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Durham Birding (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Skelly
- Start date
StevieEvans
Well-known member
various sources this week....
x1 Ad Little Gull on Rainton Meadows on Wednesday
Med Gull at Shields 27th Ad Roseate Tern on Whitburn Steel 28th
x5 Hawfinch at Ryton (traditional venue), feeding in a cherry tree .
Shibdon Barnacle Geese free flying feral pair with a gosling.
Wrote this a while ago now about an evening at one of my local patches:-
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=5827
x1 Ad Little Gull on Rainton Meadows on Wednesday
Med Gull at Shields 27th Ad Roseate Tern on Whitburn Steel 28th
x5 Hawfinch at Ryton (traditional venue), feeding in a cherry tree .
Shibdon Barnacle Geese free flying feral pair with a gosling.
Wrote this a while ago now about an evening at one of my local patches:-
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=5827
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harry eales
Ancient Entomologist
I don't often report bird sightings, because i'm more interested in insects, however, when out on the moors near Muggleswick this afternoon i saw the following birds of prey.
Kestral x 2. Common enough I know.
Sparrowhawk, being mobbed by one meadow pipit, and it didn't like it a bit.
Peregrine, possibly an immature, as it stooped at a Wood Pigeon and missed. I didn't know that pigeons had built in turbo chargers, fantastic accelleration.
Harry
Kestral x 2. Common enough I know.
Sparrowhawk, being mobbed by one meadow pipit, and it didn't like it a bit.
Peregrine, possibly an immature, as it stooped at a Wood Pigeon and missed. I didn't know that pigeons had built in turbo chargers, fantastic accelleration.
Harry
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Midday: Found an adult Long-eared Owl roosting in a likely looking pieceof habitat, initialy visible with naked eye ;-/
Pair of summering Black-necked Grebes dont look to bothered about trying to breed.
17:30 Tawny Owl feeding 3 well developed young out of the nest. Adult looked totall shocked to see me & was very vocal untill i moved away.
Mobbed by pair of Blackcaps.
Barn Owl carrying prey this evening, heading to last years secure nest site.
Little Owl x1 juvenile appeared to be already independant at same site as BO.
(Barn Owl confirmed to have bred in West Gateshead)
Took 160+ digital photos.... but somehow seem to have erased them all..!
SE
Rainton Meadows.
Adult Common Gull - a decent July bird, picked it up being mobbed by the Common Tern pair, defending their one chick.
18+ LBBGull, 1ad & 2 1st sum BHGull
Ad L.R.Plover, 40+ Lapwing, mostly juvs, x1 ad Redshank
pr + 2 Swallow, 10 Swift 3-4 each of House & Sand Martin.
pr +5 Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting several males still singing & a juv seen.
adult Water Rail heard twice on pool III.
64 Canadas (only 1 gosling), x1 ad Greylag.
Treecreeper, Bullfinch, male & 1 juv. 3juvvy Kestrel.
warblers still singing included Chiffchaff (strange songster with double quick tempo), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Sedge warbler, Blackcap.
& Sunday
male Lesser Whitethroat singing at Joes Pond
Grasshopper Warbler singing from nettle patch at RM's
Reed Warbler adult feeding a fledged juv at RM I, & singing bird at Joes Pond.
Crossbill single low over heading west.
Swift 50=Chilton C.Club, & 10+feeding over Nicholsons hill, 1 had a piece of white material approx 4" long trailing from its rump (possibly roof insulation material)
GCGrebe with a large juv.
Dabchicks on 3 waters
Kestrel male feeding two fledglings perched on top of bat boxes.
Pair of summering Black-necked Grebes dont look to bothered about trying to breed.
17:30 Tawny Owl feeding 3 well developed young out of the nest. Adult looked totall shocked to see me & was very vocal untill i moved away.
Mobbed by pair of Blackcaps.
Barn Owl carrying prey this evening, heading to last years secure nest site.
Little Owl x1 juvenile appeared to be already independant at same site as BO.
(Barn Owl confirmed to have bred in West Gateshead)
Took 160+ digital photos.... but somehow seem to have erased them all..!
SE
Rainton Meadows.
Adult Common Gull - a decent July bird, picked it up being mobbed by the Common Tern pair, defending their one chick.
18+ LBBGull, 1ad & 2 1st sum BHGull
Ad L.R.Plover, 40+ Lapwing, mostly juvs, x1 ad Redshank
pr + 2 Swallow, 10 Swift 3-4 each of House & Sand Martin.
pr +5 Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting several males still singing & a juv seen.
adult Water Rail heard twice on pool III.
64 Canadas (only 1 gosling), x1 ad Greylag.
Treecreeper, Bullfinch, male & 1 juv. 3juvvy Kestrel.
warblers still singing included Chiffchaff (strange songster with double quick tempo), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Sedge warbler, Blackcap.
