Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[woodhornbirder]

Walked to longhirst flash yesterday, but was not rewarded with much (

Did find a lesser whitethroat on the way though, which was singing like mad.

FIrst i have seen this year, so was very happy with that.

Was supprised to find a buzzard flyiing about in the fields near the pond. Cant recall seeing one this close to ashington before.

 

[Ericmd]

The buzzards were more obvious during the few hot days we had in spring.They commute between Eshington and morpeth pit-stopping in the woods south of the flash.

 

[The Liverbirder]

Before The Heavens Opened

West Hartford Flash at noon - LBBG, Lapwings, Shelducks + 8 'lings, a Redshank and a few other 'usuals'. Off to Castle Island then. 12.35 pm, over 175 Canada Geese, the Greylag with the AJJ neck collar, and about 30 other species. Very busy and lots to see. The biggest frustration was a bijou glimpse-ette of some kind of brown raptor flying low and east over the tree line along the north bank, at roof height, but by the time I got the scope on it, it was gone behind a tree and did not reappear. Probably a Buzzard but who knows!

 

[brianr]

Annual photography trip to the Farnes today, 30 togs for a full day out spending 2hrs on Staple and the same On Inner Farne.
Everything seemed to be catching plenty of food, and loads of Arctic tern chicks around

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Cracking seal Brian. Looks like it had a heavy night and it's wishing that the boat would just bugger off.

 

[brianr]

Cracking seal Brian. Looks like it had a heavy night and it's wishing that the boat would just bugger off.

Thanks Alan, i found it a bit disturbing to see how many people were on the Islands at the same time. It appears some accidents have occurred and tern chicks were killed by being trod on and a tripod had fell and killed another chick.

 

[Ross Ahmed]

Thanks Alan, i found it a bit disturbing to see how many people were on the Islands at the same time. It appears some accidents have occurred and tern chicks were killed by being trod on and a tripod had fell and killed another chick.

There's a researcher on there at the moment studying the effect of human presence on breeding Arctic Terns. He's actually hoping to prove that the birds nesting closer to the paths have a higher success rate than those nesting in the quieter areas. He reckons that the presence of people discourages predators like Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls from stealing eggs/chicks.

 

[zacatzooba]

Hi Everyone,
I'm heading up to Northumberland for a week starting 11th July and wondered if anybody can give me a few tips as to where to go birding - i've been reading your thread a little so that should help.
I guess I'll be too late for the Hen Harriers? but where are they for future ref?
also what will the Farne' be like by then?
many thanks in advance for any help; looking to my trip
regards
rob

 

[June Atkinson]

Northumberland

Hi Everyone,
I'm heading up to Northumberland for a week starting 11th July and wondered if anybody can give me a few tips as to where to go birding - i've been reading your thread a little so that should help.
I guess I'll be too late for the Hen Harriers? but where are they for future ref?
also what will the Farne' be like by then?
many thanks in advance for any help; looking to my trip
regards
rob

Plenty to do, but if you're anywhere near our Red Kite area, there is a Kitewatch currently running. Our chicks should be appearing soon,
Have a look at the Northern Kites thread and also at www.northernkites.org.uk for all the things going on linked to the Project.
If I can help with any other queries, post a PM and I'll do my best.
If you are National Trust members, then Gibside is the hub of the kite activities, and well worth a visit in its own right.

 

[zacatzooba]

Hi June,
many thanks for the info regarding the Kites - I know this may sound ungrateful but I live about a mile from Harewood House which as I'm sure you know as a Kite afficianado was a big release site for the Red Kite a few years back ................ in fact one flew over the garden on Sunday! still great to see such a magnificent bird on a regular basis though.
kind regards
rob

 

[brianr]

There's a researcher on there at the moment studying the effect of human presence on breeding Arctic Terns. He's actually hoping to prove that the birds nesting closer to the paths have a higher success rate than those nesting in the quieter areas. He reckons that the presence of people discourages predators like Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls from stealing eggs/chicks.

Im sure people do act as a kind of barrier to predators Ross, its the sheer quantity of us that worries me. talked to a few of the wardens and they feel the same way. Sarnie Tern numbers are down, and Coquet has seen a drop in the number of Roseates this year. Poor fish stocks around Coquet with birds seen carrying pipe fish, never a good sign.

 

[The Liverbirder]

Digiscoping

Learned colleagues - trying desperately to begin to capture what I see. It is frustrating that what I see through my scope is beautifully clear but what appears on my camera screen and then computer is not.

Some examples from tonight appear below.

I have my eyepiece on the lowest mag (x20) and my camera on 2x optical zoom. That has shown an improvement but not much. Anything obvious I am not getting right?

My camera is a Panasonic Lumix LZ 1 and the scope has an 80mm ED glass lens.

 

[Vipers]

What you need to do Gordon is, take loads of photos of each bird. Then if you are lucky you may get one or two that are clear.

For every clear shot I get, I must bin about ten or fifteen.

 

[June Atkinson]

Red Kites galore!

Hi June,
many thanks for the info regarding the Kites - I know this may sound ungrateful but I live about a mile from Harewood House which as I'm sure you know as a Kite afficianado was a big release site for the Red Kite a few years back ................ in fact one flew over the garden on Sunday! still great to see such a magnificent bird on a regular basis though.
kind regards
rob

I used to live in Leeds, and often visited Harrogate. I have had a lot of info about your Re-introduction from Doug Simpson, who was a prime mover in the Project. One of our first year birds, Wing Tag 2, Scarlet, lived up to her name, absconded from our area, took up with an untagged male in the Harrogate Project, and in the last two years, has raised five chicks - clever girl!!:t:

 

[seggs]

Gordon
Like Gary has said, click away...also use a photo shop/programme to enhance the shots if do not already, not the best myself but keep trying...as i hope you do
On a average hour or so visit i must take 50+ shots, and am lucky if 5 are good!..

 

[Newton Stringer]

Learned colleagues - trying desperately to begin to capture what I see. It is frustrating that what I see through my scope is beautifully clear but what appears on my camera screen and then computer is not.

Some examples from tonight appear below.

I have my eyepiece on the lowest mag (x20) and my camera on 2x optical zoom. That has shown an improvement but not much. Anything obvious I am not getting right?

My camera is a Panasonic Lumix LZ 1 and the scope has an 80mm ED glass lens.

Hi Gordon

If you are digiscoping then Photoshop really is your friend !!

I run all of my images through it and it can really sort em out sometimes... also I've never really got a properly pin sharp pic digiscoping, they all look a touch fuzzy to start with.... unsharp mask should sort em out tho...

I probably get 1 worthwhile shot for every 20 taken ! Just keep snapping, the more pics you have the more chance of getting a good un !

Give us a shout if you want a hand with using photoshop, I live in Cram now...:t:

 

[The Liverbirder]

Vipers/Seggs/N Stringer

Gents - I get the message and am very grateful for the advice. I am probably expecting too much too soon and not taking enough chaff to get a good supply of wheat. My ratio is to take 5 - 10 and pick the best, clearly insufficient. I do not use photoshop either, so there's a potential purchase.

Regards, and thanks again.

 

[craigthirlwell]

Gents - I get the message and am very grateful for the advice. I am probably expecting too much too soon and not taking enough chaff to get a good supply of wheat. My ratio is to take 5 - 10 and pick the best, clearly insufficient. I do not use photoshop either, so there's a potential purchase.

Regards, and thanks again.

I use a photo software called 'gimp' (be careful when googling!). It lets you do the basic stuff, croping, brightness etc. The best thing about it is the price... it's free!
You can download it from......

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

 

[Brian Bullough]

Gents - I get the message and am very grateful for the advice. I am probably expecting too much too soon and not taking enough chaff to get a good supply of wheat. My ratio is to take 5 - 10 and pick the best, clearly insufficient. I do not use photoshop either, so there's a potential purchase.

Regards, and thanks again.

Digiscoping can be frustrating at the best of times ,practice with birds that are sitting still and in good light ,use a remote release or the self timer with the camera attached to your scope , get to know the camera and what it does on differant settings, Googles Picassa has some simple and easy to use enhancements, and is free to download.
Brian

 

[woodhornbirder]

Got a friend arriving on sat for some birding. Was asking about ringousels, and only place i know is carey burn near cheviot.

Is there anywhere closer to tyneside thats guaranteed them? Hes got very limited timeframe for his visit so need to cut down the travelling between sites in the area, to maximise what he can see.

probably rain all weekend as welll now wimbledonis on!