Using my ears

On my way to crammy train station yesterday morning I could hear plenty of birds but didn't see many. I am always trying to improve my bird call ID so yesterdays journey acted as a test of calls I already know.
First was a GS Woodpecker and a flock of Siskin which flew over the woodland on Crowhall lane and a mixed flock of Fieldfare, Redwing and Song Thrush were in the bushes surrounding the horse fields at Nelson.

Just before passing the post office I heard the unmistakable trilling of a single Waxwing, which was in the trees in the middle of the allotments.
Whilst waiting for the trian which was delayed by 10 minutes, a GS Woodpecker worked its way along the trees lining the platform.
More Siskin this time in groups of 1-2 flew over and whilst listening to the mixed tit flock near the platform I could hear a pair of Bullfinch.

Not hard calls to ID I know but this time a few years ago I wouldn't have been able to ID any of them, well maybe the Woodpecker.

A bit of history

I got a copy of the below sheets a few weeks ago from SH. I love reading through old papers and books about Northumberland and seeing how it has changed over the years.
The sheets are from a two-year ringing study in the sixties on Arcot Golf Course and the old Arcot Pond.
I have highlighted the records, which are the most interesting. Sorry about the quality it is a photocopy of a photocopy.
Click on the images to read the details




















2. Mallard – they definitely breed on Arcot Pond these days but this information is from the sixties and old Arcot Pond, which is much smaller.

3. Kestrel – Good numbers as they breed near by. I wonder which toxic spray was used?

4. Partridge (presumably Grey) – like everywhere in the country numbers are down although there is a decent sized covey on Beacon Lane.

10. Woodcock – I’m sure more than two pairs breed at Arcot now as there is plenty of suitable habitat around the golf course. This winter the golf course held record numbers.

17. Stock Dove – Still not common in Cramlington but with them breeding not to far away they are fairly regular over the pond and at West Hartford.
The furthest I have seen one in Cramlington was a bird on a field between Nelson Hill and Argos.
19. Cuckoo- The last one heard in Cramlington was a one day bird in 2003 near Nelson Hill that sums it up really. Will it ever breed in Cramlington again?

22. Great Spotted Woodpecker – Definitely breeds now and is common throughout Cramlington.
29. Jay- Common once again and always heard or seen on the golf course.

31. Coal and Marsh Tit- Coal Tits are just as common around Arcot as they are everywhere these days. I am only aware of one other record of Marsh Tit in Cramlington.

34. Willow Tit – sporadic to say the least and never common.





















36. Wren – Glad to see they have recovered.

39. Song Thrush – I doubt 19 would be ringed over the next two years.

41. Redstart – A Cramlington Mega

46. Willow Warbler – still common but 64 still seems good.

49. Lesser Whitethroat – Much more common in Northumberland today.
50. Chiffchaff - ? Autumn only

52. Spotted Flycatcher – Also declined significantly with none now breeding anywhere in Cramlington.

54. Tree Pipit- seems they were having problems even back then.

58. Goldfinch – Not any more.

60. Redpoll – you’re lucky if you hear more than five during the year now. 198!!!

65. Tree Sparrow- also considered a Cramlington mega

Heron sp.- Again I can only presume it has not as common because old Arcot Pond in much smaller.

So far

This is how the 2010 patch list is looking just after the half way point of the year:
Species are in order of what I saw first.

Blackbird
House Sparrow
Starling
Collard Dove
Greenfinch
Dunnock
Black Headed Gull
Chaffinch
Carrion Crow
Robin
Long Tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Pink Footed geese
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Great Tit
Jackdaw
Sparrowhawk
Goldfinch
Song Thrush
Coal Tit
Wren
Common Gull
Bullfinch
Snipe
Fieldfare
Redwing
Goldeneye
Reed Bunting
Greylag Geese
Water Rail
Kestrel
Teal
Mallard
Gadwall
Grey Heron
Coot
Shellduck
Feral Pigeon
Rook
Grey Wagtail
Moorhen
Short Eared Owl
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Goldcrest
Lapwing
Mute Swan
Jack Snipe
Skylark
Jay
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pochard
Wigeon
Buzzard
Oystercatcher
Goosander
Tufted Duck
Shoveler
Siskin
Crossbill
Mistle Thrush
Pheasant
Yellowhammer
Golden Plover
Grey Partridge
Curlew
Canada Geese
Chiffchaff
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Whooper Swan
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Undisclosed
Sand Martin
Green Woodpecker
Woodcock
Linnet
Blackcap
Redshank
Willow Warbler
Stock Dove
Swallow
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Grasshopper Warbler
Wheatear
Whinchat
Green Sandpiper
Whitethroat
Greenshank
Sedge Warbler
Swift
Wood Sandpiper
House Martin
Barn Owl
Common Tern
Garden Warbler
Ringed Plover
Barnacle Geese
Garganey
Lesser Whitethroat
Temminck’s Stint
Red Legged Partridge
Quail
Cormorant
Reed Warbler
Little Egret

108 so far, still on course to beat last year 113 total. Redpoll, Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Tree Sparrow and a few more are the targets now.

