Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Gill Osborne]

ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Somebody - PLEASE - just shoot me!!!!!! :-C

Sounds like there are some fantastic birds around..........think I may just nip along to the coast tomorrow when I escape from work at approx 3.30pm.

Holy Island sounds amazing...I MUST pay it a visit ASAP........and I've just got my bins and scope fixed - good timing or what! :-O


Gill

 

[June Atkinson]

Holy Island

ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Somebody - PLEASE - just shoot me!!!!!! :-C

Sounds like there are some fantastic birds around..........think I may just nip along to the coast tomorrow when I escape from work at approx 3.30pm.

Holy Island sounds amazing...I MUST pay it a visit ASAP........and I've just got my bins and scope fixed - good timing or what! :-O


Gill

Yes, the sightings reported on BirdCall On-line sound fantastic.
You, lucky girl, Gill, are just a wee bit nearer to H.I. than we are, so go and have a look, then tell us all about it, please!!
aand if you can, take some pics to share............ :clap:

 

[martin kitching]

Poor behaviour

The recent comments about behaviour at the Pallas' Warbler twitch got me thinking about the behaviour of birders in general rather than just the idiocy of individuals such as the one mentioned.

An example: Earlier this year there were both Little and Temminck's Stints at St Mary's Wetland. When myself and Sarah arrived and walked up to the viewing wall all possibility of viewing was blocked by three individuals who were just standing there chatting, not even looking at the wetland. One of them turned to Sarah and proceeded to tell her what was about - not mentioning the stints. When Sarah asked if there had been any sign of the stints this pompous idiot said, in an extremely patronising tone "Oh, it's stints you're looking for is it? Well, you'll have to be extremely lucky - the Little Stint has been flushed and flown off north and the Temminck's is incredibly difficult to see". He then did birding a favour by going somewhere else. It would have been nice to have seen his face as Sarah found the Temminck's within 2 minutes of his departure and then the Little just a couple of minutes later. So there was this guy patronising a birder, who has co-found both Whiskered Tern and Fea's Petrel in Northumberland, presumably just because she was female.

There are many experienced birders in Northumberland who are very helpful to people they meet while out birding but behaviour such as that described above does nothing other than harm, particularly in a county where young birders and female birders are so scarce. So guys, this is a plea - be informative but don't patronise and treat all birders as you find. My own birding mentor, before I moved to Northumberland, was female and one of the best birders I have ever spent time in the field with.

martin

 

[Keith Bradley]

Thank goodness that these so-called birders weren't at St. Mary's when I arrived to view the Temmincks Stints earlier in the year. Both were giving great views when I was there (the Stints not the birders), but unfortunately I dipped out on the Little Stint, still a lifer for the day I eventually see one, or six!

If it wasn't for the genuine and experienced birders I know from being out in the field (cue Gary Moore/Phil Lynott ) then my passion for birding would be somewhat affected, so it's thanks to those great guys (if you know me then you know who you are) that my passion has grown - so to speak.

Bringing the theme up to date, I didn't see those selfish birders at St. Mary's whilst waiting for the Pallas's Warbler to appear, despite chomping at the bit when I had to admit defeat at 13.30 and disappear off to work on Monday. It's been frustrating to say the least to see gems such as Red Breasted Flycatcher reported, as well as Red Throated Pipit, but I would rather see these birds reported, even if it means missing them as I know one day I will see them eventually.

Anyway keep up the great works guys, and thanks for putting up with a amateur like me :clap: , who knows one day I'll repay by seeing that elusive bird for others to see. As for the idiots out there, let's hope they realise their selfish actions one day.

Cheers
Keith (who is desparately hoping that some birds might still be around for the weekend!)
:flyaway:

 

[Brian Bullough]

Had a run to Cresswell yesterday strong westerly and still very high water levels I thought it was going to be quite, but a nice BLACK-NECKED GREBE started the day,tried to get some pics but this hide is not the best to photograph from as the slightest movement transfers through the wooden floor so if there is anyone in with you its a challenge,there are good numbers of duck and I counted 9 LITTLE GREBE, not one could I capture even the ones in front of the hide if they are to close to the shore the tall sedge etc. makes it impossible to see fully,I remember when the area used to flood and snipe could be seen just out the window with passing Water Rail and passerines coming to drink in the small pools.
There where 2 Marsh Harriers picked out to the north west but I did not get onto them 2 BUZZARDS soared over the woods and other raptors where a F MERLIN seen three times SPARROWHAWK , KESTREL & BARN OWL hiding in the reeds to the east of the hide late afternoon.
About 50 KNOT dropped onto the spit briefly also BAR-TAILED GODWIT,RUFF
I spent most of the afternoon there hoping to locate a Teal that dropped in to the left of the hide showing a bright blue speculum but it was not relocated.

