Sightings for March 2009
29th March, 2009
(Knitsley Fell)
Three Common Buzzards, one Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were the only raptors seen during a late afternoon raptor watch.
29th March, 2009
(Escomb)
Very quiet walk round the lake this morning (not as productive as last weeks visit). Three Greylag Geese, two Mallards and two Coots were on Escomb Lake. Four Reed Buntings, three Great Tits and four Blue Tits were seen whilst walking around the lake.
At least ten Black–headed Gulls were on the small lake. Grey Heron (1), Common Gull (4), Tufted Duck (4) were also there. A Curlew was heard in the distance.
22nd March, 2009
(Bishops Park)
Two Grey Wagtails and a single Dipper were on the Gaunless. A single female Goosander was on the River Wear.
21st March, 2009
(Escomb)
A Great Crested Grebe and a drake Goldeneye were on the Escomb Lake. Four Greylag Geese and 3 – 4 Coots were also there.
Two Oystercatchers, two Mallards and five Tufted Duck were on the small pond.
Several more Greylag Geese and at least six Canada Geese were on the fishing ponds with four Moorhens.
A pair of Goosanders, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Willow Tit were seen whilst walking along the River Wear.
Eleven Reed Buntings, a single Meadow Pipit, two Dunnocks and a Willow Tit were seen whilst walking round the lakes. Curlew (1), Chiffchaff (1) and Skylark (1) were heard but not seen.
Back on Etherley Moor, three Tree Sparrows have been visiting the feeders occasionally visiting the nestboxes. Great Tit (2) and Blue Tit (1) have also been looking at nest boxes over the past few days. Two Lapwings and a Curlew were heard calling from a nearby fields.
19th March, 2009
(Spennymoor)
Two Chiffchaffs calling from a roadside wood at Green Lane Industrial Estate, Spennymoor.
18th March, 2009
(Etherley Moor)
Two Corn Buntings on Etherley Moor. First time I've seen a pair here for approximately 3 years.
15th March, 2009
(Teesside)
First stop was Hartlepool Headland. A male Peregrine Falcon, a Little Owl, a Grey Partridge (1 heard) and several Stock Doves were seen in a nearby quarry. A Black–throated Diver was seen off Marine Drive. A first winter Iceland Gull and a single Rock Pipit were seen between the breakwaters.
Two Avocets and a Green–winged Teal were seen on Greenabella. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were seen hunting the marsh. All the usual waders were on Seal Sands.
A Spotted Redshank, ten Ruff, four Dunlin were amongst the numerous Common Redshank on Back Saltholme. Still plenty of Goldeneye here.
A Tundra Bean Goose, at least six Pink–footed Geese and a White–fronted Goose were with Greylag Goose (50+) and Canada Goose (20+) near the Haverton pipe line.
A Short–eared Owl was seen whilst waiting for the Barn Owl that had been reported at Dormans over the past few days (did not show whilst we were there).
14th March, 2009
(Teesdale)
First stop was the western edge of Hamsterley Forest, where I was hoping to find the Great Grey Shrike that had been reported over the past two days. The shrike wasn’t found (despite searching for an hour in high wind and light drizzle), but Woodcock (2 flushed), Curlew (2+), Mistle Thrush (2) and Blackbird (10+), Stonechat (2) were seen whilst searching. Large numbers of Frogs were seen in the pools.
Two valleys were watched for a couple of hours, hoping to see the previously reported Rough–legged Buzzards. No RLB’s, but two Common Buzzards and several Ravens were seen.
A Sparrowhawk was seen close to Bollihope Quarry. Red Grouse (10+), Curlew (30+), Lapwing (50+), Oystercatcher (2+), Skylark (1) were also seen.
7th March, 2009
(Teesside)
A Bean Goose, a White–fronted Goose and a Pink–footed Goose were amongst Greylag Geese (50+) and Canada Geese (20+) close to Haverton pipeline. Eight Water Pipits were also seen here.
Two Little Egrets, two Pintails and a female Sparrowhawk were the pick of the birds at Saltholme Pools.
Two summer plumaged Mediterranean Gulls were amongst Black–headed Gull (50+) and Herring Gull (10+) at Newburn.
A Great Crested Grebe and at least twenty Common Scoter were seen off Marine Drive. Fourteen Purple Sandpipers and two Ringed Plovers were the pick of the waders. Ten Linnets were seen between the breakwaters, before setting off for Ward Jacksons Park where two Ring–necked Parakeets were seen.
7th March, 2009
(The Stang)
A Pink–footed Goose was with appoximately fifty Greylag Geese on the approach road to the Stang (no sign of the White–fronted Geese that were there a couple of weeks ago. Black Grouse (14), Red Grouse (7), Fieldfare (200+), Mistle Thrush (1), Lapwing (100+), Curlew (10+), Common Redshank (1), Mallard (2), Common Teal (3) and Coal Tit (7+) were seen nearby.
6th March, 2009
(Etherley Moor)
A female Siskin was on the feeders this morning (first of the year). A male Sparrowhawk put in a brief appearance late morning.
1st March, 2009
(Low Barns)
The feeding station was very active with all the usual birds visiting. Fifteen cormorants were in the roost. Goldeneye (5), Tufted Duck (10+), Teal (2) and Little Grebe (1) were on Marston Lake (viewed from the observation tower).
A montage of bird images taken during the month of february has been left at the visitor centre. Printed at a size of 10 x 8 inches and looks very nice in a frame.
If anyone would like a copy, please contact me and I will do my best to help (any profits made will go towards bird food for both the feeding station at Etherley Moor and Low Barns).
Go to Latest Sightings
Go to April 2009
Go to February 2009
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.