Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Valerie]

Anyway, glad you caught up with the redstart Brian, they're one of my favourite LBJs (Little Black Jobs? ) and your pic certainly does him justice.

I have a little query.... what makes you call the bird 'he'.... isn't the pic of a 'female' Black Redstart (being brown rather than black) or perhaps a juvenile, in which case it could be a 'he'. Not being critical Keith just trying to learn. :brains:

___________
Val :cat:

 

[Keith Reeder]

Uummm... Errrr...

You know, I don't have a single compelling justifiction for that, Valerie!



I don't know whether I heard/read that it was a 1st Winter male, but you're quite right, it looks just as much like a female.

 

[Valerie]

Uummm... Errrr...

You know, I don't have a single compelling justifiction for that, Valerie!



I don't know whether I heard/read that it was a 1st Winter male, but you're quite right, it looks just as much like a female.

I went to Austria on holiday this summer and saw "loads" of Black Redstarts - as common as starlings are here, almost ..... Black AND Brown and automatically classed them as male and female but maybe it was a wrong assumption. I have found identifying juvenile birds this summer VERY difficult!!

 

[Keith Reeder]

It's actually all but impossible to definitively split juvenile and female black redstarts, Valerie.

By all accounts, you might see a "brown black redstart" with some white on its wing or maybe a wee bit of black to the throat, in which case it's a male, but aside from that...

 

[Quacker]

Visited Holy Island yesterday with a group of RSPB folk from neighbouring Co. Durham (Don't worry - visa's stamped all papers in order). Arrived just before 11am and unable to locate the Lesser/Small/Richardson's Canada Goose reported the day before and earlier in the morning. - It was reported whilst we were there early on with a flock of Barnacle but out of our reach/sight in heavy drizzle on the causeway - there were some nice Brent Geese about though.

The targetted Yellow Browed Warblers were located as the weather dried out, brightened up and eventually the wind dropped. First time I'd birded the Island, and never really noticed how vast it can be.

Problems with a group is when it disperses and various birds are seen by others and not all etc. the previous days reported Slav and RN Grebe were seen. As were Redwing (first of year for me). No sign of the previous days Brambling, nor a repeat sadly of flybys from Merlin and Hen Harrier.

Seawatching provided plenty of Scoter movement (alas all Common) and many Gannet and Auks (Razorbill, Guillemot and a claimed Little Auk from someone). Lots of usual waders, and a few nice wildfowl, Wigeon, Teal, Water Rail, Gadwall, Shoveller etc.

No real rarities, but a nice selection, and a nice venue - I can see looking at previous years records the variety of birds, especially migrants favourable conditions might bring the hoped for raptor never materialised unless we count the Buzzard which showed as we left the island.

The brief stop at Budle Bay on our return south brought Spotted Redshank, and another narrow miss with the by now mythical small Canada - not 10 minutes after our departure did my pager inform me it had arrived with it's 80 Barnacle Goose mates!

Steve

 

[Keith Reeder]

Aye, the place is much bigger when you're on it than you'd think it would be from the map!

I recall seeing a very small canada when I was there last year with Alan G - we didn't think too hard about it at the time or report it (we didn't realise that it was "notable"), but looking back it seems likely that it was another Lesser/Richardson's.

Well done on the YBs - I'm still trying to rustle up a local one, and failing dismally...

 

[LSB]

Glad you enjoyed yourself Quacker.
Holy Island can have a lot to offer when the weather is right. Don't worry about missing that Richardson's I did also...Did manage to get the nearby Surf Scoter though as compensation.A good report by the way mate
:t:

 

[LSB]

Managed to see that Lesser Canada Goose (Richardson's ) today. It was in fields viewable from the "goose lay-by" just past Budle Bay. Also Little Bunting and Buff Breasted Sandpiper rpt nearby at Bamburgh..Got this very poor and heavly cropped video grab of goose.

 

[Quacker]

nice one Darren! looks like one of them Victorian sketches (compliment by the way) - aye I was with the Durham RSPB group in a coach. Had I been in the car it would be different of course, I didn't do the full blooded report and complete speciaes list either as that goes in the newsletter and on the website, so didn't want to annoy, just let the BF lads & lasses know what's about.

Surf Scoter, Richardsons and BB Sand are all lifers for me but, I'm in danger of becoming obsessed. Best leave one or two for the BF Titchwell meet at the end of the month;-)

Darren, what video gear are you using mate? - I've located a Panasonic with 24x optical zoom (the highest optical I have found) just wondering how it might fare for birding (on or off a scope).

Holy Island would be awsome on a calm day after rough winds the proceding days etc. still a a N/umberland collector of new, lots of county ticks;-)

 

[cuddy]

Saw this bird today but the distance involved means i could not be positive of its id, its obviously a small canada goose but not possible to id at that distance so will not be entered on my list.

 

[Keith Bradley]

Hi folks. As I was unable to go birding on Saturday I had hoped to catch up with the regions rareities on Sunday and I was not to be disappointed. Having located the YB Warbler behind the Lindisfarne Hotel (or behind the toilet block/coach park whichever way you look at it) I was also treated to stunning views of what were my first Bramblings for the year. Chiffchaff and Blackcap also added to the mini fall of common migrants that had seemed to have occurred overnight.

I then went in search of the Surf Scoter (which had not been reported that day so far - but neither had the YBW on the Island) and found it with ridiculous ease! - a straight drive to the Golf course at Goswick, a quick walk to the dunes/Cheswick Sands and there was the Scoter (and Guillemot) flock right in front of me, seconds later the Surf was located - now if only everything was that easy! I decided to give the Richardsons Canada a miss as I was running out of time, but the way my luck was yesterday I would have probably had it landing on the car roof! - perhaps another day? B

Keith

 

[LSB]

Hi Steve
I used video mode on my new camera (fuji 10x optical zoom and optolyth 80mm 20x ww lens) I wish I'd got to see BB sand as its a lifer for me too.

