Northumbrian Birding (2 Viewers)

[June Atkinson]

tern query

Does this help Paul? If you prefer not to show this image, please say and I'll remove it. Just thought it might help to have a go in Photoshop.

June

PS I've just had a look at your Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/_pauls/5744310670#/photos/_pauls/5744310670/lightbox/

This is a much better image, isn't it! You can clearly see the difference between these two species.

Missed the spoonbills - looked at East Chev first thing but didn't have time to try Druridge Pools, much to my regret having narrowly missed spoonbills several times in the UK.

While I was at East Chev I did notice what I thought was a particularly small tern with the sandwich terns. I assumed a small arctic tern but I posted a couple of pics on the ID forum and there is a suggestion of whiskered tern but the concensus seems to be arctic.

Just in case anyone wants to look for themselves and hasn't seen the thread on the ID forum :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/_pauls/5744310670

http://www.flickr.com/photos/_pauls/5743456005

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I am not on PC at the moment but this looks like the bird I video'd yesterday at East Chev. Will have a look later when on PC. Video on my blog (see below)

 

[_pauls]

Thanks June - thats great - I cant seem to view the lightened pic full size though?

Andrew - interesting - it does look like the same bird and its obviously in the same location with the same perch on the right - I'm guessing your video is taken from the hide on the inland side of the lake? Its hard to gauge for sure but in your video the bird in your video looks to me to be larger than in my photos. Its difficult to be sure and I guess foreshortening characteristics of different lenses can have an impact.

 

[June Atkinson]

Arctic tern video

I've just enjoyed your video of the Arctic tern, Andrew, and also the black-winged tern.

We were at the Whittle Dene reservoirs this week; there is a pair of Common Terns, and a pair of herons.

Have you been to the Derwent Country Park, to see our Red Kites? Go to http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page11.htm for details of our Summer Kitewatch. Possibly an opportunity for photography.

Must go back to your page - thanks for sharing.

June

I am not on PC at the moment but this looks like the bird I video'd yesterday at East Chev. Will have a look later when on PC. Video on my blog (see below)

 

[June Atkinson]

Lightened image

Yes, I realise that, but I don't seem able to do anything about it. I'll try uploading it again and see what happens - I can always delete it!!
Last time I saved your small image, then opened it in PS. I then saved it with a new name, and uploaded it.

Here goes a second time - I'll save the larger file - fingers crossed.
June

Thanks June - thats great - I cant seem to view the lightened pic full size though?

Andrew - interesting - it does look like the same bird and its obviously in the same location with the same perch on the right - I'm guessing your video is taken from the hide on the inland side of the lake? Its hard to gauge for sure but in your video the bird in your video looks to me to be larger than in my photos. Its difficult to be sure and I guess foreshortening characteristics of different lenses can have an impact.

 

[_pauls]

Yes, I realise that, but I don't seem able to do anything about it. I'll try uploading it again and see what happens - I can always delete it!!
Last time I saved your small image, then opened it in PS. I then saved it with a new name, and uploaded it.

Here goes a second time - I'll save the larger file - fingers crossed.
June

Thanks June.

I'm confused - my initial assumption was arctic but was put off by the dimunitive size, but surely the legs are much too long for arctic? Most people on the thread I put up on the ID forum (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=200933) are going with arctic but there are a few that disagree on leg length, size and colouration.

Wish I had a bigger lens!

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Bearded Seal in Beadnell Bay today more images on blog here

 

[vanellus]

Beehive Flash at 16:00 - Wood Sandpiper. Another wader present, probably a Redshank, but the gale made holding bins still a challenge and the fact that it was standing in reflected sunlight meant that plumage detail was unclear. It didn't stand or move like a normal Redshank, but the srong wind was affecting the movement of all birds present, even the Geese and imm. GBBG.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I've just enjoyed your video of the Arctic tern, Andrew, and also the black-winged tern.

We were at the Whittle Dene reservoirs this week; there is a pair of Common Terns, and a pair of herons.

Have you been to the Derwent Country Park, to see our Red Kites? Go to http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page11.htm for details of our Summer Kitewatch. Possibly an opportunity for photography.

Must go back to your page - thanks for sharing.

