl roost with several fresh pellets. In a scrubby area, a small bird with short tail flew off weakly - this may have been a Stonechat ?, but poor, brief silhouetted view only . . .

Brasside Pond
female Kingfisher catching from Typha perches in SW corner of small pond, Quite a decent variety of wildfowl, but no's low, with the exception of 14 Goldeneye (6 adult drakes displaying). Also a redhead Goosander, pair of Wigeon, 2drake & 1duck Teal, 11Cormorant. The margins were quiet, with Nuthatch, Willow Tit & Reed Bunting seen.

Leamside area (dusk)
Male Long-eared Owl began singing at 16:55 & flew out to hunt at 17:03, also 2 vocal Little Owls & a Woodcock flying over to feed.

Tetrads visited = NZ35F NZ34J NZ34E NZ 34I NZ34D NZ24Y NZ24X.

 

[Bonsaibirder]

PS...I cant post on the DBC forum?? Anyone else struggling?

Apologies to any DBC members who can't post on the DBC forum. I am trying to find out what is wrong. The Bird News page and the rest of the website is still working though.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Bonsaibirder]

The DBC forum is now working again.

Cheers,

Steve

Apologies to any DBC members who can't post on the DBC forum. I am trying to find out what is wrong. The Bird News page and the rest of the website is still working though.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[ian hamilton]

Barmston Pond;0700-0835.
m+juv Mute Swan
2Teal (m+f)
6 Gadwall
24 Mallard
9 Pochard
15 Tufted Duck
20 Coot
2 Moorhen
1 LbbGull
nothing happening at the feeding station,looks like the feeders need stocking up.

0945-1025.
6 Shelduck and 10 Teal along hylton riverside and a bullfinch calling from timber beach

 

[great bustard]

I Walked from Houghton to Brasside (the scenic route) & back, approx 24KM's (15mile) & saw 84 species, and producing numerous Roving records for the BTO Atlas, from 7 Tetrads.
( DBC will be producing a Vice-County Atlas after the Survey ends in 2011 - so all / any local records are helpful :t

Gadwall & LBBGull were new for the year.

Dairy Lane
450+Redwing GreyWagtail prStock Dove 3cock Greenfinch singing in close proximity 3cock Chaffinches in dispute, with 1 tuning up with a bit sub song. Multiple thrushes & Robins singing all day.

Joes Pond + Rainton Meadows area
60-70 Siskin along the driveway & a single pair elsewhere with the male singing strongly. A large Redpoll flock including 2+Mealies gave great views looking down at them on the hill behind the Visitor building. Nice surprise in form of a pair of Gadwall asleep on pool2, with winter plumage drake Ruddy Duck.
A Water Rail was on the Red Burn next to the car park Willows (calling here last week). Four pair of Willow Tit around the site, with a tame pr along track to Joes, which held drake Pochard, 1Treecreeper, Heron, Jay & a female Kingfisher. A surprising absentee was Kestrel - none seen at all !

West Rainton Stables Fm
Large no's of birds along the lane at side of farmyard including 44Chaffinch (sev cock birds in sub song), 10Bullfinch, 25+Yellowhammer (1cock attempting to sing, but only getting the "a little bit" part out - but no cheese yet im afraid ) , 4Tree Sparrows fed on spilt grain & a Willow Tit & Goldcrest pair in the damp lane. Surprise here was a noisy pair of LBBGull going over north.

Leamside area
Single flock of 78 House Sparrow straggling along a roadside hedge near feeders - the largest winter flock ive seen for a while. 27Collared Doves nearby & a Goldcrest fly-catching from a young Larch.

Finchale Banks Fm area
61Curlew feeding on damp stubbles, good nos of birds using waterlogged grazing including 33Meadow Pipit, 150Redwing & 100 each of Starling + Fieldfare. A Buzzard went north towards Lumley, where a pair of Little Owl were later seen in a large Ash nr Cocken Lodge.

Rainton Park Wood / Finchale Abbey
7-8Nuthatch, 3Treecreeper, 2Jay, 1GSW drumming, 2pr Goosander, 1Grey Wagtail, 117Fieldfare

Brasside Stores
4 Jay, at last a Kestrel ! - the only one all day!, prWillow Tit feeding together, 1 flyover GSW, pr Stock Dove, 1Little Owl sitting in the sun, an active Barn Owl roost with several fresh pellets. In a scrubby area, a small bird with short tail flew off weakly - this may have been a Stonechat ?, but poor, brief silhouetted view only . . .

Brasside Pond
female Kingfisher catching from Typha perches in SW corner of small pond, Quite a decent variety of wildfowl, but no's low, with the exception of 14 Goldeneye (6 adult drakes displaying). Also a redhead Goosander, pair of Wigeon, 2drake & 1duck Teal, 11Cormorant. The margins were quiet, with Nuthatch, Willow Tit & Reed Bunting seen.

Leamside area (dusk)
Male Long-eared Owl began singing at 16:55 & flew out to hunt at 17:03, also 2 vocal Little Owls & a Woodcock flying over to feed.

Tetrads visited = NZ35F NZ34J NZ34E NZ 34I NZ34D NZ24Y NZ24X.

Nice report and day out by the sounds.....Managed to see the King Finger picture

:t:

 

[ian hamilton]

Whitburn Steel,0720-0930.
Red Throated Diver flew north,drake Eider
138 Oystercatcher
35 Ringed Plover
40 Lapwing
50 Sanderling
3 Purple Sandpiper
c100 Dunlin
c200+Redshank
c100+Turnstone

1015
drake eider at st.peters riverside and 2 greylag geese flew east along deptford at 1050

 

[serenade]

Hurworth Burn

First visit here, the afternoon turned out really nice, only managed a quick visit and walk up the cycleway. My guess is that it is possible to walk all the way around the reservoir but wasnt sure.

Anyway, even though some of the feeders were empty, there was still plenty of activity;
Blue Tit *10, Great Tit *6, Coal Tit *2, Goldfinch *12, Long Tailed Tit *7, GSW made a quick visit too.

The reservoir itself was pretty empty, with only 3 Cormorant, everything else was on lake on the right (walking north), with; Mallard *4, Tufted Duck *20, Pochard *12, Goldeneye *3, Moorhen *2, and Lapwing on the far bank c.50.

While I was walking back a Sparrowhawk flew almost the length of the cycleway only 3 ft from the ground and landed on the barbed wire fence near the picnic table.

 

[balvert]

First visit here, the afternoon turned out really nice, only managed a quick visit and walk up the cycleway. My guess is that it is possible to walk all the way around the reservoir but wasnt sure.

Anyway, even though some of the feeders were empty, there was still plenty of activity;
Blue Tit *10, Great Tit *6, Coal Tit *2, Goldfinch *12, Long Tailed Tit *7, GSW made a quick visit too.

The reservoir itself was pretty empty, with only 3 Cormorant, everything else was on lake on the right (walking north), with; Mallard *4, Tufted Duck *20, Pochard *12, Goldeneye *3, Moorhen *2, and Lapwing on the far bank c.50.

While I was walking back a Sparrowhawk flew almost the length of the cycleway only 3 ft from the ground and landed on the barbed wire fence near the picnic table.

Lovely willow tit picture!

 

[serenade]

Doh!

Forgot to include it in my list, wouldnt care I even posted a pic!!!!

In my defence, I wasnt sure about it at the time, I've only recently stopped calling everything 'a bird'!