Northumbrian Birding (2 Viewers)

[Barred Wobbler]

The dowitchers appeared to be settling down. They were feeding on the west side for quite a while, then decided to roost. Stuck their beaks under their wings, looked like they were ready for a kip then a few minutes later for reasons known only to themselves, they upped and offed.

Nothing else even lifted.

 

[woodhornbirder]

`Washington WWT is a bit closer though and you'll drive past there`

I dont have a car or a driving license, so that could be small flaw in the plan, and doesnt it have a steep entrance fee? ashington to whitby is 8 quid on the bus, its nice trip. SHame about the beer price once you arive, but the lasses are bit more diverse than back home.

eg http://photos.bizarremag.com/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_35/bizarre_magazine_17776_12.jpg

lets hope the dowitchers are relocated, maybe they were expecting warmer weather...or maybe they didnt wanna share the hotel pool with the plastic geese (local riff raff)

 

[andylewoc]

Did you spend this morning beckoning the Sandhill Crane inland? Did you relax when it hit terra firma, hoping it would stick around for a day or so? Did you get increasingly frustrated as took to the air, going south, south and south somemore? You did! Click here. :t:

Thought you might need your previous link

 

[The Liverbirder]

Thought you might need your previous link

Brilliant! :-O Hoisted by my own petard! :t:

On a serious(ish) note, when you see what turns up in the Scillies, Shetlands and several other places, this past-time/pursuit/hobby can be both the best and the worst (and often within minutes of each other).

I have a week off next, well, er, week, and so some serious 'thrashing' is required. :t:

 

[Bob Biggs]

Brilliant! :-O Hoisted by my own petard! :t:

On a serious(ish) note, when you see what turns up in the Scillies, Shetlands and several other places, this past-time/pursuit/hobby can be both the best and the worst (and often within minutes of each other).

I have a week off next, well, er, week, and so some serious 'thrashing' is required. :t:

Hi Gordon

Strange you should feel that way. I spent 2 hours at East Chev on Monday in the tin can hide and 2 hours at the same shack yesterday. This morning, I uttered those memorable words to the other half " I don't think I'll bother with East Chev today - I can't see why there'll be owt there if there wasn't yesterday.".

Needless to say, as with the Crane last week, the Dowitchers went on Biggs' "15 minutes late" list, which is far more impressive than the birds I have seen...

 

[LowellMills]

Didn't have the time or funds to go further, so a drop into Gosforth Park for an hour went down today:

Chiffchaff in some scrub on the way there, more or less in a back lane.
Woodland had Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk
Gosforth Lake had 3 Shoveller, 30ish Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey heron, mute swans, coots, moorhens, and, in view for a full ten seconds, a Bittern, a 'lifer' for me.

 

[tom tams]

Honey Buzzard

A late Honey Buzzard sighting

http://beadnell-birding.blogspot.com/2011/10/surprising-day-4th-oct-2011.html

 

[Barred Wobbler]

A late Honey Buzzard sighting

http://beadnell-birding.blogspot.com/2011/10/surprising-day-4th-oct-2011.html

Good bird. Almost as late as ours on the 7th at Cresswell a couple of years ago Tom.

 

[tom tams]

Good bird. Almost as late as ours on the 7th at Cresswell a couple of years ago Tom.

I remember it well Alan, also you showing an image to a couple of disbelievers at the time

 

[woodhornbirder]

short trip to castle island this afternoon. Lots of mud now!

13 snipe, 7 dunlin 8 redshank 1 grey plover. Didnt manage to convert any of the snipe into a long billed dowitcher...they were all happy being snipe!

Nothing else of interest.

 

[Gill Osborne]

9 whooper swans on River Coquet at Amble Marina :t:

Chiffchaff still singing in trees behind our flat in Alnwick.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

There were a few geese at East Chevington this morning.

Also, while we were watching one of this year's marsh harriers that is still hanging around, Richard got his eye on this bird. A stranger. A wing-tagged marsh harrier that has called in on its way from who-knows-where.

A yellow tag on its left wing with a 1 or an I and a blue tag on its right wing with what at first I thought was a Y but is probably an X.

 

[Alan G]

The dowitchers appeared to be settling down. They were feeding on the west side for quite a while, then decided to roost. Stuck their beaks under their wings, looked like they were ready for a kip then a few minutes later for reasons known only to themselves, they upped and offed.

Nothing else even lifted.

The Dowitchers flew right overhead as I was leaving, which was nice.

ps: well done to the finders, they deserve something after a weeks worth of effort in less than favourable conditions this week.

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

This may be of some interest to a few http://ntbcsightings.posterous.com/two-barred-crossbill-30-september

 

[The Liverbirder]

This may be of some interest to a few http://ntbcsightings.posterous.com/two-barred-crossbill-30-september

I would have thought 'much interest to many'. Superb. :t:

 

[Bob Biggs]

9 whooper swans on River Coquet at Amble Marina :t:

Chiffchaff still singing in trees behind our flat in Alnwick.

Not sure where to go this morning so I stayed put and watched the garden. We have a small pond and other free washing facilities for our feathered friends. Nice result with all the usual suspects, plus Chiffchaff, female Blackcap [we had a male on Friday] and Redwing coming in for a quick shower. More Greenfinch than usual too. Hopefully, their numbers are building up again.

 

[Gill Osborne]

4 wheatear in field opposite Rose Cottage (caravan park?) at Warkworth this afternoon.

 

[degsy_safc]

Tried Prestwick Carr again this afternoon in hope of the Shorties or other recent star performer - weather was a bit blustery to stay the least and didn't manage any of those species at all.

However bumped into a mate of mine who had just been to see the Turtle Dove at Big Waters - he said its really near the access road and you should manage a canny shot.

When i arrived i heard it had just flown to nearby gardens and i'd missed it by 10 mins - typical i thought.. Anyway i recognised a couple of lads so decided to hang around and have a bit of a natter anyway....

Fortunately i didn't have to wait too long for it to return and it spent a good hour flitting around the field and got within photographing range a couple of times :t:.

Picture attached..

 

[Gill Osborne]

Good shot Degsy :t: Last one I saw was in Blean Woods in Kent in July 1992 :smoke: Lovely birds.

Keep chucking that seed down - I'm trapped at work until Thursday :-C It'll probably be halfway to Africa by then knowing my luck :smoke:

 

[degsy_safc]

Good shot Degsy :t: Last one I saw was in Blean Woods in Kent in July 1992 :smoke: Lovely birds.

Keep chucking that seed down - I'm trapped at work until Thursday :-C It'll probably be halfway to Africa by then knowing my luck :smoke:

Thanks Gill - it did seem pretty settled so fingers crossed for you :t: