Dashed up to Hartlepool after work yesterday, arrived about 6.10pm. Bird showing really well on the pavement & road next to the bowling green, down to 20ft at one point. Really nice little bird and the weather was lovely - really sunny & warm. Only about 20 birders there for the 50 mins or so we were there which surprised me a bit, expected there to be more.

of course Paul, it would be welcomed on the website and it's galleries, which now hold over 7,000 images!

jason atkinson wrote:

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It takes slightly longer that 30 minutes to get everybody in the country to the bird Sid.

cheers
jason

Sure does, Jase, took me bloomin 3 days due to work comittments!!

Got it early this morning though on the edges of the lower bowling green down to a couple of metres Advice if anyone is going - get there early, once folk are about it returns to the Doctors Garden. They mow the bowling green am & it didnt like that. Also today the bloke in Mayfield House, Friar Street was letting folk onto his balcony for £3 & that overlooks the otherwise innaccessible garden (unless you climb on vans or use ladders!!). So if it is in the garden maybe he'll do the same tomorrow. Locals were generally very friendly although we got s******ed at by schoolkids, we were all v.uncool I suppose!!

Any extra advice needed please message me & I'll try to answer, just give me a days notice if poss as I can't access the site from all pcs I use

Good Luck
Paul

p.s. the starred out word caught by the swear filter was s n i g g e r e d, I see why it caught that, no offence meant obviously!!



-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 8th of June 2011 03:46:12 PM

sid ashton wrote:

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Mike Passant wrote:

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Not 5 mins ago I had a call from Tony Armstrong; - he's off to Hartlepool to twitch a WHITE- THROATED ROBIN, caught and ringed just now and to be released in the bowling green area (he thinks).

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Why didn't they just wait until all of the birders were present to release the bird on a nice clear area to save everyone having to scramble up there then in some cases standing on the tops of vans to look over walls etc. "OK folks? - scopes at the ready here we go".........

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It wouldn't be a good British twitch without paying to go in someone's house or tip-toing on a ladder to peer over a 3m high garden wall!

But seriously, the bird's welfare comes first. If it was stuck in a bag until people travelled from around the country it would probably starve, having just travelled so far.
Henry.

Rather more elusive this afternoon, following the bowls match!

The White-throated Robin (a female) was quite settled and feeding along the grassy surrounding margin to the bowling green mid morning when we arrived.
Only about 50/60 birders were there, but numbers were building rapidly when we left as more birders from further afield were arriving.

Directions for those interested are:

Take the A1049 towards Hartlepool Headland as normal, but150 yds before reaching the immediate vicinity of the imposing St Hilda's church and the Croft area near Verrill's chippy, cut off left (i.e. east/ seaward) along Union Street, which, with a slight dogleg, becomes Friar Terrace.
Follow this short street to the T junction and turn right. You are now on Friar street and you will see a mass of parked cars, park anywhere you can here. the bowling green is obvious and on the seaward side of Friar Street.
To the north and east beyond the bowling green perimeter fence is the open expanse of grass (Town Moor) covering some hundreds of yards, it may be possible to park further along the road on the edge of this (if birders nos. are in the thousands!)

If you're going, I'd go sooner rather than later!

Good Luck, Mike P.

Where does the drama end??? - The answer is, it doesn't!!

Not 5 mins ago I had a call from Tony Armstrong; - he's off to Hartlepool to twitch a WHITE- THROATED ROBIN, caught and ringed just now and to be released in the bowling green area (he thinks).
I'll follow soon. ( Today I was supposed to get on with jobs following my jaunt into Manchester yesterday; the divorce lawyers will be on standby if this continues!!)
Up dates will follow.

Cheers,
Mike P.

24/02/2011 - Myself and Sid Ashton finally caught up with the long-staying Oriental Turtle Dove today. It was still present in the area of 'The Leys' and eventually gave itself up to us properly in the back hedge of house number 41. No access to that house today but the view from the welcoming garden of 33 was enough to clinch id. There might be access to house 41 again on Friday and perhaps Saturday for anyone thinking of going but the owners request that everyone tries not to visit on Sunday (onwards?) so the street and a number of disgruntled residents can get back to some sort of normality. Early morning still seems to be best if allowed into 41 and the following few hours the bird visits mature trees viewed south from the ISIS access track at the bottom of 'The Leys' or occasionally comes back to the garden when disturbed from here as it was today by a Buzzard.
Also about in the gardens and environs were:

1 Sparrowhawk
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Skylarks
7 Stock Doves
1 Goldcrest
2 Siskins
5 Bramblings

Crippling views from inside the house as Phil said. A good day out with an American Wigeon aswell which he forgot about!