& Sunday
male Lesser Whitethroat singing at Joes Pond
Grasshopper Warbler singing from nettle patch at RM's
Reed Warbler adult feeding a fledged juv at RM I, & singing bird at Joes Pond.
Crossbill single low over heading west.
Swift 50=Chilton C.Club, & 10+feeding over Nicholsons hill, 1 had a piece of white material approx 4" long trailing from its rump (possibly roof insulation material)
GCGrebe with a large juv.
Dabchicks on 3 waters
Kestrel male feeding two fledglings perched on top of bat boxes.
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Skelly
Durham Birder
Waldridge Fell and surrounding area this morning
Kestrel
Whitethroat
Linnet
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Garden Warbler
Yellowhammer
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Mistle Thrush
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Coot
Mallard
Robin
Dunnock
Wood Pigeon
Lapwing
Rook
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Starling
Magpie
Pheasant
Cuckoo
Also several Grey Squirrel's and a few Hare's.
(o)<
Kestrel
Whitethroat
Linnet
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Garden Warbler
Yellowhammer
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Mistle Thrush
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Coot
Mallard
Robin
Dunnock
Wood Pigeon
Lapwing
Rook
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Starling
Magpie
Pheasant
Cuckoo
Also several Grey Squirrel's and a few Hare's.
(o)<
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john gardiner
Well-known member
Little Owl in hedgerow on the Langley Park to Quebec road.
Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, Bullfinch, Stock Dove and Grey Partridge at Salter's Gate today.
Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, Bullfinch, Stock Dove and Grey Partridge at Salter's Gate today.
IanF
Moderator
Night Heron still around this evening at Holme Fleet. Cracking views of it circling several times before landing in the ditch beside the bus stop sign 50 yards north of Holme Fleet entrance. Also flying to Holme Fleet left side into the reeds and ditch beside the wood at Greatham Creek.
I wish I'd had the Panasonic FZ20 with me - still got a photo of it though - yes I do have a sense of humour
I wish I'd had the Panasonic FZ20 with me - still got a photo of it though - yes I do have a sense of humour
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Skelly
Durham Birder
Little Owl seen near Plawsworth last night.
Also good numbers of Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Willow Warbler at Waldridge Fell.
Just heard on the news that 30 Red Kites are getting released today, as long as the weather stays fine. Wonder how many stay in the region and how many head down to the Chilterns?
(o)<
Also good numbers of Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Willow Warbler at Waldridge Fell.
Just heard on the news that 30 Red Kites are getting released today, as long as the weather stays fine. Wonder how many stay in the region and how many head down to the Chilterns?
(o)<
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Friday 8th
Night Heron - Adult seen near Holme Fleet, Cowpen Marsh at 07:45 when it flew over at very close range. (seen to be unringed, trailing one leg)
NB. Bird then continued on at height, flying South Westwards at least as far as Billingham, where it began to descend before going out of sight.
Common Terns - several chicks on the rafts at Holme Fleet
Short eared Owl - single hunting on tip at Cowpen 07:00
2 Greenshank & Common Sandpiper on Salthome West.
Peregrine - family of 5 watched on the wing in an active quarry, (awesome & far more impressive than the NH.)
SE.
Night Heron - Adult seen near Holme Fleet, Cowpen Marsh at 07:45 when it flew over at very close range. (seen to be unringed, trailing one leg)
NB. Bird then continued on at height, flying South Westwards at least as far as Billingham, where it began to descend before going out of sight.
Common Terns - several chicks on the rafts at Holme Fleet
Short eared Owl - single hunting on tip at Cowpen 07:00
2 Greenshank & Common Sandpiper on Salthome West.
Peregrine - family of 5 watched on the wing in an active quarry, (awesome & far more impressive than the NH.)
SE.
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
Hi SteveQuacker said:
nice goose collection there......
have seen gsw & nuthatch, gets wild poch & tuft in winter.
im sure doctor gadwall will know....
[email protected]
se.
Roadside Pool, Bishop Middleham. (Stoneybeck Lake)
15mins in the sun at roadside (17:00) produced:-
Redshank pr & 3 very well grown juvs.
Lapwing 60+ mostly juvs
Yellow Wagtail 2ad & 1 juv
Tree Sparrow 5-6ads & 1juv
Corn Bunting 3 singing birds
Little Owl adult in usual Ash tree
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June Atkinson
Well-known member
Kite release
We released 8 kites this morning. With another volunteer I had the privilege of opening the pen for the first batch of three. The first one out was, in fact, Phoenix, No 21, the kite given to the children of Winlaton School to replace Flash ,their kite which was poisoned last year.
It was a wonderful opportunity to see these young kites fly off to total freedom. One stayed for some time at the top of a conifer, and we could clearly see his wing tag 26. nother landed on a very fine branch and ended up clinging on upside down, but he soon regained his composure and flew away strongly across the fields.
:clap:
I shall post some pictures soon............
Skelly said:
We released 8 kites this morning. With another volunteer I had the privilege of opening the pen for the first batch of three. The first one out was, in fact, Phoenix, No 21, the kite given to the children of Winlaton School to replace Flash ,their kite which was poisoned last year.
It was a wonderful opportunity to see these young kites fly off to total freedom. One stayed for some time at the top of a conifer, and we could clearly see his wing tag 26. nother landed on a very fine branch and ended up clinging on upside down, but he soon regained his composure and flew away strongly across the fields.
:clap:
I shall post some pictures soon............
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Bearpark (on western edge of Durham City)
1.5hr stroll with baby & pram this evening:-
14 Crossbill - feeding in Scots pines then off West up valley.
Lesser Redpoll - 2. A male in display flight & a 2nd over contact calling.
Tree Pipit - an adult carrying food. Coal Tit - adult Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1male & 1juv
Green Woodpecker - family party of 5+ in area of open Oaks on edge of pit heap. One of spreckly juvs seen especially well feeding on lower trunk of large dead tree.
Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch all seen.
Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird
Yellowhammer - couple of males still singing & one carrying food. Skylark - single singing over pit heap. Linnet / MPipit - both numerous, several juvs.
Kestrel - Male & 2 fledged juvs.
Stock Dove - 2pair & 2 singles. Wood Pigeon - numerous. Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, Rook all present.
Little Owl - Adult perched on ruins & juvs heard nearby. Long-eared Owl - Adult hunting unsuccessfully over freshly cut hay.
Heron - adult flying up following Browney. Moorhen - 1adult.
Grey Wagtail - 1 fledged juv. Pied Wagtail 3. Kingfisher heard only.
Few warblers, singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Whitethroats.
LBBGull - 2ads
(No sign of:- Gropper, SedgeWarb, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, R.Bunting!, Partridge, Pheasant, Willow tit)
SE.
Photos taken on Sunday by PH
1.5hr stroll with baby & pram this evening:-
14 Crossbill - feeding in Scots pines then off West up valley.
Lesser Redpoll - 2. A male in display flight & a 2nd over contact calling.
Tree Pipit - an adult carrying food. Coal Tit - adult Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1male & 1juv
Green Woodpecker - family party of 5+ in area of open Oaks on edge of pit heap. One of spreckly juvs seen especially well feeding on lower trunk of large dead tree.
Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch all seen.
Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird
Yellowhammer - couple of males still singing & one carrying food. Skylark - single singing over pit heap. Linnet / MPipit - both numerous, several juvs.
Kestrel - Male & 2 fledged juvs.
Stock Dove - 2pair & 2 singles. Wood Pigeon - numerous. Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, Rook all present.
Little Owl - Adult perched on ruins & juvs heard nearby. Long-eared Owl - Adult hunting unsuccessfully over freshly cut hay.
Heron - adult flying up following Browney. Moorhen - 1adult.
Grey Wagtail - 1 fledged juv. Pied Wagtail 3. Kingfisher heard only.
Few warblers, singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Whitethroats.
LBBGull - 2ads
(No sign of:- Gropper, SedgeWarb, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, R.Bunting!, Partridge, Pheasant, Willow tit)
SE.
Photos taken on Sunday by PH
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
Green Wpkr & juvs
2Taken by PH on sunday in prominant dead oak from public bridleway, showing juvenile female & same bird with the adult female & 3rd pic JF. showing juvenile male.
(more excellent photos on DBC website)
NZ 241 436.
se
2Taken by PH on sunday in prominant dead oak from public bridleway, showing juvenile female & same bird with the adult female & 3rd pic JF. showing juvenile male.
(more excellent photos on DBC website)
NZ 241 436.
se
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
Long-eareds
Just had a message saying one of our very keen surveyors has 2 successfull breeding pairs of Long-eared Owls (with 2 & 3 juvs) only 400metres apart at a moorland edge habitat.
We have also had a similar situation at a lowland site too.
Not especially large broods though.
SE
Just had a message saying one of our very keen surveyors has 2 successfull breeding pairs of Long-eared Owls (with 2 & 3 juvs) only 400metres apart at a moorland edge habitat.
We have also had a similar situation at a lowland site too.
Not especially large broods though.
SE
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StevieEvans
Well-known member
2 singing Corn Buntings at Sherburn Hill from 2 barley fields
Families of Swifts on the wing.
Grey Wagtail at Littletown, non breeding area
Greenfinch pair feeding young in the nest whilst another male was in calling in display flight nearby
Garden & Grasshopper Warblers & Whitethroats still singing.
Barn Owls hunting last 2 evenings & carrying prey back to 2 seperate quarry nest sites (1 active & 1 disused)
Families of Swifts on the wing.
Grey Wagtail at Littletown, non breeding area
Greenfinch pair feeding young in the nest whilst another male was in calling in display flight nearby
Garden & Grasshopper Warblers & Whitethroats still singing.
Barn Owls hunting last 2 evenings & carrying prey back to 2 seperate quarry nest sites (1 active & 1 disused)
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