Sightings – May 2007
29th – 31st May, 2007
(Beadnell, Northumberland)
A very wet and windy day on Tuesday resulted in very few birds.
A quick stop to check a pond to the the north of Seahouses on a dry wednesday afternoon produced an immaculate Wood Sandpiper, a Little Stint and two Dunlins. Also Mute swan (2), Shelduck (2), Greylag Goose (1), Coot (2), Moorhen (1), Swallow (20+), House Martin (5+), Sand Martin (5+), Swift (2), Meadow Pipit (2), Skylark (1) and Pied Wagtail (1).
An early morning visit to Seahouses on Thursday produced a Rock Pipit, which displayed superbly in the harbour. Eider (30+), Grey Heron and Ringed Plover (15+) were also there. Just to the south of the harbour, a Kittiwake (a colony of 500+) and at least two Fulmars were seen. A short walk from here, a Northern Wheatear and a Sedge Warbler were found (Seahouses Golf Club).
A trip to the Farne Islands produced the usual numbers of Cormorant, Shag, Guillimot, Razorbill, Puffin, Common Tern, Arctic Tern and Sandwich Tern. Birds seen during the crossing included Gannet (30+), Great Black–backed Gull (5+), Lesser Black–backed Gull (10+), Herring Gull (30+), Common Gull (2), Kittiwake (5+), Black–headed Gull and Swallow (2).
Canada Goose (100+ north), Turnstone (10+), Curlew (1), Linnet (10+), Goldfinch (4+), Greenfinch (1), Chaffinch (2), House Sparrow (10+), Robin (2), Mistle Thrush (2), Song Thrush (2), Blackbird (2), Collared Dove (5+), Woodpigeon (10+), Carrion Crow (10+), Rook (4) and Jackdaw (10+) were other birds seen.
28th May, 2007
(Saltholme Pools)
A report of a Temminck’s Stint meant yet another visit to Saltholme Pools.
Shortly after arrival the bird was thought to have been seen amongst 20+ Dunlin and a pair of Wigeon, but after a closer look this bird was identified as a Little Stint. The Broad–billed Sandpiper was still present, along with only one Little Gull.
Wet and windy conditions made it hard work, but the Temminck’s Stint was eventually seen on the end of the causeway at 1845pm. Loads of Common Swift (100+), Swallows (30+), House Martins (20+) and Sand Martins (10+) over the pools.
A Long–tailed Duck was on East–Saltholme.
27th May, 2007
(Saltholme Pools)
A Broad–billed Sandpiper, three Little Gulls, three Garganey (2 males and 1 female), a Little Stint and two Little–ringed Plovers were at Back Saltholme. Ringed Plover (20+), Dunlin (100+) and Yellow Wagtail (2+) were also there.
26th May, 2007
(Teesside)
Two Curlew Sandpipers, two Little Gulls and at least one Little Stint were at Back Saltholme. Greenshank (1), Ringed Plover (20+) and Dunlin (100+) were also there.
A pair of Garganey were seen on the Calor Gas Pool, before having superb views of a Little Egret on West Saltholme Pool.
Four–spotted Chaser (1) and Common Blue Butterfly (1) were seen at Greatham Creek, before seeing three Stonechats on Greenabella. Zinc Road was fairly quiet with Sedge Warbler (1) and Reed Bunting (2) being the only birds worth noting.
23rd May, 2007
(Upper Teesdale)
Three Red Grouse (plus several young), a Common Buzzard, a male Kestrel and a pair of Stonechats were near Kinninvie. A Red Kite and a probable Goshawk were seen on the outskirts of Egglestone.
Six Black Grouse were at Langdon Beck, before seeing a pair of Spotted Flycatchers by the river at Harwood. Four Grey Partridge, two Common Sandpipers, a pair of Grey Wagtails and at least three Common Snipe (two displaying) were also in the area.
A short walk along the path at Cow Green produced a Golden Plover and a single Ringed Plover, amongst the usual Lapwings and Curlews.