Cuddy
Its gone down on my list as a Lesser Canada Goose species unconfirmed..lol

Keith
You lucky punter on Surf Scoter it took me 2 1/2 hrs to locate plus a long walk and you know im not built for walking...pmsl
:'D

 

[Alan G]

Aye, the place is much bigger when you're on it than you'd think it would be from the map!

I recall seeing a very small canada when I was there last year with Alan G - we didn't think too hard about it at the time or report it (we didn't realise that it was "notable"), but looking back it seems likely that it was another Lesser/Richardson's.

Well done on the YBs - I'm still trying to rustle up a local one, and failing dismally...

I must admit, that small Canada from last year crossed my mind when I saw the latest bird reported - sitting in the field just south of the 'The Lough' as I recall?

I traipsed ''aal ower'' the SE Northumberland coastal sites at the weekend in search of any migrants but no such luck - although something small got my heart pounding in the willows at St Mary's but by the time I'd got the bins on it, it was gone.

Seconds later, something flew out and over towards the willows at the wetland.

Then the heavens opened and I never saw it again.

4 x RB Merganser on the sea at the North Bay tho - first time I've seen any there.

Alan

 

[Keith Reeder]

A Yellow browed warbler reported at St Mary's today - and here's me stuck in the office..!

 

[cuddy]

Holy Island today Yellow browed warbler in the garden of Longstone View first house after the car park.

Hundreds of Redwing fresh in and moving through constantly, many Brambling quite mobile.

Red necked and Slavonian Grebes in the harbour close in.

4 Short Eared owls in the dunes at the end of the straight lonnen.

brianr

 

[Brian Bullough]

Yellow Browed warbler at Blyth

Having been laid up for most of the week with some bug ,plus tooth infection after a visit to the dentist( did manage to leave my bed to go to St Mary's for the YBW) I ventured out today as it was a lot briighter, not wanting to go far thought I would check out the old caravan park near the beach entered the top corner with the sun on my back and could hear Goldcrests calling,moving further west to look in the large willow the first bird I saw was a Yellow Browed Warbler sitting right out in the sun great views flitting around before it moved into thicker cover,lots of Redwings going over+ Golden Plover a Sparrowhawk burst from cover to the right of the willow and everything vanished went further west lots more Goldcrests and a party of Goldfinch.
On to the Cem Goldcrests here also and a few Blue & Great Tits looked at the rear of the farm and dune area usual pipits only,on to Seaton Sluice just to try a short seawatch as I had not a lot of time left, a good number of Guillemots on the sea in a group and a feeding flock of Gulls and 4 Imm Gannets attacking I presume a shoal of fish a few single Manx came through and two seemed to skim the water as if to land but fly on I dont know how they feed but presume they would take advantage of anything near the surface a Black headed tried to give chase but was easily out flown and another flew past turned and flew back over the area but this to was chased by a gull not a lot of movement Merganser,Teal, Eider still a couple of Sandwich Terns around, another party of Goldfinch around the Tower. I had a thought if the tide had been out there would have been a good selection of waders on the rocks, I must try and do a day list to see how many species I can achieve in a given distance from home something I have not done before can't think why not.
Saw a report for yesterday of Hoopoe any info ???
Brian

 

[Keith Reeder]

Ah - you got the Blyth YBW today? I was hopping up and down at work when I read about that 'un!

Sounds like a cracking day anyway.

The hoopoe was yesterday in fields north of Cullernose Point, Brian.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Ah - you got the Blyth YBW today? I was hopping up and down at work when I read about that 'un!

Sounds like a cracking day anyway.

The hoopoe was yesterday in fields north of Cullernose Point, Brian.

I've just heard tonight that the hoopoe was seen again this evening, but some way off from where it was yesterday. Today it was sitting on a fence north of Boulmer, between the Sugar Sands and Longhoughton Steel That's about 4 km south of where it was reported yesterday.

Who knows where it'll be tomorrow.

 

[LSB]

Pallas's Warbler St Mary's Island today in willows north end of wetland.
Wryneck Newbiggen by the sea on golf course next to Alcan
Hoopoe Longhoughton Steel till 3pm ish.
And I see on Birdguides that there is a rpt of a Siberian Thrush at Bamburgh......hope its re-found/confirmed..

 

[Keith Reeder]

Interesting day today...

Starting "on the doorstep" I had a wander round the old nautical school/caravan site.

There were blackbirds absolutely everywhere - obviously part of the migration/fall going on at the moment, judging by the numbers - and there were hoards of them, feeding on or fighting over the rosehips.

In among them was a ring ouzel - a cracking patch tick.

Onto the caravan site itself: I flushed a snipe, and there was a redwing in every bush, it seemed.

That was it for Blyth. Onto St Mary's on the off-chance that I might find an interesting warbler or two.

There were two pale bellied brent geese on the rocks, and one or two rock pipits.

I'll be honest and say that I didn't find my yellow browed warbler (though there was at least one about), nor did I get the Pallas' which was reported - must've turned up the moment I left - but I did find myself in the middle of an impressive movement of goldcrests.

There were so many about that more than once I was caught in the middle of a cloud of the little things - it was snowing goldcrests - and I had to duck or turn my head more than once because they were flying so close.

At one point (I kid you not!) I was scratching my head and a goldcrest flew through the crook in my arm! I heard the little thing's wings buzz past my lug like a moth!



There were several waves of redwings in off the sea while I was there, and again blackbirds - and robins - all over.

No sign of any fieldfare yet.

There were plenty of stonechats about too.