Sightings for January 2010
31st January, 2010
(Teesside)
The long staying Great Northern Diver and at least five Red–breasted Mergansers were at Jacksons Landing.
A Black Redstart, two Stonechats, two Pied Wagtails, a Robin and at least one Rock Pipit (40+) were seen at Newburn.
Red–throated Diver (3), Cormorants (20+), Shag (2+), Slavonian Grebe (1), Velvet Scoter (1), Common Scoter (50+), Long–tailed Duck (1), Eider (50+), Rock Pipit (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Curlew (1) and Turnstone (10+) were seen whilst walking round Hartlepool Headland.
The tide was well and truly in now, so I decided to have a second visit to Newburn. No sign of the Black Redstart, but in addition to this mornings birds I did see Mediteranean Gull (1), Knot (10+), Purple Sandpiper (20+), Sanderling (3), Ringed Plover (30+), Turnstone (10+) and Common Redshank (10+).
30th January, 2010
(Silksworth)
The reported Black–necked Grebe showed very well at Silksworth, Sunderland. Tufted Duck (20+) and Pochard (1) were with good numbers of Mallard (30+). Herring Gull (4+), Common Gull (10+), Black–headed Gull (40+), Coot (10+) and Brown Rat (1) were also seen.
24th January, 2010
(Teesside)
The reported first winter Glaucous Gull was seen soon after arrival. The weather was poor and there was a dozen or so dog walkers in the area, so I decided to stand under the pier and wait for the bird to come to me. It dropped within shooting distance for about two minutes before being disturbed and flying further up the beach. It continued to be disturbed for a further twenty minutes before flying out to sea. A Rock Pipit came to within five feet of me, but it was simply too dark to get anywhere near a decent photo.
Two Pink–footed Geese were at Haverton. An immaculate drake Ring–necked Duck was at Cowpen Bewley. Twenty Brent Geese (one dark–bellied) were in a field close to the tip.
Saltholme Pools held the usual variety of birds. A Little Egret, a Smew (red–head), several Pintails, two Redwings and a Sparrowhawk were the pick of the birds. The recently reported Hooded Merganser was also seen.
A Long–tailed Duck, a Velvet Scoter, at least fifty Common Scoter, a Guillimot and at least forty Eider were off Parton Rocks. Great Crested Grebe (1), Rock Pipit (1), Pied Wagtails (2), Turnstone (10+), Knot (5), Redshank (10+), Purple Sandpiper (1), Ringed Plover (2), Curlew (2), Oystercatcher (7) were seen between the two water breaks at Hartlepool Headland.
There was no sign of the Great Northern Diver or any Red–breasted Mergansers at Jacksons Landing (possibly caused by a small powerboat that was being put through it’s paces). The regular Mediteranean Gull was seen at Newburn.
A Short–eared Owl, a female Red–breasted Merganser and at least seventy Twite were seen at Greenabella. Bar–tailed Godwit (7), Black–tailed Godwit (10+), Grey Plover (5) and Dunlin (40+), were the pick of the birds at Seal Sands. Good numbers of Common Seal with the odd Grey Seal were also seen here. All the usual gulls seen throughout an excellent days birdwatching.
23rd January, 2010
(Tees Barrage)
A family trip to Teesside Park gave me the opportunity of visiting Tees Barrage, where the regular wintering Yellow–legged Gull was seen at it’s usual location.
22nd January, 2010
(Etherley Moor)
A male Sparrowhawk caught a female House Sparrow on the feeding station. Tree Sparrow (2), Dunnock (2), Great Tit (1) and Blue Tit (2) returned to the feeders soon after. Strangely, no House Sparrows (I wonder why).
17th January, 2010
(Newholm)
The weather was much better today, so I decided to have a second look at the the reported Black–throated Thrush at Newholm, North Yorkshire. The bird was not seen for almost an hour but when it did show, it made the journey well worthwhile.
16th January, 2010
(Newholm & Teesside)
The reported Black–throated Thrush was seen at first light. Despite waiting for nearly two hours, the heavy rain and a cold southerly wind stopped a good photograph opportunity.
Still a considerable amount of soft snow at Scaling Dam. A big thank you to the birder that helped me get out of the car park. The reservoir was fully frozen, so birding was not good at this location.
