Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Gill Osborne]

Did you know that you can record the date of your Morpeth Lesser Celandine on the Nature's Calendar site (and a lot of other dates too as the year progresses)?

Thanks for that.....I'll report it to them :t:

We did manage to see Dipper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper in the Dene. Also managed to get a glimpse of a Kingfisher racing down stream. This was a relief as I had heard that one had been found dead somewhere in the area.:-C

:t:

 

[level seven]

First Lesser Celandine of the year in Morpeth's Carlisle Park :t:

A bit off-topic, but as we're talking about lesser celandine, I found some in flower on January 8th this year near Belfast.

 

[[email protected]]

bolam lake

at least 2 brambing there this morning 7.45 till 10 and one legged canada goose we told it to hop it

 

[Gill Osborne]

at least 2 brambing there this morning 7.45 till 10 and one legged canada goose we told it to hop it

:-O Poor goose....you'll make it paranoid about it's lacking in certain departments! Didn't see Ol' Hopalong as all the geese were on the Lake when I was there.

I didn't get there until about midday so with all this lovely weather you can imagine how busy the place was :C I'll see if I can wangle an earlier visit midweek when there'll not be so many screaming brats and families chucking things into the Lake around I prefer peace & quiet when I'm birding :smoke:

A bit off-topic, but as we're talking about lesser celandine, I found some in flower on January 8th this year near Belfast

I knew I'd seen someone report it a lot earlier because I remember thinking ''Crikey, that's early!'' :eek!: Had a feeling it was either you or Bri :t:

 

[rokermartin]

Grindon Lough early afternnoon today the 13 Greenland White fronted Geese flew in and settled and started feeding.Had excellent views of them.Also a few hundred Canada Geese,Sparrowhawk.

 

[brianfm]

Pair of Black Swans on large lake by wagon-way at the Great North Park

2 Black Swans now on Killingworth lake, presumably the same ones or have the council began a B Swan release project? Apparently someone tried to feed them and quickly found that they are not quite as docile as the Mute Swans! I hope they fair better than the previous B Swan to appear here years ago, as some idiot shot it!

At least 13 Goosanders remain on Killingworth Lake. Must say they looked rather good close up in the sun today.

 

[Vipers]

I was out and about in Northumberland yesterday and had Goshawks displaying. Looks like this glorious weather has started things early this year. I also watched a Peregrine catch a pigeon at Bellasis Bridge, it made it look so easy.

 

[[email protected]]

:-O Poor goose....you'll make it paranoid about it's lacking in certain departments! Didn't see Ol' Hopalong as all the geese were on the Lake when I was there.

I didn't get there until about midday so with all this lovely weather you can imagine how busy the place was :C I'll see if I can wangle an earlier visit midweek when there'll not be so many screaming brats and families chucking things into the Lake around I prefer peace & quiet when I'm birding :smoke:

hi gill its easy to spot the one legger on the lake its the one going around and around:-O
we hate the crowds and never go anywhere at midday its always get there for sun up or before:t:
the brambling never went far from the car park...

 

[rokermartin]

I was out and about in Northumberland yesterday and had Goshawks displaying. Looks like this glorious weather has started things early this year. I also watched a Peregrine catch a pigeon at Bellasis Bridge, it made it look so easy.

This months Birdwatching magazine there is a piece in about looking for displaying Goshawks on nice sunny days in February.It states Feb is one of the keys months to look out for them.So its not all that unusual that you have seen them displaying now.Peak time for Goshawk display is next month.

 

[Stewart J.]

Grindon Lough late afternoon till 17.00hrs, 4 species of goose,Canada @ 240, Pink-foot 9, Greylag 4, White-front 13, and a big build up of Lapwing toward dusk 400+ and 92 Golden Plover.

Stewart

 

[Vipers]

This months Birdwatching magazine there is a piece in about looking for displaying Goshawks on nice sunny days in February.It states Feb is one of the keys months to look out for them.So its not all that unusual that you have seen them displaying now.Peak time for Goshawk display is next month.

It is usually near the end of Feb when Gos start displaying in Northumberland. I'm not really bothered what Birdwatching magazine say, i've been watching Goshawk in the field for years and in my experience, this is early. Though how often do we get weather like this in Feb and there is more forecast for next week.

 

[rokermartin]

It is usually near the end of Feb when Gos start displaying in Northumberland. I'm not really bothered what Birdwatching magazine say, i've been watching Goshawk in the field for years and in my experience, this is early. Though how often do we get weather like this in Feb and there is more forecast for next week.

Hi thought it was strange that the Birdwatching mag stated that Feb was one of the key months to look out for Goshawk displaying.I find March is the key month for to see them.But have to say never looked out for Goshawks in Feb displaying. I dont supose many birders have. Raptors of the World Helm Guide states the display period is Feb -April. I will be going to Kielder and the Harwood area towards the end of this month to see them displaying.

 

[jerkin]

The weather is the key factor for the displays and Saturday and Sundays weather was brilliant

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I went up to Kielder and Harwood yesterday. Beautiful weather, sunny and visibility excellent, but no wind. Even the buzzards weren't up.

It was the same at Harwood on Tuesday. I thought I had a possible gos, but it wasn't in view for long enough to get an ID. (It was head-on when I saw it. I glanced away for a second or two and when I looked back it was gone). Again it was a fine day, but no wind. A bit of a breeze helps.

 

[rokermartin]

Yes Goshawks like nice sunny breezy days to do there display.I find a day when there is not much wind is'nt very productive at all for seeing Goshawks are any other raptors for that matter .

 

[rokermartin]

Talking about Kielder does anyone know if there are many Crossbill there at the moment.

 

[Stewart J.]

Doing TTV's up Butterburn at weekend and Crossbills very evident, lot of them singing, so Keilder should also be good.

Stewart

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Crossbills abound at Harwood and Kielder. Singing and mobbing a sparrowhawk at Winter's gibbet yesterday and at the Bakethin raptor watchpoint I set up my scope randomly, looked through it and there, dead centre, in focus was a male crossbill on the top of a tree about 100 yards way.

Bugger-all else there, mind.

 

[martin kitching]

The best period to see Gos display (at least in upland Northumberland) is the second half of March. They can be up and about on suitable days as early as January but we've still got another month or so before Kielder will be at it's best. By the time we get into April it's getting late for display.

cheers
martin

 

[Newton Stringer]

Hi thought it was strange that the Birdwatching mag stated that Feb was one of the key months to look out for Goshawk displaying.I find March is the key month for to see them.But have to say never looked out for Goshawks in Feb displaying. I dont supose many birders have. Raptors of the World Helm Guide states the display period is Feb -April. I will be going to Kielder and the Harwood area towards the end of this month to see them displaying.

Yeah mid March seems good up here, birds are on territory and soaring about on bright Jan and Feb days, but for that full on up and down business I'd say mid March is prime time.....

I’ve got a mate in South Wales who reckons mid Feb onwards can be good down there tho, so maybe it varies geographically ?