Sightings – July 2008
20th July, 2008
(Etherley Moor)
Corn Bunting (1 on the wires) and Song Thrush (1 on the roof top) singing before going to work at 0730am. Grey Partridge (1) calling from behind the feeding station late evening.
20th July, 2008
(Bishops Park)
Three Common Whitethroats, two Garden Warblers, four Willow Warblers and at least three Chiffchaffs were seen. Two Nuthatches were heard calling.
20th July, 2008
(Etherley Moor)
A very quiet month so far has allowed me to catch up with work in the office that overlooks our feeding station at Etherley Moor.
Update from the past week. A Grey Heron has been seen flying over the feeding station heading towards Escomb. Common Swifts are now seen on a daily basis between showers. A Chiffchaff and a Yellowhammer have been calling from the field behind the feeders. Sparrowhawk has now returned (two known kills from the feeders).
All the regulars are still visiting including House Sparrow (20+), Tree Sparrow (7+), Dunnock (5+, with juveniles), Robin (3+, with juveniles), Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (2), Blackbird (5+, including juveniles), Jackdaw (7+, including juveniles), Woodpigeon (2), Greenfinch (2+) and Wren (1).
12th July, 2008
(Low Barns)
A late afternoon visit to Low Barns for Kingfisher proved disappointing, with the only noteworthy record being the sighting of a single Black–tailed Skimmer on a log next to the West Hide (coot pond).
11th July, 2008
(South Shields)
A visit to check on some camera equipment provided me with the opportunity to see if any Roseate Terns were on the beach at South Shields.
The rain once again stopped play for the best part of the day, but once the rain gave way to intermittent sunshine I was able to check the beach. After a quick scan, I managed to locate a small group of terns containing four adult Roseate Terns, six Arctic Terns, twelve Sandwich Terns and at least twenty Common Terns (including one juvenile). Also seen were Kittiwake (10+), Fulmar (3), Herring Gull (5), Black–headed Gull (1), Turnstone (2), Oystercatcher (1), Ringed Plover (1), Cormorant (5+), Eider (1), Linnet (6+), Goldfinch (6+) and Meadow Pipit (3).
A quick stop at Trow Quarry provided me with good views of a family of Little Owls (2 adults with 2 young), Blackbird (1), Meadow Pipit (2), Goldfinch (2), Linnet (1) and Common Whitethroat (1).
Ten Common Scoters and three Gannets were seen amongst the usual birds to be found off Lizard Point, which included Guillimot (20+), Razorbill (1), Fulmar (20+), Herring Gull (50+), Lesser Black–backed Gull (1), Kittiwake (50+), Jackdaw (2) and Feral Pigeon (20+).
5th July, 2008
(Teesside)
Persistent rain meant an early exit from Crook Carnival and a visit to Teesside for the reported Terek Sandpiper, which was soon located on the Calor Gas Pool (10 – 15 birders already watching).
Other birds on the pool included Common Sandpiper (2), Wood Sandpiper (1 possible, briefly), Ruff (1), Greenshank (3), Redshank (10+), Dunlin (3), Ringed Plover (2), Black–tailed Godwit (15+) and Shelduck (1 with young).
Nothing much more of interest and the poor weather meant photographic opportunities were non–existant.
3rd July, 2008
(Low Barns)
A Mute Swan, two Tufted Ducks, three Coots, a Moorhen and several Mallards were on Coot Pond. Two Reed Buntings were calling from West Pasture. Still no sign of any kingfishers.
A third Reed Bunting, a Common Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler were seen from the board walk. Two Grey Herons were on the River Wear.
Chiffchaff (3), Willow Warbler (2) and a family of at least five Coal Tits were seen on the way to the South Hide. Three Speckled Wood butterflies were also seen.
Two Little Grebes, two Oystercatchers and at least ten Mallards were on Marston Lake. Two unidentified Chasers and a Banded Demoiselle were seen whilst viewing from the hide.
Two Swallows and a Song Thrush were seen from the butterfly garden opposite the visitor centre.
2nd July, 2008
(Etherley Moor)
It sounds as though the Tree Sparrows are close to fledging, with at least two young birds being seen from the entranceway to thier nestbox. Corn Bunting (1) and Yellowhammer (1) are still calling from the tree line behind the feeding station.
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