Gateshead birding (1 Viewer)

[StevieEvans]

Hi
Listened to a talk about Kibblesworth & its birds last night, very interesting.
36 years of constant study, data collection & analysis of survey results....
The overall picture did show some losses but on the whole species diversity & no's had increased since 1970.
150 pr's of all species in '70 compared with 500 pr's in 2005.

A total of 99 species have been recorded in the 36 year... the list included rarities like Hoopoe, RBShrike, Bluethroat & Hen Harrier nearby.

An couple of interesting points were all the data & bird records were factored into the Opencast Conditions & also the farmers friends all wanted surveys & bird boxes on their land too.

SE

 

[salty]

fantastic views once again at sherburn of red kites. straight away there was a good 6-7 kites in the air, and more came out for there happy hour before settling to roost.

:clap:

 

[salty]

back at hollinside today while the sun made a surprise appearance.

the sky was awash with kites. i also had a very close view of 2 stoats - while i was swapping over my memory cards!!!!! - nightmare.

this is THE place for kites.

 

[rayl]

So you won't be getting a refund on the lens then?
Amazing the difference a bit of decent light makes. No.3 is nice mate.

It'll be the Photoshop lessons next.

Ray

 

[Vipers]

Superb shots Richie. Keep up the good work.

 

[salty]

i passed through 'red kite country' today, and done a quick count for just 5 mins in each of these spots, to see what numbers of kites were available and to show how easy they are to find.

high spen: 5 kites.

barlow fell: 7 kites.

hollinhill lane: 6 kites.

almost 20 kites in just 15 mins at different sites!!!

 

[June Atkinson]

Kite spotting today

i passed through 'red kite country' today, and done a quick count for just 5 mins in eack of these spots, to see what numbers of kites were available and to show how easy they are to find.

high spen: 5 kites.

barlow fell: 7 kites.

hollinhill lane: 6 kites.

almost 20 kites in just 15 mins at different sites!!!

:hi:
It's a wonder we didn't meet you Richie..........we were in all of these places between 3 and 5p.m. today.
I realised later that Hollinside had to be near Hollins Lane, but thanks for your message about this.
We too saw several in different places.....started rather slowly with just a couple on Barlow Fell, then we were luckier at the Black Horse, where we met a University student with tracking equipment. She was able to confirm the numbers of the four we were watching as being - WT3, WT12,WT27 and WT28. Later we moved back onto the road between the Fell and Hookergate.
Wow! We had them right overhead, wheeling and soaring....brilliant! :clap:

I took some shots with my Pentax+Zoom, then had a terrible thought - not sure if there is a film in this one or had I removed it!! :-C :-C :-C
I shall be so disappointed if I have lost some possibly good shots!!
We thought we'd give Sherburn Towers a try before heading home. There were definitely four here, but we didn't have close sightings of any. We parked by the Bus Terminus, but I'm sure one ought tobe able to get nearer to the copse on the far side, nearer the Pylons. We tried a couple of side roads, without success. If anyone can help with more specific directions, I'd be grateful.
But, all told, it was a good afternoon, and Leonard enjoyed the outing too. :gn:

 

[salty]

June:

just head up hollinhill lane and you will get to a point where the road bends to the right, there is a entrance to a field with a pylon about 20ft away - this is right next to the roost site, and if you stay untill last light you will get 20+ kites in no time!

i have had then come over right next to me for a peek, they circle over head to check you out, and if you stay still you can get great pics.

 

[Mouldy]

Had a bit of a tour about the Derwent Valley yesterday, not a great deal to report but here's the best of what was on offer:

Thornley hide - common tits and finches, 4-5 Jays, Nuthatch. Kestrel hovering in the distance, more unusual species present (for the site) were single Goldcrest and Two Siskin.

Shibdon Pond - nothing but the regulars on the pond but 2 x Sparrowhawks seen

Far Pasture - Female Goldeneye, 2 x Little Grebe, 5 x Snipe, female Reed bunting, single RedKite over, 35 Siskin present for a time. 1 x Kestrel on approach road, 2 x Sparrowhawks. still much activity by Jays in adjacent fields. 2 pairs Common Darter dragonflies egg laying.

