in and around south tyneside (1 Viewer)

[dampflippers]

On my drive this morning, waiting for Mum perhaps.

 

[seggs]

Thanks for that, Cleadon Hills is covered with yellow rattle at the moment and I also wondered what it was.

Steve,

Talking about unusaul sightings on your local patch there was a pair of Lapwings on Cleadon Hills last week.

Brian

Hello Brian
Lapwings tend to do a bit moving around this time of year after the main breeding season is over, and unsual sightings like yours and Dougies are always great to find, waiting for the mass flock of Golden plover to appear again on our coast and all the resident waders with young birds...Great time of year nearly on us:t:...well a month or so away.

 

[echo24]

Hi folks,
pleasant surprise in Trow tonight, all the usual including lightning fast Weasel across the clifftop path, also Guillemot in the bay between target rock & frenchmans bay & a Cuckoo knocking around at the southern end of trow:t: (near the black path leading up to the mound) I first caught site of it when the local jackdaws voiced their disapproval and it flew off the rock face with the jackdaws in pursuit, it looked very 'kestrel like' in flight but much, much darker, I managed a few shots from distance in poor light so apologies for the quality - gonna pop down again tomorrow after work in case it's still there - you never know!

Cheers, Dougie.

PS, the Kingfisher pic is from hetton bogs last weekend, i had focused on the perching bird and another flew past right on cue

 

[echo24]

Dougies last find in Trow brought a thought or two to me!
Whats the most unusal bird to turn up on your local patch?? not talking rare really.
I will start the ball rolling with-
Hen Pheasant and Barn owl at Trow Quarry, Woodcock(but thats seasonal), also had a couple of Golden plover feeding near the mound area late summer.

Hi Steve,

Totally agree with you on the Barn owl - a real surprise for us both mate! I think it was that very bird which lead to my first post on BF:t:

Others that spring to mind are a grounded Sand Martin on Bamburgh avenue (recently) and a few years ago i had 3 Redwing in my back garden two days running - never seen them before or since.

Cheers, Dougie:t:

 

[seggs]

8.35pm

Excellent finds Dougie, not just the Cuckoo but the Guillemot on the rocks here!:clap:, i thought i was lucky to see the guillemot close in!..after your text to alert me about the Cuckoo:t:, i had no luck on the bird, but it may have rested down for the night...hopefully.
Managed a couple of pic,s in the light.
ps. Great photo,s Dougie well done( you lucky bugger! LOL)

 

[echo24]

Excellent finds Dougie, not just the Cuckoo but the Guillemot on the rocks here!:clap:, i thought i was lucky to see the guillemot close in!..after your text to alert me about the Cuckoo:t:, i had no luck on the bird, but it may have rested down for the night...hopefully.
Managed a couple of pic,s in the light.
ps. Great photo,s Dougie well done( you lucky bugger! LOL)

Hi Steve, thanks for that mate

Trow could be well worth a visit first thing in the morning, wish i could do it myself but i'm at work, will pop down when i finish at lunchtime and hopefully it'll still be there.

Cheers, Dougie:t:.

 

[seggs]

A little south of us

Ventured to this well known Little tern colony for my annual visit this evening before the excitment at Trow, spur of the moment thing on the way back from work, as the other half had been on my case about going!
I love this little oasis for the birds in the middle of a public beach, with dog walkers and holiday makers also enjoying it, one or two of the chicks from the tern colony had wandered off..( or birds nested outside of it)
As usual the terns seemed to come over in waves from the sea, and the calls are always a pleasure to listen to, not the harse cries of other terns.
The Ringed plover also as normal have taken full advantage of the fenced off zone.
also C.sand, both martins,swits,swallows,yellowhammers,linnets,med pips,skylark.

 

[echo24]

Trow Cuckoo

Hi Folks,

Gave Trow the 'once over' again today (early pm) in the hope that the Cuckoo would still be around and i'd get some better photos - it wasn't & I didn't!:-C ...........so, here's some slightly better pics from Thursday

Nice weekend all:t:

Cheers, Dougie.

 

[[email protected]]

quiz

wheres this then
think it may be a kids playground

 

[rokermartin]

Hi Folks,

Gave Trow the 'once over' again today (early pm) in the hope that the Cuckoo would still be around and i'd get some better photos - it wasn't & I didn't!:-C ...........so, here's some slightly better pics from Thursday

Nice weekend all:t:

Cheers, Dougie.

I think the Cuckoo was just resting before it started its migration back to Africa adult Cuckoos migrate early often in late June but most leave in July ,juvs migrate in August and September.I have'nt seen a cuckoo in South Tyneside for a few years

 

[seggs]

wheres this then
think it may be a kids playground

One of the popular hang outs with the local youth at Marsden quarry?
:-O..............nice one lads:t:
ps
Is your name on the cliff????..lol.

 

[[email protected]]

One of the popular hang outs with the local youth at Marsden quarry?
:-O..............nice one lads:t:
ps
Is your name on the cliff????..lol.

no Steve our name not on, we forgot our spray cans used them the day before taging a metro train:-O
and better they hang out there than on your front wall
we see one lad sitting drinking next to our feeders everytime we go fill them up if it is after about 6 at night without fail i am sure we think the same of each other ....whats that sad man doing:-O us throwning seed down for the 3 robins that nest along the path and with a big bag on our backs:-O

 

[echo24]

Cuckoo still showing well in Trow early evening:t:.... It was getting some very close attention from a resident Meadow Pipit - mippit wasn't very happy at all!....... what a difference a bit sunshine makes

Cheers, Dougie

 

[echo24]

I think the Cuckoo was just resting before it started its migration back to Africa adult Cuckoos migrate early often in late June but most leave in July ,juvs migrate in August and September.I have'nt seen a cuckoo in South Tyneside for a few years

Get yourself down to Trow, it's been there for a few days.:t:

 

[rokermartin]

Get yourself down to Trow, it's been there for a few days.:t:

Hi yes just got a message from Seggs it is still there tonight.Think i will try for it tomorrow.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi yes just got a message from Seggs it is still there tonight.Think i will try for it tomorrow.

we got message from seggs as well but i am at work in the morning:-C
thanks again seggs:t:

 

[seggs]

This afternoon

Started the days outing at Trow, give the main Quarry area a wide bearth(later to prove a wrong move!)..as it was full of people, tents etc..
The sea was a better option, not great movement but nice all the same for the time of day, from Trow point-2 Artic skua, 3 Manxs, 20+ Guillemots and the same amount of Razorbills close to mid way out..steady movement of Gannets, Kittiwakes ,Fulmars and loads of Auks (mainly Razorbill), Sandwich terns feeding close in and Common and Artic terns passing by. 3 Oystercatchers along with 2 Redshank in the 2nd bay.

 

[seggs]

Young Birds from today

Went along to Whiburn coastal park next, Goldfinchs gathering here with family parties:t:
Again plenty of Auks off the coast..Guillemot not so close in here!, and a couple of pair of Rock pipits, near Jackies beach.
The young ones from today..

 

[seggs]

Whilst sitting watching for sea life this boat came out of the Tyne.
"Tall ships youth trust boat".

 

[seggs]

A few Butterflies from yesterday

These were all taken at Whitburn coastal park
Common blue, pic 1 male. pic. 2 female
Speckled wood, pic. 3
Ringlet pic. 4