Sightings – June 2006
29th June, 2006
(Etherley Moor)
Families of Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Carrion Crow and Magpie are visiting the garden on a daily basis.
At least one Corn Bunting was once again heard/seen singing on the wires and the trees to the rear of the house.
Chaffinch (1 female), Greenfinch (10+), Starling (10+), Woodpigeon (4+), Collared Dove (2), House Martin (10+), Swallow (2) and Swift (7+) were also seen.
28th June, 2006
(Escomb)
A quick walk around the the lake and pond produced thirty six different species of birds. The highlights included nine female Goosanders flying towards Low Barns, a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Kingfisher on the River Wear, three Common Whitethroat, three Garden Warbler, two Blackcaps, four Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and three male Bullfinch.
Swift, Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin were in good numbers, but it was butterflies and moths that were the most impressive. Ringlet (100+), Meadow Brown (80+), Small White (10+), Common Blue (4), Peacock (1) and Large Skipper (3) were the butterflies seen. Plenty of Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflies were in the area along with a handfull of unidentified Darters.
24th June, 2006
(Low Barns)
A steady walk round the reserve produced twenty eight different species of birds. Three Common Sandpipers were on the river, along with three Kingfishers, a single Dipper and at least one Grey Wagtail.
Mute Swan, Tufted Duck and Oystercatcher have succesfully fledged. Other birds of note around the reserve today included Sedge Warbler (3) and Reed Bunting (1 male).
23rd June, 2006
(Etherley Moor)
A single Corn Bunting visited the garden feeders early morning. Other visitors today included Yellowhammer (1) and Tree Sparrow (family party of 6).
Other birds that have continued to visit the garden during the past week include Sparrowhawk (1), Blackbird (family of five), Blue Tit (adults and juveniles), Great Tit (adults and juveniles), Greenfinch (adults and juveniles), Chaffinch (1), House Sparrow (adults and juveniles), Woodpigeon (adults and juveniles), Collared Dove (adults and juveniles), Starling and Carrion Crow (2) stealing fat balls.
17th to 19th June, 2006
(Cairngorms & Aberdeenshire)
Three Ptarmigan were found close to the summit of Cairngorm (excellent photo opportunity spoilt by heavy rain). A single Snow Bunting, several Ring Ouzel and Northern Wheatear were seen during the climb to the top of the mountain. Other birds seen during the climb included Meadow Pipit (3) and Pied Wagtail (1). Three Mountain Hares were also seen. Five Crested Tit were found at Loch an Eilein.
Other birds of interest in the area included Black Throated Diver (2 in full summer plumage), Slavonian Grebe (2 also in full summer plumage), Osprey (5), Common Buzzard (5+), Red-legged Partridge (2), Common Redstart (2 families) and Spotted Flycatcher (3).
Returning via Aberdeen to attend a family funeral, an Osprey was seen hunting a small fish farm on the outskirts of Auchnaggat. Once again, rain spoilt a perfect photo opportunity.
14th June, 2006
(Etherley Moor & Barnard Castle)
At least three Corn Buntings on Etherley Moor. Recently fledged Tree Sparrows, Blue Tits and Great Tits visiting the garden feeders. A pair of Yellowhammers are still visiting on a daily basis along with the usual Blackbirds (5), House Sparrows (30+), Dunnocks (5+) and Robins (2). A female Sparrowhawk visited the garden on wednesday afternoon. Three seperate Tawny Owls were heard from the garden along with a single Little Owl. A third owl species was heard, which was thought to be a Barn Owl.
Two Red-legged Partridge were seen 200yds from Egglestone Abbey, near Barnard Castle.
14th June, 2006
(Teesside)
A Pectoral Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Back Saltholme, along with good numbers of Ringed Pover and Dunlin. The only other species of wader that was there was a single Common Redshank (1).
Three Little Gulls were also at Back Saltholme.
11th June, 2006
(Etherley Moor & the Dales)
At least three Corn Buntings were seen at Etherley Moor at 9am along with good numbers of Linnet.
A total of nineteen male Black Grouse were seen in upper Teesdale at three seperate locations (12, 6 & 1). Three Ring Ouzel and at least five Northern Wheatears were found in one of those locations.
A single Woodcock showed itself very well, allowing me to approach and take photographs from as little as two yards. A Common Sandpiper was on the River tees and was also very approachable. A Raven was seen amongst rocks towards the upper end of the Tees and a wing tagged Red Kite was seen being mobbed by Curlew, Common Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.
