Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Keith Reeder]

it's in the properties of the photo along with exposure data etc.

...Is the correct answer.

I use Firefox, and there are several Exif reading plug-ins available, several of which I've installed.

I just right click on the image, select "Read image Exif" from the menu, and Bob's your uncle - dead useful.

 

[craigthirlwell]

alwinton (again)

I spent a couple of days in the alwinton area. Normal stuff bird wise.
Odd thing today. A bat fying about in the middle of the day (about 1pm).
It then landed on a tree trunk less then a metre off the ground. I'm no expert on bats. I know it's a pip but have never observed this before. Anybody know if this is normal?

Before anybody asks that isn't my hand. I only ever where pink stones in my rings!!

 

[brianfm]

I spent a couple of days in the alwinton area. Normal stuff bird wise.
Odd thing today. A bat fying about in the middle of the day (about 1pm).
It then landed on a tree trunk less then a metre off the ground. I'm no expert on bats. I know it's a pip but have never observed this before. Anybody know if this is normal?

Before anybody asks that isn't my hand. I only ever where pink stones in my rings!!

I remember seeing a bat (goodness knows what species) flying around in Durham last year, around noon and in full sun. I though at the time it was very odd. I wondered if it had mouths to feed and had been forced out. It's the only one I can ever remember seeing at that time of day. I'm interested to see if anyone has an opinion too.

 

[seggs]

quick look at duridge and cresswell this evening 6-7.30pm
main pool at cresswell quiet
the smaller hide on the main track proved more productive...1 ruff..1 spotted redshank..1 greenshank..2 dunlin..
cresswell-
1 spoonbill..6 knots..10 dunlin..4 herons.. also the small north pool held another spotted redshank..
crap pic i know! best i could get..

 

[seggs]

big water

first visit for us here today..and very impressed we were too..lovely spot with a great hide (cushions on the seats!)..and great feeding station..
we were not sure which way to get to the hide so took the path on the south side of the lake (next to the farmed field), as we passed the gull roost a LITTLE EGRET flew north low over the path..a local birder let us into the hide and told us its a first for the site!..great.. pity we could not relocate..
not much else here today..

 

[level seven]

first visit for us here today..and very impressed we were too..lovely spot with a great hide (cushions on the seats

We like to make our visitors from the south comfortable

 

[seggs]

We like to make our visitors from the south comfortable

And you,s did graham..
well impressed!! great site..will be back soon,when we obtain a key to the hides..from nwt..
on a more sombre note..we popped over to swallow pond (rising sun country park)..on return to the main car parking area,a rabbit hid under the car..
looked to be affected by mixcie(bad spelling i know)...... and only this years young..weeping at the eyes(totally closed really) and very dosile..
i will spare the pics..(only taken for research purpose)not a nice site..

 

[StevieEvans]

Druridge Bay
Between sand castle building & sunbathing a cream crown Marsh Harrier came inland, a noisy Greenshank & 5 vocal Whimbrel also headed in-off.
Ex. close views of 5 RTDivers flying north together plus a Velvet Scoter.
SE

 

[Gill Osborne]

There's been a lot of Myx around this year - I took three wild rabbits to the local vet only last week to be pts. They were so far gone I could just walk up to them and pick them up, poor blighters :-C

 

[level seven]

RSPB Potteric Carr trip

I'm the field trip organiser for the Newcastle RSPB local group. Most of our field trips leave full but several of our members are on holiday in September and I suspect there may be a few spare seats on our trip to Potteric Carr in Yorkshire on Saturday September 22nd.

Most people will know what a good reputation the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve has. It has a wide range of landscapes from open water and marsh to woodland and lies at the northern limit of many species of plants and animals with a southerly distribution in Britain. As a result of this and the diversity of habitats found on the reserve, including the largest area of reed beds in South Yorkshire, there is a wide range of wildlife to be found, including plants, butterflies and dragonflies as well as birds.

For groups visiting the reserve there is a concessionary entrance rate of £1.50 a person which will be collected on the coach.

The cost is £13 and the coach will leave Claremont Road in Newcastle at 8:00, returning by 6:30 in the evening.

Anyone wanting to take advantage of a coach going down there will be very welcome. There's no need to stay with the group, in fact most people go round by themselves, in pairs, or in small groups. It's not necessary to be a member of the RSPB to attend the occasional field trip.

Please PM me if you, or anyone you know, might be interested.

 

[symphony]

Small pool just south of Bamburgh castle

During a few days in the area we visited this unlikely looking pool right at the side of the main coastal road. Does anyone watch it? It produced:
1 Common Sand
2 Snipe
1 Yellow wag
c. 40 Sand Martin
6 House Martins
12 swallows
2 Pied wag
6 Coot
4 Moorhens
3 Redshanks
1 Grey wag
6 juvenile Starlings
8 Linnet
2 Teal
6 Mallard


It's immediately at the side of the road and we had a few numpties blast their horns at us as we stood on the grass verge.
I love these unassuming little spots, it's always interesting to delve in and discover what's making use of the habitat. My girlfriend looked at me mad when I suggested we stop and take a look but she soon changed her mind.
Would be interested to hear if anyone watches it? Has it produced anything really good?

 

[jerkin]

During a few days in the area we visited this unlikely looking pool right at the side of the main coastal road. Does anyone watch it? It produced:
1 Common Sand
2 Snipe
1 Yellow wag
c. 40 Sand Martin
6 House Martins
12 swallows
2 Pied wag
6 Coot
4 Moorhens
3 Redshanks
1 Grey wag
6 juvenile Starlings
8 Linnet
2 Teal
6 Mallard


It's immediately at the side of the road and we had a few numpties blast their horns at us as we stood on the grass verge.
I love these unassuming little spots, it's always interesting to delve in and discover what's making use of the habitat. My girlfriend looked at me mad when I suggested we stop and take a look but she soon changed her mind.
Would be interested to hear if anyone watches it? Has it produced anything really good?

The pond is called Monkhouse Pond and regularly produces fine birds in spring and autumn. On the 19/8/06 I observed 15 ruff, 2 Spotted Redshanks,Dunlin,Juvinial Temmincks Stint,Redshank,Common Sandpiper,Green Sanpiper,Golden Plover and Yellow Wagtail. The pond also attracts spring Garganey.Alway worth checking

 

[The Liverbirder]

Seaton Snooze

Have been putting many hours in at the Sluice of late, trying to add the two elusive skuas to my list and see some of the better shearwaters. Managed my first Sooty thanks to the two resident experts (who I shall not name and embarrass). Generally, it does not appear to match the activity a few miles further north, or am I living up to my name!

Tried NBTS last night. Missed the elusive skuas and shearwaters seen earlier that day but some excellent close views of Manxies and Sooties and Arctic Skuas. Thanks to the other 8 - 10 experts also there and my acute hearing, managed to see plenty from their directions. Tried again at first light this morning. RT Diver, Velvet Scoter moving north, boat loads or Arctics off the sea and into the bay, Sooties and Manxies close in and on the water and at 8am as I left, a large grey shearwater very far out, pristine white below, but too far to say exactly what. Bit of a blow, so to speak!

 

[martin kitching]

Where is NBTS?? I'm confused (although I'm sure it will turn out to be somewhere really obvious).

cheers
martin

 

[symphony]

Blimey Jerkin those are decent birds.
I envy you living in a decent birding area. I couldn't help but imagine how it would be nice to watch it regularly and see what turns up at the pool.
Thanks for the reply, very interesting.

 

[Keith Reeder]

I'm wondering the same thing, Martin!

 

[martin kitching]

Where is NBTS?? I'm confused (although I'm sure it will turn out to be somewhere really obvious).

cheers
martin

Doh.. Of course, it's Newbiggin By The Sea. Considering the amount of my life that has been spent sitting on the end of Church Point seawatching I really should have worked that one out.....

cheers
martin

p.s. The Great Shearwater and the 4 Poms on Tuesday morning were very nice. Keep putting in the hours and eventually the good stuff flies past.

 

[Keith Reeder]

Doh!

Newbiggin By The Sea!

 

[The Liverbirder]

Sfcc

Sorry For Causing Concern!!

Must dash - off to CP at NBTS to try for some S's!!

21.30 - probably should not have dashed. La mer est morte! Guillemot frenzy, Kittiwakes a plenty and Gannets too. The only out of the ordinary aspect was hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of Swallows flying north up the coast.

 

[martin kitching]

21.30 - probably should not have dashed. La mer est morte! Guillemot frenzy, Kittiwakes a plenty and Gannets too. The only out of the ordinary aspect was hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of Swallows flying north up the coast.

Very quiet this morning, although lots of Gannets flying N and ~50 feeding in Newbiggin Bay. 3 Arctic Skuas and an adult Pom also in the bay. A flock of 37 Sand Martins came in-off at 08:15.

cheers
martin