The birds & wildlife of Gateshead (1 Viewer)

[birding maniac]

I don't want to get involved in all the arguing etc, or comment on some
Of the immaturity been shown on here.
My only commen will be toward the Id of the bird, which after having a goo look looks to be a Sparrowhawk to me. I'm not a known birder in our area and therefore not involved in any history that may have occured and really, I'm not bothered. Keep it about the birds :t:

 

[seggs]

PM's are canny in these circumstances....:t:Ive really enjoyed viewing this thread since it started and would hate to see it go down hill like others.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

PM's are canny in these circumstances....:t:Ive really enjoyed viewing this thread since it started and would hate to see it go down hill like others.

hi steve
dont worry about the thread going down hill mate, i just wont respond to any comments of this nature again. I must agree though, a pm in the first place would of been a better way of dealing with it and may be a good way in the future :t: enough said on the matter anyway to everyone.
Cheers
steve :t:

 

[davercox]

Hope you guys don't mind the intrusion ... we are coming to stay at Cut Thorn Farm, near Gibside, in about ten days' time. Can anyone give us any advice about what birding is likely to be good around there then ?
Thanks in advance.

 

[dampflippers]

Red kites.

 

[June Atkinson]

Visit to Cut Thorn Farm

Hope you guys don't mind the intrusion ... we are coming to stay at Cut Thorn Farm, near Gibside, in about ten days' time. Can anyone give us any advice about what birding is likely to be good around there then ?
Thanks in advance.

The farm is right next to Gibside National Trust, so, if you are members of NT, go to the Visitor Admission Centre and you'll find a massive amount of information about the Estate and the area. In addition to our red kites, you'll possibly see fauna illustrated in the image below.

Gibside is the core area for our Red Kites, so yes, you will see them floating above your heads (possibly at Cut Thorn because of the lambing, which brings in the kites to take advantage of the afterbirths). But kites are carrion eaters and earthworms are their favourite food. They do not take live prey, such as lambs!

Also go to Thornley Woods Visitor Centre, where you'll find lots of info on excellent displays. Be sure to pick up our Red Kite Trail Leaflets and the leaflet for our Friends of Red Kites.
Have a look at our website: www.friendsofredkites.org.uk as one Birdforum member puts it "It's a mine of information."

If you're there on a Monday, why not join our Health Walk - info on the site.

Given reasonable weather, you will have a super time.
Be sure to visit Gateshead quayside, to see the Baltic, the Millennium Bridge and the Sage Gateshead Concert Hall.
Happy to answer any further queries............... PM me. June, Press & Publicity FoRK

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Hope you guys don't mind the intrusion ... we are coming to stay at Cut Thorn Farm, near Gibside, in about ten days' time. Can anyone give us any advice about what birding is likely to be good around there then ?
Thanks in advance.

hi dave
you must be a fellow caravaner :t: nice place to spend a holiday, very peaceful in this area. as mentioned the red kite will be the main bird to see, but if you visit the gateshead birders link just below this,the site will give you a site index and directions on how to get there. gibside estate has nice walks where you can find otter, mink, roe deer and if your lucky :eek!: one of gatesheads last remaining red squirrels (altough last seen about a year ago). the site or this thread will post all the latest sightings for the area, but if you want to see a specific species? just ask in this thread, and im sure someone will be at hand to help you. enjoy your stay :t:
cheers
steve :t:

 

[One Man and His Dog]

new year tick for me?

willow warbler x 3 at birtley reed beds, and 1 at watergate fp. 3 x sand martin and 3 x swallow at lamesley wm, only raptors today were 1 x harris's hawk, 12 x buzzard, 4 x kestrel, 1 x sparrowhawk, 4 x red kite but not the best day for any displaying goshawks. apart from that, pretty quiet day, but the crack was good :t:
cheers
steve :t:

 

[degsy_safc]

Another canny day across Gateshead similar species seen as per previous report although also Nuthatch and Kingfisher also seen today..

Couple of pictures - just a shame the light was horrible..

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Another canny day across Gateshead similar species seen as per previous report although also Nuthatch and Kingfisher also seen today..

Couple of pictures - just a shame the light was horrible..

dont know how you managed those shots in that light, just had to scrap the ones i took :-O shocking they were. Looks like tomorrow is going to be horrible aswell :-C
cheers
steve :t:

 

[FoghornKinghorn]

I must agree though, a pm in the first place would of been a better way of dealing with it and may be a good way in the future :t: enough said on the matter anyway to everyone.
Cheers
steve :t:

Steve,

I am sure you are aware that Gateshead forms part of the Durham recording area and Goshawks are rare breeding birds and heavily persecuted, your record (if it were a actually a Goshawk) would have been very significant and could hint towards the birds spreading further afield. As it is I was proven to be correct this time over the ID and myself and others have noticed you have not contested my points raised, so I will take that as you agree.

But I have learnt a few lessons from the whole experience so thanks. :t:

EDIT: Also the bird you photographed some years ago in 2007 is also a Sparrowhawk, see second of bottom photograph HERE.

Cheers,

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Another canny day across Gateshead similar species seen as per previous report although also Nuthatch and Kingfisher also seen today..

Couple of pictures - just a shame the light was horrible..

Cracking shots Derek. Heard a Green Woodpecker at work yesterday but have still not managed to get a shot of one so far this year.

Ron

 

[degsy_safc]

Cracking shots Derek. Heard a Green Woodpecker at work yesterday but have still not managed to get a shot of one so far this year.

Ron

Many thanks Ron - like Steve said, the weather was absolutely rubbish for photo's today. The green woody was constantly yaffling, so assume calling for a mate. Even though it could clearly see me it stayed put - very unusual from past experience as they normally hide themselves from view.

Gonna try again but next time with the crop camera (D300) and my 1.7 TC - hopefully the 'gods of light' will look favourably on me.. :t:

 

[degsy_safc]

dont know how you managed those shots in that light, just had to scrap the ones i took shocking they were. Looks like tomorrow is going to be horrible as well..
cheers
steve :t:

High ISO Steve, fingers crossed, lucky rabbits foot, four leaf clover and a good deal of luck - Nah..... just pretty cr**py shots really :-O

Going to give the Green Woody another go - but with 'a bit extra magnification' so to speak - you know what i'm talking about

PS - Cracking Green Sandpiper in flight shot on the GatesheadBirders site :t:

PPS - Tried to send you a PM but the forum says your inbox is full :eek!:

PPPS :-O:-O:-O - Look forward to catching up for a good natter

 

[One Man and His Dog]

High ISO Steve, fingers crossed, lucky rabbits foot, four leaf clover and a good deal of luck - Nah..... just pretty cr**py shots really :-O

Going to give the Green Woody another go - but with 'a bit extra magnification' so to speak - you know what i'm talking about

PS - Cracking Green Sandpiper in flight shot on the GatesheadBirders site :t:

PPS - Tried to send you a PM but the forum says your inbox is full :eek!:

PPPS :-O:-O:-O - Look forward to catching up for a good natter

hi derek
pm box is now empty :t: just full of junk i dont want to read and be involved in :-O
cheers
steve

 

[davercox]

Thanks for the help dampflippers, June & Steve. Looking forward to it, as long as it doesn't snow ...

 

[Rob Stonehouse]

A few from today. Quiet again. Two pairs of Little Owl including this bird with a wonky eye.

Cheers

Rob

 

[Rob Stonehouse]

The first House Martin of the year at Watergate today. Also here 3 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 4 Redwing. Pretty bleak on Burdon Moor with 1 Red Kite, 1 SEO and 1 Fieldfare.

Cheers

Rob

 

[martin kitching]

:t: to Steve E - really would be a shame to see this thread go downhill.

:t: to Steven F for responding with good grace. Like Pandora's Box, once the lid's off it's hard to put a stop to it...BF would be a duller place without the occasional fracas though, wouldn't it?

cheers
martin

hi steve
dont worry about the thread going down hill mate, i just wont respond to any comments of this nature again. I must agree though, a pm in the first place would of been a better way of dealing with it and may be a good way in the future :t: enough said on the matter anyway to everyone.
Cheers
steve :t:

 

[Rob Stonehouse]

A cracking day in Gateshead. Burdon Moor held 1 male Ring Ouzel, 1 male Redstart and a fly-over Osprey. Shibdon had the first Common Sandpiper of the year. Meadow Pipits were streaming overhead north at Burdon Moor and there has been the first decent fall of Wheatear.

Cheers

RobB