Kestrel (1), Pheasant (3), Grey Partridge (4), Golden Plover (1), Common Snipe (3), Black-headed Gull (3), Woodpigeon (1), Cuckoo (1 heard), Grey Wagtail (2), Dipper (1 juvenile), Wren (1), Blackbird (1), Song Thrush (2), Carrion Crow (3), Starling (10+), House Sparrow (2 males), Swallow (10+), House Martin (1), Meadow Pipit (10+) and Skylark (3+) were also seen in the area.
Red Grouse (2), Pied Wagtail (1), Sand Martin (10+) and Willow Warbler (2) were added to the list at Bollihope during the afternoon.
Good numbers of Small Heath butterflies were seen throughout the day. Painted Lady (5 at one location), Small White (10 at two seperate locations) and Green Veigned White (1 at Bollihope) were other butterflies seen. At least thirty Common Blue Damselflies were in Bollihope Quarry along with at least two Blue Tailed Damselflies.
7th June, 2006
(Escomb & Etherley Moor)
Two Common Sandpipers and at least three of their young were on the banks of the River Wear. A Garden Warbler and a male Blackcap were also seen close to the river.
Two Meadow Pipit, two Common Whitethroat and three Reed Buntings were seen by the small pond. A pair of Coots (with only one young), four Tufted Duck, two Mallards and two Mute Swans were on the small pond.
There were good numbers of Common Blue Damselfly and Blue Tailed Damselfly on and around the edge of Escomb Lake and the small pond. Small Copper (1), Wall Brown (3) and Small Tortoiseshell (1) butterflies were also seen.
A Corn Bunting was seen at Etherley Moor. This was the first sighting for three days, which may have been caused by the farmer harvesting his crop in the neighbouring fields. Tree Sparrow (4+), Yellowhammer (2) are still visiting the garden feeding station and the Blue Tits are hours away from fledging. Orange Tip butterflies have also been seen in the garden during the past four days.
2nd June, 2006
(Hamsterley)
A sunny day suggested that the evening would be good for a visit to Hamsterley Forest where the target birds would be Nightjar, Woodcock and possibly Wood Warbler.
Curlew (2), Green Woodpecker (1) and Jay (2) were seen during the walk to a regular site for Nightjar. At least one Woodcock was noted and two Tawny Owls heard, before the first Nightjar was seen / heard wing clapping down to distances of only six yards. By now the wind speed had picked up considerably, so it was decided to depart. A second Nightjar was seen flying high towards the eastern edge of the forest and a third was observed hunting on the return walk to the car.
2nd June, 2006
(Bishops Park & Etherley Moor)
Very quiet during the visit to Bishops Park. Three Common Whitethroats were seen by the River Wear.
A family of Long-tailed Tits were seen on the outskirts of the park. Grey Heron (1), Mallard (1), Swallow (2), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (1), Wren (1), Chaffinch (1) and Yellowhammer (1) were the only other birds seen.
A Peacock (1), Wall Brown (1), Orange Tip (5+) and Small White (2+) butterflies were recorded. Two Banded Demoiselle were seen by the River Wear.
One of yesterdays Corn Buntings was on the wires at Etherley Moor. Sparrowhawk (1), House Martin (3+) and Swallows (10+) were also there.
1st June, 2006
(Etherley Moor & Escomb)
Two Corn Buntings were seen at Etherley Moor. Two Linnets and a Greenfinch were also on the wires.
Recently fledged Tree Sparrows (5+), House Sparrows (4+) and Dunnocks (4+) are visiting the garden. Sounds like there is a large brood of Blue Tits waiting to emerge from the new nest box that was put in place approximately eight weeks ago. Yellowhammer (2), Greenfinch (10+) and Chaffinch (2) are also visiting the feeding station.
Thirty three different species of birds were seen at Escomb. A Dipper (the first recorded sighting since 2003), a Kingfisher (2) and three Pied Wagtails were seen on the river. A male Blackcap was singing quite loudly in its usual location. Mallards and Coots were looking after young. Song Thrush (1), Willow Warbler (5), Chiffchaff (2), House Sparrow (10+, with plenty of young), Sand Martin (10+), Swallow (10+), Swift (10+) and House Martin (1) were other birds seen during the visit.
A Large Skipper butterfly was seen (first for the year). Wall Brown (5+), Peacock (1), Orange Tip (5+) and Small White were other butterflies recorded. Blue-tailed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly were also seen.
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