Left Wing, Right Wing, No White Wing

Sadly the title sums up my gull spotting at Rainton Meadows DWT this afternoon. No sign of the Iceland Gull or the Yellow-legged Gull, their will be others this winter I hope. Hopefully I will also see them! It was great to see the two Bitterns together in the same scope view as well as see them in flight, out in the open, climbing in and about the reedbed, etc.

As usual it was great to catch up with Mark N, Pablo Hugelist, Ian Liddle, mILLYg, John Gardiner, Colin, Mickey, etc. That’s right; half of Durham’s birders were down at Rainton Meadows today. Also a pleasure to meet ex BB Chairman Colin Bradshaw, superb hour and half’s birding.

However what was particularly interesting were the Bitterns, at about 3:30 myself and Colin Bradshaw began to see some interesting behavior. One Bittern came out and flew over to pool 1 at Rainton Meadows. Then about 10 minutes later the other Bittern emerged from the reedbed and then walked into another section of the reedbed where it could still be seen. Then from behind it another Bittern emerged. Shortly after this one of the Bitterns chased the other and it flew over to pool 1 again, then a few minutes later the other also flew over to pool 1. No doubt they are doing this to feed on pool 1 overnight due to the fact Bitterns are quite nocturnal feeders. However what is interesting was the first time a Bittern flew off to pool 1 we are pretty certain it didn't come back. Colin suggested it might have walked back over but when I explained there was a fence there it did make me wonder if there are actually 3 Bitterns at Rainton Meadows. I would say there are only 2 Bitterns but we almost defiantly would have seen if the other bittern came back. I just couldn't see how we could have missed it coming back in; sly Bittern might just be the answer.

(click on any image to enlarge)

(Bittern - Rainton Meadows DWT - © Mark Newsome)

(2 Bitterns - Rainton Meadows DWT - © Mark Newsome)

Now to end on some gulls. Below are some interesting gull images showing a colour ringed Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, and a Scandinavian Herring Gull (larus argentatus). Enjoy!

(Herring Gull (larus argentatus) - Rainton Meadows DWT - 

© Mark Newsome)

(Herring Gull (larus argentatus) - Rainton Meadows DWT - 

© Mark Newsome)

 (Herring Gull (larus argentatus) - Rainton Meadows DWT -

© Andrew Kinghorn)

(Herring Gull (larus argentatus) - Rainton Meadows DWT - 

© Andrew Kinghorn)

(2nd bird - Herring Gull (larus argentatus) - Rainton Meadows DWT - 

© Andrew Kinghorn)

(2nd bird - Herring Gull (larus argentatus) - Rainton Meadows DWT - 

© Andrew Kinghorn)

(Colour ringed details: JCS6 Great Black-backed Gull - Rainton Meadows DWT - 

© Andrew Kinghorn) 

(Colour ringed Herring Gull (larus argenteus) - Rainton Meadows DWT 

- © Andrew Kinghorn)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Lesser & Mealy Repoll ID

I very helpful, easy to understand, and concise paper has been put together on how to separate Lesser and Mealy Redpoll.

Plenty of images used throughout of typical individuals as well as the trickier birds.

The paper is published by Lee Evans and can be found here:
http://www.uk400clubonline.co.uk/File-Store/The-Separation-Of-Lesser-&-Mealy-Red...

Here is a list of other Repoll literature which deals with the separation of Lesser and Mealy Redpoll:


http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/redpolls_58.html - Looks good, haven't read it yet as of updating this post.


http://birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2405 - For thoose who subscrbe to BirdGuides.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

I like Tawny Pipit, but I also like Meadow Pipit..............

but which is better?

See video:



Fantastic humor for us birders.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Around the…..Patch? I think that’s what it’s called anyway

Contrary to what some of my followers might think I was once a very keen local patcher, in fact I rarely did any other birding than that of birding on my local patch. So on Saturday I decided I would have a walk around my local area to count the number of birds again like I did last week. Here are the results:

- 3 Goldfinch
- 20 Starling
-Great-black Backed Gull
-Herring Gull
- 20c Common Gull
- 1 Mediterranean Gull (Pub in Lumley)
- 20c Woodpigeon
- 40+ Redwing
- 2 Cormorant
- 40 Greylag Geese
- 15c Bullfinch
- 6 Long-tailed Tit
- 5+ Great Tit
- 3c Song Thrush
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Wren
- 10c Magpie
- 5+ Blue Tit
- 3 Goldeneye
- 30c Siskin
- 15 Pheasant
- 5+ Robin
- Jay 1
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3+ Collared Dove
- 2+ Greenfinch
- 2+ Tree Sparrow

However the pick of the bunch were 13 Waxwings which I found in my own village toward the end of the walk. The birds showed well and in the snow, a dream fulfilled! I had always wanted to see Waxwings in the snow. They relocated to a location closer to home about 10 minutes later where they remained for an hour or so, allowing for David Kay a friend and DBC member from the village to connect with the birds and get some images. The birds showed extremely well and they are defiantly one of my favourite birds in the world.

On Sunday Davy rang me up to say that the birds were still there but they had grown from just 13 to about 140! I went to see them and it was superb to see such as large flock. What fantastic birds.

(Click on any of the images to enlarge them)

(Some of the Saturday flock - © David Kay)

(Some of the Saturday flock - © David Kay)

(Waxwing - © David Kay)

(Some of the Sunday flock - © David Kay )

Until next time, Foghorn out!