20th May, 2007
(Deepdale & Knitsley Fell)
Two Spotted flycatchers, a pair of Blackcaps and at least three Bullfinches were near the entrance to Deepdale. A male Pied Flycatcher was seen just after the clearing. A pair of Dippers and a Common Sandpiper were seen on the Tees. Plenty of Swifts (20+) and Swallows (10+) in the air.
A Tree Pipit was seen at Knitsley Fell. Linnet (10+), Sparrowhawk (1 female) and a Common Buzzard were also there.
A pair of Spotted Flycatchers and a male Kestrel were seen opposite Bedburn Cotteges.
16th May, 2007
(Teesdale)
A wing–tagged Red Kite and two Common Buzzards were close to Kinninvie. Two Black Grouse and only one Red Grouse were also seen (amongst the usual upland birds), during this visit to Middleton–in–Teesdale.
13th May, 2007
(Bishops Park)
Two Common Sandpipers were on the River Wear and at least four Common Whitethroats were in the area (very vocal). Two Willow Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, several Common Swifts and at least two House Martins were also there.
12th May, 2007
(Teesside)
The reported Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on Back Saltholme with good numbers of Dunlin (80+) and a single Grey Plover. Four Little Gulls, two Lesser Black–backed Gulls and at least seven Common Terns were also there.
Swallow (30+), House Martin (10+), Sand Martin (10+) and Swift (10+) were in the area with a probable middle–eastern (savignii, transitiva) race Swallow being amongst them.
Reed Bunting (2), Stonechat (2) and Sedge Warbler (1) were on Zinc road.
10th May, 2007
(Etherley Moor)
A Cuckoo was heard, very close to the feeding station.
7th May, 2007
(Upper Teesdale)
Very windy on the moors, during this forenoon visit to Upper Teesdale.
Twenty Black Grouse, seventeen Red Grouse, a pair of Grey Partridge and five Northern Wheatear were near Langdon Beck. Greylag Goose (4 over), Common Sandpiper (6), Golden Plover (4), Lapwing (10+), Curlew (5+), Dunlin (1), Oystercatcher (2), Common Redshank (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Meadow Pipit (4+), Skylark (1) and Dipper (1) were in the same area.
Six Common Buzzard and a male Stonechat were near Kinninvie.
6th May, 2007
(Bracks Wood)
Seventeen different species were seen during this short visit to a local wood, with many of the birds in full song, including at least five Garden Warblers. Willow Warbler (5+), Chiffchaff (2+), Robin (2), Wren (2), Song Thrush (2) and Bullfinch (5+) were also there. A pair of Dippers and a single Grey Wagtail were on the Gaunless.
5th May, 2007
(Etherley Moor)
Shortly after midnight, a Barn Owl was heard calling from the tree lined hedge row to the rear of our feeding station. Corn Buntings are now seen / heard at most times of the day and House Martins are nest building. Tree Sparrows, House Sparrows, Blue Tits and Starlings (2) are feeding young.
3rd May, 2007
(Knitsley Fell)
A male Blackcap and a single Garden Warbler were in full song near the entrance to witton Castle. Treecreeper (3+), Willow Warbler (5+) and Chiffchaff (2+) were also there.
Two Tree Pipits were seen at Knitsley Fell, along with Greylag Goose (7), Lapwing (2), Meadow Pipit (1), Skylark (2), Red Grouse (2), Willow Warbler (3+), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (1) and Linnet (10+).
A Green Hairstreak butterfly and at least three Large Red Damselflies were also seen.
Go to Latest Sightings
Go to June 2007
Go to April 2007
Please note that all images displayed on these pages are copyright protected and I would like to be asked if you intend to use the images for anything other than personal use (a small fee may apply if you are not a David Brown Website Design, Imaging & Photography customer or charitable organisation).
Click here for my contact details, ‘thank you’.
These pages are copyright © 2007 by David Brown Website Design, Imaging & Photography.