Sightings – July 2006
31st July, 2006
(Etherley Moor)
Corn Buntings are still on the moor, but less vocal than other months. Tree Sparrow (5+), House Sparrow (20+), and Greenfinch (10+) are still visiting the feeders, as is Blue Tit (3+), Great Tit (3+), Blackbird (5), Chaffinch (2) and Starling (5+). The Woodpigeons appear to have stopped visiting the feeding station and are now feeding in the local fields, but the Collared Doves (up to 4) are still visiting on a daily basis. The Crows were raiding the feeding station up until the 20th, unhooking the feeders so they could get at the goodies inside.
Other visitors during in and around the garden during July include a family of Magpies, a family of five Grey Partridge (2 adults with 3 young), a family of at least five Wrens and a single male Yellowhammer. Two large groups of House Martins passed over during the past two weeks.
28th July, 2006
(Nightjar Evening)
With a spare half hour before meeting at Hamsterley, a visit was made to an undisclosed site on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. A Barn Owl was seen resting in its usual tree and a single Whinchat was seen in the same field. A single Little Owl was seen nearby.
Single Nightjars were seen on at least five seperate locations (could have been the same bird). Tawny Owls were heard, but not seen. No Woodcock tonight.
29th July, 2006
(Sunderland Air Show)
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen close to Whitburn Steel, along with the other gulls. Common Tern and Sandwich Tern were also present.
Dunlin (50+), Turnstone (30+), Common Redshank (10+), Sanderling (10+), Knot (2) and Oystercatcher (20+) were the waders seen. Then the air show started.
28th July, 2006
(Nightjar Evening)
With a spare half hour before meeting at Hamsterley, a visit was made to an undisclosed site on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. A Barn Owl was seen resting in its usual tree and a single Whinchat was seen in the same field. A single Little Owl was seen nearby.
Single Nightjars were seen on at least five seperate locations (could have been the same bird). Tawny Owls were heard, but not seen. No Woodcock tonight.
28th July, 2006
(Seaton Snook)
An early morning visit for the reported White-rumped Sandpiper proved worthwhile after an hours wait (the large numbers of waders just did not want to wake up). Once located, the sandpiper was surprisingly easy to pick out amongst the Dunlin (150+).
Grey Plover (1), Common Redshank (10+), Knot (50+, in summer plumage), Oystercatcher (20+), Curlew (5), Sanderling (15+), Turnstone (20+) and Ringed Plover (50+) were the other waders there this morning.
Little Tern (10+), Sandwich Tern (30+) and Common Tern (10+) were present. Kittiwake (2), Common Gull (1), Herring Gull (10+) and Great Black-backed Gull (10+) were also there.
23rd July, 2006
(South Shields)
At least two adult Roseate Terns were amongst the numerous Sandwich Tern, Common Tern and Arctic Tern during a three hour spell at the busy resort of South Shields.
A Mediterranean Gull was with Black Headed Gulls (50+) to the south of the pier. Eider (3), Oystercatcher (2), Herring Gull and Kittiwake were also there.
16th July, 2006
(Undisclosed)
Sorry, the land owner has asked for this site to remain confidential.
A Quail was briefly seen in flight. Four Whinchat, a Barn Owl, several Yellowhammer and a Red Deer was also seen in the same area.
At least three Corn Buntings were seen and heard on Etherley Moor.
15th July, 2006
(Saltholme Pools & Whitburn)
A single Arctic Tern and several Sandwich Tern were seen amongst the numerous Common Tern at Back Saltholme, A single Ruff and at least forty Dunlin were also there. A Little Egret was on East Saltholme.
Approximately an hour was spent at Whitburn Steel producing eighteen Manx Shearwater, two Arctic Skua, a single Bonxie and good numbers of auks, including Puffin (20+), Razorbill (10+) and Guillimot (30+). Over a hundred Golden Plover were on the rocks below us along with Whimbrel (2), Common Redshank (20+), Turnstone (30+) and Grey Heron (1). A Common Sandpiper was also seen there.
At least four Storm Petrels were caught and ringed during the late hours of the evening.
14th July, 2006
(Nightjar Evening)
Nearly perfect conditions tonight resulted in high hopes of obtaining good views of both Nightjar and Woodcock.
Arrived on site at 2110 and patiently waited as the sun went down. A single Lesser Redpoll passed overhead on numerous occasions and numerous Tawny Owls were heard. Surprisingly no Woodcock.
Some good conversation was taking place and just as light was beginning to fade, Terry shouted, "there he is". I quickly turned around and the male Nightjar had actually flown past terry, possibly as close as four foot. A further 3 to 4 Nightjars were seen, but by now, the birds were just silhuettes in the sky.
14th July, 2006
(Bishops Park)
A family of Common Redstart and a single Common Snipe were seen on the outskirts of the park. Large numbers of Black-headed Gulls were in the fields opposite the River Wear where work has now started on the new golf course.
7th & 8th July, 2006
(Newcastleton)
Highlights from this wet and breezy weekend in the Scottish Borders included a Barn Owl (1, close to Canonbie), a Whinchat (1, close to Langholme) and Common Snipe (1, close to Newcastleton).
6th July, 2006
(Saltholme Pools)
A Semipalmated Sandpiper was amongst Dunlin and Ringed Plover. No sign of yesterdays Black Terns.
5th July, 2006
(Saltholme Pools)
Two Black Terns were amongst the Sandwich (5+) and Common Terns (80+) on the 6th in very hazy conditions. A Wood Sandpiper was also there.
2nd July, 2006
(Escomb)
A Kingfisher was seen on the River Wear along with two Black-headed Gulls.
Two Mute Swan, several Tufted Duck and four Coots were on the two ponds. Common Whitethroat (1), Chiffchaff (5), Willow Warbler (2), Garden Warbler (1), Yellowhammer (4), Linnet (3) and Reed Bunting (1 male) were also seen.
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