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Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Stewart J.
- Start date
level seven
Registered user
Just got back from a smashing few hours on the coast near St Mary's Island with my granddaughter.
The birding highlight was several Wheatears, including three superb males, in the field with the masts near the caravan park.
On another note, why don't rock-pools ever have anything in but different types of seaweed when I go looking for stuff?
The birding highlight was several Wheatears, including three superb males, in the field with the masts near the caravan park.
On another note, why don't rock-pools ever have anything in but different types of seaweed when I go looking for stuff?
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
level seven said:
Posted by Level Seven at 3.05 pm, noted at 5.30 pm, arrived at 6.00 pm and seven males present. Beautiful!
level seven
Registered user
Seven? Nice one! I'm not too surprised actually as I thought I might have seen at least one or two more in flight. I was distracted by a ten-year-old or would have done a more accurate count.....mILLYg said:
Presumably they'll be moving on, although I remember a nice male being present all summer at Newbiggin beach a couple of years ago.
RobF
Well-known member
patmartin said:
The fire was started by a farmer, not a controlled burn by estate staff.
I've walked through the area many times and the heather was waist deep in places and starting to degenerate. Heather moorland is a habitat that is adapted to burning, and within a year or two the vegetation will have recovered. In this instance it was fortunate that it was lit in April and not later in the year when there are more birds nesting.
Today on a burnt area on another part of the range there were 2 Blackcock lekking right in the middle of the patch.
Had Sand Martin and Swallow today as well as the moorland regulars.
Rob
stew the smew
Registered User - but trying to quit.
great news about the little owls pat. i've pmed you.
rob, any idea whereabouts in the rede valley, was going out for run tomorrow and wouldn't mind heading up that way.
today:
red kite circling the a69 at nefferton farm.
my first swallow of the year at fourstones.
rob, any idea whereabouts in the rede valley, was going out for run tomorrow and wouldn't mind heading up that way.
today:
red kite circling the a69 at nefferton farm.
my first swallow of the year at fourstones.
RobF
Well-known member
The eagle was on moorland between Rochester and Byrness, theres a layby on the A68 just before you enter Kielder Forest from which you could scan the moor to the north and south of the roads. The gos should be displaying well if the forecast is correct. Good luck.
Had a few Willow Warbler in a conifer planting on the Range today, and had what I'm pretty sure was a Rough-legged buzzard near Otterburn. It had a very white tail with black terminal band and was flying differently to a normal buzzard.
Have a good weekend birding.
Rob
Had a few Willow Warbler in a conifer planting on the Range today, and had what I'm pretty sure was a Rough-legged buzzard near Otterburn. It had a very white tail with black terminal band and was flying differently to a normal buzzard.
Have a good weekend birding.
Rob
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
Stewart J.
Well-known member
Willow Warblers singing behind house this morning, 4 very vocal Buzzards displaying overhead whilst gardening late morning so off to a good start. First Swallow of year at Williamston (So Tyne)
Birding in hills this afternoon, most of the previously reported groups of Golden Plovers have now left, only one large group of 200+ Fieldfare near Allendale.
Ayle Fell
Buzzard 3, Wheaters singing, Golden Plover and Snipe displaying, Red Grouse very noticeable and vocal.
Middlehope Moor (nr Allenheads)
Black Grouse 6 males & 2 Greyhens, Red Grouse 47 (displaying everywhere) While watching a displaying male a Blackcock passed close to it the Red then attacked it and flew off after it mobbing it aggressively for several minutes till lost to sight probably covering 1/2 mile. In all my years of Grouse obs have never witnessed anything like this! Snipe displaying everywhere 20+ in air at one time, 3 Raven, Wheaters singing and to cap it all 2 displaying Short Eared Owls as we left.
Paxhill Area (nr Allenheads) 18.00hrs finally located the Blackcock lek we've been looking for this last couple of years 8 males put on a good show in sunshine. Snipe displaying everywhere with smaller numbers of disp Redshank and Golden Plover.
Swinhope Shield
Black grouse 11 males.
Sinderhope area
Black Grouse male and a greyhen, Snipe displaying 11 in air together!
Dryburn Moor area Black Grouse 7 males at lek site really going for it, Snipe disp 100+ Golden Plover in a flock and singles disp overhead.
Back to work tomorrow
Stewart
Birding in hills this afternoon, most of the previously reported groups of Golden Plovers have now left, only one large group of 200+ Fieldfare near Allendale.
Ayle Fell
Buzzard 3, Wheaters singing, Golden Plover and Snipe displaying, Red Grouse very noticeable and vocal.
Middlehope Moor (nr Allenheads)
Black Grouse 6 males & 2 Greyhens, Red Grouse 47 (displaying everywhere) While watching a displaying male a Blackcock passed close to it the Red then attacked it and flew off after it mobbing it aggressively for several minutes till lost to sight probably covering 1/2 mile. In all my years of Grouse obs have never witnessed anything like this! Snipe displaying everywhere 20+ in air at one time, 3 Raven, Wheaters singing and to cap it all 2 displaying Short Eared Owls as we left.
Paxhill Area (nr Allenheads) 18.00hrs finally located the Blackcock lek we've been looking for this last couple of years 8 males put on a good show in sunshine. Snipe displaying everywhere with smaller numbers of disp Redshank and Golden Plover.
Swinhope Shield
Black grouse 11 males.
Sinderhope area
Black Grouse male and a greyhen, Snipe displaying 11 in air together!
Dryburn Moor area Black Grouse 7 males at lek site really going for it, Snipe disp 100+ Golden Plover in a flock and singles disp overhead.
Back to work tomorrow
Stewart
Walk this morning - Heddon on the Wall, down Station Road, on to River Tyne, along to Close House and back up to Heddon.
Highlights were, my first Swallow at Heddon Haugh Farm.
Sand Martin numbers increased to 30.
First Blackcap in Close House, pair of Nuthatch close by and a Goldcrest foraging in tree, three feet above my head, giving the impression that it was not concerned with my presence.
Buzzard circling over Heddon Common, then flew north.
Highlights were, my first Swallow at Heddon Haugh Farm.
Sand Martin numbers increased to 30.
First Blackcap in Close House, pair of Nuthatch close by and a Goldcrest foraging in tree, three feet above my head, giving the impression that it was not concerned with my presence.
Buzzard circling over Heddon Common, then flew north.
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Druridge Poo!
Afternoon spoiled to a slight degree by the urban populus of N/land descending like termites all over the usually quiet birding places. No end of loud music and BBQs. Nonetheless, managed to match a Willow Warbler with its song (usually heard and not seen by me) and also get a flash of a Ring Ouzel overhead whilst walking back from the Lean-To Hide to the road at Druridge Pools.
Afternoon spoiled to a slight degree by the urban populus of N/land descending like termites all over the usually quiet birding places. No end of loud music and BBQs. Nonetheless, managed to match a Willow Warbler with its song (usually heard and not seen by me) and also get a flash of a Ring Ouzel overhead whilst walking back from the Lean-To Hide to the road at Druridge Pools.
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FATHER AND SON TEAM
1st terns
we were 5 of them urban populus today took the kids fishing at amble but seen what looked like 2 sandwich terns fishing and doing better than usmILLYg said:
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
It's Better Than Butter
The stork was still at the top of the pylon at Linton this morning at 0605 hrs. It's the pylon north of the railway crossing next to the disused road. The bird is not ringed according to another birder there.
The stork was still at the top of the pylon at Linton this morning at 0605 hrs. It's the pylon north of the railway crossing next to the disused road. The bird is not ringed according to another birder there.