Last few days

Yesterday I went with Holywell Birder to Big Waters. It was only a short trip but since we are heading to different sides of the country in the coming weeks it will probably be the last time for a while.
It was the first time I had been to the hide at Big Waters and it is the best I’ve ever been in!
Small groups of Wigeon were gathering on the water and good numbers of Tree Sparrows were at the feeding station.
Many of the Sparrows flew in to the reeds in front of the hide, something I’ve never seen them do.
The Kingfisher and Water Rail, which were showing earlier in, the day did not appear.
A single Great Crested Grebe was at the far side of the water, hopefully it will put in an appearance at Arcot soon.

A few small bits of news from around Crammy over the last few days, which kept me happy: Two new garden ticks, the first was a very vocal Redshank, which circled Northburn First School’s field on Tuesday evening and a singing Skylark was over the house this morning as I left.
Also two Grey Herons landed and fished briefly on the Horton Burn the other morning.

New Garden Tick

I’ve had quite a bit of activity around my garden over the last few days. Last week I noticed four young Blackbirds on the lawn and they have been around on and off since.
Yesterday I found a leg, handful of light brown feathers and a lot of blood on the patio.
A cat’s footprint was in the centre of the blood and bloody footprints went towards the fence.
The feathers look as if they are from one of the young Blackbirds, every year I find at least one (or part), of a young bird usually taken by a cat.
In the afternoon I noticed one of the two young Magpies, which have also been around for a week or so, on the fence with a young Blackbird in its beak.
When I went up to the window to get a photos it flew off and dropped the blackbird on the grass.
Whilst examined the corpse I found that it had no head and it had both its legs, meaning that two of the young had now been killed.
The two young magpies have been emptying the feeders everyday, but obviously this wasn’t enough.

Today I was watching a pair of Collard Doves on the feeders when I heard an unfamiliar garden sound.
I checked the Plum tree (bird magnet), and saw three young Willow Warblers- garden tick, on the front branches. They were just passing through and after a few minutes were in the willow trees around the pond in the school field.
As they went through the trees they flushed two Long Tailed Tits, the first in the garden since winter.
A young Dunnock has been following an adult around for three days now and is being regularly fed.

Again

I saw 16 Waxwings again at 2 this afternoon in the Blagdon Arms Beer Garden. Also this morning I had 11 Greenfinch in my garden, the biggest number in a while.

Thirsty Waxwings?

I was doing the usual route to school past Parkside this morning when I heard a trilling noise nearby, then I saw 16 Waxwings in the main tree of the Blagdon Arms Beer Garden. It was starting to snow so I only saw them briefly and when I went back at lunchtime they had gone.
Just seen a report of a Bittern at Alberlady Bay, another example of how widespread they are becoming this winter. After seeing this report I am not ruling one off my Arcot Pond list, yer the cold must be going to my head.

Waxwings at last!!!

On the way back from St.Mary’s we were driving past the roundabout at the bottom of Brockwell and I noticed the long row of Berry trees and thought, Waxwings will be on there one day.
As if by magic we got around the corner and I saw 7 Waxwings feeding on the berries in between the entrance to the new school development and Jane Percy House.
We pulled up in the bus stop and I ran home to get my camera, hoping that they would stay. They did and when I came back there were now 10 of them feeding on the berries and posing in the trees next to them.
Another car pulled up and a man and his friends came over who had also spotted them.
I managed to get some photos but most of them were blurred, due to the fact that I can’t seem to keep the camera still.This is the first time I have seen Waxwings in 10 years, I don’t know how I keep managing to miss them. They were one of my first ever bird sightings and one of the reasons why I became interested in birds, so I have always had a soft spot for them.

Garden Patch Tick

Once again I have proved to myself that coming home at lunchtime is a really goood idea if I want to see new birds in my garden.
At ten past two today I noticed two birds in the plumb tree which were too yellow for a Greenfinch and too dark for a Yellowhammer, it must be Siskin- Patch Tick!
The first bird stayed only for a couple of seconds before flying over the fence but the other stayed in good view long enough for me to run up stairs and get my bins, before flying off over the fence as well.
I thought it was only a matter of time before I caught up with one in Cramlington but to have it in my garden is even better. It's the Plumb tree again, everytime a good or new bird is seen it is in the plumb tree.
I also had some other additions to my patch year list today which takes my total to 37 so far, not bad concidering I have only spent about an hour in total at Arcot, West Hartford and the rest. I still haven't seen some of my garden regulars yet but it is only the 5th.

