in and around south tyneside (1 Viewer)

[seggs]

Steve,

That's why a run through is so important as we need to get it right first time so we can't leave anything to chance. Have you had any success getting another volunteer for Sunday morning to help with the parking?

The BBC forecast says heavy rain around 7 pm tomorrow so it might be a dry run in the pub:-O and then a wet run to the beer pumps :-O:-O

Brian

Brian if no one else comes forward to help out on any of the shifts i am prepared to cover all of them.:t:...its a small price to pay giving up a weekend for such a venture.

And the next one towards the end of the summer.

4 or more on each shift would be ideal.

 

[The gaffer]

Brian if no one else comes forward to help out on any of the shifts i am prepared to cover all of them.:t:...its a small price to pay giving up a weekend for such a venture.

And the next one towards the end of the summer.

4 or more on each shift would be ideal.

Steve you are dead right there:t:

Brian

 

[seggs]

:t:

Sandhaven Beach Steve.

Good report of Knots here.:t:and great to hear Sanderling are back in good numbers, any colour ringed etc. yet?

 

[Adam W]

Had a quick look at Boldon flats this morning but little other than this extremly tame Rabbit,Then had a couple of hours down at Whitburn steel,finally managed to see my first Arctic Tern of the year(unless anyone can tell me it isnt one) also a single Roseate with the Common and Sandwich Terns both of which had several young also a young kittiwake with the Terns.
Very good numbers of waders now most notably a Greenshank which circled while calling but i didnt see if or where it landed, 3 Whimbrel,2 Knot,2 Sanderling,16 Oystercatchers and more Golden Plover,Redshank,Dunlin and Turnstones than i could count.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

finally managed to see my first Arctic Tern of the year(unless anyone can tell me it isnt one)

It looks like an Arctic to me. Quite long tail streamers extending way beyond the tail on that bird, nice one.:t:

 

[Adam W]

It looks like an Arctic to me. Quite long tail streamers extending way beyond the tail on that bird, nice one.:t:

Thanks Andrew,i was pretty certain with this one but i just seemed to be struggling with them this year for some reason so i thought I'd double check.

 

[rokermartin]

Been on a Dark-green Frit hunt this morning i managed to see one at Waskerley.Also saw my second Whinchat of the year there.Also plenty of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls flying around.Called in Burnhill on the way home nothing much seen butterfly wise but had a excellent close view of a Hobby flying through.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Called at S. Shields this afternoon for a stroll along the pier, but once again, the gates were locked and only the die hard fishermen were on the seaward side of the gates. No Idea why the gates were locked again as the sea was fairly flat calm.
Anyway, had a brows around the South Side of the pier.
Birds seen:
Linnets, goldfinch, kestrel and flock of starlings, common terns, sandwich terns, single arctic and what I believe was a roseate tern, kittywake, sanderling, dunlin, ringed plover and a couple of knot, one of which was ringed, red on one leg and yellow on the other which had the letters ENA.
Also the usual gulls, cormorants etc and plenty dog walkers.

Image 4 = Roseate, I think!

 

[Ray.Scott]

Some more from today.
Image 3 shows ringed Knot, couldn't get a descent shot of the red tag.

 

[rokermartin]

Called at S. Shields this afternoon for a stroll along the pier, but once again, the gates were locked and only the die hard fishermen were on the seaward side of the gates. No Idea why the gates were locked again as the sea was fairly flat calm.
Anyway, had a brows around the South Side of the pier.
Birds seen:
Linnets, goldfinch, kestrel and flock of starlings, common terns, sandwich terns, single arctic and what I believe was a roseate tern, kittywake, sanderling, dunlin, ringed plover and a couple of knot, one of which was ringed, red on one leg and yellow on the other which had the letters ENA.
Also the usual gulls, cormorants etc and plenty dog walkers.

Image 4 = Roseate, I think!

Hi Ray you are right pic 4 is Roseate Tern.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Hi Ray you are right pic 4 is Roseate Tern.

Cheers Martin :t:.

 

[mcepjg]

I also saw 19 common, an arctic a sandwich and a roseate at the big beach today.

 

[agamiheron]

Morning all, can anyone advise where the best place to seawatch is from Whitburn, is it Souter Lighthouse or as I've read somewhere to the east of Shearwater estate?

Cheers in advance Gary

 

[Adam W]

Morning all, can anyone advise where the best place to seawatch is from Whitburn, is it Souter Lighthouse or as I've read somewhere to the east of Shearwater estate?

Cheers in advance Gary

I find the area where the obs is which is east of shearwater estate is the best i guess thats the reason that the obs was put there though i dont usually go into the obs myself i usually sit a little furter south of there.

 

[agamiheron]

Cheers Adam, not from this next of the woods so wasn't sure where people reported they're sitings from.

Cheers again Gary

PS is the Observatory sign posted from the estate??

 

[Adam W]

Cheers Adam, not from this next of the woods so wasn't sure where people reported they're sitings from.

Cheers again Gary

PS is the Observatory sign posted from the estate??

Its not but you cant miss it really,if you know where the car park is on the north edge of the estate(the one between the estate and the light house) the footpath takes you straight into the area surrounded by a mound and a stone wall, this is a rough area with a pond in the middle(though this isnt very visible from most angles) you'll see the obs in the south east corner of here you also cant miss it from the foot path that runs all the way along the edge of the cliff tops.
You need a key(available from the shop at the light house I believe) for the obs but as i said you dont have to go in there but that general area is probably best for seawatching.

 

[rokermartin]

South Shields this afternoon 3 Roseate Terns,2 Arctic Terns,20+ Common Terns,10 Sandwich Terns.

 

[keithmc]

had a walk down trow then cleadon hills last night.little owls showing well, heard 3 different groppas on cleadon hills all near golf course on top of old quarry. plenty of hirundines, sand martins really going for a female kestrel 20 or 30 dive bombing as she sat on top of the cliff scanning the ground. seen a single yellowhammer, first one i've seen for weeks, linnets and goldfinch flying overhead in good numbers.4 young kestrels flying around good views of a fox as well

 

[seggs]

Some more from today.
Image 3 shows ringed Knot, couldn't get a descent shot of the red tag.

Great set of shots Ray:t:....thanks for letting me know what i am missing..:-O:-C

Try this site for the colour ringed Knot, the info. you have should be enough, doubt if theres any lettering on the red band.
http://blx1.bto.org/euring/main/

Ive had some excellent emails back in the past about ringed birds from reporting them here in the first place. The information is passed onto the people who are involved in the projects, one or two sightings i have passed on and had replies back have been interesting to say the least!
Still waiting for a outcome from a colour ringed Twite from Mull in May this year...but they are on the case.:t:

This is why i asked Martin in a earlier post about the Sanderlings on Sandhaven, the last two years running a certain bird has returned here and spent most of the winter..(also reported at St.marys)..another colour ringed bird was present last year and caused a lot of confusement with the ringing folk!..it was missing a colour band/flag when i reported the bird.
But in the end after emails between myself and various other ringers the birds origins were sorted out.
If anyone wants a direct link to Sanderlings colour ringed/banded contact this bloke..its a lot quicker to use this link for replies and he,s sound!
[email protected]

 

[rokermartin]

Hi Steve i didn't see any Sanderlings with colour rings on all of them were adults in summer plumage.The juvs will be turning up anytime now.