June

Hi June,

Glad you enjoyed the videos and thanks for the kind comments, they are hardly Spielberg's work but I like taking them.:t:

I have been to Derwent Country Park and have found it very difficult to video the Red Kites there. Do you know anywhere I could go where I stand a good chance of seeing the birds sitting? PM me if you'd prefer.:t:

Cheers,

 

[woodhornbirder]

Am off to visit windy neuk !! Any migrants wanna join me?

 

[_pauls]

Spoonbills still at Druridge Pools - viewed from the Budge hide. Saw them late yesterday afternoon in what seemed like a hurricane which they were succesfully sleeping through with just the occasional shake of the head if something flew too near. Didn't stick around long due to the elements and other commitments.

Went again today with my scope in conditions which made yesterday seem like the calm before the storm - at one point I did actually think my scope would blow away if I let go of it.

Thankfully the birds were more mobile this time - they were asleep when I arrived but soon after they started to stretch their legs and moved from the far banks into the middle of the pool and then gradually moved South across the reeds directly facing the screen, so managed to get much closer views. Lovely birds - hope they are enjoying our Northumberland weather!

 

[woodhornbirder]

Amazing skua passage on west coast, i might wander over to bowness for a look.

A mate reckons we might get a trick too, later in week, during brief northerly winds.

Could be an interesting week, if i dont get killed by a tree )

ack- transport doesnt line up, can get back from bowness.(

 

[Gill Osborne]

Spoonbill (just one today) commuting between Cresswell & Druridge Pools *Budge Hide* today.

Also 2 Black-tailed Godwit at Cresswell. Also 5 Avocet.

Drake Garganey seen from Budge Hide.

 

[_pauls]

Spoonbills back up to 2 again at Druridge Pools (Budge Hide) this morning. No sign of the other 2.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Spoonbills back up to 2 again at Druridge Pools (Budge Hide) this morning. No sign of the other 2.

I believe the two that are there now are new birds. I only saw the other 4 very briefly on Monday and they were roosting, but I'm told they were immatures. The one bird there when I arrived this morning was an adult and it was joined soon after by a second that flew in from who knows where.

 

[_pauls]

I believe the two that are there now are new birds. I only saw the other 4 very briefly on Monday and they were roosting, but I'm told they were immatures. The one bird there when I arrived this morning was an adult and it was joined soon after by a second that flew in from who knows where.

Interesting - I'm by no means an expert but when I saw them earlier in the week one of the guys in the hide was saying there were two adults and two immatures.

Doesn't the presence of the plume on the head indicate an adult? Two of the birds that I saw on Sunday and again on Monday did have plumes.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Doesn't the presence of the plume on the head indicate an adult? Two of the birds that I saw on Sunday and again on Monday did have plumes.

Plumes are present in Spoonbills from 3cy onwards so this doesn't make them adults. These birds are immatures and sub-adults.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Interesting - I'm by no means an expert but when I saw them earlier in the week one of the guys in the hide was saying there were two adults and two immatures.

Doesn't the presence of the plume on the head indicate an adult? Two of the birds that I saw on Sunday and again on Monday did have plumes.

Like I said, I only saw them briefly in a storm on Monday (my first day back from a trip) while I dipped into the hide for ten seconds with my bins and they were asleep then. No necks or heads were on display. Someone told me this morning that the other birds had been immature, so I took his word on it.

If two of the four were indeed adults, then maybe these aren't new birds.

 

[Gill Osborne]

Interesting - I'm by no means an expert but when I saw them earlier in the week one of the guys in the hide was saying there were two adults and two immatures.

That's what I was told too. Got no idea what age the one I saw on Tuesday was as it kept it's head tucked up out of the squally rain most of the time I was there.

Need some help guys: still having problems tracking down cuckoos :smoke: Planning to get myself along to the Harthope Valley either early tomorrow morning or next day off on Tuesday so are cuckoos still calling now? Had a couple of hours up Beacon Hill and surrounding area today but no joy cuckoo-wise :-C
And Wood Warblers.....are they still singing? Everything seems to be a good two/three weeks ahead this spring :smoke:

 

[Barred Wobbler]

A cuckoo flew across the north pool at Chevington at mid-day today. It's the first I've seen this year on the bay.