Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[seggs]

Seggs, is it a private trip or public? if its public can you post the details. I've wanted to go on a true sea trip for donks.

Hi its run by Martin Kitching, maybe some places left for the next few outings contact him he,s on the last few pages of this thread ..Good luck,

 

[seggs]

Quick visit to Druridge pools at 4pm today, a Green Sandpiper flew south over the approach to the pools and a Cuckoo flew north over the pool viewed from the Oddie hide.
Cresswell- 1 Little Egret, 150+ Lapwings,40+Curlews,20+ Oystercatchers being the highlights of this visit.

 

[The Liverbirder]

Long time, no hear!

Greetings - West Hartford at 7.15 pm, Barn Owl hunting the field to the east of the farm. Smaller and much lighter coloured than the usual BO with much more rapid wing beats. Juvenile? And a Asio species hunting to the north of the farm. Looking towards the sun and from 250 yards away I could not be certain but would opt for an otus rather than a flammeus.

Arcot Pond was quiet. One cygnet left and the two Greylag goslings are coming along fine. Family of Whitethroats was probably the highlight and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling to the NE.

 

[martin kitching]

I don't know quite why Martin is blathering on about the RSPB cruises when the question was about the trip that Seggs had been on, however, for info about Northumberland Pelagics check this thread;

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1237830#post1237830

cheers
martin

Hi the RSPB run some excellent seabird cruises from Bridlington,Yorkshire every year between Aug-Oct you have a very good chance of seeing shearwaters,skuas etc.Their should be info on the RSPB website about the cruises.I have been on a couple and i have seen Pom,Arctic,Great Skuas.Manx and Sooty Shearwaters.Also there is a chance of seeing the rarer seabirds on the cruises Great,Cory's Shearwaters.LT Skuas and Sabines Gulls have all been seen before over the years

 

[tony robb]

for kingfishers try clara vale after heavy rain, when the tyne rises, or hetton bogs 2nd brood should be just about showing, foxglove covert (my local patch) in catterick has at least 3 on the big pond (saw them yesteday)

you wouldn`t believe how many times ive tried clara vale only to be told ...you`ve just missed the kingfisher:-C

 

[rokermartin]

I don't know quite why Martin is blathering on about the RSPB cruises when the question was about the trip that Seggs had been on, however, for info about Northumberland Pelagics check this thread;

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1237830#post1237830

cheers
martin

Just thought i would tell Durham giant about the RSPB cruises certainly not blatherling on as you put it .Nothing wrong with giving extra info about seabird cruises seeing Durham giant has never done any before.

 

[paul79]

about the massive eagle owl in howdon its a long eared one its approx 2 1/2 3 foot tall a female ive seen it personally really close up its realy brazen perching on balconies outside peoples houses its pretty amazing to see
Eagle owl? where, is it still there?

Still here Been watching it and taking pic every night for over a week.

 

[The Liverbirder]

Eagle Owl

PM me with the details, please, I'm gagging for a look-see!

 

[paul79]

PM me with the details, please, I'm gagging for a look-see!

Just travel to Willington Quay and stay quiet around 10.15ish you should hear it. Not giving details out, as already a lot of people know, and it seems to be getting mobbed a bit.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Just travel to Willington Quay and stay quiet around 10.15ish you should hear it. Not giving details out, as already a lot of people know, and it seems to be getting mobbed a bit.

Hardly surprising when people are writing in to the comments forums of the local paper about it.

 

[craigthirlwell]

fallen baby swift

Advice please.
What should i do with this little fella? It was found on a friends lawn. Had it been a perching bird i would have advised putting it in the nearest bush but i can't imagine an adult swift coming down to feed it.

I've had a good look at it and removed one large blood sucking beastie. The bottoms of the last three feathers on each wing are still in pin.
What should i do now?
Would chopped up meal worm be ok to feed it?
Cheers
Craig

 

[paul79]

Hardly surprising when people are writing in to the comments forums of the local paper about it.

Most in Wallsend have either heard of it or heard it for themselves anyway, so whats the problem? Its not as if it will be kept a secret anyway, when the local animal welfare officer, Kielder Bird of prey centre and local bar staff are revealing its location to anyone who asks.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I didn't say there was a problem.

 

[Brian Bullough]

Advice please.
What should i do with this little fella? It was found on a friends lawn. Had it been a perching bird i would have advised putting it in the nearest bush but i can't imagine an adult swift coming down to feed it.

