Some sightings for today.
Castle Lake - 1 Little Ringed Plover (first of the year).
Low Hardwick - 1 Green Sandpiper on the flash between Alan's Pool and the Moto-X with 5 Pied Wagtail and 28 Fieldfare.
Fishburn Lake - 13 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Mute Swan.
Stoneybeck Lake - single Whooper Swan still present.
Durham Bird Club's Castle Lake Nature Reserve
Tuesday 31 March 2015
Sunday 29 March 2015
Sunday 29th March 2015
Today's sightings;
Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Whooper Swan, 20 Shelduck, 17 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Pied Wagtail and c100 Linnet.
Castle Lake - 8 Shelduck, 5 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Buzzard up together, 1 Kestrel, 27 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 52 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 3 Stock Dove and 2 Linnet.
A1 Flashes - 4 Shoveler, 1 Redshank and 1 Green Sandpiper.
The Ruff finally made it close to the hide.
Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Whooper Swan, 20 Shelduck, 17 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Pied Wagtail and c100 Linnet.
Castle Lake - 8 Shelduck, 5 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Buzzard up together, 1 Kestrel, 27 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 52 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 3 Stock Dove and 2 Linnet.
A1 Flashes - 4 Shoveler, 1 Redshank and 1 Green Sandpiper.
Monday 23 March 2015
Monday 23rd March 2015
Today's sightings from John Olley and myself.
Castle Lake - 36 Whooper Swan, 5 Shelduck, 8 Pochard including a pair copulating, 1f Goldeneye, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 18 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 90 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 singing Chiffchaff and 1 singing Corn Bunting.
River Stell - 1 Little Egret and 1 Kingfisher.
A1 Flashes (South) - 3 Mute Swan, 14 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.
Alan's Pool - 3 Little Grebe and 1 Little Egret.
Fishburn Lake - 4 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Chiffchaff and 1 Woodcock overflying into Carr Wood.
Low Hardwick - 2 Grey Heron, 4 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1+ Willow Tit.
Some pictures from today.
Some of today's Whooper Swan's.
Corn Bunting.
Little Egret.
Castle Lake - 36 Whooper Swan, 5 Shelduck, 8 Pochard including a pair copulating, 1f Goldeneye, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 18 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 90 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 singing Chiffchaff and 1 singing Corn Bunting.
River Stell - 1 Little Egret and 1 Kingfisher.
A1 Flashes (South) - 3 Mute Swan, 14 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.
Alan's Pool - 3 Little Grebe and 1 Little Egret.
Fishburn Lake - 4 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Chiffchaff and 1 Woodcock overflying into Carr Wood.
Low Hardwick - 2 Grey Heron, 4 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1+ Willow Tit.
Some pictures from today.
Sunday 22 March 2015
Sunday 22nd March 2015
Some sightings for today with thanks to Joe Hughes.
Castle Lake - 2 Ruff, 7 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 4 Snipe, 30 Curlew and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Castle Lake - 2 Ruff, 7 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 4 Snipe, 30 Curlew and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Saturday 21 March 2015
Saturday 21st March 2015
A cloudy afternoon with a cold northerly wind, sightings included the following;
Stoneybeck Lake - 24 Shelduck, 16 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe and 1 Redshank.
Castle Lake - 4 Shelduck, 3 Pochard, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 27 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 6 Pied Wagtail and 2 Grey Wagtail.
The female Sparrowhawk was causing havoc once again.
A1 Flashes - 11 Shoveler, 50+ Curlew, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.
Stoneybeck Lake - 24 Shelduck, 16 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe and 1 Redshank.
Castle Lake - 4 Shelduck, 3 Pochard, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 27 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 6 Pied Wagtail and 2 Grey Wagtail.
A1 Flashes - 11 Shoveler, 50+ Curlew, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.
Tuesday 17 March 2015
Tuesday 17th March 2015
Sightings for today;
Castle Lake - 3 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 2f Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egret (with a third on the A1 flashes), Lapwing displaying, 1 Ruff, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Pied Wagtail & 2 Tree Sparrow.
Pied Wagtail and Tree Sparrow seen below the Castle Lake hide.
Near the old sluice gate were a Chiffchaff (beating my earliest record by 3 days), 1 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper.
Low Hardwick - 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail out in the open near the moto-x pool, 40 Curlew, Meadow Pipit displaying, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff heard only, 1 Willow Tit & Reed Bunting singing.
Alan's Pool - 55 Canada Geese.
Castle Lake - 3 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 2f Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egret (with a third on the A1 flashes), Lapwing displaying, 1 Ruff, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Pied Wagtail & 2 Tree Sparrow.
Near the old sluice gate were a Chiffchaff (beating my earliest record by 3 days), 1 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper.
Low Hardwick - 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail out in the open near the moto-x pool, 40 Curlew, Meadow Pipit displaying, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff heard only, 1 Willow Tit & Reed Bunting singing.
Alan's Pool - 55 Canada Geese.
Sunday 15 March 2015
Sunday 15th March 2015
Todays sightings from John Olley, Joe Hughes & myself.
Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 26 Oystercatcher, 12 Golden Plover, 1 Ruff, 8 Snipe, 90 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, c200 Black-headed Gull & 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Stoneybeck Lake - 19 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank & 16 Pied Wagtail.
Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 26 Oystercatcher, 12 Golden Plover, 1 Ruff, 8 Snipe, 90 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, c200 Black-headed Gull & 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Stoneybeck Lake - 19 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank & 16 Pied Wagtail.
Wednesday 11 March 2015
Wednesday 11th March 2015
Today's sightings with thanks to John Olley.
Castle Lake - 8 Redshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 30 Curlew, 20 Lapwing, 8 Oystercatcher, 380 Wigeon, 110 Coot, 4 Pochard, 10 Shoveler & 4 Great Crested Grebe.
Castle Lake - 8 Redshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 30 Curlew, 20 Lapwing, 8 Oystercatcher, 380 Wigeon, 110 Coot, 4 Pochard, 10 Shoveler & 4 Great Crested Grebe.
Tuesday 10 March 2015
Tuesday 10th March 2015
Sightings for today;
Stoneybeck Lake - 17 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank & 12 Pied Wagtail (the highest count this year).
Castle Lake - 2 Shoveler, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 16 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Pied Wagtail & 1 Grey Wagtail.
A1 Flashes - 6 Shoveler, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 3 Redshank & 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Alan's Pool - 24+ Teal, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, 9 Moorhen & the Water Rail provided decent views.
Stoneybeck Lake - 17 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank & 12 Pied Wagtail (the highest count this year).
Castle Lake - 2 Shoveler, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 16 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Pied Wagtail & 1 Grey Wagtail.
A1 Flashes - 6 Shoveler, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 3 Redshank & 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Alan's Pool - 24+ Teal, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, 9 Moorhen & the Water Rail provided decent views.
Monday 9 March 2015
Monday 9th March 2015
Sightings for today;
Castle Lake - 305 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 6 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Stock Dove, 7 Skylark & 30 Fieldfare.
Dunlin and Ringed Plover seen together today.
Castle Lake - 305 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 6 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Stock Dove, 7 Skylark & 30 Fieldfare.
Sunday 8 March 2015
Sunday 8th March 2015
Sightings today from Dave Makinson and myself, highlights were the first Linnet and Corn Bunting returning to breeding areas and an extremely rare sighting of a Water Rail.
Stoneybeck Lake - 14 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 5 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank and singing Skylark.
Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 3 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe pair displaying, 2 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 15+ Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5+ Skylark, 10+ Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting with one singing.
