The birds & wildlife of Gateshead (1 Viewer)

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Thanks all.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

hi ron
at the lakes at the mo! Just checked bf on mobile and noticed you got some juv little owl shots! Well done and cracking shots they are :t: i'll give them a hit on birdguides when i get back on sunday. Hoping to get down to derby for western bonelli's warbler and across for yorkshires marsh sandpiper when i get back if they hang around?
Cheers
steve :t:

 

[Michael A]

Today Kibblesworth, Emperor Dragonfly. Purple Hairstreak (not in good nick just a proof shot.), Grayling,
Little Grebex2 Chicks down to 3.
Winlaton, Large Emerald moth, Kingfisher, Dipper on River.

http://www.trampsandhawkers.co.uk/gallery/

 

[Mouldy]

Enter the Dragon

Got some canny sequence shots of a southern hawker (male) emerging at Thornley Woods Pond yesterday. I actually saw it first break out of the larval casing as my attention was brought to it by it twitching but just didn't get my camera ready in time. The whole sequence took about an hour and a half and I had to leave (school run) so I only hope it was up and away before the next round of dog walkers arrived as its a popular pond for letting the dogs run amock, (I've found drowned specimens here in previous years)

The complete set of pictures are on my blog if anyone's interested.

Cheers

PS Steve? juv Redstart at Blaydon? Wryneck at Clara? And where were you? doh!:-O

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Got some canny sequence shots of a southern hawker (male) emerging at Thornley Woods Pond yesterday. I actually saw it first break out of the larval casing as my attention was brought to it by it twitching but just didn't get my camera ready in time. The whole sequence took about an hour and a half and I had to leave (school run) so I only hope it was up and away before the next round of dog walkers arrived as its a popular pond for letting the dogs run amock, (I've found drowned specimens here in previous years)

The complete set of pictures are on my blog if anyone's interested.

Cheers

PS Steve? juv Redstart at Blaydon? Wryneck at Clara? And where were you? doh!:-O

Cracking set of images.

 

[Mouldy]

Cracking set of images.

Cheers Ron, but not difficult even for me with the subject being well lit, not moving, out in the open and only two feet away (plus you haven't seen the ones I binned :-O)

 

[One Man and His Dog]

hi alan
nice shots! I'll have to pop into thornley woods for southern hawker? Im having a spot of trouble getting bird forum on my laptop for some reason? Had 8 green sanpipers today, 1 at shibdon-3 at bradley hall and 4 at lamesley wm and a single dunlin here. Plenty of waders on the tyne now, should get something good soon? Ruff is a safe bet and egrets might be back soon? I'll post green sand photo as soon as i get bf back on laptop. Twitching in morning, marsh sandpiper at last then maybe bonellis warbler? I managed to get last place on pelagic on friday, so might get stormies or even a lt skua or a good shearwater? Fingers crossed.
Cheers
steve

 

[One Man and His Dog]

325 mile twitch, was it worth it?

decided to twitch the marsh sandpiper and western bonelli's warbler today, so i set off at 6am for blacktoft sands with little hope as the sandpiper hadnt been reported since 1pm the day before? When i arrived my worry was confirmed when the warden said he had been looking for a couple of hours, i still went to the hide just incase. When i arrived at the hide there was a single redshank 2 ruff and 6 dunlin, 5 mins later a small flock of redshank flew into the lagoon? One of them looked a bit different? I got my scope out of my bag and bingo its the marsh sandpiper! New lifer, 5 mins of viewing and the bird flew off, i popped into the marshland hide to see if i could get another look at it but there was no sign, but there was 12 spotted redshanks, 10+ruff, 20+ black tailed godwits, 1 green sand, a few of both redshank and dunlin all on the same island. With my luck in i decided to go for the western bonelli's warbler, of i went to tintwistle (peak district). Just before i arrived the rain started which wasnt a good sign, as i walked to the site a guy was walking back and he said it had been singing but the rain put an end to it! Typical i thought and with the sky looking black and no sign of brighting up it wasnt looking good. I walked along the path scanning the trees for ten mins when i found a mixed flock of chiffchaffs, willow warblers and lt tits, i followed the birds still scanning when one bird popped out of the cover bingo again a western bonelli's warbler, i couldnt believe my luck! 2 cracking lifers in one day. Time to call it a day and head back to gods country (gateshead) a happy chap.
325 mile twitch, was it worth it? You bet!
Well the forcast doesnt look good for tomorrow, so next day out will be thursday.
Cheers
steve
p

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

decided to twitch the marsh sandpiper and western bonelli's warbler today, so i set off at 6am for blacktoft sands with little hope as the sandpiper hadnt been reported since 1pm the day before? When i arrived my worry was confirmed when the warden said he had been looking for a couple of hours, i still went to the hide just incase. When i arrived at the hide there was a single redshank 2 ruff and 6 dunlin, 5 mins later a small flock of redshank flew into the lagoon? One of them looked a bit different? I got my scope out of my bag and bingo its the marsh sandpiper! New lifer, 5 mins of viewing and the bird flew off, i popped into the marshland hide to see if i could get another look at it but there was no sign, but there was 12 spotted redshanks, 10+ruff, 20+ black tailed godwits, 1 green sand, a few of both redshank and dunlin all on the same island. With my luck in i decided to go for the western bonelli's warbler, of i went to tintwistle (peak district). Just before i arrived the rain started which wasnt a good sign, as i walked to the site a guy was walking back and he said it had been singing but the rain put an end to it! Typical i thought and with the sky looking black and no sign of brighting up it wasnt looking good. I walked along the path scanning the trees for ten mins when i found a mixed flock of chiffchaffs, willow warblers and lt tits, i followed the birds still scanning when one bird popped out of the cover bingo again a western bonelli's warbler, i couldnt believe my luck! 2 cracking lifers in on day. Time to call it a day and head back to gods country (gateshead) a happy chap.
325 mile twitch, was it worth it? You bet!
Well the forcast doesnt look good for tomorrow, so next day out will be thursday.
Cheers
steve
p

Now that's what I call keen.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

Hi all,

Must admit I do enjoy coming on here and reading all the sightings and seeing the photos. I have just got into butterflies so I was wondering if you guys could help me out?

I have tried, and tried to find out on the internet where Kibblesworth is and I just can't seem to find out, I know Grayling are there but can't seem to find the site?

Also was wondering if you guys could help me with the sites where to see Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak as I have no clue where to go?

Many thanks in advance folks,

 

[One Man and His Dog]

info

Hi all,

Must admit I do enjoy coming on here and reading all the sightings and seeing the photos. I have just got into butterflies so I was wondering if you guys could help me out?

I have tried, and tried to find out on the internet where Kibblesworth is and I just can't seem to find out, I know Grayling are there but can't seem to find the site?

Also was wondering if you guys could help me with the sites where to see Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak as I have no clue where to go?

Many thanks in advance folks,

hi andrew
heres the info you requested.
Kibblesworth brick work pools is south of lamesley hide along greenford lane, drive along greenford lane until you get to birtley reedbeds, go past the reedbed entrance then 1ooyrds past the sewage works is a place to park on the right near iron gate and borough of gateshead sign. Walk threw the gate and straight ahead, pass the caravan site on your left and you should come to some large stones. The main pond should be in sight, the graylings can be found on the dry patches near the wooden post to the right of the pond, also good pond for dragonflys!
Next purple hairstreaks- 3 sites in gateshead, first is when your standing at large stones at kibblesworth turn right up track to oak trees on lane. Second site is just south of the hide at lamesley along greenford lane theres a oak tree next to a gap in the hedge where you can view lamesley water meadows, the hairstreaks get in this tree and the hedgerow. Third site is in the oak tree near the entrance of thornley woodlands centre.
Next white letter hairstreaks can be found on the derwent walk near the elm tree just around the back of the golden lion pub, they come down to the thistles here.
Hope this info helps and good luck.
Cheers
steve

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

hi andrew
heres the info you requested.
Kibblesworth brick work pools is south of lamesley hide along greenford lane, drive along greenford lane until you get to birtley reedbeds, go past the reedbed entrance then 1ooyrds past the sewage works is a place to park on the right near iron gate and bourgh of gateshead sign. Walk threw the gate and straight ahead, pass the caravan site on your left and you should come to some large stones. The main pond should be in sight, the graylings can be found on the dry patches near the wooden post to the right of the pond, also good pond for dragonflys!
Next purple hairstreaks- 3 sites in gateshead, first is when your standing at large stones at kibblesworth turn right up track to oak trees on lane. Second site is just south of the hide at lamesley along greenford lane theres a oak tree next to a gap in the hedge where you can view lamesley water meadows, the hairstreaks get in this tree and the hedgerow. Third site is in the oak tree near the entrance of thornley woodlands centre.
Next white letter hairstreaks can be found on the derwent walk near the elm tree just around the back of the golden lion pub, they come down to the thistles here.
Hope this info helps and good luck.
Cheers
steve

Steve,
Many thanks for this information, greatly appreciated. I will let you know how I get on :t:

Cheers,

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Steve,
Many thanks for this information, greatly appreciated. I will let you know how I get on :t:

Cheers,

your welcome and good luck, i forgot to mention you can park in golden lion carpark at winlaton mill and the lane to the right of the lion is where the elm trees are, you can just hop the fence here to view trees and thistles in the derwent cp.
Cheers
steve
ps: theres a good chance i might bump into you as i need both hairstreaks this year, also next few days might be ok for dragonflys so i'll be popping into kibblesworth aswell.

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

your welcome and good luck, i forgot to mention you can park in golden lion carpark at winlaton mill and the lane to the right of the lion is where the elm trees are, you can just hop the fence here to view trees and thistles in the derwent cp.
Cheers
steve
ps: theres a good chance i might bump into you as i need both hairstreaks this year, also next few days might be ok for dragonflys so i'll be popping into kibblesworth aswell.

Thanks again Steve. Will keep my eyes open for you. I am unmistakable in many ways people will tell you....but my age is the biggest give-away :-O

 

[Mouldy]

Hi Steve, (and foghorn), purple hairstreaks also appear on the oaks at the north end of Nine-arches Viaduct on the Derwent Walk, can be good views here as you're looking down on the canopy. Best parking at Thornley Woodlands Centre and walking down from there.

With the added bonus that it's an excellent raptor viewpoint as well.

cheers

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Hi Steve, (and foghorn), purple hairstreaks also appear on the oaks at the north end of Nine-arches Viaduct on the Derwent Walk, can be good views here as you're looking down on the canopy. Best parking at Thornley Woodlands Centre and walking down from there.

With the added bonus that it's an excellent raptor viewpoint as well.

cheers

cheers alan
i'll keep an eye out for them ones.
Cheers
steve

 

[One Man and His Dog]

a first for shibdon pond!

i had a first for shibdon pond yesterday? A dipper appeared in front of the hide and vanished just as quick! So happy to get that one.
Went for white letter hairstreaks today and had 3 on thistles behind the golden lion at winlaton mill today, back out in morning for them purple hairstreaks?
Cheers
steve
ps: got photos but still cant access bf on laptop?

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

i had a first for shibdon pond yesterday? A dipper appeared in front of the hide and vanished just as quick! So happy to get that one.
Went for white letter hairstreaks today and had 3 on thistles behind the golden lion at winlaton mill today, back out in morning for them purple hairstreaks?
Cheers
steve
ps: got photos but still cant access bf on laptop?

Hi Steve

Just wondering if it is worth going for the wlh or the ph late afternoon.

cheers

Ron

 

[Michael A]

Kibblesworth

Today Kibblesworth brickpools:-
my first this years Peacock, 5-7 Purple Hairstreak, a Grayling (F) laying.
Had 1or 2 chances of close up of Purple Hairstreak but didn't focus quickly enough. These shots taken from several metres away.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Hi Steve

Just wondering if it is worth going for the wlh or the ph late afternoon.

cheers

Ron

hi ron
i would say late morning/early afternoon would be best time but thats not to say you wouldnt get them late afternoon, its just hairstreaks tend to be at the tops of trees and sometimes come down to feed, they go back to the trees when it cools down a bit and to roost. Theres a few commas and whites at golden lion aswell and keep an eye out for the green woodpecker! You might get a good shot of him?
Cheers
steve