Sightings for March 2008
30th March, 2008
(South Durham)
A group of at least fifteen Crossbills that included both adults and juveniles were in the tree tops at the stang.
Brambling (3), Chaffinch (10+), Greenfinch (2), Siskin (10+), Coal Tit (2), Blue Tit (4), Great Tit (2), Wren (1), Blackbird (3), Robin (1) and a probable Goshawk (1 at a distance) were seen either side of the stang.
Three Black Grouse, four Red Grouse, Mistle Thrush (1), Pheasant (10+), Curlew (10+), Lapwing (35+), Golden Plover (50+) and a male Kestrel were seen close–by.
At least eighty Fieldfares were amongst approximately three hundred Starlings at Sleightholme. Several Oystercatchers and a Common Redshank were seen amongst Curlew (10+), Lapwing (50+), Golden Pover (30+), Red Grouse (2) and Meadow Pipit (5) were also seen here, as well as a probable Merlin.
27th March, 2008
(Escomb)
Three Sand Martins, nine Meadow Pipits and a Chiffchaff were seen amongst the usual birds during this late afternoon visit.
Other notable birds included a pair of summer plumaged Great Crested Grebes, a total of twenty three Tufted Ducks, five female Goldeneyes (including one that appeared to be a first winter male) and a drake Wigeon. Three male Reed Buntings were setting up territory. Mistle Thrush (1), Song Thrush (1), Redwing (5) and Blackbird (4) were also there.
26th March, 2008
(Leadgate)
A wing–tagged Red Kite was seen from the A692 near Leadgate.
25th March, 2008
(New Brancepeth)
A quick stop at the river resulted in good views of Dipper (1), Grey Wagtail (1) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (2). Heard a possible Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the same location.
I was reliably informed that last months Brambling was still visiting the feeders at a local feeding station, but not seen today.
25th March, 2008
(Byers Green)
A half hour lunch break at Byers Green Hall gave good views of Yellowhammer (17+), Tree Sparrow (10+), Chaffinch (10+) and Greenfinch (5). Great Tit (4), Blue Tit (7), Coal Tit (1), Long–tailed Tit (1), Magpie (1) and Collared Dove (5) were also seen.
24th March, 2008
(Hartlepool Headland)
At least ten Purple Sandpipers were amongst Knot (15+), Oystercatcher (5), Turnstone (20+), Redshank (5+), Ringed Plover (5+) and Curlew (2) between the two breakwaters. Eider (7), Cormorant (2), Shag (1), Great Crested Grebe (1), Great Black–backed Gull (10+), Herring Gull (4) and Black–headed Gull were also seen from this location.
Several Common Scoters were seen from Marine Drive with a handfull of Sanderling working the shoreline.
A Black–throated Diver was seen flying from the fishing quay before moving on to Zinc Road and Greenabella. Nothing much happening at these locations, other than a Jack Snipe at the latter of the two.
23rd March, 2008
(Local)
A Green Sandpiper, a Willow Tit and approximately fifty Redwings were on the outskirts of Bishops Park. Three Goosanders were on the River Wear.
Three Common Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were displaying over Hamsterley Forest with no sign of any Goshawks. At least eighty Fieldfares and possibly two Crossbills were also in the area.
Several Greenfinch have been visiting our feeding station on Etherley Moor, along with Tree Sparrows (3), Chaffinch (1), Great Tit (3), Blue Tit (4), Dunnock (2), Robin (2), Blackbird (1), Song Thrush (1) and Sparrowhawk (1). Escomb has been very quiet all weekend.
21st March, 2008
A quick stop at the Low Barns feeding station found the feeders empty. After topping up a couple of the feeders, the usual birds slowly began to arrive with Blackbird (1), Blue Tit (4+), Great Tit (3+), Coal Tit (2+), Robin (3) and Moorhen (1) visiting regularly. No sign of any Woodpeckers, Nuthatches or Marsh Tits during a 20 minute stay.
