Northumbrian Birding (2 Viewers)

[Murmur]

Oh, group of 7 Whoopers at DBCP the other day.

No sign of the shore larks, which had been around just before Christmas, but there were many folk on the beach and a lot of dogs: will check again later today or tomorrow, as it should be quieter.

 

[Murmur]

No sign of the shore larks the last couple of days, just plenty of optimistic photographers...

Ring-tail hen harrier was quartering the reed beds at Chevington north pool and drifting off towards DBCP both yesterday and the day before.

The crossbills at DBCP decided to show themselves in conifers by the visitor centre car park.

 

[tom tams]

No sign of the shore larks the last couple of days, just plenty of optimistic photographers...

Ring-tail hen harrier was quartering the reed beds at Chevington north pool and drifting off towards DBCP both yesterday and the day before.

The crossbills at DBCP decided to show themselves in conifers by the visitor centre car park.

Seven Shore Larks were present at East Chevington yesterday, and have been reported today

 

[Murmur]

Excellent!

Need to time my visits better.

 

[Vipers]

Excellent!

Need to time my visits better.

I've been four times now and still haven't seen them.

 

[vanellus]

Gyr Falcon?

I took a few photos from near Lynemouth flash at 11.00 am this morning of a very large Falcon. I am not techy enough to convert them to the right size for this forum. More information on Yellowbellyinexile.blogspot.co.uk

A Buzzard sized falcon with this patterning etc must be a Gyr, but I have never seen one in the flesh (feather).

My inclination is towards escaped bird from a Bird of Prey collection. A man I met suggested a tagged bird from a breeding site.

I would appreciate sage observations.

 

[Nutcracker]

I took a few photos from near Lynemouth flash at 11.00 am this morning of a very large Falcon. I am not techy enough to convert them to the right size for this forum. More information on Yellowbellyinexile.blogspot.co.uk

A Buzzard sized falcon with this patterning etc must be a Gyr, but I have never seen one in the flesh (feather).

My inclination is towards escaped bird from a Bird of Prey collection. A man I met suggested a tagged bird from a breeding site.

I would appreciate sage observations.

There's been a very mobile escapee hanging around the coast for the last year or so, moves down the coast as far as Teesside as well.

 

[Vipers]

I took a few photos from near Lynemouth flash at 11.00 am this morning of a very large Falcon. I am not techy enough to convert them to the right size for this forum. More information on Yellowbellyinexile.blogspot.co.uk

A Buzzard sized falcon with this patterning etc must be a Gyr, but I have never seen one in the flesh (feather).

My inclination is towards escaped bird from a Bird of Prey collection. A man I met suggested a tagged bird from a breeding site.

I would appreciate sage observations.

Hi Andrew

From the photos on your blog, it seems to have jesses on and what looks like a transmitter on its back. So an escapee I'm afraid.

 

[Murmur]

Another local birdy blogger (Jonny F) clocked an escaped gyr down at North Shields yesterday.

 

[super-silly-um]

White Wingers

A couple of Glaucous Gull and an Iceland Gull been showing very well at North Shields Fish Quay recently.

 

[Nutcracker]

Pacific Diver at East Chev - see thread on Rare Bird section

 

[Vipers]

The Diver showed very well this afternoon on Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay Country Park. It showed down to 5m at times. Unbelievable!!

 

[Nutcracker]

The Diver showed very well this afternoon on Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay Country Park. It showed down to 5m at times. Unbelievable!!

Wow! Not worth posting my crappy Pacific Diver pics after that! :-O

The 7 Shore Larks still on the beach at the burn mouth, also some Twite around there. Also a few Scaup on East Chev, and a Willow Tit in the bushes on the way in.

 

[Vipers]

Wow! Not worth posting my crappy Pacific Diver pics after that! :-O

The 7 Shore Larks still on the beach at the burn mouth, also some Twite around there. Also a few Scaup on East Chev, and a Willow Tit in the bushes on the way in.

Yeah I got the Shore Larks and Twite this afternoon, but the light had gone by then. I'm still trying to salvage something from my Twite shots.

 

[vanellus]

The Diver showed very well this afternoon on Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay Country Park. It showed down to 5m at times. Unbelievable!!

I also had good, close views of the Pacific Diver. Looking at the various ID comments on the web, it seems as though the lack of white on the rear of the flanks, the size and the smaller pale patch below the eye are diagnostic. As for the vent stripe, which I did not see, there is a photo of a Black Throated at http://bretteeblahblahblah.blogspot.co.uk/2014_01_01_archive.html which shows a strip above the vent. The Druridge bird showed a steeper forehead than on many web shots of Pacific. However, it looked smaller than a BT. I suppose we now await formal 'approval' of the sighting from the experts.

 

[Vipers]

Yeah and it also showed a very faint chin stripe.

 

[Nutcracker]

It also had a strikingly slender bill - BTD has a reasonably stout bill.

 

[vanellus]

Agreed.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I also had good, close views of the Pacific Diver. Looking at the various ID comments on the web, it seems as though the lack of white on the rear of the flanks, the size and the smaller pale patch below the eye are diagnostic. As for the vent stripe, which I did not see, there is a photo of a Black Throated at http://bretteeblahblahblah.blogspot.co.uk/2014_01_01_archive.html which shows a strip above the vent. The Druridge bird showed a steeper forehead than on many web shots of Pacific. However, it looked smaller than a BT. I suppose we now await formal 'approval' of the sighting from the experts.

Tom Tams has a smashing flight shot that shows both the chin strap and the ventral strap. I got a couple of shots this morning that showed the ventral strap when it was preening and a couple more that show the chin strap, but it's faint.

 

[Murmur]

Looks like my regular circuit of East Chevington and DBCP will be stowed out for a while...