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Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Stewart J.
- Start date
Keith Reeder
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Darren,
it's mobile (it's a gull!
), but I saw it about 400 yards(?) south of the promenade, near the outflow of a small stream - there's often a congregation of gulls there.
it's mobile (it's a gull!
), but I saw it about 400 yards(?) south of the promenade, near the outflow of a small stream - there's often a congregation of gulls there.
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Vipers
Brunswick Birder
I went to a Goshawk site in central Northumberland to day, to see if they had started displaying yet. Walking for about a mile into the forest to find a good vantage point. I only had to wait ten minutes before getting my first view of a female Gos, briefly displaying before dropping back into the forest. After about half an hour, a male and female Gos appeared circling together above the trees. Then the female started her butterfly display flight and the male started stooping at her. I watched them through the scope for about twenty minutes, before they dissapeared into the forest. Absolutely amazing!!
There were lots of Crossbills flying about, including a flock c50 although none of them landed in view. I also saw Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and a pair of Common Buzzards displaying. So it seems like spring is in the air.
I then decided to go to Ingram valley to try and photograph Dippers. But the light in the valley was dire and I could only manage a shutter speed of 1/15sec. I still got some shots, but nothing brilliant. It was nice to just sit and watch these amazing birds.
There were lots of Crossbills flying about, including a flock c50 although none of them landed in view. I also saw Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and a pair of Common Buzzards displaying. So it seems like spring is in the air.
I then decided to go to Ingram valley to try and photograph Dippers. But the light in the valley was dire and I could only manage a shutter speed of 1/15sec. I still got some shots, but nothing brilliant. It was nice to just sit and watch these amazing birds.
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level seven
Registered user
Nothing special to report, but I went to the nature reserve in Gosforth this afternoon and saw more woodland birds there than I've ever seen before at this time of year, both in numbers and species. Why this should be today in particular, I've no idea. I was there last week and it was very quiet.
Right by the entrance two Treecreepers were chasing each other wildly round a tree-trunk, while a Nuthatch was in a nearby tree. Several Goldcrest could be seen around here as well, and then I got a quick look at a Great Spotted Woodpecker as it flew off away from me. This was all before going through the gate into the woods.
Numerous Teal and Wigeon were on the lake, looking very neat and attractive in the late afternoon sun, together with Mute Swans, Coot, Moorhens and a Gadwall. Four Grey Herons were on the far shore.
Other birds seen later in the wooded parts were Long-tailed Tits, a Jay, Coal, Great and Blue Tits, a Reed Warbler, Robins and Blackbirds.
A very enjoyable couple of hours. It's hard to believe such a peaceful location is so near the middle of Newcastle.
Right by the entrance two Treecreepers were chasing each other wildly round a tree-trunk, while a Nuthatch was in a nearby tree. Several Goldcrest could be seen around here as well, and then I got a quick look at a Great Spotted Woodpecker as it flew off away from me. This was all before going through the gate into the woods.
Numerous Teal and Wigeon were on the lake, looking very neat and attractive in the late afternoon sun, together with Mute Swans, Coot, Moorhens and a Gadwall. Four Grey Herons were on the far shore.
Other birds seen later in the wooded parts were Long-tailed Tits, a Jay, Coal, Great and Blue Tits, a Reed Warbler, Robins and Blackbirds.
A very enjoyable couple of hours. It's hard to believe such a peaceful location is so near the middle of Newcastle.
Keith Reeder
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A reed warbler?
That's a nice surprise!
That's a nice surprise!
level seven
Registered user
Keith Reeder said:
Doh! I wish! I meant Reed Bunting of course.
Still, give it a few weeks.....
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Glad I read that before I set off this morning - I was going to find that reed warbler today, come hell or high water!
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Ravens are always great to see though, Rob.
I was at Plessey woods today - just somewhere easy to get to because the weather forecast hadn't been too promising.
I also wanted to see if I could still take pictures of birds that lived somewhere other than St Mary's
I was really hoping to find some dippers to photograph (Gary put the idea into my head), but failed dismally on that score.
Still, the day got out quite nice: loads of jays of course, and they helped me find the most "interesting" bird of the day - they were mobbing a buzzard in a tree on the top of the valley, but it skedaddled before I could get the camera onto it.
Shame, because buzzards are still a bit of a novelty in SE Northumberland.
Aside from that, just the Usual Suspects.
A kingfisher whizzed by at one point, and there were three or four herons at various points on the river.
The woods were alive with goldcrest, blue, great and long tailed tits - Spring's on the way, and they know it.
Several waves of fieldfares and redwings overflew, heading east - off home, maybe?
After a while The Great Unwashed started showing up in numbers, so I found myself a small clearing in the woods and sat down with my back against a tree, waiting to see if any birds would come to me.
Before long I had birds all around: by pure fluke I'd parked myself a few feet away from a (maple?) tree that was oozing sweet sap - the birds loved it and kept coming back for more.
I saw several GSW, and had a bit of a panic when a seemingly very small woodpecker appeared overhead - but it wasn't a lesser, it was just a rather compact greater deliberately winding me up!