One of the CF cards i used for the grebe will not read anyone Know how to try and get the info off ?
Brian

 

[cuddy]

Hi Keith, sorry to hear your missing the Pallas's warbler it can be quite frustrating but its still worth another look this weekend, the Hoopoe is still around at Boulmer and i cant see it moving anywhere at the moment.

I was heartened to see that you have a passion for birding, something that i find is hard to come by these days so much of our hobby has been reduced to lists .

St Marys wetland was originaly set up to encourage non birders to take an interest by making birds easy to see, in my opinion it has succeeded as there are a lot more birders of every level at this site.

As for bad birding well i have probably been as guilty as many i have condemned, but i hope i have learned to be a better birder by seeing the conduct of others and understanding that i too once made those mistakes.

A good days birding Swiftspectrum, not a bad mix of birds .

Good birding

Brian .

 

[Keith Bradley]

Hi Brian/all

I'm hoping to get up to Boulmer first thing in the morning for the Hoopoe, yet another lifer if I see it - can't wait!, having seen it reported all week I can't believe that it's still there.

Just found out as well I won't be able to get out until midday on Sunday so if there's anything around let's hope it sticks around until pm at least!

I echo your words about bad birding, thankfully I've come in hopefully at a wiser age so my bad birding days have never ocurred! - well that's the theory anyway!

see you around - happy birding
Keith :t:

 

[Gill Osborne]

So wherabouts exactly is this Hoopoe hanging around?

I don't know Bulmer all that well, not having birded there yet, but I don't start work until 11am Saturday and, thankfully after the week I have had :storm: , I'm off on Sunday. NEED to get outdoors to regain my sanity!!!!!! 8-P

Gill

 

[Vipers]

Hi Keith

The Hoopoe can be very hard to find. It feeds on the beach anywhere between Boulmer and the cliffs just north of Low steads car park. It also spends alot of time on the main track. It took me over two hours to get onto it this morning. so be prepared to put a bit time in looking for it. Good luck

 

[Keith Bradley]

Thanks for the advice Gary, I'll just see how it goes. I need to be back home for 14.00 so that gives me approx 5 hours if I need it.

What do you mean by the main track?, is this the byway that skirts the coastline joining Boulmer and Howick? (I'm looking at the OS map for this)

Cheers
Keith

 

[Vipers]

What do you mean by the main track?, is this the byway that skirts the coastline joining Boulmer and Howick? (I'm looking at the OS map for this)

Cheers
Keith

Yes Keith it is the byway that skirts the coast. Realy you need two people one to walk the track and one to walk the beach. Hope you have better weather than I had this morning.

 

[Gill Osborne]

I'll be down there at the crack of dawn then....fingers crossed I see something - though just being out in the fresh air will do me! :t:


Gill

 

[salty]

kielder and cresswell

despite the rain this morning, me and rayl had planned a trip out to kielder to see what we could get, and then popped down to cresswell on the way back home.

kielder:

buzzard
loads of kestrel
goshawk (ray's first)
and not much else worth mentioning.

cresswell:

still lots of goldcrest around

usual suspects on the pond (very swollen)

black necked grebe showing well, and i managed a few snaps in the fading light, rubbish really.

2 sparrowhawks getting mobbed at the back of the pond, then they began to mob each other, very strange!

Ray managed some shots of the goshawk, but it may of been a bit too far away for the lens he was using, but we'll see.

 

[martin kitching]

Are these two images the same bird? The reason I ask is that the second image, BNG7, would almost certainly have been id'd as a Slav Grebe if not seen alongside the first image. Completely wrong head and bill structure for BNG.

martin

 

[Keith Bradley]

That bird!

