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Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Stewart J.
- Start date
nellieberta
Well-known member
Thanks, thought we were going mad for a bit there :eek!:. Must have photographed the wrong one cos there were several people with us who saw the White.
Back to the drawing board on White Wagtail identification.........
Joanne
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The Liverbirder
Well-known member
St. Mary's This Evening
Nice stroll out with Mrs M (my chief spotter), chilly but calm (the weather NOT Mrs M) so a pleasant trip.
Water Rail on the wetland at 7pm, viewed from the middle screen on the west side, the bird was back and forth between the two reed beds off to the left a little.
Heron on the rocks in the south bay (tide ebbing) having a fight with a handsome fish some 8 inches in length, big head and thin body with two large round pectoral fins having spiky edges so that there was a bit of a battle subduing and swallowing it. 1 - 0 to the Heron.
Nice stroll out with Mrs M (my chief spotter), chilly but calm (the weather NOT Mrs M) so a pleasant trip.
Water Rail on the wetland at 7pm, viewed from the middle screen on the west side, the bird was back and forth between the two reed beds off to the left a little.
Heron on the rocks in the south bay (tide ebbing) having a fight with a handsome fish some 8 inches in length, big head and thin body with two large round pectoral fins having spiky edges so that there was a bit of a battle subduing and swallowing it. 1 - 0 to the Heron.
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
The fish sounds like a sea scorpion Gordon. We used to call them granny-fish when we were kids messing about on the rocks. They have a spine behind each gill cover that we believed (wrongly) to be poisonous.
They are supposed to be good to eat, but I've never caught one big enough to try.
(EDIT) It could also possibly have been a gurnard. Now there are good eating - delicious in fact.
They are supposed to be good to eat, but I've never caught one big enough to try.
(EDIT) It could also possibly have been a gurnard. Now there are good eating - delicious in fact.
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
I haven't heard them called that for YEARS!!! :-O I used to have a boyfriend in the early 90's who was SUCH a wuss - he would totally freak out if I took him rock-pooling and he saw movement in the water :smoke: Most of the time it was just a blenny but he was convinced it was a 'highly-poisonous' Granny Fish :-O
I'd LOVE to see one close up....are they fairly common in NE rock pools?
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
Small ones are common and we used to get them slightly bigger off the rock ends. They were so greedy you didn't need a hook. A bit of limpet on a line used as crab bait would sometimes work.
I've been fishing offshore on boats and occasionally caught them about a pound or a pound and a half weight, but they are all head and no meat, so they went back to grow bigger.
I've been fishing offshore on boats and occasionally caught them about a pound or a pound and a half weight, but they are all head and no meat, so they went back to grow bigger.
Brian Bullough
DIGIDOPE
What your boyfriend was in his early 90's ???? no wonder he was a bit timid
What about Greenbones, I caught one as a child and it bit me on the ankle !!
Brian
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
Now howway....I know I preferred my guys with a bit of age and experience in those days
but 90 IS a tad old even for me! Unless, of course, they are as rich as Mr McCartney but also have a very dicky ticker :-O Naah I soon got rid of THAT particular loser...he was scared of ANTS, for crying out loud!!!! :smoke:
Waskerly
Hi, first post here. Early morning trip to Waskerley today, plenty of activity, curlew, red grouse and oystercatcher all very vocal. Pair of ringed plover around picnic area along with oyster catcher, pied wagtail, grey wagtail mistle thrush and greylag geese.
Hi, first post here. Early morning trip to Waskerley today, plenty of activity, curlew, red grouse and oystercatcher all very vocal. Pair of ringed plover around picnic area along with oyster catcher, pied wagtail, grey wagtail mistle thrush and greylag geese.
Attachments
martin kitching
Obsessed seawatcher
Hi broon
Welcome to the Northumbrian Birding thread :hi: Really enjoyed the images of Red Grouse in the snow. As Waskerley is in the 'deep south' there's a Durham Birding thread where you could post them as well;
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33013&page=297
cheers
martin
Welcome to the Northumbrian Birding thread :hi: Really enjoyed the images of Red Grouse in the snow. As Waskerley is in the 'deep south'
there's a Durham Birding thread where you could post them as well;http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33013&page=297
cheers
martin
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
'Mystery' Solved
Late Kick Off at St Mary's - Heron 1 - 0 Sea Scorpion.
Thanks to Alan 'Cousteau' Seaton I googled the Sea Scorpion and it was what the Heron's tea consisted of last night.
Late Kick Off at St Mary's - Heron 1 - 0 Sea Scorpion.
Thanks to Alan 'Cousteau' Seaton I googled the Sea Scorpion and it was what the Heron's tea consisted of last night.
mike coleman
BF Irregular
Fantastically obliging Osprey eating fish atop a pole next to A68 near Rochester at about 4pm today. No pics I'm afraid, but very photogenic. In fact, on a drive from the Highlands to Newcastle today, I saw three Ospreys in three different counties, all very nice........
Stewart J.
Well-known member
2 probably 3 Chiff Chaff singing along a 3/4 mile stretch of So Tyne behind house this morning obviously migrants.
Out in Allen Valley this afternoon & early evening, 9 Blackcock at site in Paxhill area near Allenheads (Northumberland side of border) 70+ Golden Plover also present, at another nearby location 450+ Golden Plover.
16 Blackcock in usual field at Swinhope Shield at 19.00hrs highest count this year, 2 groups of 5 and 3 respectively actually lekking close to each other.
4 Blackcock near lek site on Dryburn Moor at 19.40hrs.
1-3 Blackcock at other sites in Allen Valley area.