Approximately twenty Brent Geese were in fields on the way to Cowpen Bewley. Brambling (2), Tree Sparrow (50c), Yellowhammer (10+), Reed Bunting (10+), Greenfinch (3), Goldfinch (2), Chaffinch (5), Dunnock (3), Robin (2), Woodpigeon (3, including one juvenile), Pheasant (1), Great Tit (3), Blue Tit (4) and Coal Tit (2) visited the car park feeding station whilst I was there. Also one Brown Rat.
A Mediteranean Gull was at Newburn and the Great Northern Diver was still at Jacksons Landing.
8th January, 2010
(Low Barns)
Snow and freezing temperatures has so far, made travelling very hard this year and despite only light overnight snow showers, today was no exception. I was going to head for the coast, but with temperatures hitting minus 10 and very slippy roads, I decided to visit Low Barns.
Six Common Teal, four Moorhens and a single Mallard were on the only unfrozen part of the West Pond (approximately 6 x 4 foot in size). Two Grey Herons were close to the waters edge and a Cormorant flew over the pasture, heading towards the fishing lakes.
A Little Grebe and at least five Mallards were on a partially frozen River Wear.
Wren (2), Greenfinch (5), Goldfinch (2 with Siskins), Bullfinch (2), Siskin (2 singles and a group of at least twelve), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Long–tailed Tit (10+), Coal Tit (4+), Blue Tit (6+) and Great Tit (4+) were seen whilst walking around a very cold Low Barns.
The feeding station was quite active with at least five Robins, two Dunnocks, two Nuthatches, ten Chaffinches, two Great Tits, four Blue Tits, four Coal Tits, two Marsh Tits and four Blackbirds visiting during a ten minute observation. Several Greylag Geese, four Jackdaws, a Magpie and a Carrion Crow were also seen whilst watching the feeders.
3rd January, 2010
(South Gare)
Another night of heavy snow meant a late start, eventually leaving for South Gare at 1230.
No sign of the Yellow–legged Gull at Tees Barrage. Four Fieldfares and a single Redwing were seen close to the Riverside Football Stadium.
The reported Black Redstart was seen from the board walk at the pilot station. Robin (2), Dunnock (1), Wren (1) and Cormorant (10+ in the estuary) were also seen from this location.
Approximately one hundred Snow Buntings were on the seaward facing beach. Dunlin (10+), Oystercatcher (20+), Golden Plover (4), Common Redshank (7), Starling (40+), Skylark (10+), Meadow Pipit (10+), Pied Wagtail (2) and Reed Bunting (4) were also there.
2nd January, 2010
(Hartlepool Headland)
Woke up to clear skies, so I decided to go to Teesside in the hope of seeing some of the recently reported birds. Managed to view a handfull of decent birds before the heavy snow showers arrived, forcing an early return home.
A Peregrine Falcon and a Ring–necked Parakeet were seen before reaching Jacksons Landing, where the reported Great–northern Diver was seen with approximately fourteen Red–breasted Mergansers and twenty Cormorants.
The last bird seen before the snow arrived was a single Slavonian Grebe (from the seawatching point).
1st January, 2010
(Low Barns, pm)
The feeding station was very active with two Moorhens, a female Pheasant, three Robins, two Dunnocks, three Nuthatches, ten Chaffinches, four Great Tits, four Blue Tits, six Coal Tits, three Marsh Tits, five Blackbirds, four Jackdaws, two Carrion Crows, two Magpies and a single Jay visiting during a twenty minute observation.
A group of at least thirteen Siskin were seen whilst walking around a fully frozen Marston Lake. A second group of approximately one hundred Siskin were in the trees on the opposite side of the River Wear.
Two Grey Herons, two Mute Swans, a Moorhen, four Common Teal and at least twenty Mallards were on the only unfrozen part of the west pond.
1st January, 2010
(Etherley Moor, am)
Poor weather conditions persuaded me to do some local birding today (4 inches of snow with snow showers throughout the day).
Two Blackbirds were the first birds of the year, soon followed by Robin (2+) and Great Tit (2+). Several House Sparrows, four Dunnocks, four Tree Sparrows, one Wren and a female Chaffinch were other visitors to the feeding station.
Five Jackdaws, twenty Starlings, two Carrion Crows, ten Common Gulls and a Colared Dove flew over Croftside. A male Bullfinch was in the hedgerows.
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