Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[thorin]

The AD122 Hadrians wall bus must go fairly close though it would leave you with a couple of miles to walk from Housesteads Roman fort. See the link below, dont forget your scope as bird is fairly distant.

cheers Nick

http://www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk/VisitorGuide/Visiting/Travel/hadrianswallbus.htm

 

[Barred Wobbler]

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!

Map here;

(Ignore & don't be misled by the "nearest travel directions" stuff. It's a lot further than the 0.6km indicated to Riding Mill. That's only there because I used Riding Mill as a starting point for the map search)


http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=riding+mill&countryCode=GB&mapData=904&zoom=14&moveMap=-1800,-600

 

[ColinD]

I'm off to Lindisfarne for a few days at the end of August. I'm wondering if it might be worth a visit to Ross Back Sands / Ross Links. It's one of the few places in the area I've not been to, so I'd like to go, but don't want to waste half a day if it's the wrong time of year. Is it worth it at the end of August?

Thanks

 

[jerkin]

Prestwick Carr

Prestwick is worth a look at the water levels are high and its in partial flood

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I'm off to Lindisfarne for a few days at the end of August. I'm wondering if it might be worth a visit to Ross Back Sands / Ross Links. It's one of the few places in the area I've not been to, so I'd like to go, but don't want to waste half a day if it's the wrong time of year. Is it worth it at the end of August?

Thanks

I've only been there two or three times, and on those occasions it was a long trek for no reward. I'm sure there are others who have had better results, so they might be able to tell you more.

 

[howee74]

Eagle Owl

the owl comes and sits on our roof most nights- its so loud though its starting to attract the wrong kind of attention, some people were throwing stones at it the other night.

Any idea where it came from? Managed to get a pic of it one night, its pretty tame

 

[Stewart J.]

Wilsons at Grindon update 15/08/08

Again present all day, still there at 20.30hrs when I left. Some of the best viewing weather today especially this evening when wind dropped to light airs and sun was out. Bird still favouring east end and tonight was in company of 3 Greenshanks.

Opinion seems to be this is a non breeding plumaged male (dull plumage, black legs)

Stewart

 

[Stewart J.]

Woodhorn birder, I live close to the lough if you want to contact me this evening early tomorrow morning I may be able to help out with a lift if you get yourself to Haltwhistle Station.

Please feel free to PM me.

Stewart

 

[brianr]

I'm off to Lindisfarne for a few days at the end of August. I'm wondering if it might be worth a visit to Ross Back Sands / Ross Links. It's one of the few places in the area I've not been to, so I'd like to go, but don't want to waste half a day if it's the wrong time of year. Is it worth it at the end of August?

Thanks

It will be fairly quite i expect, good for grebes in the winter. Possible nudists around if its sunny as its a fair trek across the dunes,

 

[woodhornbirder]

pm sent...hope the weather holds )

 

[Stewart J.]

Wilsons at Grindon, update 17/8

Wilsons Phalarope still present and showing well throughout day last visited at 18.00hrs, always at east end usually near or next to fence running down into water. Telescope needed.

Stewart

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Birds of interest

Cresswell pond

1 x little stint
3 x greenshank
1 x garganey

coast road flash between cresswell and lynmouth

3 x adult little gulls

cheers one man and his dog

 

[Keith Bradley]

Cresswell pond

1 x little stint
3 x greenshank
1 x garganey

coast road flash between cresswell and lynmouth

3 x adult little gulls

cheers one man and his dog

At 17.30 the above had been joined by two more Greenshank (making 5 in total), another Garganey (2), 2 Common Sandpiper, 4+ Black-tailed Godwits and a single juv Spotted Redshank. There was at least a Ruff reported, possibly 2, but I didn't personally see these.

A Whimbrel was spotted flying through (or may have been disturbed), and an adult Roseate Tern was sitting on the fence, although nothing could settle for any period of time thanks to two walkers and their dogs lingering around the spit and eventually wading through the water across the causeway.

Makes you wonder just how many waders this place could attract if the water level was where it should be?

Keith

 

[ColinD]

Farnes in August

I notice that there has been a Greenish Warbler on "the Farnes" today. Are birds which are found on the Farnes accessible to general birders, or is the information given out just for general info? I thought that boats could only land during the sea bird breeding season.

I'll be on Lindisfarne for a few days next week, and if something turns up on the Farnes, I would obviously be keen to go if I can. For example, Greenish Warbler would be new for me.

 

[Gill Osborne]

I've just seen this.....

I dug out a copy of Billy Shiels' boat trips leaflet and it looks like you CAN still land on the Inner Farne. It's Tour 1 which is a 2 & 1/2 hour trip inc. 1 hour on bird sanctuary. April, August & September.
There's another trip * Tour 2 ~ Staple Island* but that one looks like you can only get onto the Island during May, June & July.

Why not give them a ring on 01665 720308
01665 720316

www.farne-islands.com

I did the Grey Seal Cruise last year with Neil which is only 1 & 1/2 hours but takes you right around the Islands and ges you up close to the seal colony :t: UNfortunately the day we went was not good for seabirds - I'd been hoping for Lifers like shearwaters/petrels etc and hoped we see a dolphin or two as Neil's never seen them in the wild before :eek!: There WERE a couple under the boat at one point but they didn't show :-C

Hope this helps

 

[Gill Osborne]

Oh bu**er!!!! Link isn't working for some reason :C How unprofessional and annoying!!!!! :smoke:

Looks like it might be best to give them a ring :t:


Edited to add: Now it is! LOL

 

[ColinD]

Thanks Gill,
I was thinking about taking the Seal trip to see if I might see a few sea birds as well. I'll give them a ring,

 

[martin kitching]

Still on the Farnes now are Feral Pigeons, a few Fulmars and Kittiwakes, a small handful of Eiders and lots of gulls and Shags. On Tuesday this week I also saw one Puffin bravely dodging all of the gulls as it took food back to it's burrow. The seal cruises are good but, unless there's something exciting on Inner Farne, I wouldn't recommend a landing trip after the end of July.

cheers
martin

Thanks Gill,
I was thinking about taking the Seal trip to see if I might see a few sea birds as well. I'll give them a ring,

 

[woodhornbirder]

i family of [email protected] (2 chicks)

60+ canada geese on flash to west of main lake, so bean goose may be still around.

 

[Keith Bradley]

Cresswell Pond

Cresswell Pond mid morning:

1x Common Sandpiper
2x Black Tailed Godwit
3x Greenshank
1x Little Stiint
1x Knot
1X Little Egret
1x Marsh Harrier
1x (probable) Merlin
1x Sparrowhawk
No Terns.

Earilier reports of Peregrine in the area also.

Keith