Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Barred Wobbler]

Windfarm planned for Druridge Bay?

When I went down last week for my second view of the white-rumped sandpiper at Cresswell the mist was clearing on the sea and I got my eye on a blue and white ship that appeared to be anchored in the bay. It wasn't the Trinity House boat that comes regularly to service the buoys and it caught my attention.

I saw it again the next day, and I noticed that it wasn't at anchor, it was moving very slowly (about 4 knots, if that) on north-south lines about a mile offshore. "A survey ship"? I couldn't make out its name because of the mist.

The next night its lights were still in the bay, still moving slowly, working the clock round.


Yesterday, almost a fortnight later it was still there, off East Chevington, ploughing its slow track back and forth. This time I managed to make out its name - Tridens 1. These things don't come cheap. Somebody is clearly spending a lot of money surveying the seabed of Druridge Bay, and whoever it is won't be doing it just for intellectual curiosity.


My guess is an offshore wind-farm. Minced roseate tern, anyone?

I googled the ship's name just now and came up with this:

http://www.utecsurvey.com/trackrecord.php#

 

[seggs]

When I went down last week for my second view of the white-rumped sandpiper at Cresswell the mist was clearing on the sea and I got my eye on a blue and white ship that appeared to be anchored in the bay. It wasn't the Trinity House boat that comes regularly to service the buoys and it caught my attention.

I saw it again the next day, and I noticed that it wasn't at anchor, it was moving very slowly (about 4 knots, if that) on north-south lines about a mile offshore. "A survey ship"? I couldn't make out its name because of the mist.

The next night its lights were still in the bay, still moving slowly, working the clock round.


Yesterday, almost a fortnight later it was still there, off East Chevington, ploughing its slow track back and forth. This time I managed to make out its name - Tridens 1. These things don't come cheap. Somebody is clearly spending a lot of money surveying the seabed of Druridge Bay, and whoever it is won't be doing it just for intellectual curiosity.


My guess is an offshore wind-farm. Minced roseate tern, anyone?

I googled the ship's name just now and came up with this:

http://www.utecsurvey.com/trackrecord.php#

Lets hope not Alan, Aweful looking things stuck in Druridge bay! lets hope the public outcry would be enough to STOP this!! If it came to it, as it has on other windfarms.

 

[Stewart J.]

Lets hope not Alan, Aweful looking things stuck in Druridge bay! lets hope the public outcry would be enough to STOP this!! If it came to it, as it has on other windfarms.

Agreed, maybe its for a subsea pipeline or cable?

Stewart

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I'd like to think so Stewart, but a mile (or two) offshore in Druridge Bay isn't really on the way to (or from) anywhere further offshore that would need undersea communications.

Onshore's close-by and infinitely cheaper for that sort of stuff.

My suspicion is that someone's interested in the rockhead and superficial deposits over it with a view to building something that needs solid foundations - over a wide area. The boat's been quartering the area for almost a fortnight since I saw it and there's no reason at all to supose I saw it on its first day.

That's a big, expensive survey of a lot of sea-bed in a relatively confined area (Druridge Bay between Amble and, say, Cresswell about 7 miles north to south, 1-2 miles offshore).

An interesting link here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4485808.ece

 

[PeterG]

"My suspicion is that someone's interested in the rockhead and superficial deposits over it with a view to building something that needs solid foundations - over a wide area."

Crown Estates announced plans for new windfarms in June but the attached map does not show any within the 12 mile limit near Druridge -

http://www.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk/Crown-Estate-round3map.pdf

However, there is a large farm way out in the North Sea, could it be that they need somewhere to bring all that energy back onshore via cables, hence the surveying in Druridge?

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I missed that announcement. Thanks.

It's possible I suppose, but Druridge isn't really "on the way" to anywhere, from anywhere, if you see what I mean. It could be that this survey is part of a general coastal survey, but it appears to be a lot of effort in a relatively small area.