Pictures of the Dove here.

cheers
jason

An interesting day today, beginning with a ridiculous 03.30 start, found Mr Rigby and myself in Chipping Norton at 06.15, an hour before dawn. There were already about 60 birders before us in the queue at no. 41 The Leys and it was raining quite heavily. Not a good start. Dawn broke and one of us (OK me) even managed to fall asleep crouching under an umbrella whilst leaning against a low wall. Young local entrepreneurs were out in force selling cakes, biscuits, tea and coffee to raise money for the local swimming baths and any money raised by entry to no. 41 was to go to Birdlife International and Birdlife Malta. Unfortunately the Rufous Turtle Dove did not show on cue and a great fund raising opportunity was almost missed. The crowd grew to around 400, which could have been a problem in a quiet suburban street but birders and residents got on very amicably. When the Dove did eventually show it could first be seen from the road by a fortunate group and later by everyone as it preened in an Ash tree across a field. Easy public viewing here which rather thwarted charity fund raising. However, some hundreds of pounds have already been raised for worthy causes so everyone is a winner

Slaty-backed Gull back on Rainham tip today. Could make a good double with the Oriental Turtle Dove for a twitch were both much more showy, as it is it's a highly risky journey at the moment.

sid ashton wrote:

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Not long back from Chipping Norton where Henry Cook, Phil Owen and myself made an unsuccessful attempt to find the Rufous Turtle Dove. We arrived late morning having found out on the journey that the bird had not been seen since 08.45 ish, despite this we took our places in the queue which was at that stage some 300 folk strong. The theory being that it would return to the private garden where it has been feeding for the past 3 or 4 days. With that many birders ahead of us in the line we quickly calculated that for us to get a chance to hand over our £5 entry fees the bird would need to be back in the garden by 2pm. This of course didn't happen and like many others we took turns at walking around the surrounding area trying to locate the bird - all to no avail. We did find a Peregrine on the local mill chimney but that was about it.We left as evening came in after checking the possible local roost sites but still no sign.

Nevertheless an interesting day in good company - Henry and Phil were OK as well

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Typical, the bird is reported as being present this morning

John Rayner E-mailed to me a photo of people queuing to see the RTD. It made me feel quite fulfilled that I've spent the last few days decorating and watching a few old films on tele.
I think the dip on the Slaty-backed Gull last month (at that incredibly depressing rubbish tip) has actually done me a power of good, as I'm feeling refreshingly sane and well adjusted.

According to Birdguides and RBA, it flew off around 11am this morning and had not returned by late afternoon.

£5.00 entry to the garden tomorrow (Tuesday) but no access Wed or Thursday. Guess which two days I can take off this week...

Probable Slaty-backed Gull - Rainham...

Makes you feel so much better when you come off the Isles of Scilly, and drive past a mega.

Keep Birding.

Gentlemen, never give up! remember its in your local patch, look at last years beauty

Eastern Crown Warbler, or Kents handsome Golden-winged warbler in tesco's car park, found by a birder going to post a letter.

History is made by looking at every bird.

But it is nice to be on St Agnes in October.

Keep Birding

Paul Heaton wrote:

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Well well things are picking up don't you know

Solitary Sandpiper
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Black Eared Wheatear
Red Flanked Bluetail
Hermit Thrush
Isabelline Wheatear

Red Eyed Vireo
Raddes Warbler
Blackpoll warbler among others, so where do you go.......

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Helps a bit if you are in Shetland, Cornwall, the Scilly Isles or on the East Coast !

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but despite the Rufous-tailed Robin found on North Ronaldsay, Orkney today being discovered deceased it's still an amazing bird no less. Surely a sign of what might be lurking out there somewhere.

Either way, the Manchester Birding website has some pretty exclusive photos of the unfortunate vagrant.

Mike Passant wrote:

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Play it cool... Parula Warbler is overdue nearer to home (maybe sooner than you might suppose).

November 2nd 1982 Wigan now that would be nice if it happened again

It looks likes it may be a good Autumn.

Keep Birding

Play it cool... Parula Warbler is overdue nearer to home (maybe sooner than you might suppose).

If you were to go up to Tyree, that might be the best way to guarantee one turning up again in Gr. Manchester. (That plantation by Castleshaw looks tailor made for a Parula).
I recall going for a certain Short-billed dowitcher in N. Scotland only to see it again shortly afterwards on Teesside

Now the Empidonax sp. that's a different matter....perhaps once in a lifetime in Europe?

It's all kicking off now! Pics of Empidonax sp on Surfbirds stop-press gallery.
Some great looking winds crossing the atlantic over the next week too with fairly calm conditions on the coasts at times to search out those megas.

Update re Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
The bird has been showing well through mid-morning period but has moved from last night's site by about 3/4 Km. inland, (apparently it was flushed by someone at about 7.15!)

Amended directions are :

From the car park, proceed 300m. to the bridge over Greatham Creek, not now crossing the road, but cross the bridge instead and take the signed footpath just after (north of) the bridge walking inland some 200 metres. If still in the same spot you should see a huddle of birders. The bird this morning was feeding on exposed mud of the north side of the creek with 5/6 Dunlin and Bl. H. Gulls. If not here, just look for any local birders for info.

Cheers,
Mike P.