Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Barred Wobbler]

There was a very late swallow there this morning too.

And a female peregrine that caused a hell of a fuss on the pond, but failed to flush anything bittern-like.

 

[jerkin]

Great North Park

Out with the dog this morning and put up a Long-eared owl from the ouseburn just west of the Red Hill,put back in only 15 yards or so.Very little game to be found spent some time out with the Pointer and knot a single point guess the flooding wiped out most of this years young and a good number of adult pairs so tragic as its always had a healthy population of wild Grays and Pheasant.The talk is the government has targets for the increase in partridge populations in 2010 and it looked good that these targets would be hit,most people iv talked to now believe its back to square one

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Another swallow at Cresswell was about the only thing of note this morning.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Fenham-le-moor

Birds of interest
great views of merlin perched on rock, also peregrine 3 twite 12 whooper swans and another late swallow.

cheers one man and his dog

 

[woodhornbirder]

did a little seawatching at church point newbiggin today. Strong SSW wind.

Had my cheapo light weight scope with me, so was struggling a bit.....so am going to write off a probable great shearwater as a juv gannet.

Was banking with staright wings like a shearwater, and had white under wings, with black edges, but much bigger look than a manx, wings looked more powerful. Was flying north on its own, which is an odd direction for a juv gannet to be going, but maybe it was lost? Upper wings were dark with NO white on them.

Always see something good, wheni dont have my "proper" sea watching gear! Didint see anyother gannets during 90mins, except 1 S far out to shore.(juv) Was flying with typical bent wings, like a gannet.

Will be looking closely at all the gannets in the morning!!

 

[craigthirlwell]

Leo still at the red hills this morning, hiding deep in hawthorn but still visable.
Other birds include
snipe
kingfisher
goldfinch
bullfinch
meadow pips
skylark

Very little on the ponds, still no wigeon!

 

[seggs]

Twite reported today in the usual wintering place just north of Cresswell, opposite Bells farm around the dunes.

 

[brianr]

October St Marys Island

Well this has been the quietest October on Record for years. Total lack of migration weather has meant few reports. Seawatching has been pants, a single redwing in off the sea was a highlight, a couple of RT dIvers, 2 Velvet scoters a few common scoter over the month and distant geese were all i saw.
On Land a regular female peregrine, Grey plover, Grey wagtail joined the resident species.

Today a Water pipit on the South Beach adj the prom base was a nice surprise, perhaps the same bird that wintered last year. A single purple sandpiper on the rocks was nice
regards brian.

 

[jerkin]

Great North Park morningB

Thee Whooper Swans circled then headed east,single Roe Deer,6+ Tufted Duck,Three Teal,plenty of Gold Finch Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer,4+Bull Finch

 

[rokermartin]

Well this has been the quietest October on Record for years. Total lack of migration weather has meant few reports. Seawatching has been pants, a single redwing in off the sea was a highlight, a couple of RT dIvers, 2 Velvet scoters a few common scoter over the month and distant geese were all i saw.
On Land a regular female peregrine, Grey plover, Grey wagtail joined the resident species.

Today a Water pipit on the South Beach adj the prom base was a nice surprise, perhaps the same bird that wintered last year. A single purple sandpiper on the rocks was nice
regards brian.

I think its been the worst October on record for the east coast cannot remember a October as bad as this one in all my years of birding.

 

[seggs]

Someones had 2 Waxwing in the carpark at Morrisons in Whitley bay at 1.30pm.:t:
Nice to add to a shopping list, worth the trip alone!

 

[woodhornbirder]

Busy day at NEwbiggin.

I slacked and didnt arrive till 10am, so missed the grey phalarope!

HOwever 2 white billed divers, was scant consolation

Add the velvet scoter, little auk, and it was worth the 6hrs of freezing cold!

Going back in the freezer in the morning.......

 

[One Man and His Dog]

sea watching at newbiggen-by-the-sea

Highlights were grey phalarope,2 bonxies,3 velvet scoters and 7 long-tailed ducks also 11 waxwings ashington at woodhorn motors.
cheers one man and his dog

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I see that Birdguides is reporting three waxwings (reports yesterday and this morning) as being present at Ashington, opposite the Cookswell Garage.

I might be missing something here, but isn't the Cookswell Garage located on the Morpeth side of Pegswood, ie, nowhere near Ashington?

It was when I was a lad.

 

[Keith Bradley]

I see that Birdguides is reporting three waxwings (reports yesterday and this morning) as being present at Ashington, opposite the Cookswell Garage.

I might be missing something here, but isn't the Cookswell Garage located on the Morpeth side of Pegswood, ie, nowhere near Ashington?

It was when I was a lad.

Funny you should say that! My wife, who used to live at Pegswood, also said it was nowhere near Ashington!

Basically I was just surprised she knew the garage at all!

Keith

 

[Barred Wobbler]

The answer is that there are now two Cookswell Garages. The new one is the second-hand car lot next to the Jet garage at the west end of Ashington. This is where the waxwings have been.

No sign of any when I was there this morning.

 

[Stewart J.]

Grindon Lough

Amongst usual ducks and geese this morning, 11 Greenland White-fronts, 10 Whoopers (6 juvs).

3 adult Whoopers flew east over the house following Tyne valley at 08.15 this morning.

Good birding all

Stewart

 

[Mike Cook]

Waxwings

I was out doing a TTV for the bird atlas this morning around the village of Tritlington. There were 15 Waxwings feeding on hawthorn berries next to the public footpath from Tritlington to Ulgham. The details are in this post. The Ashington ones are probably more accessible.

 

[Andy Atkinson]

Migrants !!

Plenty of migrants being reported in our area on Birdguides.
Red Flanked Bluetail and Pallas's Warbler on Holy Island.
Bluethroat and GG Shrike on the Farnes, Pallas's at St Mary's.

Things are looking up for the weekend!
A

 

[xbill]

Waxwings

Approx. 6 waxwings at Prestwick Carr this afternoon near mayfair house. Flew in with a large flock of fieldfare and redwings.