in and around south tyneside (1 Viewer)

[seggs]

Here's a few of my (heavily cropped record) shots from the same trip. Well worth the early rise and drive down from Edinburgh.

For me the highlight was the pair of White-beaked Dolphins that played around the boat while at the same time a grey phalarope did a quick flypast. I called it, then thought "oh carp, was that a sanderling..." Luckily it soon came back for seconds! :-O

Also here's an almost blue fulmar - an intermediate that looked bluer in flight than it looks in the shot. And a puffin, of course.

Great trip, highly recommended.:t:

Geoff

Cracking shots Morg well worth the early rise from up North!:t:
Martin told us about these exceptional sightings on our trip... like always you never know on any pelagic what might show...thats what makes them special.:t:

 

[seggs]

*&"^$(*$"^$^&"£&!!!!!


Er.....no, we didn't.:-C

What did i say to yous....!:-O:-O my luck is not great with the Black Redstarts here.
Nice one again Ian.:t:

 

[IanMc]

Where is Trow? We'd be coming from Ponteland.

Is it suitable for less-than-less mobile husband?
June

There is also a small carpark behind mango's pub which is free to use just before you get to the main pay by the minute carpark, if you're lucky there are sometimes a few spaces:t: As steve said its about a five minute walk from here to the black redstarts

 

[IanMc]

What did i say to yous....!:-O:-O my luck is not great with the Black Redstarts here.
Nice one again Ian.:t:

Cheers steve, almost feel guilty now.

 

[seggs]

Three Greenshanks still at Washington wwt along with steady build up of Teal..the Common tern island turned into Heron island on this visit.
And the elusive Kingfisher flashed over the wader lake twice! first time we have seen it here...:t:
Also a male Emperor Dragonfly on the small ponds north of the wader lake near spring gill wood and a female in Small Scotland!..which really surprised us.

 

[Adam W]

Had a look around the Leas/Trow area this afternoon but didnt see a great lot,didnt see the Black redstarts.2 Wheatears and a Med Gull over were the only things of note.

 

[martin kitching]

Hi June

2 more trips coming up;

Saturday September 11th, 4hr trip from Seahouses - places still available, £30/person

Saturday September 18th, 8hr from Royal Quays - SOLD OUT

We're just finalising dates for trips in November and December that will concentrate on Grey Seals, wintering auks and seaduck.

cheers
martin

I'm soooooo envious of you guys! What a superb two trips you must have had.
Are there any more this year, Martin?

Having said that, we're doing the Coastal Britain cruise from the Tyne later this year, so maybe I'll be fortunate enough to see some of these wonderful creatures!
I love the Gannets!!!
June

 

[June Atkinson]

Trow directions

Andy,
Thanks for this info - safely downloaded for reference. In fact, I think we passed along this section of the coastal road a fortnight ago, without realising that there was so much of interest!
We'll try again, when Souter is open perhaps!!

June

###

June,

I have included a web link for streetmap. Trow Quarry is directly behind the area on the coast labled "Trow Point" on the map. There are parking facilities and a path that leads past the southern most bay to where the black red-stars can be seen. My only worry is that it may a little to far to walk for someone who is less than fully mobile.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...archp=ids.srf&dn=617&ax=438475&ay=566660&lm=0

And the grid co-ordinates for Trow:

OS X (Eastings) 438475
OS Y (Northings) 566660
Nearest Post Code NE33 2JH
LR NZ384666

Best of luck

 

[June Atkinson]

Pelagic trips

Thanks, Martin.
Can't manage the first and the second is near our holiday, but maybe next year I'll be quicker off the mark
June

Hi June

2 more trips coming up;

Saturday September 11th, 4hr trip from Seahouses - places still available, £30/person

Saturday September 18th, 8hr from Royal Quays - SOLD OUT

We're just finalising dates for trips in November and December that will concentrate on Grey Seals, wintering auks and seaduck.

cheers
martin

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

The Sibes are coming!

Well I hope so anyway. With winds up to 30mph from the east/south east + rain can only be a good thing for us Durham birders!

If it wasn't so costly I would be out in Trow tomorrow afternoon looking for my own stuff. But I would rather save my petrol and wait for you lads to find something:t:

Booted Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, and Arctic Warbler would be nice.:t: I reckon Booted is certainly on the cards? Might have to have a look out more localy to try and find stuff.

 

[Mark Newsome]

...But I would rather save my petrol and wait for you lads to find something:t:

That's the spirit! :-O You're fitting into the Durham birding scene well!

Booted Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, and Arctic Warbler would be nice.:t: I reckon Booted is certainly on the cards? Might have to have a look out more localy to try and find stuff.

If I were you Andrew, with you being a cash-strapped student-to-be, I'd catch the bus to somewhere like Peterlee, then walk north (or south) for a good few miles and then catch the bus home (or get a lift with an accomodating mate!). Maybe bus it to Sunderland and do the coastline south to Seaham? There's masses of cover for migrants which rarely gets checked, and no end of bramble for Barred Warblers and weedy patches for Booted Warblers. Who knows what else slips through - probably much, much more than we realise.

Wednesday may be the day though - the birds will arrive through Tuesday but it'll be very difficult conditions. A cloudy windy night with a bit of rain will stop the birds moving on, then the brighter much calmer conditions on Wednesday will hopefully make it easier to find the goodies. I'll give you a ring on Wednesday evening and let you know what I've seen.

Mark

 

[rokermartin]

Well I hope so anyway. With winds up to 30mph from the east/south east + rain can only be a good thing for us Durham birders!

If it wasn't so costly I would be out in Trow tomorrow afternoon looking for my own stuff. But I would rather save my petrol and wait for you lads to find something:t:

Booted Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, and Arctic Warbler would be nice.:t: I reckon Booted is certainly on the cards? Might have to have a look out more localy to try and find stuff.

Hi Foghorn Brown Fly in Yorkshire yesterday but not seen to day.It's still a bit early for the majority of sibs.If it had been the back end of this month or Oct it would have been better.

 

[rokermartin]

Record count of Red Admirals in the garden today 14. Full report on the Durham butterfly thread.

 

[Mark Newsome]

Hi Foghorn Brown Fly in Yorkshire yesterday but not seen to day.It's still a bit early of the majority of sibs.If it had been the back end of this month or Oct it would have been better.

I'd be more than happy with this weather system during the second week of September. If you think that the last week or so has brought Brown Fly, Eastern Olivaceous, Collared Fly (or hybrid!), several Arctic and Greenish Warblers, Great Snipe, Booted Warbler etc, plus a good range of more regular backup, there is masses of potential for something good on our coast. I'd more more than happy with a good fall of Redstarts, Pied Flys and Whinchats, with a few Icterines, Barreds, Ortolans, Wrynecks, Rosefinchs etc thrown in. There doesn't have to be a big rarity to make a fall enjoyable.
Wednesday already booked off work...

Mark

 

[rokermartin]

I'd be more than happy with this weather system during the second week of September. If you think that the last week or so has brought Brown Fly, Eastern Olivaceous, Collared Fly (or hybrid!), several Arctic and Greenish Warblers, Great Snipe, Booted Warbler etc, plus a good range of more regular backup, there is masses of potential for something good on our coast. I'd more more than happy with a good fall of Redstarts, Pied Flys and Whinchats, with a few Icterines, Barreds, Ortolans, Wrynecks, Rosefinchs etc thrown in. There doesn't have to be a big rarity to make a fall enjoyable.
Wednesday already booked off work...

Mark

Hi Mark i would settle for a good fall of migrants.Falls of migrants are getting rare now even in the autumn more so in the spring. I am not expecting many sibs turning up still a bit early.More likely Rosefinches,Icterine Warblers Wrynecks,Greenish Warblers,RB Flycatchers ,RB Shrikes etc.Also you never know very few birds may not be found we've had perfect fall conditions a few times on the east coast and very little has turned up.

 

[keithmc]

got a call today wor kid 2 pied flycatchers at trow. saw both birds briefly right against the cliff face behind the trees. coudnt get any photos although ian managed a couple before i got there. did snap a tree pipit. hope you had better luck steve. med gull opposite bamburgh pub.
marsden next another pied flycatcher on the steep bridle path leading to the riding school on lizard lane. to quick for a photo, thats 4 ive seen this week and still no photo.
winchat on the golf course near the clubhouse.
over to the crags little owl, couple of blue tits and a wren. the gorse on the top held loads of goldfinch and linnet and a single yellowhammer. another winchat on the roadside at the caravan site on the way back to van.

 

[Scribbly Jack]

forgive my ignorance here, though I do have sound knowledge of British weather. I would have thought that at autumn time polar continental winds i.e. north easterly would yield more in the way of passage birds?
At the moment we have low pressure in charge, which is sitting and being held in the Atlantic. This will produce winds from a southerly (tropical/ tropical continental) direction. Even moving the synoptic chart on 72hrs produces little change. How then are these good conditions for migrants?
I don't doubt you are right, I would just like the intricacies of bird migration explained.

 

[IanMc]

Quick visit of trow today, managed to see two pied flycatchers although pics were hard to get as they stayed deep into the trees. Also tree pipit and couple blackbirds. Very strong south easterly on the leas and nothing seen on the hedge, two reed bunt juvs on the mound.

 

[Mark Newsome]

forgive my ignorance here, though I do have sound knowledge of British weather. I would have thought that at autumn time polar continental winds i.e. north easterly would yield more in the way of passage birds?
At the moment we have low pressure in charge, which is sitting and being held in the Atlantic. This will produce winds from a southerly (tropical/ tropical continental) direction. Even moving the synoptic chart on 72hrs produces little change. How then are these good conditions for migrants?
I don't doubt you are right, I would just like the intricacies of bird migration explained.

Attached is a chart for the forecast as of 12.00 tomorrow. I suppose you have to think about where birds are coming from and what they are doing. Over Scandinavia and Russia is a large high pressure system giving calm dry conditions ie good for migration. Birds are generally leaving breeding grounds now and some will natually ride the high pressure, bringing them in a generally westerly direction, towards the UK. The low pressure moving in over the UK is feeding east/south-easterly winds from northern and eastern Europe, so the birds moving west and south will possibly be blown onto the east coast of Britain. The front moving north up the east coast is bringing very heavy rain over tomorrow and will force any migrants down into the first coastal cover they find. Or at least, that's the theory.
The range of possible birds is dependant on whats migrating from the area where the high pressure is dominant, which you can see from the chart covers a large chunk of Scandinavia and Russia (and further east).

Obviously things are a lot more complex than I could do in a brief explanation. So many factors are involved in bird migration and still a lot we don't know. Fascinating subject.

Mark

 

[IanMc]

Quick visit of trow today, managed to see two pied flycatchers although pics were hard to get as they stayed deep into the trees. Also tree pipit and couple blackbirds. Very strong south easterly on the leas and nothing seen on the hedge, two reed bunt juvs on the mound.

Just had another look at the fly catcher pic i took at trow today and noticed a slight white second wingbar and wondered if it was possible it could be collared flycatcher/semi, long shot i know.Also white on the outer tail feathers looks like it reaches round the tip. Any ideas?