Sherburn Towers - Good close views of 6-8 Kites from the bus turning circle, 1 directly overhead came low over the road prompting a motorist to stop and enquire “what the hell was that?”. Other Kites more distant, brief visit by Common Buzzard once again mobbed by corvids as soon as it appeared over the horizon. (Buzzard has made an appearance 4 out of my 6 visits in under two weeks.) :flyaway:

 

[salty]

i aint seen the buzzards for weeks now, im glad they are still in the area, hopefully they will stay for the winter.

i usually go up hollinhill road for close-ups of kites, park in a field and you wont have to wait long for them to come and check you out, you can get near the roost site this way too, although dont go more than a few feet from the road, just to keep the farmers and kites happy

 

[Skelly]

Thornley Woods Feeding Station

Coal Tit
Jay
Bullfinch
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Linnet
Dunnock
Grey Squirrel
Magpie
Black Bird
Wood Pigeon

Far Pasture

10+ Snipe
Water Rail
Female Goldeneye
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
Teal
Coot
Moorhen

Shibdon Pond

Loads of Teal
40+ Redshank
Lapwing
Canada Goose
Cormorant
Moorhen
Coot
Pheasant

All in all a pleasant days birding with Rayl.

B

 

[salty]

Thornley Woods Feeding Station

Coal Tit
Jay
Bullfinch
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Linnet
Dunnock
Grey Squirrel
Magpie
Black Bird
Wood Pigeon

Far Pasture

10+ Snipe
Water Rail
Female Goldeneye
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
Teal
Coot
Moorhen

Shibdon Pond

Loads of Teal
40+ Redshank
Lapwing
Canada Goose
Cormorant
Moorhen
Coot
Pheasant

All in all a pleasant days birding with Rayl.

B

what? no red kites!

 

[Skelly]

what? no red kites!

Unfortunately not.

Didn't have enough time to look for them.

One thing to mention though, the Far Pasture hide was unlocked, can only presume the previous birder forgot to lock it.

 

[salty]

Far Pasture hide was unlocked, can only presume the previous birder forgot to lock it.

not good!


it only takes one or two bored teens, and the hide will be destroyed, at this time of year especially!


:storm:

 

[LSB]

not good!


it only takes one or two bored teens, and the hide will be destroyed, at this time of year especially!


:storm:

The past 2 times Ive been over to Far Pasture the hide has been unlocked....Someone needs to pull their socks up......

 

[StevieEvans]

It may just be people forgetting to lock, but it could be non-keyholders entering while hide unlocked & in use.

Simple soloution
ive only been in that hide twice, both times i locked it upon entry from inside.
that way only key holders can gain entry & you have to unlock to get out.... reminding you to lock it once outside !

As Salty says it wouldnt take much for it to be wrecked or torched & it must have cost a fortune to construct.

SE

 

[DenBee]

Far Pasture Hide Key

Unfortunately not.

Didn't have enough time to look for them.

One thing to mention though, the Far Pasture hide was unlocked, can only presume the previous birder forgot to lock it.

Hi Skelly
It is a long while since I have been to Far Pasture and did not realise that the Hide had been rebuilt, and am wondring if my Key for Thorley Woods Hide will still open the New Hide. As I am hoping to revisit the area next week.

DenBee

 

[Mouldy]

Must admit I use the FP hide sometimes 3 times a week and it is a long time since I discovered it unlocked, having said that, it must be getting to be a problem as only recently notices have gone up inside reminding people to lock up after them so theres no excuse really.
Apart from some people are just lazy the only excuse I can think of is that sometimes it is difficult to turn the key to lock it from the outside and you have to spend a while getting the 'knack' of locking it.
Personally I make sure anyone left in the hide has a key when I leave, and Yes DenBee the Thornley Hide Key is one and the same (also Shibdon Pond and Clara Vale). :flyaway:

 

[Denis J]

The one key fits all 3 local hides
as for locking the hide I always ask if the people I am leaving have a key if not I tell them I have to lock up..never had any bother)

 

[DenBee]

F P Key

Must admit I use the FP hide sometimes 3 times a week and it is a long time since I discovered it unlocked, having said that, it must be getting to be a problem as only recently notices have gone up inside reminding people to lock up after them so theres no excuse really.
Apart from some people are just lazy the only excuse I can think of is that sometimes it is difficult to turn the key to lock it from the outside and you have to spend a while getting the 'knack' of locking it.
Personally I make sure anyone left in the hide has a key when I leave, and Yes DenBee the Thornley Hide Key is one and the same (also Shibdon Pond and Clara Vale). :flyaway:

Thanks M
Hope to see you there sometime, as I am trying to get back into regular outings, having been inactive for around five month plus

DenBee