Having arrived at Low Steads Car Park at 08.40 with no-one else in sight, I thought to myself, "well this is going to be a challenge", light drizzle appeared to be the order of the day so I was happy to peruse the area at my own pace. Talking to the local farmer indicated that the bird (Hoopoe) was probably still in the area but mobile - nothing learned there then.

As time went by, more birders started to arrive but all had the common theme, nothing seen as yet. Until just over two hours later, when a chap (whom I don't know the name - apologies if you're posting to this thread) hurried up to me to say it had been on the pager 50yds N of Boulmer village - and where were we?, not far South of Howick! doh!

Until then the persistant rain had stayed away but the heavy showers were imminent, so passing the car park Southwards again (I elected to walk to Bolumer - where I hadn't been too far away not an hour earlier), it was about 20 minutes when I was allegedly arriving in the right spot. By now I was absolutley drenched, and I mean drenched, my trousers felt like moon trousers, I was walking in puddles inside my shoes, thank goodness for my head wear!, then just as I was about to accept I couldn't see anything through my specs with the rain, there it was! - a huge butterly flying away from me on the beach in front of the cottages at Boulmer. The Hoopoe perched on the rocks about 50yrds in front of me so I could see it's silhouette, then it was off again, Northbound until I lost it. Ten minutes later, I and some chaps who I had never met before, were viewing the sorrowful looking bird sheltering in amongst the sandstone rocks and scree, just North of the last house on the beach.

Me?, I was drenched, aching (it was now 11.30) but it was worth it. I just hope the bird will survive our climate!

Gill - I hope you saw it,.

For the record, I also recorded Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Kestrel, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Herring, BB and BH Gull, plus probably something else I've forgotten.

Cheers
Keith

Keith

 

[Gill Osborne]

Well done Keith :clap: So glad you saw it today.

I'm going tomorrow morning at first light to see if I can track it down....got the maps sorted and my birding gear all ready on the sofa ready to throw on and the car has a tankful of fuel - just need the wee birdies to show now!


Gill

 

[Keith Bradley]

Gill - All I can offer is the bird is as mobile as reported. I would concentrate on Boulmer village Northwards, hopefully there will be other birders around to help, as there were for me today. Unless you're very lucky, the best chance is to see it fly away from you, where it's characteristic flight will identify itself easily. There are plenty other birds to distract your attention away so a
visit should never be a waste of time. If you don't mind walking then perhaps park at the car park past Low Steads Farm, on the coast, and walk South.

A local asked me "what strange bird is that", when I was on the beach in front of the Fish bar & restaurant, after a quick conversation it appears that the bird frequents the Boulmer area more than anywhere else, but, as I stated earlier, it is, or appears to be very mobile. Concentrate on the near shoreline and hopefully you should pick it up - be patient, it took me 2'40" to locate it, but I required help. It was only because I was in the wrong place to begin with.

Good luck!

Keith

 

[salty]

Are these two images the same bird? The reason I ask is that the second image, BNG7, would almost certainly have been id'd as a Slav Grebe if not seen alongside the first image. Completely wrong head and bill structure for BNG.

martin

yep, same bird.

 

[Gill Osborne]

Thanks Keith. :t: Your descriptrions of exactly where to go are a fantastic help......let's hope the Hoopoe has read the script It'll be a Lifer for me if I am fortunate to catch up with it....thank god it's not an LBJ

But if I don't see I don't see it.....just being out in the open air is enough for me....especially as I've been doing a LOT of overtime lately and haven't had much time to get out birding in the past few weeks. I think the last time I WAS out was when I went around Hulne Park with Mark on 1st October!!!
Being at the coast will do me fine.....I may see some divers and sea ducks and, if I have time, may pop along to Cresswell to catch up with Salty's Black-necked Grebe.

I'm a free spirit until about 1pm so am going to make the most of it! :t:


Gill

 

[cuddy]

Met up with Littlestintboy and we moved up the coast to Boulmer to try and see the Hoopoe we arrived at the Boulmer end and had a leisurely walk up the road towards Longhoughton Steel, a Wheatear showed well and many waders on the beach were enjoyed.

After wandering the beach we turned back onto the dune track and were instantly rewarded with flight views of said Hoopoe and as we wandered back down the track saw it on a further two occasions.

Also met other BF members David R (North Sea rig reports ) and Martin Kitchen ( Northumberland Pelargics ), nice to have an Autumn Hoopoe as these are rare up here.