A new garden record

I put my new bird feeders two weeks ago and have seen very little activity on them. Today was the first time since I have put them up that I have been home at lunchtime so I spent an hour from 1 till 2 this afternoon watching the feeder.
I have a pole feeder that is put into the ground and has a feeding and water tray hanging off as well as a peanut feeder, 6 lard balls, seed feeder and a suet block as well as another seed feeder and 3 lard balls around the fence.
The main attraction for birds to my garden is the plumb tree which has had Redwing in it and a woodcock underneath.
The hour started off quietly today as the local Sparrowhawk flew over. After 15 minutes a female blackbird fed on the ground under pole with a Dunnock and the resident Robin which kept attacking the Dunnock from time to time.
Then 25 Starling came within 5 minutes and took a huge chunk of the suet block and most of the lard balls.
In between the Starlings which flew between the feeder and my neighbours roof, Blue tit and a coal tit fed on the peanut feeder.
With five minutes left and nothing else happening I noticed a Long tailed tit in the plumb tree, then 2, 5, 8, 9, 11 and finally 12!
This is the new garden record, I have had 5 long tailed tits at the most in the garden but they flew over two years ago anyway. The flock then all flew onto the feeder at once and ate what was left of the lard balls, I stayed and watched them for about five minutes before they flew off over the fence individually. This is proof that I need to come home at lunch more often.

Parkside Wagtail

on my way home today I was stopping myself from slipping down the hill next to the now boarded up parkside school when a Grey Wagtail ran out in front of me and began pecking at lumps of grit.
I stood and watched it for a while before it slipped on the ice and flew up onto the roof. This is probably the same bird that I saw flying around the area a few months ago. I always feel like I have seen a good bird when I see a Grey Wagtail.
No sign of any Starlings today but plenty of House Sparrows in the bushes at shanklee and a coal tit.

Jackdaws and Starlings

There are hundreds of Starlings around in cramlington at the minute sitting in all the usual Waxwing spots.
I'm holding them responsible for the lack of Waxwings in crammy so far.
Also I have seen 3 separate groups of jackdaw flying over different locations in crammy over the last week after not seeing as many this year. one group of 25 another of 24 and one of 15.
There is doubt over the status of the Snow goose and as I haven't seen one at all, captive or wild I am really finding it hard not to go back to holywell for another attempt.
No! must do work...
It makes it even worse when the bus that stops at Holywell is going past every hour or so.
Forgot to add yeaterday that I heard another Water Rail calling from the reeds by the public hide, that makes 3 at least.

Linton Lane, confused Grey Heron and huge Gulls

Before I start I dont know why there is such a big gap after my pictures in my last post.
On Sunday I went to Linton Lane again in the hope of seeing some winter migrants.
On my way to the smaller pond a flock of 20 Goldfinches flew over as did two Great Tits also I could hear a couple of Jays calling from the trees further down the railway track.
The Gadwall I saw last time had been replaced by 13 Teal and on the bigger pond a Little Grebe avoided every camera opportunity as it dived in the water near the hide. No sign of the Tundra Bean goose from last week or any geese at all.
Over the last week I have noticed more and more Gulls returning to the grounds of CLV, mainly Common and BH.
Today a huge Lesser Black Backed Gull pulled three BH Gulls around the quad as it stole their sausage roll. This gull is one of a few LBB Gulls around CLV and it takes no shit from anything.
Also today I was as looking out of a window in B block when I saw a Grey Heron circling the Cricket pitch.
It then landed on a roof next to the schools wildlife area and ran up the roof before landing between the trees where the small pond is.
The schools wildlife area is really crap and all there are few trees and a pond you could jump across.
Still it was a good CLV patch tick.

Grey Wagtail...Again

It always seems like every time I see a lifer or patch tick that I will then see about twenty the next week.
Today I was walking home through the village square and as I past the war memorial I heard another Grey Wagtail which then flew over and landed near parkside.
I had never seen a Grey Wagtail in crammy before until Monday, flying over the train tracks at Beacon Hill and now thats two in five days.
Hopefully I will complete the set and see a Yellow Wagtail (which would also be a lifer).
Pied Wagtails are common in Crammy and are best viewed around the libary and the track leading up to CLV ( Cramlington Learning Village), which next month will be a year ago since I saw a White Wagtail everyday for two weeks around the schools gates.

Premonition

This morning for the first time in a long time I woke up at 4:40 and looked outside thinking I should go down to West hartford and do some early morning bird watching.
After falling asleep again I woke up at about nine and thought '' that was weird''.
Then at 1:00 I logged onto birdguides and read that a Black Stork had been seen Circling low over Nelson industrial estate for at least ten minutes before apparently drifting south at 12:00, was somebody telling me to get my lazy arse out of bed and go to Hartford?
I will check Arcot Pond later on today and post my results later. I would appriciate it if any body that has some info about the sighting would leave a comment. thanks.