Gateshead birding (1 Viewer)

[rayl]

i can say nothing but praise for the EOS 350D, after i read the reviews i knew it was the one for me - just look at the pics in the gallery (type in EOS 350D in the search bar).

Don't believe him June, if he changes his camera as often as his car, he'll have a new one next month (Maybe even get the brand right next time )

If you have an SLR now, you may be able to use existing lens by going for the same make. Plenty of pointers in the camera section though.

Ray

 

[June Atkinson]

Your photos

visited thornley this afternoon, usual suspects including jays, nuthatch, blue and great tits, bullfinch etc.

then popped into far pasture for half an hour, 2 red kites being mobbed, little grebe, sparrowhawk, juvenile mute swan still there, teal etc etc.

Your photos are great Richie. :clap: I actually like magpies. The one of the swan has a lovely tranquil atmosphere.........and a slightly bluish tinge, perhaps?
Is this the reflection off the water?

 

[salty]

follingsby lane

myself and rayl went in search of owls after a fruitless visit to prestwick carr today.

we pulled into a lay-by, with the sun behind us, perfect for pictures i though as we drank coffee.......

but something caught my eye in the rear view mirror, yep, a sort eared owl SITTING on the fence right behind the car!!!!

we had to get out for a good look and picture, and we were cursing ourselves for parking in the wrong spot.

it flew off straight away, but only a few metres into the field, where it sat still - but the sun was shining right into us, so pics were a no-go.

we did manage a few decent ones however, as a kestrel started to mob the owl, sending it into the sky before flying off into another field.

 

[salty]

i was keen to pop upto barlow fell today, as the weather was brilliant for a change, cold crisp sky without any cloud - just bright sunshine!

once at barlow, the kites and birders, were out in force. i noticed a few people out with cameras and bins, not surprisingly seeing as there was at least 8 - 10 kites as soon as you pull onto the barlow road, great stuff.

further on at the blackhorse pub, there was again kites a plenty, we counted at least another 15 - 20 kites in one area alone.

there was 2 kestrels hunting too, plus reports of the buzzard were coming in, although i didnt see it.

a quick trip along to hollinhill lane, had the grand total of 1 kite!!!

same at far pastures too, it was really quiet raptor wise, so it was back up to another part of barlow, and sure again, yet more kites flying around enjoying the sun.

 

[john gardiner]

Today
Lamesley Water Meadows
71 Black Headed Gull
6 Moorhen
Ravensworth Arms Car Park
Fieldfare
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Blue Tit
Birkland Lane
300+ mixed flock of Golden Plover/Lapwing
Fieldfare
Black Headed Gull
Rook
Ravensworth Fell
Skylark
Snipe
Pheasant
Fieldfare
Redwing
Blackbird
Starling
Black Headed Gull

 

[Mouldy]

complete set of tits

Had a walk out late morning today, and these are my observations:

7 Fieldfare flew over the Rowlands Gill entrance to the Derwent Walk, many common woodland birds on the way to Far Pasture along the walk itself included a pair of Bullfinch and a Goldcrest.
At Far Pasture, a Kestrel close to the car park, ponds frozen over, a few Snipe showed but not much else. A sign on the door informed me that the Thornley hide was going to be out of bounds for over a week while a new one was built so decided to walk up there hoping to get the recently seen Marsh Tit.
Goldcrest, a pair of Siskin, a small band of Long-tailed Tits and six Bullfinches were feeding at the field edges on the way back up to the Derwent Walk, and on approaching Thornley Woodlands Centre, the feeding table outside the building had briefly what I’m sure was a Marsh Tit. An enquiry within confirmed that said tit used this table rather than the feeding station over the road, so I hung around for ten minutes or so getting a few brief glimpses then a prolonged view enabling me to differentiate it from Willow Tit. (And a County tick to boot, yippee!).
The feeding station over the road was teeming with birds, mainly common types but in just over half an hour I counted 22 species in all including a close encounter with a swooping male Sparrowhawk which almost came into the hide, and a Willow Tit completed a full set of six tit species for the day. (not counting Bearded or Crested for obvious reasons).

A canny couple of hours. :flyaway:

 

[salty]

good stuff mouldy.

i never knew they planned on building a new hide, although the old one was in serious dis-repair!

 

[Mouldy]

hide closed for 9 days

good stuff mouldy.

i never knew they planned on building a new hide, although the old one was in serious dis-repair!

Aye Salty, I was told about it a couple of weeks back but not sure when till I saw the notice at far pasture, so just to inform everyone, if you're planning on going up there don't bother till after 30th November cos theres no access. However if you want to get the Marsh Tit it feeds at the table outside the Centre itself so no probs there. :flyaway:

 

[markEll]

derwentside info

Hallo,

im pretty new to birding, a rekindled hobby after my daughters took to spotting wildlife etc on holiday has set me away after a mild interest as a boy some 30 yrs ago. Anyway, we took a stroll along the Derwentside Walk last week, and i was wondering if we started at the best point. We walked from just behind the rugby club for a mile or two before heading back, but on reading some of the posts here, i can see i may have been in the wrong neck of the woods, if you'll forgive the pun. Can anyone give me any tips on where to park and the locations of some of the hides please. We had set out to see the Red Kites but were unsuccessful.

Also, if anyone reading has any decent spots for birding elsewhere in Tyneside/Northumberland/Durham area id love to know.

And, forgive my ignorance, but could someone tell me what...

1. SEO is
2. Lifer means

thanks in advance for your help.

 

[level seven]

Hallo,

im pretty new to birding, a rekindled hobby after my daughters took to spotting wildlife etc on holiday has set me away after a mild interest as a boy some 30 yrs ago. Anyway, we took a stroll along the Derwentside Walk last week, and i was wondering if we started at the best point. We walked from just behind the rugby club for a mile or two before heading back, but on reading some of the posts here, i can see i may have been in the wrong neck of the woods, if you'll forgive the pun. Can anyone give me any tips on where to park and the locations of some of the hides please. We had set out to see the Red Kites but were unsuccessful.

Also, if anyone reading has any decent spots for birding elsewhere in Tyneside/Northumberland/Durham area id love to know.

And, forgive my ignorance, but could someone tell me what...

1. SEO is
2. Lifer means

thanks in advance for your help.

Hi. SEO is Short-eared Owl, and a lifer is a bird you've never seen before, so new to your "life" list.

I did the very walk you mention myself last week, looking for kingfishers (unsuccessfully as usual for me!) and it is a very nice one, but you're right, there are better ones nearby for seeing birds. Your best bet might be to drive a mile or so on towards Rowlands Gill and you'll see Thornley Woods information centre well signed on your left, with parking. From there you'll find marked paths through the woods and a very good feeding station (with a hide) a couple of hundred yards on the other side of the road. Far Pasture is not too far to walk either and offers a very nice hide overlooking a small lake. There is a map near the information centre, or ask inside. It's easy to find. You can drive there as well, but it's a very pleasant walk anyway from the centre/car park.

I'm sure others more knowledgeable than me will be on to tell you about other places of interest in the area, but a good buy would be "Where to watch birds in North-east England", available in most good book-shops as they say.

 

[Mouldy]

we took a stroll along the Derwentside Walk last week, and i was wondering if we started at the best point. We walked from just behind the rugby club for a mile or two before heading back, but on reading some of the posts here, i can see i may have been in the wrong neck of the woods, if you'll forgive the pun. Can anyone give me any tips on where to park and the locations of some of the hides please. We had set out to see the Red Kites but were unsuccessful.

Hello MarkEll,

Sounds like you went along the Derwent Walk last week which is probably not the most productive bird-wise. Level seven has the right idea, find Thornley Woodlands Centre down the A694 and it will open up your world to wildlife in the Derwent Valley and beyond.
For a start you need to buy a key for the hides from there, one key gives access to Far Pasture ponds, Thornley Woods Feeding Station (closed till Nov 30 mind) Shibdon Pond hide and Clara Vale.
The information centre has leaflets on all the local nature reserves so its well worth checking out, plus they will give you up to date info on where best to see the Red Kites.
I highly recommend the feeding station there (when it re-opens) for anyone new to birding you will probably see more species there in half an hour than a full day walking the woods, with excellent views of Jay, Nuthatch and GS Woodpecker almost guaranteed.
Thornley Info Centre is open 12-5pm weekends, but during the week is only guaranteed to be open 12 -2pm.