After lunch I decided to go for the reported Common Cranes (an adult and a juvenile) that were found just to the north of the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park in Northumberland with good numbers of Great Black–blacked Gull (100c), Herring Gull (100c) and Black–headed Gull (50c) all in the same field.
Next was a drive down the A19 to view the reported Whooper Swans (11) that were seen in fields close to the pipeline at Haverton Hole. All in all it was a good day, dodging between the snow, sleet and rain showers in the high winds.
19th March, 2008
(Kelloe)
A pair of Green Woodpeckers were calling on the outskirts of the village (1 seen).
16th March, 2008
(Sleddale)
Unfortunately, the Rough–legged Buzzard that had been reported here for the past fortnight failed to show, in what turned ut to be a seven hour raptor watch.
Kestrel (2), Sparrowhawk (1) and an unconfirmed Goshawk were the only raptors seen.
Five Ravens were seen from the cattle grid, soon after arrival. Curlew (20+), Lapwing (20+), Golden Plover (3), Red Grouse (20+), Red–legged Partridge (3), Pheasant (100c) and Fieldfare (50c) were in the surrounding fields.
Great Black–backed Gull (1), Lesser Black–backed Gull (1), Herring Gull (10+) and Black–headed Gull (20+) were also seen.
15th March, 2008
(Low Barns)
A Little Grebe (in full summer plumage) and two Tufted Ducks were on Coot Pond. A Reed Bunting was singing from a tree top on the pasture, with three others close–by.
A fifth Reed Bunting was seen near the boardwalk, before seeing a Hawfinch flying towards the River Wear. A Grey Wagtail was on the river, but there was no sign of the other usual birds to be found here (Goosander, Dipper & Kingfisher).
Several Goldeneye were on Marston Lake (1 drake) along with Mute Swan (7), Greylag Goose (2), Grey Heron (1), Tufted Duck (5+), Mallard (4), Teal (4), Black–headed Gull (10+) and Common Gull (2). Several Cormorants, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Herring Gull and a Great Black–backed Gull were on the raft. Moorhen (10+) and Coot (10+) were seen throughout the reserve.
The feeding station was being visited by the usual birds. Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Blackbird (1), Great Tit (4+), Blue Tit (10+), Coal Tit (4+), Marsh Tit (2+), Long–tailed Tit (2), Chaffinch (6+), Goldfinch (2), Robin (2+), Dunnock (2), Jackdaw (10+), Curlew (1 over) and a Stoat (carrying a young rabbit) were all seen from this location.
Nuthatch (1), Song Thrush (1), Rook (2), Carrion Crow (3+), Hooded Crow (1 Hybrid), Magpie (4), Green Woodpecker (1 heard), Treecreeper (1), Goldcrest (2) and Bullfinch (2) were seen from the paths.
Back on Etherley Moor, pairs of Song Thrush and Tree Sparrow are nest building. Skylark and Lapwing are also setting up territory in the surrounding fields. Greenfinch and Chaffinch are visiting the feeders on a daily basis. A Curlew was heard calling on at least two occasions during the past week, but still no sign of any Corn Buntings.
9th March, 2008
(Teesside)
First stop was Saltholme Pools, where I was hoping to find the recently reported Tiaga Bean Geese (5) and Green–winged Teal (1). Unfortunately, there was no sign of either species whilst I was there.
Three Ruff were on Back Saltholme and a Pink–footed Goose was amongst the Greylag Geese and Canada Geese. A Green Sandpiper was seen on the pond opposite the fire station.
A first winter Glaucous Gull was amongst the regular gulls to be found at Cowpen Bewley landfill site and a Merlin was seen close to Haverton Hole.
Several Black–tailed Godwits and three Grey Plovers were amongst Curlew (20+), Common Redshank (50+), Dunlin (50+), Knot (10+), Turnstone (20+) at Seal Sands. Shelduck (20+) and Shoveller (4) were also in the area. A Jack Snipe was seen on the return to the car thanks to a tip off from P.H. (thanks).
