Monday 30th May 2011

A short visit to Castle Lake this morning where the following were of interest;

8 adult & 6 juvenile Shelduck, Gadwall with 8 ducklings, 1m Shoveler, 4m2f Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 1adult & 1juvenile Grey Heron, 10 Ringed Plover, 8sp Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper (the same individual has been present now for at least three weeks), 20 Herring Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Stock Dove.

One of the ten Ringed Plover present this morning. Castle Lake in May is a reliable place to see these long distance migrants, probably heading to breeding grounds in Iceland or Greenland.

Some of the mostly 1st-summer Herring Gull which were finding Castle Lake to their liking today.

The three juvenile Great Crested Grebe are starting to show some independence.

Friday 27th/Saturday 28th May 2011

Catching up with reports for the last two day's.

Friday 27th May
On Stoneybeck Lake were a pair of Wigeon and a single Curlew, whilst at Castle Lake were 10 Pochard (9m1f), 7 Ringed Plover, 7sp Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull (4 adults & 3 2nd-summer), 1 Common Gull with an injured leg, 1 Blue-headed Wagtail and the Mute Swan pair with only one cygnet.

Saturday 28th May
A Wood Sandpiper was at Stoneybeck Lake until 08:20 when it flew off south, Castle Lake held a similar selection of birds from the previous day including 6 Ringed Plover, 7sp Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Grey Heron and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Two views of this morning's Wood Sandpiper at Stoneybeck Lake;

Spoonbill Video & Another Picture!

With many thanks to Andrew Kinghorn here's his video from yesterday.

And another picture;

Spoonbill

An adult Spoonbill was an unexpected surprise find during an afternoon of birding around a very windswept Bishop Middleham today.
First seen on Stoneybeck Lake it later relocated to Castle Lake.
It's the first record of Spoonbill on the ground at Bishop Middleham, there was a record of a flyover bird on 15th March 2008.

Spoonbill on Stoneybeck Lake battling with the strong westerly winds.

While watching the Spoonbill young Andrew 'hawkeye' Kinghorn spotted this family party of Roe Deer.

Two pictures after the Spoonbill moved on to Castle Lake providing superb views from the hide.

Other birds of note at Castle Lake included 7 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Wheatear.

One of today's seven summer plumaged Dunlin.

And finally it's always entertaining to see which of these two passionate County Durham birders arrives first to twitch another bird for their yearlist!

(Bishop Middleham patch tick #138 Spoonbill)

Saturday 21st May 2011

A good variety of species seen this morning and early afternoon at Castle Lake.

4 pair of Shelduck, one of which are the proud parents of eight duckling's, drake Shoveler, 6 drake Pochard, 1 Grey Partridge, a Peregrine flew in low over the lake and headed off beyond Alan's Pool, 4 adult & 2 juvenile Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Tern for about ten minutes before flying off south, the Blue-headed Wagtail remains present, 1 Wheatear plus many of the regulars.

Adult and juvenile Oystercatcher, the two remaining chicks are filling out nicely.

Follow the leader, eight Shelducklings.

One of the two Common Sandpiper seen today.

Thursday 19th May 2011

An early morning visit produced the following of note;

Castle Lake
42 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese broods of 5 gosling each, 1pair Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 House Martin collecting mud in the farmyard, adult and juvenile Mistle Thrush.

Juvenile Mistle Thrush.

Heads Up. Some of this morning's Ringed Plover and Dunlin.

Monday 16th May 2011

Birds seen today included the following;

Castle Lake - 3pair Shelduck, 3 drake Pochard, Oystercatcher pair with two surviving young, 2 summer plumage Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper.

A1 Flashes - 1pair Shelduck, 4 Grey Heron.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1pair Shelduck with ten ducklings, Lapwing with 2 chicks.

drake Pochard

drake bird scarer

Please stay away from the water's edge and observe the birds from a safe distance, thank you!