Alan's Pool - 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Water Rail seen briefly on three separate occasions. (At last I've seen my bogey bird, after nearly eight years and four hundred visits this was my first sighting of a Water Rail in the Bishop Middleham area).
A1 Flashes - 6 Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron and 2 3w Lesser Black-backed Gull's.
Some photo's from today;
The Greylag x Swan Goose hybrid at Castle Lake.
Two of the four Corn Bunting.
First Dunlin of the year.
Stoneybeck Lake - 14 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 5 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank and singing Skylark.
Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 3 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe pair displaying, 2 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 15+ Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5+ Skylark, 10+ Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting with one singing.
Alan's Pool - 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Water Rail seen briefly on three separate occasions. (At last I've seen my bogey bird, after nearly eight years and four hundred visits this was my first sighting of a Water Rail in the Bishop Middleham area).
A1 Flashes - 6 Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron and 2 3w Lesser Black-backed Gull's.
Some photo's from today;
The Greylag x Swan Goose hybrid at Castle Lake.
Tuesday 3 March 2015
Tuesday 3rd March 2015
A bright sunny day but with a strong cold wind. Today's sightings.
Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 1f Goldeneye, 3 Goosander (2 drakes), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 23 Oystercatcher & the Green Sandpiper has returned.
A1 Flashes (North) - 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull & 50 Fieldfare.
General view of the A1 Flashes from a spot where a homemade viewing screen could be handy.
A1 Flashes (South) - 4 Pintail (3 drakes), 1 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Willow Tit & a Fox.
Low Hardwick - 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Snipe, 2 Goldcrest & 2 Long-tailed Tit.
Four of the five Tufties on the Moto-X pool.
Alan's Pool - 2 Pintail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe & 3 Meadow Pipit.
Fishburn Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Egret & a Goldcrest.
One of at least four Goldcrest seen today.
Stoneybeck Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 16 Shelduck, 5 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 78 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher & 3 Redshank.
Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 1f Goldeneye, 3 Goosander (2 drakes), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 23 Oystercatcher & the Green Sandpiper has returned.
A1 Flashes (North) - 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull & 50 Fieldfare.
A1 Flashes (South) - 4 Pintail (3 drakes), 1 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Willow Tit & a Fox.
Low Hardwick - 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Snipe, 2 Goldcrest & 2 Long-tailed Tit.
Alan's Pool - 2 Pintail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe & 3 Meadow Pipit.
Fishburn Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Egret & a Goldcrest.
Stoneybeck Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 16 Shelduck, 5 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 78 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher & 3 Redshank.
Sunday 1 March 2015
Sunday 1st March 2015
A cloudy afternoon with some light rain and a strong, cold wind. Highlight today was the first sign of spring migration with Whooper Swan's at Castle Lake.
Stoneybeck Lake - 18 Shelduck (a new record count for me, beating the previous high of 15 on 12/5/13 also at Stoneybeck), 4 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 8 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 80 Curlew & 1 Redshank.
Castle Lake - 26 Whooper Swan (mostly adults, still present @16:00), 3 Shoveler, 1f Goldeneye, 1pr Goosander, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 20 Oystercatcher, 7 Snipe (the highest count this year) and the strange Greylag/Swan Goose hybrid.
A1 Flashes - an excellent count of 14 Shoveler.
Pictures of today's Whooper Swan's, slightly earlier than expected this year.
Stoneybeck Lake - 18 Shelduck (a new record count for me, beating the previous high of 15 on 12/5/13 also at Stoneybeck), 4 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 8 Pochard, 1f Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 80 Curlew & 1 Redshank.
Castle Lake - 26 Whooper Swan (mostly adults, still present @16:00), 3 Shoveler, 1f Goldeneye, 1pr Goosander, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 20 Oystercatcher, 7 Snipe (the highest count this year) and the strange Greylag/Swan Goose hybrid.
A1 Flashes - an excellent count of 14 Shoveler.
Pictures of today's Whooper Swan's, slightly earlier than expected this year.
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