Northumbrian Birding (1 Viewer)

[TimG]

Spent today around Harthope Valley where despite lots of posturing the weather held off.

Main bird was a single male Ring Ouzel with strange white patches on face (see awful shot attached) possibly moulting still or a parasite? Just in field by barn barely inside the National Park boundary and just down the very steep hill. Elsewhere single female Merlin, several Buzzards, Kestrels and Sparrowhawk. Also Red-Legged Partridge, Grey Partridge and Red Grouse was a nice trio. Some Sand Martins back prospecting the sand bank in the valley, lots of Grey and Pied Wagtails up and down the stream with a couple of brief sightings of Dipper. Also good numbers of Yellowhammer near the entrance to the valley.

 

[lazza]

A long ride down from Amble to Cresswell (into strong headwinds) had a few nice surprises, and one conundrum.....

Lots of geese at Low Hauxley NR and after an hour of comings and goings, two White-fronted geese appeared. Initially identified as European White-fronts (by two gentlemen with a scope and camera) the conundrum then set in. One clearly showed a yellow eye-ring (through the 500mm lens) but no barring below, while the other had no eye ring, but strong streaking on the belly. Both were particularly small compared to the greylags and seemingly smaller than the pink-foots, although hard to tell.

Any chance these are lesser white-fronted geese? The two other chaps convinced me otherwise, but they were very small! (The geese, not the men.....). And if so, any chance of genuine vagrancy (especially given the presence at the same corner of the lake of the giant swan goose)?

 

[TimG]

Hi lazza

There has been a Lesser White-Fronted Goose around High Hauxley all Winter I believe and was there last year however it is widely held to be a bird of mixed origin. It's reported and pictured on birdguides http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=027021 and I am unable to see what the supposed ancestry is but maybe Greylag?

Anyone who followed this better than I please feel free to correct me.

 

[Adam W]

A long ride down from Amble to Cresswell (into strong headwinds) had a few nice surprises, and one conundrum.....

Lots of geese at Low Hauxley NR and after an hour of comings and goings, two White-fronted geese appeared. Initially identified as European White-fronts (by two gentlemen with a scope and camera) the conundrum then set in. One clearly showed a yellow eye-ring (through the 500mm lens) but no barring below, while the other had no eye ring, but strong streaking on the belly. Both were particularly small compared to the greylags and seemingly smaller than the pink-foots, although hard to tell.

Any chance these are lesser white-fronted geese? The two other chaps convinced me otherwise, but they were very small! (The geese, not the men.....). And if so, any chance of genuine vagrancy (especially given the presence at the same corner of the lake of the giant swan goose)?

I would say that there's pretty much no chance of 2 genuine Lesser Whitefronts I believe there's a presumed escape in the area so one of them could have been that one. European Whitefronts would still look small in direct to Greylags.
Lesser Whitefronts tend to have less belly streaking than Whitefronts though this varies a lot anyway. From your descriptions I'd say it sounds like you probably saw the escaped Lesser Whitefront with a genuine European Whitefront.

 

[lazza]

Fair enough.... I'll calm down then

The two birds were - as far as I could see - the same size, but I guess there is overlap, and they were clearly different marking. I'm pleased with finding a European White-front in the end!

Anyway, an excellent all-day ride through countryide and coast, with a total of 75 species seen altogether!! Makes me think a 100-by-bike could be possible at the right time of year.......!

Other notable sightings were sand martins over Tritlington village and over East Chevington, a single swallow heading north over the dunes south of Amble, good views of the black-throated diver at East Chevington (and slightly more distant views of the stunning red-necked grebe), and an avocet at Druridge pools (and another at Creswell pond).

Was also surprised to see a grey seal hauled out on the beach at Hadston Carrs, but appalled to see a woman allowing her dog to harass it!!

 

[June Atkinson]

Dog harassing seal

Were you not tempted to challenge her - and the dog's - behaviour?

Fair enough.... I'll calm down then

Was also surprised to see a grey seal hauled out on the beach at Hadston Carrs, but appalled to see a woman allowing her dog to harass it!!

 

[lazza]

Were you not tempted to challenge her - and the dog's - behaviour?

