Durham Birding (27 Viewers)

[IanF]

Some times your lucky, sometimes not. Maybe it's down to good fieldcraft, look at the number of times Ian Forrest gets good pics. - he knows where to go and when and we all benefit from that.

Lol! Blind luck mostly with me!

On Wednesday we went shopping at Hartlepool and afterwards had a ride around to the Headland before heading home - pure good fortune a Little Auk was there and certainly paid off putting the camera in the car 'just in case' we came across something.

Like everyone else I have lots of blanks but I try to keep an open mind when I'm out. I usually have a target species in mind but if it's not present something else usually is. It's a lot more challenging to go looking for just one particular species.

A Short-eared Owl was on Greenabella Marsh until at least 11:00am this morning. Giving good views in decent light for a change. Not much else around though - Little Egret, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon, Little Grebe. Most of the pools were frozen over so not many waders.

Greatham Creek - upstream from road bridge - Black-tailed Godwit x20, Bar-tailed Godwit x3, Lapwing c.150, Curlew c.40, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon and RB Merganser x1.

Photos: 1. Stonechat (fem) - 2. Black-tailed Godwit - 3. Short-eared Owl - 4. Kestrel - 5. Little Egret

 

[IanF]

Hartlepool Headland this afternoon - Med Gull x2, Knot x5, Redshank, Purple Sandpiper c.20, Ringed Plover x1, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Turnstone, Eider, Cormorant, Shag, Oystercatcher.

Photos : 1. Turnstone - 2. Mediterranean Gull - 3. Purple Sandpiper - 4. Ringed Plover - 5. Black-headed Gull

 

[AndyMc]

Some times your lucky, sometimes not. Maybe it's down to good fieldcraft, look at the number of times Ian Forrest gets good pics. - he knows where to go and when and we all benefit from that.

Aye!!!!!
Bit luckier today, thanks to the tip-offs :t:. SEOs bang on time (3.30), mainly North End with the odd venture down to towards the south nest box. BO appeared about 45mins later in the same area, 2nd BO slept in a bit & popped head out at around 4.45 :eek!:.
Not close enough for me to take any decent photos, but enjoyable none the less.
Try,try again. :smoke:

 

[geordie graham]

Is there any chance of seeing the Barn Owl on Greenabella marsh from the main road or do you have to a bit of walking onto the marsh itself?

Graham

 

[AndyMc]

Is there any chance of seeing the Barn Owl on Greenabella marsh from the main road or do you have to a bit of walking onto the marsh itself?

Graham

I'm certainly not the expert Graham, but from my observations today, I would advise, at the least, to walk along the north side of the creek half way to the sea wall. From there, the full length of the marsh can be observed, much of the activity was behind Tioxide.
Talking to folk, sometimes it quarters right up to the creek. Then you would see it from the road. Roost visable but fairly distant from the road.
I suppose the formula is 'gear' over 'weather' multiplied by 'luck'. As you may be aware, my calculator was broken last Saturday .

Having said all this, I have seen many cars 'strategically' placed alongside the road at various points, not sure of their success.

 

[geordie graham]

I'm certainly not the expert Graham, but from my observations today, I would advise, at the least, to walk along the north side of the creek half way to the sea wall. From there, the full length of the marsh can be observed, much of the activity was behind Tioxide.
Talking to folk, sometimes it quarters right up to the creek. Then you would see it from the road. Roost visable but fairly distant from the road.
I suppose the formula is 'gear' over 'weather' multiplied by 'luck'. As you may be aware, my calculator was broken last Saturday .

Having said all this, I have seen many cars 'strategically' placed alongside the road at various points, not sure of their success.

Thanks for the prompt reply :t: unfortunately the mind is willing but the legs say no to the walking bit so will have to hope I get a glimpse from the main road.

Graham

 

[IanF]

Is there any chance of seeing the Barn Owl on Greenabella marsh from the main road or do you have to a bit of walking onto the marsh itself?

Graham

I'm certainly not the expert Graham, but from my observations today, I would advise, at the least, to walk along the north side of the creek half way to the sea wall. From there, the full length of the marsh can be observed, much of the activity was behind Tioxide.
Talking to folk, sometimes it quarters right up to the creek. Then you would see it from the road. Roost visable but fairly distant from the road.
I suppose the formula is 'gear' over 'weather' multiplied by 'luck'. As you may be aware, my calculator was broken last Saturday .

Having said all this, I have seen many cars 'strategically' placed alongside the road at various points, not sure of their success.

When they were at the north end of the marsh they were easy to see from the road. That's where I first saw them from.

Where they are now you can see the owl box from the bridge over Greatham Creek - but it is a long way over. You can watch the SEO from there as well.

An alternative is to park by the electric substation just south of Tioxide. You can see the box from there and the owls sometimes hunt alongside the Tioxide fence landing on the concrete posts.

Andy is right though in that a better place to view from is by the end of the first bridge downstream from Greatham Creek road bridge. Even the SEO hunt more in that area plus they roost by the fence there.

 

[IanF]

Thanks for the prompt reply :t: unfortunately the mind is willing but the legs say no to the walking bit so will have to hope I get a glimpse from the main road.

Graham

Most of it is easy walking but I think you'd have big problems in the first section as from the road side verge it's a short but very steep drop down to the embankment alongside the Creek.

The sub station or even the layby may be more suitable for you to view from. The SEO certainly come close to the concrete pill boxes by the layby. The Barn Owls may do as well.

 

[geordie graham]

I actually parked by the substation today for the first time.Couldn`t see the box but just had a small pair of bins in the car.

Graham

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Twitter For Birds Northumberland & Durham.

For those that have seen the Twitter feed that has appeared here on Birdforum you may be interested in the first regional Twitter Sightings offering here in Northumberland & Durham. Check out the post at the blog below fo more in formation. It's all free, 21st century grapevine.

 

[StevieEvans]

Houghton area Non-motorised Local Patch

Had a 20KM walk on Thursday (08:00-18:00) from Houghton round Haining / Warden Law / Seaton / Sharpley / Hetton Downs / Hetton Park / Hetton Houses Wood / Hetton Bogs / Rainton Bridge / Joes Pond and ending up at RMs.

Excellent variety of waterfowl Joes/RM later in the day, making the most of the little ice free water :-
Shelduck, Ruddy Duck, Pochard, Tufted, Dabchick, Wigeon, Shoveller, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal

Almost four & twenty: 21 Blackbirds along the Joes Pond Lane feeding area, which holds a hand tame Robin & resident Willow Tits

(Highlights along the way included 50Tree Sparrow in Warden Law area, flock of 66Yellowhammer Hetton Downs, Grey Wagtail, Red-legged Partridge, Nuthatch, Willow Tit, Stonechat, Siskin, Redpoll, GSW, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, 20Brambling, Woodcock, Redshank, Jack Snipe, Kingfisher, 4owls, Woodcock, with Waxwing & Water Rail on call only.
Again 2 Foxes & 4-5 Roe Deer, including a Buck that jumped onto the snow covered path at Scouts Wood while i was chatting to Will on the fone - i'll have to get a camera......)

Not having as much luck as some with the daylight Barnies.
After a long day i stood & froze & waited 20mins while one preened & stretched - but mustnt be struggling for prey as it hadnt set out by 17:25 . . . .
Jogged back the last half hour during which i had a Woodcock fly past right in front at eye height (80 species noted)

 

[Skelly]

Pintail at Boldon Flats

 

[DEREK.C.]

A few pics from my travels around the county since the New Year.
Been a pretty entertaining start to the year for Birdwatchers, or should that be ` for people interested in birds`.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Due to the HAWful weather me and taxi (Dad, who I am very greatful to for taking me all these places) decided not to go to Croxdale for the Hawfinch. Maybe I shall go next week. Not been out birding today though! Not to worry. Really looking forward to Calaverock with the bird club this month.

 

[Duckman]

Bean Geese

A few pics from my travels around the county since the New Year.
Been a pretty entertaining start to the year for Birdwatchers, or should that be ` for people interested in birds`.

Where were the Bean Geese photographed and when please?

 

[durham giant]

Andrew, do you mean the Durham bird clubs trip to caerlaverock?
If you do, the dbc have decided to change it to the south side of the solway, or so i heard.
Hope fully they will get the same birds.
If you mean a different club, please give me the details!
thanks, DG

 

[durham giant]

Duckman, i don't know where dereks were taken but there are NINE TAIGA BEAN GEESE in BOLDON

 

[StevieEvans]

Due to the HAWful weather me and taxi (Dad, who I am very greatful to for taking me all these places) decided not to go to Croxdale for the Hawfinch. Maybe I shall go next week. Not been out birding today though! Not to worry. Really looking forward to Calaverock with the bird club this month.

Andrew, why not try looking for Hawfinch on your doorstep; ie Your Local Patch
Theres been a few records around Grt Lumley in recent years, including a family party (i'll send you a SMS txt for the site for this rare breeding bird)

Good Luck

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Andrew, why not try looking for Hawfinch on your doorstep; ie Your Local Patch
Theres been a few records around Grt Lumley in recent years, including a family party (i'll send you a SMS txt for the site for this rare breeding bird)

Good Luck

Thanks Stevie thats a really good idea! :t:
I shall look forward to that. I have my phone on nearly all the time now. So send it when your ready.
cheers mate,
Andrew K

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Andrew, do you mean the Durham bird clubs trip to caerlaverock?
If you do, the dbc have decided to change it to the south side of the solway, or so i heard.
Hope fully they will get the same birds.
If you mean a different club, please give me the details!
thanks, DG

Yeah it is the one with DBC. I didn't know they changed the location. Not to worry I am still really looking forward to it.
cheers,
Andrew K:t: