Tyne2Tees

Sunday, 17 November 2013

Weekend Watching

Saturday highlights 12 Snowbs north at Chev, Scaup (Ponteland Hide) Hauxley, Little Gull burn mouth Chev and Shelduck Chev (unusual this time of year).

Sunday highlights: 3 Twite, 35 Snowbs just left message on RBA when a microlight (Don't you love em?) flushed them sending them North and out of sight. Met TD just before but his mobile didn't respond when I called him. A probable flyover Lapland Bunting will go unrecorded despite three attempts to nail the ID from call and profile. Within half an hour it flew S, then N, then S again ... on your patch IR? Texted IR about Glaucous Gull but no response. Glaucous Gull almost the same as last week quick wash and out, heading NE from Chev. Probably a daily routine c09:00. Apparently 2 Bearded Tits were seen today at Chev N Pool.

Avoided the temptation to twitch Lesser Grey, instead enjoyed the flock of Goldcrest, Tits and Treecreepers in the Country Park.

Lots of RB Mergs in the bay and even more Divers (although distant).

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Glaucous .. and now it is six

WeBS day and apart from a Glaucous Gull (Rubbish Photos below) there was nothing unusual to report, Then a visit to DBCP to hear and eventually see the lingering Yellow-browed Warbler. A seed feeder has been placed near the visitor centre and it attracted numerous birds. Feeding nearby; treecreepers, goldcrests and the YBW. The YBW was calling so loudly it attracted a Pied Wagtail to follow the call. Despite being easy to follow on call, it was a little tricky to see.

Saturday, 9 November 2013

At Last ... (seven to go)

Early start at Druridge and the first birds heard were Snow Buntings. On to Chev and I met M&S they mentioned Snowbs on the beach including 1 Male. When I got there no sign. So a scattering of seed put on the beach and a check around the Southern Reedbed; no Bearded Tits (22 Whoopers inc 8Juv.).

Another check on the beach ... nothing. Close in shore all three divers, the best an immaculate Black-throated in summer plumage. A walk up to Hadston along the beach, returning via DBCP. Nothing new to record so back to the North Pool (a Bittern flew along the shore and landed the reedbed near the hide and back on the beach finally 3 Snow Buntings), here I was told the male Bearded Tit was seen this morning but it didn't show during my brief visit.

Fortunately I added Bearded Tit to the patch list in January but it was only today that Snow Bunting made it on to the list. My afternoon visit was aborted when I saw all the cars at Chev, so I headed for Stobswood and Widdrington Moor. Widdrington Moor had an impresssive 160 Teal alas none had the vertical white stripe.

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Cool Day

No sign of yesterday's Snow bunting but some great birding today. This Arctic Skua gave great views. Although a little oiled and apparently sick, it eventually made it to Chev and was seen early afternoon flying strongly out to sea.

In the opposite direction Song Thrushes still arriving with a couple of Great-spotted Woodpeckers. Two White-fronted Geese flew South. Their call rather 'tuneful' in comparison with the Greylags at Hauxley. A Swallow at Chev was a tad late.

The caterpillar one of many on the warm paths is I believe a Ruby Tiger Moth. Let me know if I've got this wrong.

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Sanderling Update 1

Another Sanderling update. I look forward to getting more info about this bird. Below is Jeroen's email about this July bird.

Dear David,

apologies for an unacceptably late reply to your e-mail from July. I have returned from Greenland mid August, after which I have been entering more than 6000 observations into my databse and I am still not up to date. This is the caused of some very late response, such as to your e-mail, and I hope for your understanding.

The sanderling that you have photographed has been ringed in Ghana. I do not have the details of this individual yet, so I copy this e-mail to my Ghanaian colleagues and hope that they will provide you with any information thyey have about this individual.

NU 278 007 Hadston Carrs, Northumberland, UK.

25/07/2013 06:45 BST

Bird 1

Right Tarsus: yellow top, red flag, yellow bottom

Left Tarsus: green top, red bottom

(photo)

Sanderling Update 2

A belated reply from Jeroen (due to his huge workload), but as always it is good to get details of colour-ringed birds.

East Chevington, Northumberland, UK

NZ 274 980

27/07/2013

07:00 BST

Right Tibia Silver Ring

Right Tarsus Green Green

Left Tarsus Yellow (top) Green Flag, Blue

The bird that you have report has been ringed in Greenland, she (we believe it is a female, but have not genetically confirmed this) raised four chicks in 2012, but despite searching, we did not find her in Greenland last summer. You can find the details attached.

Colourcode: G5YBGG

Date(d/m/y) 2nd Observer 3rd Observer

Catching Place: Zackenberg

Name Ringer: Jeroen Reneerkens

Date Catch: 09/07/2012