I probably should have done, but was quite a long way away.... I was up on the coastal path, and she was right down by the sea, maybe 100m away. And if I'd been closer, I'm not sure I would have, as I'm not very confident with dogs, especially uncontrollable dogs....!

 

[Zappa99]

I probably should have done, but was quite a long way away.... I was up on the coastal path, and she was right down by the sea, maybe 100m away. And if I'd been closer, I'm not sure I would have, as I'm not very confident with dogs, especially uncontrollable dogs....!

She would not be pleased when the seal bites her dog I would bet (and they will)

 

[The Liverbirder]

Anyone for Fudge?

Ferruginous Duck (drake) showing very well outside the Pyle Hide at GPNR this afternoon. Well worth the trip and the £3.50 entry fee for non-members.

 

[lazza]

First singing blackcap of 2014 this afternoon near the wooden bridge at the bottom of Whorral Bank in Morpeth. That and 3 or 4 chiffchaffs all giving it some welly, it felt almost like Spring....

 

[lazza]

Daft question time....

Can Little Grebes be seen on the sea?

Can't say I've ever seen one on the sea for sure, but last night I thought there could be one offshore from Snab Point in Cresswell. In addition to a handful of common scoter and eider, there was a much smaller bird - pretty dark in appearance - that dived a couple of times, with a stature that suggested little grebe. I only saw it for a few minutes, before I lost it (while I watched a gannet!) and it was too distant to get a good look at, but just wondering if it's a possibility.

 

[lazza]

And daft question number 2:

I wonder if I may have seen and heard a tree pipit today.... it flew out from a pine tree on the rural outskirts of Morpeth, flew round in a couple of circles singing and then down back into the tree. The song went: "chuckleuckleuckleuckleuckleuckle... tyeww tyeww tyeww tyeww tyeww"... This was repeated about 30s later.... then nothing! I hung around for 10 minutes and it didn't re-emerge (but then had to get the post office for last post!!)

Is this a possibility?

I haven't seen or heard a tree pipit before, but the call was very unfamiliar to me, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a meadow pipit... but is it too early for tree pipit? too lowland? too urban?

No doubt, another of those moments on the "I'll never know" list, but it certainly got my heart racing!!

 

[The Liverbirder]

Daft question time....Can Little Grebes be seen on the sea?

I have seen them in the harbour at Blyth so guess the answer may be a yes!

 

[The Liverbirder]

And daft question number 2:

Meadow Pipits rise and then fall in a pretty straight line. Tree Pipits circle from a height down to a tree-top, fence post etc; like a loose corkscrew. It's a bit early but hey, why not!

 

[Nutcracker]

The song went: "chuckleuckleuckleuckleuckleuckle... tyeww tyeww tyeww tyeww tyeww"... This was repeated about 30s later.... then nothing! I hung around for 10 minutes and it didn't re-emerge

That "tyeww tyeww tyeww tyeww tyeww" finish is diagnostic for Tree Pipit, so that's what you had :t:

 

[woodhornbirder]

Ferruginous Duck (drake) showing very well outside the Pyle Hide at GPNR this afternoon. Well worth the trip and the £3.50 entry fee for non-members.

was gonna go on thursday(coming) but has it already vanished?

 

[super-silly-um]

Half a dozen Sand Martin, Whitley Bay, at St Mary's area this morning....

20 odd more at Arcot Pond with 8 Swallow at lunchtime. Also Blackcap and Willow Warbler.

 

[Vipers]

Getting out of my car at work yesterday I heard a strange song but couldn't see a bird that was singing. A bit later on I heard it again and this time I could see the bird sitting on a building roof next door singing and I thought 'this looks like a Black Redstart' and then it flew down onto the grass and back up onto the fence and quivered it's tale.
Unfortunately I had to go off and do a job and when I got back it was no where to be seen.

 

[The Liverbirder]

....I thought 'this looks like a Black Redstart'....

Thought it must have been you when I saw it on BirdGuides. Have you got an airport list? :t:

 

[Vipers]

....I thought 'this looks like a Black Redstart'....

Thought it must have been you when I saw it on BirdGuides. Have you got an airport list? :t:

I should start one. I've seen some good birds whilst at work. Green Woodpecker, Ring-necked Parakeet, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl and lots of Wheatears.