in and around south tyneside (1 Viewer)

[Boldon Buzzard]

Colliery Wood: c70 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Mealy Redpoll + 1 other, 14 Siskin, 6 Goldfinch, 2-3 Jay, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Woodcock and 1 Short-eared Owl.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

West Pastures: Barn Owl hunting, 3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Buzzard.

 

[Adam W]

Very nearly went to coliery woods this afternoon,wish I had now. Nice one with the Barn Owl Peter,not the easiest to catch up with locally.

 

[Stuart2012]

Hi peter. So it was a Barnie ! Did you manage to get decent views of it ? I know barnies can hunt over a large area. Do you think it could be same one reported not to far from there?

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Hi peter. So it was a Barnie ! Did you manage to get decent views of it ? I know barnies can hunt over a large area. Do you think it could be same one reported not to far from there?

Hi Stuart,
Received a phone call just after mid-day, while in Colliery Wood from a non-birder to say there was a white owl hunting over the Pastures. To be honest i never rushed over but when I did, sure enough there was a Barn Owl hunting with three shorties. It was great to see them hunting over snow covered fields. Work is quiet at the moment so will look again tomorrow.

 

[dampflippers]

Two goldcrests on my fat ball feeders today.
Are they usually solitary like robins, or do they flock?

I haven't had any long tailed tits yet which I feel surprised by.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Two goldcrests on my fat ball feeders today.
Are they usually solitary like robins, or do they flock?

I haven't had any long tailed tits yet which I feel surprised by.

They do both, but in winter they usually join in with tit flocks where Treecreeper can often be seen as well.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Colliery Wood: c70 Redpoll- only viewed a few well which were Lesser, 5 siskin, 14 Goldfinch, 5 Goldrest-3 together, heard 2-3 Jay, Treecreeper, Short-eared Owl, few Woodcock sightings. Boldon Flats: 137 Greylag, Goldrest, at dusk several Woodcock sightings and a Little Owl perched on Hawthorn. No sign of the beast.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Wildfowl returning to Boldon Flats after the thaw. Upto 210 Greylag past few days with 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye, 45 Wigeon, 110 Teal and usual pair of Mute Swans.

 

[dampflippers]

East Boldon garden backing onto fields.
Saturday 8.30 am
On ground.
Neighbour has alot of standing water at present.
Is it possible that she could have had a wader like a sandpiper visiting?
Her account: "Biig bird, looong beak, thin legs, darkish."

I showed her a bird book and I think it was definitely a wader (not a heron) and she homed in on the sandpiper page (rather than curlews or woodcock). Or maybe wimbrel?
She said not a moorhen (which we have had in previous years)

...and not a pheasant- we get hundreds of those and she knows them.

 

[Shaggy2070]

Neighbour has alot of standing water at present.
Is it possible that she could have had a wader like a sandpiper visiting?
Her account: "Biig bird, looong beak, thin legs, darkish."

Biig Bird with a Looong beak, could possibly be a Godwit ???

 

[Mark Newsome]

East Boldon garden backing onto fields.
Saturday 8.30 am
On ground.
Neighbour has alot of standing water at present.
Is it possible that she could have had a wader like a sandpiper visiting?
Her account: "Biig bird, looong beak, thin legs, darkish."

I showed her a bird book and I think it was definitely a wader (not a heron) and she homed in on the sandpiper page (rather than curlews or woodcock). Or maybe wimbrel?
She said not a moorhen (which we have had in previous years)

...and not a pheasant- we get hundreds of those and she knows them.

Very little in the description to say one way of the other for definite, but the fact she says its a big bird with a long bill wading in the water, probably hints at a Curlew. Plus there are plenty of Curlews in fields in the East Boldon area. The other common wader alternative is a Redshank, but this is less likely to be noticed as being 'different'. Very little chance of Whimbrel (which would look identical to a Curlew to the public) and also very little chance of a sandpiper of any description at this time of year.

Descriptions from the public are notorious for being nothing like the bird itself. Take the example in the Boldon area a year or two back of a Squirrel with a piece of wood stuck to its head that was in need of help - which turned out to be a Woodcock...

Mark

[Edit for Shaggy2070 - a godwit could fit the description, but either species would be unlikely on a flooded field inland nr Boldon in winter. But Curlew is a common bird here.]

 

[Adam W]

Descriptions from the public are notorious for being nothing like the bird itself. Take the example in the Boldon area a year or two back of a Squirrel with a piece of wood stuck to its head that was in need of help - which turned out to be a Woodcock...

Mark

:-O Thats brilliant.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Boldon Flats: 3 Jack Snipe, 12 Snipe,1 Woodcock,16 Curlew 56 Greylag, 1 Pink-foot reported, 2 Mute Swans, 62 Wigeon, 8 Tufted Duck and 1 Goldeneye.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Lots of Little Owl activity this evening around Boldon Flats. Bird Calling early, 1630, by Flats Bridge where a very local pair were at 1745. Nearby in Cleadon Lane, a pair were observed mating on top of the Truro Haulage building at 1720. Then observed in nearby paddocks.

 

[dampflippers]

I know it's a bit short notice, but here are details of a fun quiz with a nature twist happening tomorrow evening:

The Friends of West Boldon Lodge are holding a quiz night and are inviting teams of up to 8 people to enter. The cost is £2 per person.

When: Tuesday 5th February 2013
Doors open 7pm. Quiz starts 7:30pm

Where: West Boldon Lodge, West Boldon Substation,
Newcastle Road, West Boldon. NE36 0BG

There will be limited hot and cold soft drinks available on the night though we encourage you to bring your own, including alcohol & snacks if you wish – make a night of it!

It will be a general knowledge quiz in ‘pub quiz’ format, with a bit of a nature theme running through it. We’ll also be holding a raffle, so please do bring along ‘prizes’ for the raffle table. Any unwanted items in good condition are welcome, so please dig out books, CD’s, unwanted gifts, toys etc – if you can’t use it, someone else will!

Teams are asked to register beforehand to help us with the room layout and because numbers are limited.

To register your team, simply email the Friends of West Boldon Lodge at: [email protected] or call Clare on 0191 424 7423 during office hours.

The aim of the quiz night is to raise funds, raise awareness of the Friends Group and to have a good night out. We are currently raising money to support the West Boldon Wild Things kids eco club and to support the work of the Lodge. West Boldon Lodge is the only environmental education centre in South Tyneside. Please do come along and support this great local cause.

If you can’t make it but wish to support the cause by donating raffle prizes, they will be gratefully received.

Thanks
Clare Rawcliffe
Countryside Officer, Greenspace Team

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Barnacle Goose at Boldon Flats this morning. Also Jack Snipe and 15 Snipe.

 

[Kesterel]

Dead Weasel next to the Tilesheds to Biddick Hall railcrossing :-(

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Coulthard Park: 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper. Boldon Flats: Jack Snipe, 11 Snipe, 2 Woodcock.

 

[ian hamilton]

Boldon Flats 1000-1100.
4 Mute Swan, 40 Greylag Geese, c50 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 4 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, f Goldeneye, 2 Moorhen and 1 Curlew.

1-2 Golden Plover in the field off sunderland road opp the academy.