 

[Stewart J.]

Hi Alan here's a link to vessel movements using AIS (each vessel broadcasts its own ID) and its all plotted here, sorry no time to check it out myself family have arrived for dinner.

http://www.shipais.com/index.php

Stewart

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Thanks Stewart. That's an interesting site - I've saved it. Tridens is logged on it as a fisheries reseach vessel - panic over. Sorry for bothering everyone.

I'm just back in from East Chevington, and the Tridens is anchored about half a mile or so off the burn mouth. They must have a day off on Sundays, but it shows that they are going to be around this week too.

Edit. I've just been looking at the ship's details. I'd been guessing its size as 200 feet when I was working out its speed the other day. Its details give its length as 61m, which is 200.1 feet.

Canny guess.

 

[seggs]

Black Stork both sides of the river

Having seen the bird yesterday in the pouring rain at Greenside on the Durham side, and visited this morning again here but no show, was straight on the case when RBA text alert went at just after 2pm....At 2.40pm i found the location just passed Newburn sports centre, and spotted the bird in the field to the right along Blayney row as we passed driving!...Not long before other people turned up, nice to see some of the lads ive met before again!..:t:
Better weather but still record shots
Seen some of the excellent photos, taken of the bird..great stuff:t:

 

[nellieberta]

Fantastic pictures Seggs! Knocks the socks off mine from yesterday (Gateshead thread)!! :t:

Joanne

 

[Stewart J.]

Hi Alan, yes it is a good site, I keep an eye on where all my employers vessels are when I'm on leave gives me an idea of where I'll be going when my leave is over.

Yo Seggs nice pictures indeed

Stewart

 

[nightminder]

Eagle Owl Sighting

Hi there
posting to tell you of the eagle owl in howdon. seen in willington quay two nights in a row. on the roofs hooting very loud. I took two photos but not sure how to upload to here?ive tried not sure if its worked. I think it is a escapee as there were five of us talking about it right under it. & the owl was not bothered a bit. ive been told its been in the area for at least 6 wks.
gez

Hi, also seen the eagle owl, was sitting on my roof last night. Very large and very loud! Was not fazed by the fact I was hanging out of the window about 6 feet from it. Took off towards Hadrian Road Metro station, and could be heard for another hour or so. Will keep an eye (and an ear) out for it in the future

 

[willington]

eagle owl

Hi nightminder, yer shes still about & doing very well!

 

[Vipers]

Hadston Carr yesterday, 3 Arctic Skuas harassing Terns and a Little Egret flew South down the shore line, also Alans survey ship is still there.

Cresswell yesterday, quite busy with boat loads of Lapwing, quite a few Dunlin, a few Snipe, 4 Whimbrel, 2 juv Blackwits, a Common Sand and a Ruff.

Grindon Lough today Wilson's Phalarope showing well, 2 Green Sand and a Greenshank.

 

[mr.sim]

Does anyone know if the Black Stork is still about as my brother and I might go for it on the way to Scotland on Saturday if it is!

 

[Newton Stringer]

Hi Mr Sim

I saw it yesterday, but no news on it today so far, .... having said that it's been pretty mobile over a reasonable area, and has been lost for periods on private land, so could be lurking somewhere.... weather is pretty shite here too....

The wilsons phal is still about today apparently....

 

[Vipers]

There was no sign of the Black Stork in the Clara Vale area today. There was a few people looking for it despite the pants weather. It may have just been sheltering from the rain somewhere.

 

[mr.sim]

Lets hope it turns up again...

 

[Stewart J.]

Wilsons Phalarope at Grindon

Wilson's still present when I left at 20.30hrs this evening at east end favouring fence line that runs down into the lough.

Good birding all

Stewart

 

[woodhornbirder]

how do i get to grindon lough on bus?

I assume the newc-carlise railway doesnt go close to there so bus is my only real option.

if it was dryer weatehr atmo, wouldnt be such a bane getting there!