Sunday 21 June 2009

Holywell Tonight

Exams are over and I am beginning to have free time again. After kayaking today at the QE11, I went down to Holywell about 19:30 there was not much about tonight but I noted, 4 Male Wigeon, 1 Oystercatcher, 18+ Mallrd + 4 small young, 3 Mute Swan + 5 cygnets, 8 Grey Heron with one juvenille bird hunting on West reeds, after a while to appered flying off with a Little Grebe egg, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen+ 1 juv, 15 Coot + 2 young, 14 Tufted, 1 Cormorant, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, Lapwing, Sand Martain, Swallow, House Martain,Swift, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Phesant, House Sparrow, Starling, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, 3 Pair of Greylag with 5 goslings, 1 Male Pochard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Black Headed Gull, 1 Female Kestrel, 2 Pair Canada plus at least 1 young.

Also 2 Stock Dove at the Beehive Flash.

Sunday 14 June 2009

Holywell Guided Birdwatching

Wednesday 17th June at 18:00, hosted by Northumberland Wildlife Trust. Volunteer wardens will be on hand throughout the evening to help identify species and give an introduction to the reserve. Places for the event are very limited so please get in touch with Laura Lowther at Northumberland Wildlife Trust on: (0191) 284 6884 to gain a place for the event.

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Tyne Zip Line

Thought I'd put the link up for pictures from zip line. Oh and I got 5 species whilst coming down :p, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Feral Pigeon, and Woodpigeon.

http://xsfotoevents.com/view.php?id=4484

Monday 8 June 2009

Marsh Warbler, St Mary's Island 14:30

Had half an hour free today so I headed down to St Mary's to see if I could catch up with the Marsh Warbler that was floating about. On the way to the willows a local birder told me that it was still there singing and showing briefly, if time was given. Once I reached the North Willows I went round to the North Facing side and was immediately given views of the Marsh Warbler, feeding on the edge of the willows.

The differences between itself and a Reed Warbler could be seen straight away, the lack of the reddish colour to the lower back and rump, and the different duller olive colour of the overall body, with the light buff breast. I only heard the song briefly, although it alllowed for a positive identification, might have a trip down tomorrow if it's still present to hear its call.

Tuesday 2 June 2009

30/05/09 and 01/06/09

Haven't been getting out much recently due to revision, I'll be very happy when it's all over on the 17th of June. I did manage a visit to Slayley for Nightjars on the 29/05/09 with Crammy Birder and Steve, successful night, with lifer of Nightjars.

I had an evening session at Holywell on Saturday the 30th whilst everyone was watching Britain's Got Talent. First stop was the Beehive Flash, the water levels beginning to drop exposing a nice scrape so I was pleased when I spotted a Ringed Plover, a patch tick, it seemed a while since i've seen this species on the patch. Also about were a pair of Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 2 Redshank, and a lone Moorhen. Next was the Pond.

I arrived at about 20:30, Starling, Collared Dove, House Sparrow and Blackbird were picked up as I locked the car up. Down at the members there was a total of 9 Grey Heron, 6 on the island, I think this is the most Grey Heron I've had at the Pond, with a mixture f adults and imms. 3 Sedge Warbler were singing, along with Reed Bunting, and a Reed Warbler (patch tick) in the NW corner. On the water there was 4 Greylag, both with young, (4+3), 2 Mute Swan, 8 Mallard + 5 ducklings, 4 Tufted, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, 1 Common Tern and a Pair of Canada plus 5 goslings. Also about were Chiff Chaff, Skylark, Willow Warbler, the usual feeding station crowd, 20+ Swift, House Martain, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Rook.

North Pool was next, as I was walking along the backtrack to East of the pond, the Gulls began to fly overhead, whilst scanning I picked up a Juv Iceland Gull flying towards the sea. Only a pair of Lapwing and 6 chicks were on the now very dried up North Pool. Walking East a Fox ran from the crop into cover carrying a Rabbit, 2 Grasshopper Warbler were reeling, and there was quite a few large Bats flying overhead, making a high pitched screech, not sure what type there were, but something I plan to find out when I've finished my exams. Finished up at about 22:30.