Two pairs of Stonechats were on Zinc Road. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were heard singing in the surrounding fields. Golden Plover (50+), Lapwing (20+), Kestrel (1), Starling (30+) and Mistle Thrush (2) were also there.
At least ten Red–breasted Mergansers, several Eider and a Long–tailed Duck were seen at Seaton Snook.
The regular Med Gull was at Newburn and a small group of Common Scoters (10+) were off Hartlepool Headland. Purple Sandpiper (3), Knot (2), Turnstone (10), Oystercatcher (30+) and Common Redshank (50+) were also in the area.
A last minute decision to go and view the Humes Leaf Warbler at Norton proved very rewarding, as it showed very nicely between the showers.
8th March, 2008
(Rainton Meadows)
A drake Pintail, two female Ruddy Ducks, at least twenty Teal, several Tufted Ducks, a pair of Gadwall, a drake Shoveller, several Mallards, a single Little Grebe and a pair of summer plumaged Great Crested Grebes were seen throughout the reserve.
Waders included Curlew (7), Redshank (1), Oystercatcher (10+), Lapwing (15+) and Common Snipe (1). Herring Gull (5), Common Gull (3), Black–headed Gull (10+), Greylag Goose (5), Canada Goose (4), Cormorant (1), Moorhen (4), Coot (10+), Kestrel (1), Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (2), Long–tailed Tit (2), Robin (1), Dunnock (2) and Chaffinch (1) were also seen.
A quick visit to the nearby Hetton Boggs was unusually quiet. Water Rail (1), Moorhen (2+), Mallard (3), Blue Tit (1), Great Tit (2), Reed Bunting (1) and Common Snipe (2) were the only birds seen in a short thirty minute stay.
Back on Etherley Moor, Skylarks ar now singing in the surrounding fields and a small group of Long–tailed Tits have been visiting the feeders on a daily basis during the past week.
2nd March, 2008
(Teesside)
A second winter Iceland Gull was found amongst the hundreds of other gulls in a field close to Cowpen Bewley landfill site.
Cowpen Bewley Country Park was quiet, with no food on the feeding station. A single Tree Sparrow was seen before moving on to the pond where Pochard (10+), Tufted Duck (10+), Mallard (10+), Shoveller (2), Gadwall (4) and Little Grebe were seen.
A Merlin showed nicely along the fence line at Zinc Road. Mistle Thrush (1), Curlew (20+), Wigeon (50+), Greylag Geese (2), Lapwing (20+) and Golden Plover (100+) were also in the area.
Oystercatcher (20+), Turnstone (7) and a single Knot were on marine drive, north of Seaton Carew. A Kittiwake was seen with other gulls on Seaton Carew Golf Course.
Two Lesser Black–backed Gulls and the regular Yellow–legged Gull was at Tees Barrage. The Humes Leaf Warbler was still at Norton and a Common (mealy) Redpoll was amongst at least fourteen Lesser Redpolls at a nearby country park in Billingham.
1st March, 2008
(Low Barns)
A late afternoon visit to Low Barns feeding station provided good views of all the usual birds that can be found here.
Six Pheasants (including five females) and at least three Moorhens were ground feeding.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker visited regularly along with Chaffinch (5+), Great Tit (2+), Blue Tit (10+), Coal Tit (4+), Long–tailed Tit (3), Blackbird (3), Dunnock (2) and Robin (2).
Nuthatch (1), Marsh Tit (1), Goldcrest (1) and Treecreeper (1) put in brief appearances during the half hour spent here.
At least twenty Tufted Duck, a female Goldeneye, two Gadwall, two Grey Heron, several Curlew and a Mistle Thrush were seen at the nearby Beechburn Gravel Pits.
1st March, 2008
(Bishops Park)
Very quiet visit this morning probably caused by the high winds. The only points of note were the close views of both Brown Hare and Jay. A group of approximately eighty Starlings were in the area.
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