Fieldfare several big groups of 7o+, 91 & 163.
Snipe displaying everywhere along with a few early Redshank.
Several groups of Golden Plovers at other favoured sites, counts of 18, 70+ & 126.
Still several groups of migrant Lapwing in area 20-50 birds.
A Barn Owl at Keenley at 20.00hrs rounded the evening off nicely, seen struggling with something in grass on verge we stopped and it flew 2 metres past car carrying a small rodent.
Driving across Plenmeller at 20.15hrs I was suprised to see a Common Buzzard still hunting, hovering low over heather in Kestrel fashion, rather late at night for a Buzzard!
Lambs and Hares everywhere so its officially spring despite snow on hills around Allenheads and Nenthead?.
Good birding all
Stewart
Out in Allen Valley this afternoon & early evening, 9 Blackcock at site in Paxhill area near Allenheads (Northumberland side of border) 70+ Golden Plover also present, at another nearby location 450+ Golden Plover.
16 Blackcock in usual field at Swinhope Shield at 19.00hrs highest count this year, 2 groups of 5 and 3 respectively actually lekking close to each other.
4 Blackcock near lek site on Dryburn Moor at 19.40hrs.
1-3 Blackcock at other sites in Allen Valley area.
Fieldfare several big groups of 7o+, 91 & 163.
Snipe displaying everywhere along with a few early Redshank.
Several groups of Golden Plovers at other favoured sites, counts of 18, 70+ & 126.
Still several groups of migrant Lapwing in area 20-50 birds.
A Barn Owl at Keenley at 20.00hrs rounded the evening off nicely, seen struggling with something in grass on verge we stopped and it flew 2 metres past car carrying a small rodent.
Driving across Plenmeller at 20.15hrs I was suprised to see a Common Buzzard still hunting, hovering low over heather in Kestrel fashion, rather late at night for a Buzzard!
Lambs and Hares everywhere so its officially spring despite snow on hills around Allenheads and Nenthead?.
Good birding all
Stewart
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
Anyone now if the Garganey are still at St Mary's? Or the Firecrest?
Hubby's on a boozy night out with the boys in Tynemouth tonight and I'm driving down tomorrow morning to pick him up and was planning to pop along to St Mary's first thing for an hour or two's birding.
Hubby's on a boozy night out with the boys in Tynemouth tonight and I'm driving down tomorrow morning to pick him up and was planning to pop along to St Mary's first thing for an hour or two's birding.
rokermartin
Well-known member
Pager Report Great Grey Shrike seen at East Chevington today.
ukjesters
Well-known member
The pair of garganeys were showing well on tuesday from the "hole in the wall", others had said that they hadn't seen anymore of the firecrest.
Regards
Rick
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
I may just be taking the scenic route to Whitley Bay tomorrow
Been wanting to see one of these for years.....though chances are it'll have done a flit by tomorrow. *ponders* what time does it get light tomorrow morning :-O
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Vipers
Brunswick Birder
I had a trip up to Allendale today, hoping for Black Grouse, I wasn't disappointed. I was heading for a site that Stewart J showed me last year, but fortunately I took a wrong turn and when I stopped to turn around, I spotted a black cock displaying. Watching him strut his stuff I knew there was a hen there somewhere, then after a few minutes she popped her head up from the long grass. I then headed to the actual lek site and couldn't find any Black Grouse at all. So I was really pleased I took a wrong turn.
I then headed for Letah Wood, near Hexham. Just passed Dipton Mill I spotted a large raptor being mobbed by a crow, as I got a bit closer I could see it was a Red Kite. When I stopped the car to watch it, it flushed a Buzzard from a tree and the two of them circled together. I could see another bird with red on it, in the tree the buzzard came out of. I thought it was another Red Kite, until it hopped to the front of the tree, then I could see it was a Harris Hawk. It then took off and joined the other two in the air. It's not every day you see a Red Kite, Common Buzzard and Harris Hawk all having a scrap. After a couple of minutes they all went their separate ways ( sorry June I didn't get the tag numbers ).
The highlights from Letah Wood were Marsh Tit, Woodcock and Green Woodpecker.
I then headed for Letah Wood, near Hexham. Just passed Dipton Mill I spotted a large raptor being mobbed by a crow, as I got a bit closer I could see it was a Red Kite. When I stopped the car to watch it, it flushed a Buzzard from a tree and the two of them circled together. I could see another bird with red on it, in the tree the buzzard came out of. I thought it was another Red Kite, until it hopped to the front of the tree, then I could see it was a Harris Hawk. It then took off and joined the other two in the air. It's not every day you see a Red Kite, Common Buzzard and Harris Hawk all having a scrap. After a couple of minutes they all went their separate ways ( sorry June I didn't get the tag numbers ).
The highlights from Letah Wood were Marsh Tit, Woodcock and Green Woodpecker.
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rokermartin
Well-known member
There must be a few escaped Harris Hawks round at the moment there are two in Cleveland.Saw an escaped Saker flying over Sunderland Harbour a few weeks ago heading north.Their is a Harris Hawk living wild in Norfolk its been there for two years now ,comes into roost with the Marsh Harriers at Stubbs Mill.
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Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
I may just be taking the scenic route to Whitley Bay tomorrow
It did a flit almost immediately after being found. It flew across the north pool and landed in the willows, took some prey and went back into the willow. The finder reported it and sent a few texts, looked back and it was gone. This was about 11:30. I got there at about 11:45 and it still hadn't re-appeared by the time I left getting on for half past two.
Some people I know were there this evening and still no show.