Sightings for January 2009
31st January, 2009
(Low Barns, Escomb & The Batts)
The car parking area is now being extended, forcing the removal of trees and the feeding station. The feeders will be re-located some 20 - 30 feet in to te wooded area.
Big changes, but is this for the better? A small selection of feeders were still in place for todays visit, providing good views of Blackbird (5), Blue Tit (4+), Great Tit (2+), Coal Tit (2+), Marsh Tit (1), Long–tailed Tit (11), Nuthatch (1), Dunnock (1), Robin (1), Treecreeper (1) and Chaffinch (6+). Decided not to have a walk round the reserve (children and dog walkers present).
A walk round Escomb proved to be very quiet with both ponds partially frozen over. The pick of the birds here included Black–headed Gull (100c), Common Gull (20+), Goldeneye (1 male 7amp; 2 females), Tufted Duck (20+), Cormorant (3), Sparrowhawk (1), Nuthatch (1 heard) and Song Thrush (1).
A Little Grebe was on the River Wear at The Batts and at least twenty Blackbirds were in a small group of hawthorns close to Bishops Park. A Kestrel was also seen.
Etherley Moor was also very quiet. Tree Sparrows looking in the nest boxes and at least four Robins fighting every time they come close to each other (spring is coming).
30th January, 2009
(Clara Vale)
The birds on the feeding station included Lesser Redpoll (1m & at least 4 female), Siskin (5+), Goldfinch (2+), Chaffinch (5+), Greenfinch (3+), Bullfinch (3+), Great Tit (2+), Blue Tit (4+), Coal Tit (2+), Willow Tit (1), Long–tailed Tit (3+), Wren (1), Robin (2) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (1).
Other birds seen from the hide at Clara Vale included Pheasant (1 male & at least 4 female), Moorhen (2), Woodpigeon (20+), Carrion Crow (2), Magpie (1) and Sparrowhawk (1).
A Red Kite was seen on the return journey (not far from Thornley Woods).
25th January, 2009
(Bishops Park)
Grey Heron (3), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (1), Green Woodpecker (1) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (1) were the pick of the birds from this half hour visit to The Batts.
25th January, 2009
(Etherley Moor)
Another active morning on the feeders, with all the usual birds visiting on a regular basis. Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (1) and Grey Heron (1) were fly–overs.
24th January, 2009
(The Stang)
A Red–legged Partridge was seen on the outskirts of Brignall and several Red Grouse were seen before entering the Stang, which was very quiet.
Two Grey Partridge, one Black Grouse and at least ten more Red Grouse were seen on the southern edge of the Stang.
A large group of finches at Barningham included Chaffinch (200c), Greenfinch (10+), Goldfinch (4), Great Tit (2), Blue Tit (5), Coal Tit (2), Long–tailed Tit (4), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Nuthatch (1) and Treecreeper (1). No Brambling were found.
A good number of thrushes were seen throughout the visit, which included Fieldfare (300c), Redwing (100c), Mistle Thrush (10+) and Blackbird (10+). The only raptors seen were Kestrel (1, south of the Stang) and Sparrowhawk (1, near Hutton Magna).
24th January, 2009
(Etherley Moor)
The feeding station was very active this morning. Highlights included Tree Sparrow (2 checking their usual nest boxes), Great Tit (2 checking nest boxes), Robin (2 fighting for territory), Bullfinches (2) and a Kestrel (1 over).
18th January, 2009
(Sleddale)
A juvenile Rough–legged Buzzard was seen soon after arriving at the chevrons. Two Red Grouse and a Kestrel were seen before carrying on up the dale to the other raptor watchpont. The Rough–legged Buzzard showed very nicely with Common Buzzard (1), Peregine (3) and Merlin (1) also showing well.
Waxwing (80c at Ingleby), Yellow–legged Gull (1 at Tees Barrage), Kingfisher (1 at Portrack Marsh), Long–tailed Duck (1 at Hurworth) and Mandarin (1 at Hurworth) were seen on the return journey.
17th January, 2009
(Low Barns)
The feeding station was very busy with Sparrowhawk (1 over), Pheasant (2), Blackbird (3), Blue Tit (6+), Great Tit (4+), Coal Tit (2+), Marsh Tit (1), Long–tailed Tit (10+), Nuthatch (2), Dunnock (1), Robin (3), Siskin (10 over), Jackdaw (9 over), Treecreeper (3) and Chaffinch (10+) visiting the feeders.
Mute Swan (2), Mallard (10+), Tufted Duck (1), Goldeneye (1 female), Coot (2), Moorhen (2) and Sparrowhawk (1) were seen from the West Hide. The walk to the south hide was very quiet, with two Goosanders on the River Wear being the only birds seen.
Two Mute Swan, two Herring Gull, fifteen Tufted Duck, twenty Mallard and at least ten Goldeneye (1 drake) were on Marston Lake. A male Kestrel and a female Bullfinch were seen from the tower.
10th January, 2009
(Portrack Marsh)
Two Jack Snipe and at least five Common Snipe were seen during a very cold visit to Portrack Marsh. No sign of the regular Yellow–legged Gull.
Closer to home, there was a Little Grebe on the River Wear at The Batts, Bishops Park. No sign of the Green Sandpiper that normally winter here.
9th January, 2009
(Croxdale Hall)
Three Hawfinches were seen from the top gate and a Little Owl was seen sunning itself from it’s usual tree.
3rd January, 2009
(Teesside)
I decided to have another look at the Glaucous–winged Gull this morning. The bird was missed at Cowpen Bewley, before eventually seeing the bird at Holme Fleet.
A Merlin and a Little Egret were seen from the road leading to North Gare car park.
Two Barnacle Geese and a blue morph Snow Goose (possible escapee) were seen amongst the Greylag Geese (250+) and Canada Geese (50+) on Back Saltholme. A Peregrine Falcon was also seen here.
A Water Pipit and a Meadow Pipit were seen at Haverton Hole. At least twenty Tree Sparrows and several Yellowhammers were at Cowpen Bewley feeding station before returning home.
2nd January, 2009
(Northumberland)
Two Scaup, two Red–breasted Mergansers and a single Water Rail were seen at Cresswell (no sign of any Bittern, Snipe or Jack Snipe). Three Tree Sparrows were seen close to the farm buildings.
A group of Whooper Swan (30+), Mute Swan (5) and Greylag Goose (5+) were seen whilst driving to Hauxley.
Tiaga Bean Goose (1), White–fronted Goose (1) and Common Snipe (10+) were the pick of the birds at Hauxley Nature Reserve.
A stop at Thornley Woods on the return journey produced brief views of Brambling (1) and Willow Tit (1).
1st January, 2009
(Teesside)
First bird of the year was a Blackbird, which was seen whilst leaving Croftside and a Barn Owl was seen on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland.
Seven Ring–necked Parakeets were seen at Ward Jacksons Park. A Black–throated Diver, five Red–throated Divers, a Mediterranean Gull, seven Purple Sandpipers, two Rock Pipits and a single Grey Plover were the pick of the birds at Hartlepool Headland.
Forty five Twite were seen at Greenabella and a Short–eared Owl was at Saltholme Pools.
The reported Smew was found at Crookfoot reservoir before spending the rest of the afternoon looking for a reported Caspian Gull near Cowpen Bewley.
A Lesser Black–backed Gull was amongst the gulls, but the best find of the day was a probable Glaucous–winged Gull that was seen whilst scanning for the Caspian Gull.
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