In AND around Sunderland (1 Viewer)

[Boldon Buzzard]

For those of you who didn't hear, Ian Mills had a Great Skua at Boldon Flats this morning. It came in low from the west scarred off the gulls and moved off northwards! Ian managed to get some photos.

 

[milvus milvus]

Mandarin duck in the North dock yesterday.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

New dead birds again littering the shore between Roker Pier and Whitburn Steel. Again Puffin was the most numerous with c35 including another ringed bird and an oiled bird. Also Guillemots, Razorbills, several Lapwing, Woodcock, Wood Pigeon and Great Black- backed Gull.

 

[Shaggy2070]

New dead birds again littering the shore between Roker Pier and Whitburn Steel.

Any idea what's causing the deaths?

 

[Adam W]

Any idea what's causing the deaths?

From what I've read the bad weather has stopped them from being able to feed so they have starved to death then obviously been washed up in the easterly winds. Walked along the beach myself this morning plenty of remains of the birds Peter has mentioned no doubt but also several fresh Puffins and Guilemots I noticed that 4 of the half a dozen or so Guilemots were 'Bridled' birds.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Sunderland City Council Officers collected 12 dead Puffin, 6 dead Guillemot and a dead Razorbil from Seaburn/Roker beaches today, many quite freshly dead. Examination of previously collected birds showed a good number of birds of good weight. Odd ones were oiled so it's thought exhaustion could be the main reason for their death? More information wil be available shortly.

 

[Adam W]

I only found 3 really fresh birds, 2 Puffins and a Guillemot. There was very little weight on the Puffins but the Guillemot didnt seem in too bad condition.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

I only found 3 really fresh birds, 2 Puffins and a Guillemot. There was very little weight on the Puffins but the Guillemot didnt seem in too bad condition.

Also of great interest are the washed up remains of Lapwing, 14 yesterday, Wood Pigeon and Woodcock. Presumably these birds were flying low over the sea in atrocious weather conditions and ditched. Were they enroute back across the North Sea?

 

[Adam W]

Also of great interest are the washed up remains of Lapwing, 14 yesterday, Wood Pigeon and Woodcock. Presumably these birds were flying low over the sea in atrocious weather conditions and ditched. Were they enroute back across the North Sea?

Yes I did wonder why species such as those were present,I saw a few Lapwing remains today.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Another 50 or so Puffin washed up dead between Roker Pier and Whitburn Steel today with a few Guillemots and Razorbills. It will be interesting to see the populations at the Northumberland Coast colonies this coming season and if the remaining birds are in any condition to breed.

 

[Adam W]

15 Puffins,2 Razorbills and 2 Guillemots on the beach this morning also old remains of 4 Lapwings.

Water Rail still performing well in the park.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

West Pastures Pool: 4 Gadwall, 5 Teal. Boldon Flats: 38 Redshank, 21 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Snipe, 2 Canada Geese, Teal and Wigeon.

 

[milvus milvus]

Lazy shag.


It has been hanging around the fishermen on Roker old pier for two days, waiting for tit bits.

 

[Adam W]

Little Ringed Plover and Chiff Chaff at Boldon Flats this afternoon also 6 species of Gull together on the flash off Moor lane including this Med Gull that dropped in briefly and both Black Backs,suprising just how big the Great is compared to the Lesser when side by side.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

Another survey of the shore from Roker Pier to Whitburn Steel for dead birds revealed the remains of 15 Puffin, 3 Razorbill, 10 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Woodcock, 1 Gannet, 1 Redwing and 1 Starling.

 

[Adam W]

Female Blackcap again in Roker park this morning along side the stream also Water Rail still and 2 Mallard in the stream,Another pair of Mallard and Mute Swans on the pond.
Had a good walk along the front hoping for a Wheatear but no luck, A few Ducks passing by,Mallard,Wigeon,6 Eiders,a drake Goosander and a pair of RB Mergansers.
No fresh birds found washed up today but the remains of a Kittiwake at Roker was a new one.

 

[Boldon Buzzard]

The two Puffins I found dead, 24 & 25th March, at Seaburn were both ringed at The Farnes as adults in 2010. City of Sunderland beach workers had collected another c70 dead Puffins over the holiday weekend.

 

[Adam W]

Had a trip to the Wildfowl park today, Highlights included 11 Avocets and 2 Black Tailed Godwits (one nice summer plumage bird) on Wader lake. Siskin at Hawthorn hide and drake Goosander on the river.

 

[Adam W]

Excellent views of a Sparrowhawk from the wooden viewing screen at Whitburn CPK this afternoon bathing in the edge of the pond.

 

[dampflippers]

I had a very quick visit this morning and there was one heavily predated razorbill carcass at the Whitburn end near the fisherman's hut, on the sand.