I've had a good look at it and removed one large blood sucking beastie. The bottoms of the last three feathers on each wing are still in pin.
What should i do now?
Would chopped up meal worm be ok to feed it?
Cheers
Craig

Presume it is from the roof space of their house if you can confirm this ,you could put it in the loft where you think the nest is and it will find it's own way back, there should be lots of splash somewhere outside to give away the entrance, they back up to the hole to keep the nest clean.
I have two pairs nesting and the young often wander around the loft as they grow.
Brian

 

[craigthirlwell]

Presume it is from the roof space of their house if you can confirm this ,you could put it in the loft where you think the nest is and it will find it's own way back, there should be lots of splash somewhere outside to give away the entrance, they back up to the hole to keep the nest clean.
I have two pairs nesting and the young often wander around the loft as they grow.
Brian

Cheers Brian,

The swift isn't so fast now, in fact it isn't moving at all.
I fed the thing this morning and took off another 2 biting beasts. It was having nothing to do with flying. By this afternoon, before i managed to put it back up in the roof it was dead. I guess the parasite burdon was too much for it.
The question is which bin do i put it in? Green, blue or do Newcastle City Council have a swift recycling scheme?

 

[The Liverbirder]

Coast This Evening

Cresswell, low sun and high water made for a less than exciting visit. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Druridge Pools - from the Budge, lots of long grass so apart from a few duck glimpses, zilch.

South-facing Hide - renovation coming along nicely in the month or so since I as last there. The bags of sand on the first step have been moved off and onto the path. Clearly, the same people who are building the Olympic venues have been contracted to sort the hide, so it should be done by 2012 :-O

Female Marsh Harrier up and about but once again, water too high and grass too long so little else.

From the Oddie, a family of Mute Swans right outside and a drake Common Scoter near the island.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I've just come in from East Chev.

The pools weren't worth looking at as usual. There's enough water in them to irrigate a desert. Lovely evening though. The sea was like glass and I spent some time watching a tern getting its own back by mobbing an arctic skua that was trying to get a bit of peace and quiet on the sea. A manxie came by at the same time as the skua lost patience and moved a hundred yards south.

Three red-throated divers just offshore.

Edit: And a whimbrel flew in from the south, had a look, turned round and went back south again.

 

[seggs]

Cresswell, low sun and high water made for a less than exciting visit. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Druridge Pools - from the Budge, lots of long grass so apart from a few duck glimpses, zilch.

South-facing Hide - renovation coming along nicely in the month or so since I as last there. The bags of sand on the first step have been moved off and onto the path. Clearly, the same people who are building the Olympic venues have been contracted to sort the hide, so it should be done by 2012 :-O

Female Marsh Harrier up and about but once again, water too high and grass too long so little else.

From the Oddie, a family of Mute Swans right outside and a drake Common Scoter near the island.

Aye the bags of sand have been placed to attract other wildlife or so it seems!:-O:-O...not moved much in months!

 

[Andy Atkinson]

Coincidentally, I've just rang the Trust office and tried to get hold of Duncan Hutt today to ask about the high water levels at Chevvy Pools. I rang him 2 months ago and was told that he would return my call but I got nothing back. I'm trying again and i'm going to email in too in the hope that I can get some explaination.

I'm sure I read a quote from Mr Hutt in Roebuck earlier this year where he stated that this was a high priority and would be dealt with in time for peak wader passage.

Suffice to say that nothing has happened and unless this is sorted damned quick, any wader will be giving Chevvy a very wide berth.

Anyone else out there had contact with the Trust over this issue? Perhaps we can start some petitions or some formal lobbying.

My issues with the site are:
- High water levels at Cresswell and Chevington
(leading to drastic declines in bird numbers using the site eg terns, waders)
- Overgrown at the Budge Hide
(this used to be such a fantastic spot)
- Silly hide window heights at the Budge
(clearly not built with birders in mind by people who didn't understand how people used the hide)
- No hide replacement for the S. hide
(a ruin for years now)
- Druridge Pool, while great for otters is a dead zone for birds
(what about some tern platforms or a proper scrape)

We are major stakeholders of the Trust and often the only people on site at these reserves. I think the time has come for some organised action.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Just had a nice house-tick. I've been watching a little egret on the Coquet below Amble dam from my back window.