Yesterday, 01/06/09, after I had my Unit 1 Biology exam I decided to have a revision break and do a bit of birding. I left the house at about 15:30 and headed for the carboot and a nice little patch of reeds in the farmers field towards the Beehive Pub. As it was absolutely scorching hot I had a little sit within the reeds, and was greeted by Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blue Tit and Linnet. At some points the Sedge Warbler were coming within half a metre of me, and still belting there song out. I moved on to the Beehive Flash, where again I had a little sit, rather than the brief visits that normally occur. 3 Redshank, 2 Mute Swan, 6 Greylag, a Pair of Shelduck, 2 Lapwing, House Martain, Swallow, Skylark, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Swift, and a large number of Damsleflies were made note of.

Instead of walking to the hide I decided to walk along the Southern side of the Dene, there some nice bits of meadow, and stretches of hedgerow. I walked along through to West Holywell, Holywell Grange. There was quite a few pair of Yellowhammer along the hedgerows, at Backworth Pond, Grey Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting and a Pair of Stonechat (patch tick) were present. Not a bad couple of days.

Here my patch list so far this year, a total of 102 species;
  1. Little Grebe
  2. Great Crested Grebe
  3. Cormorant
  4. Grey Heron
  5. Mute Swan
  6. Whooper Swan
  7. Pink-Footed Goose
  8. Greylag Goose
  9. Canada Goose
  10. Shelduck
  11. Wigeon
  12. Gadwall
  13. Teal
  14. Mallard
  15. Pintail
  16. Garganey
  17. Shoveler
  18. Pochard
  19. Tufted Duck
  20. Scaup
  21. Goldeneye
  22. Goosesander
  23. Ruddy Duck
  24. Marsh Harrier
  25. Sparrowhawk
  26. Common Buzzard
  27. Kestrel
  28. Red- Legged Partridge
  29. Grey Partridge
  30. Pheasant
  31. Water Rail
  32. Moorhen
  33. Coot
  34. Oystercatcher
  35. Ringed Plover
  36. Lapwing
  37. Snipe
  38. Curlew
  39. Redshank
  40. Common Sandpiper
  41. Med Gull
  42. Black Headed Gull
  43. Common Gull
  44. Lesser Black Backed Gull
  45. Herring Gull
  46. Iceland Gull
  47. Great Black Backed Gull
  48. Common Tern
  49. Stock Dove
  50. Woodpiegeon
  51. Collared Dove
  52. Short Eared Owl
  53. Swift
  54. Kingfisher
  55. Great Spotted Woodpecker
  56. Skylark
  57. Sand Martain
  58. House Martain
  59. Swallow
  60. Meadow Pipit
  61. Grey Wagtail
  62. Pied Wagtail
  63. Wren
  64. Dunnock
  65. Robin
  66. Stonechat
  67. Northern Wheatear
  68. Blackbird
  69. Fieldfare
  70. Song Thrush
  71. Redwing
  72. Mistle Thrush
  73. Grasshopper Warbler
  74. Sedge Warbler
  75. Reed Warbler
  76. Lesser Whitethroat
  77. Whitethroat
  78. Blackcap
  79. Chiff Chaff
  80. Willow Warbler
  81. Spotted Flycatcher
  82. Long-Tailed Tit
  83. Willow Tit
  84. Coal Tit
  85. Blue Tit
  86. Great tit
  87. Nuthatch
  88. Magpie
  89. Jackdaw
  90. Rook
  91. Carrion Crow
  92. Starling
  93. House Sparrow
  94. Chaffinch
  95. Bullfinch
  96. Brambling
  97. Greenfinch
  98. Goldfinch
  99. Linnet
  100. Yellowhammer
  101. Reed Bunting
  102. Feral Pigeon