June 2006

Masses of bird-hiding greenery, heat haze, flies & midges, long lazy summer days, barbecues, chilled lagers, the World Cup……! You’d be forgiven for thinking that it would be a “typical quiet June” with many birders “switching off”…. This certainly wasn’t the case in Co.Durham where bird activity was in full swing throughout the month. 

After a couple of months watching spring visitors, we eagerly await our late arriving specialities:- Nightjar were present in reasonable numbers with at least 10 churring birds reported from Hamsterley areas. Turtle Dove purred away at the species northernmost regular breeding site, others occurring at Saltholme & Bishop Middleham were amazingly harassed by brick hurling “birdwatchers”. Quail weren’t as widespread as in 2005 but 7 sites held birds. Dalton Piercy near Hartlepool fared best with 5 males singing from set-a-side & chicks seen there on 23^rd.

Turtle Dove, Bishop Middleham (I Forrest) and Marsh Harrier, Boldon Flats (M Newsome)

Raptors enjoyed the warm June air & Common Buzzards continued to prosper, a nest was found in the north-west & a new territory was discovered near Durham City. There was excellent news in from The Northern Kites team, confirming birds were breeding in the County for the first time in over 150 years. One Teesdale Kite attempted to catch & kill a cock Pheasant! Meanwhile adult Peregrines were noted at 5 lowland locations with Hobbys at 4 separate sites on 11^th. It wasn’t all sun & fun for raptor workers though……. Once again there were no Hen Harriers breeding in the whole county. With the exception of Tawnies, our owls were having a rather late season. June saw hunting Long-eareds in South Tyneside & at least two DBC Barn Owl boxes showed signs of being used.

Seawatching picked up towards the end of the month with movements including Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Common Scoters and Black tailed Godwits. Skuas and terns were in rather short supply, but an adult Long-tailed Skua did pass Whitburn on 7th. An already moulting Mediterranean Gull was back at Whitburn mid month, where the first juvenile Black headed Gull arrived on 24^th & at Bishop Middleham the same day. The Little Terns at Crimdon were faring badly, with birds being under pressure from several sources but about 54 pairs of Common Terns were crammed onto the island at Washington WWT. 

Avocets at Washington WWT and Little Tern at Crimdon (I Forrest)

Ducks are often overlooked in summer, but broods of Shoveler & Gadwall were counted & Shelduck had young on the Wear at Sunderland. Ruddy Duck numbers were down markedly, perhaps due to culling in wintering areas? Two unseasonal Goldeneye were found and a single Wigeon was back at Barmston by 28^th. Others at this time included a drake Common Scoter on the Tyne at Gateshead and a drake Green winged Teal on 30^th at Derwent Reservoir. It's perhaps too early to judge the success of our upland breeding waders, but a fantastic first occurred at Washington WWT where a pair of Avocets settled to lay eggs. The start of a new Durham colony?

After a cold spring there were reports concerning low hirundine numbers, but Birtley held 1,000 House Martins amongst others on 26^th. The Dales woods were in full swing as Pied & Spotty Flycatchers ferried food to nests. Whinchat reports were very thin on the ground, but they were breeding alongside Stonechats on Teesside, the latter species continuing to prosper with wandering juveniles & family groups both inland & on the coast. Reed Warblers too showed signs of increase with new territories held at Herrington CP and West Boldon. Cuckoo numbers dropped in lowland areas, but the usual moorland edge habitats retained several pairs. 

Our Farmland species seemed to be having a reasonable breeding year. Tree Sparrows had juveniles at several sites, with birds breeding in farmyard brickwork and a crevice in a working quarry. Good news concerned a pair fledging young from a DBC box in a member’s garden! Yellow Wagtails had plenty of young at Stoneybeck Lake. Corn Buntings are hanging on there with over 20 singing males in the Bishop Middleham stronghold and new territories came to light on a farm visit to Herrington Hill.

Corn Bunting, Bishop Middleham (I Forrest) - still hope?

The month's highlights:

1^st        Turtle Dove                    Bishop Middleham

2^nd       Greenland Wheatear      Rainton Meadows

3^rd        Honey Buzzard              Dormans Pool 

3^rd        Icterine Warbler             Whitburn

4^th        Purple Heron                 Hartlepool 

4^th        Marsh Harrier                 Hetton Bogs. (1^st site record) 

5^th        White Stork                   Nevilles Cross, Durham

 6^th       Bean Goose                  Saltholme

7^th            Long tailed Skua           Whitburn Obs 

7^th         Avocet (x2)                   Washington WWT

9^th         White Stork                  Washington WWT 

10^th       Montagus Harrier           Port Clarence 

11^th       Great Northern Diver       Whitburn Obs

11^th       Blue Headed Wagtail      SAFC Academy Pools 

11^th       Pectoral Sandpiper         Saltholme Pools 

14^th       Osprey                          Shibdon Pond 

15^th       Lesser White fronted Goose        Saltholme Pools

15^th       Curlew Sandpiper          Saltholme 

24^th       Wood Sandpiper           Washington WWT 

26^th       Wood Sandpiper           Saltholme Pools

28^th       Little Stint                     Seaton Pond 

29^th       Common Scoter            River Tyne, Gateshead

30^th       Green winged Teal         Derwent Reservoir

S.Evans (June '06)