Hope this gives you a taster for whats available, good luck and good birding
:flyaway:

 

[Mouldy]

I did the very walk you mention myself last week, looking for kingfishers (unsuccessfully as usual for me!)

the most recorded sightings of Kingfisher lately have been on the stretch of river just either side of Swalwell bridge or beside the Tennis Courts south of the dam, as you know theres no guarantees in this game (esp with Kingfishers) but pairs have been logged fairly regularly (even by me) at these points of late.

Cheers :flyaway:

 

[markEll]

Mouldy, LevelSeven

Thanks very much for your help on the Derwentside walks, i'll have to check out the feeding station, as ive never seen Jays before (thats how much of a novice i am). Im away this weekend but will pay a visit as soon as i can.

thanks again for replying, mark

 

[piecatcher]

Mouldy, LevelSeven

Thanks very much for your help on the Derwentside walks, i'll have to check out the feeding station, as ive never seen Jays before (thats how much of a novice i am). Im away this weekend but will pay a visit as soon as i can.

thanks again for replying, mark

Hi there , if your'e looking for good birds at the moment you could do worse than try Blaydon shopping centre out , I was there today and saw my first ever Waxwings , wow! what a bird , there were about 30 in the trees next to macdonalds , ther were also a few Redwings and a Mistle thrush , I also saw a few Goldcrests at Shibdon pond
good luck
Stephen

 

[level seven]

Hi there , if your'e looking for good birds at the moment you could do worse than try Blaydon shopping centre out , I was there today and saw my first ever Waxwings , wow! what a bird , there were about 30 in the trees next to macdonalds

Nice one piecatcher! They were seen there last year apparently, as well as quite a few other locations in the area, most of which I tried without success before finally catching up with them at Houghall College in Durham (after I'd nearly lost all hope). They were my first ones too.

 

[markEll]

Hi there , if your'e looking for good birds at the moment you could do worse than try Blaydon shopping centre out , I was there today and saw my first ever Waxwings , wow! what a bird , there were about 30 in the trees next to macdonalds , ther were also a few Redwings and a Mistle thrush , I also saw a few Goldcrests at Shibdon pond
good luck
Stephen

Thanks for the tip.

 

[john gardiner]

Today
Barlow Village 9 Red Kite
Barlow Fell 2 Red Kite, Kestrel, 4 Golden Plover, 3 Bullfinch & 19 Skylark
Chopwell Woods GSW, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Coal Tit no sign of any Brambling or Siskin.
No sign of Waxwing around Blaydon shopping centre.
Back in Durham had 10 Tree Sparrow and pair of Kestrel at Tanfield Moor

 

[piecatcher]

Today
Barlow Village 9 Red Kite
Barlow Fell 2 Red Kite, Kestrel, 4 Golden Plover, 3 Bullfinch & 19 Skylark
Chopwell Woods GSW, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Coal Tit no sign of any Brambling or Siskin.
No sign of Waxwing around Blaydon shopping centre.
Back in Durham had 10 Tree Sparrow and pair of Kestrel at Tanfield Moor

I was at Blaydon Staion today and saw a small flock of about 7 Waxwings today

 

[Mouldy]

Don't know about you lot out there but I'm soft as clarts when it comes to the cold weather, and even though my patch is 'on my doorstep' I find it hard to get out much. My two excursions last week were most unproductive thanks to frozen ponds and walking round previously unchartered areas looking for Waxwings. Anyone noticed a distinct lack of berries round their way this year? All the places locally which were good at this time last year seem to be barren.
Luckily the garden makes good watching and today had my first Siskin of the winter, a splendid male, and a Jay made a couple of visits for only the second record in my two years here, though I've had many fly-overs.
Typical garden numbers at the minute are up to 36 Starlings raiding every now and again, c16 House Sparrows, 6-12 Greenfinch and Chaffinch, 4-8 Goldfinch, up to 8 Blackbird, 2-4 Great Tit, Blue Tit and Collared Dove, 3 Bullfinch, 1-2 Magpie, Dunnock and Coal Tit, single Wren, Robin and seen just once in the garden during the last week were Black headed Gull and Goldcrest.
The only downer is the regular Tree Sparrow of the last year and a half hasn't been seen for about 2 months, though a couple of his/her hybrid offspring come in with the house sparrows.

And now its belting down with snow. Great! :flyaway:

 

[salty]

mouldy, im not a big winter fan myself......

i go to work in the dark, and come back in the dark. im lucky if i get a free weekend to get a few hours birding in now and again.........