Soon after we parked up, scanning northwards for the main quarry of the day, one of the 2/3 Rough-legged Buzzards lingering here over recent weeks.įred, one of our regular crew on major trips, sharp eyed as usual and true to form took only seconds to call our attention to a rangy looking buteo hovering over a distant ridge. As well as that, it was a "year tick" for Tony. This is of course our emblem species of the Durham Bird Club, (Durham being the main English stronghold of the species). We drove west for several more miles, passing right by a fine Blackcock perched on the roadside wall. ![]() We were struck at the way they formed an incredibly compact raft, as if deliberately seeking the security of a tight huddle towards the centre of the expanse of water.ĭo they always do this on water? I just don't know the answer after 40 years there is always something new to learn. ![]() ![]() Within only a minute or two more a party of geese flew in and settled on the water a good half mile away, approx. News from RSBP Saltholme was of 2 Common Cranes down for about 2 hours, before calling and heading off in a N.Westerly direction - a sure sign that things are starting to move!Ī superb spring day in prospect, and after a few chores armed with ham and pickle butties (and of course optics) I was collected by friends Fred and Tony and we headed for the hills.įirst stop was Selset Reservoir where immediately we noted Whoopers a count revealed 30, and although the distance and heat haze made scrutiny of bill patterns impossible, on overall proportions and neck lengths we were satisfied that no Bewicks were sneaking under our radar unseen. With the weather becoming colder and murkier, a halt at the premier Goshawk scanning point on the way home produced only a Kestrel. With Doug needing Crossbill for the year, we heard but failed to see a "flyover", found a perched Brambling while scanning from the vehicle, and eventually on parking and perusing the distant tree tops from another vantage point, found a vocal party of 4 Crossbills which conveniently landed to give good though distant 'scope views. Scanning further, we noted a single third soaring Common Buzzard, but a mewing call off to the east behind a screen of conifers indicated the presence of a fourth individual. We scoped it and stayed on it a full 10 minutes as it eventually became little more than a speck, high in the sky. Its rather rounded tail corners and broad tail base, "wrap around" whitish undertail coverts, quite bulging secondaries and full breast confirmed it as a Goshawk, (on size almost certainly a male). We moved on and soon parked up again at a different vantage point to scan above a long hill top covered in mature conifers.Ī solid looking accipiter was soon picked up flying towards us, before starting to circle and to gain height over the wood. Two Common Buzzards were soaring and gaining height in the distance to the north. to the west of here, in similar clear-felled habitat. Interestingly it, or another individual, wintered 2 years ago about 1 1/2 k. The first stop at Neighbour Moor quickly produced the overwintering Great Grey Shrike which has been ranging over an expanse of clear-felled forest here. Out today with Doug and Tony, (the latter doing raptor survey work). ![]() east of the Cumbrian border and approx.12 K. Another fine start weatherwise and a morning out, this time not quite so far - to Hamsterley Forest (which covers about 30 sq.
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