I only saw a couple of treecreepers, but the nuthatches loved the tree sap - I had several of them within about ten feet of me, more than once - and a great tit, foraging around in the leaf litter, perched on my toe at one point!
And all without a scrap of camo!
I ended up sitting there for over two hours - I was frozen through by the time I packed in - but I got some pictures I'm pretty pleased with.
I was at Plessey woods today - just somewhere easy to get to because the weather forecast hadn't been too promising.
I also wanted to see if I could still take pictures of birds that lived somewhere other than St Mary's
I was really hoping to find some dippers to photograph (Gary put the idea into my head), but failed dismally on that score.
Still, the day got out quite nice: loads of jays of course, and they helped me find the most "interesting" bird of the day - they were mobbing a buzzard in a tree on the top of the valley, but it skedaddled before I could get the camera onto it.
Shame, because buzzards are still a bit of a novelty in SE Northumberland.
Aside from that, just the Usual Suspects.
A kingfisher whizzed by at one point, and there were three or four herons at various points on the river.
The woods were alive with goldcrest, blue, great and long tailed tits - Spring's on the way, and they know it.
Several waves of fieldfares and redwings overflew, heading east - off home, maybe?
After a while The Great Unwashed started showing up in numbers, so I found myself a small clearing in the woods and sat down with my back against a tree, waiting to see if any birds would come to me.
Before long I had birds all around: by pure fluke I'd parked myself a few feet away from a (maple?) tree that was oozing sweet sap - the birds loved it and kept coming back for more.
I saw several GSW, and had a bit of a panic when a seemingly very small woodpecker appeared overhead - but it wasn't a lesser, it was just a rather compact greater deliberately winding me up!
I only saw a couple of treecreepers, but the nuthatches loved the tree sap - I had several of them within about ten feet of me, more than once - and a great tit, foraging around in the leaf litter, perched on my toe at one point!
And all without a scrap of camo!
I ended up sitting there for over two hours - I was frozen through by the time I packed in - but I got some pictures I'm pretty pleased with.
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Patch visit St Marys
Weather again grey overcast with occasional drizzle roll on spring I'm suffering the Winter blues.
Pond held a mixture of wildfowl but few waders, pair of Wigeon many Teal and a single Drake shoveler mixed with Greylags, Moorhen, and Mallards.
Rocks had the usual mix of waders and gulls but nothing to report of any note on the sea bar 2 Shelduck banging North.
Skylark had a half-hearted attempt at singing and a number of Reed Bunting were seen.
North bay had the best birds today with good views of Sanderling, Purple sandpiper, Turnstones, Grey and Pied wagtail, Rock and meadow pipit.
The new sea defences proving to be popular with the pipits.
Weather again grey overcast with occasional drizzle roll on spring I'm suffering the Winter blues.
Pond held a mixture of wildfowl but few waders, pair of Wigeon many Teal and a single Drake shoveler mixed with Greylags, Moorhen, and Mallards.
Rocks had the usual mix of waders and gulls but nothing to report of any note on the sea bar 2 Shelduck banging North.
Skylark had a half-hearted attempt at singing and a number of Reed Bunting were seen.
North bay had the best birds today with good views of Sanderling, Purple sandpiper, Turnstones, Grey and Pied wagtail, Rock and meadow pipit.
The new sea defences proving to be popular with the pipits.
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Keith Reeder
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Hi Brian,
it'd be useful to know what your patch is - "pond" doesn't give much of a clue!
I'm guessing St Mary's?
it'd be useful to know what your patch is - "pond" doesn't give much of a clue!
I'm guessing St Mary's?
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Cheers, Brian - I wasn't trying to be clever, but I just wasn't sure!
StevieEvans
Well-known member
Barn Owl hunting at 15:00 this afternoon nr Killingworth
SE
SE
rokermartin
Well-known member
Drudridge Bay CPK Crossbill 30+ and 2 Mealy Redpoll is morning
Brian Bullough
DIGIDOPE
stew the smew
Registered User - but trying to quit.
lovely pics brian. i would like to catch those crossbills for my year list this weekend.
amazingly i was up in the cairngorms last week and didn't see any.
just thought i'd mention. last friday morning around 6am, on our way up to scotland we saw a tawny, two barns and a little owl in between stagshaw roundabout and the ton inn (?) on the a68.
not a bad start to the weekend. not a bad finish either as i got a 30 second view of a golden eagle circling off a munro face at the end on loch ness... my first ever.
one barn owl was in exactly the same spot on the way home, although of course i can't be sure it was it was one of the two i saw on friday.
amazingly i was up in the cairngorms last week and didn't see any.
just thought i'd mention. last friday morning around 6am, on our way up to scotland we saw a tawny, two barns and a little owl in between stagshaw roundabout and the ton inn (?) on the a68.
not a bad start to the weekend. not a bad finish either as i got a 30 second view of a golden eagle circling off a munro face at the end on loch ness... my first ever.
one barn owl was in exactly the same spot on the way home, although of course i can't be sure it was it was one of the two i saw on friday.
rokermartin
Well-known member
Harwood Forest this morning 1 female Goshawk,5 Buzzards,2 Kestrel,1Sparrowhawk