Paul Anderson
@oldtimebirder59.bsky.social
Birder. Mainly County Durham Cleveland and Northumberland
Certainly some of them but better structures survive. Older birds? Found one on court building on top of a drainpipe that must have been 6-8” deep
November 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Certainly some of them but better structures survive. Older birds? Found one on court building on top of a drainpipe that must have been 6-8” deep
They breed right through summer - full leaf offers great cover & ripe cereals inexhaustible food. In my BTO nest recording days l was on c480 nests one season and wanted to break 500 so targeted Woodies in August. Nearly all nests were successful with very few April-May nests escaping predators
November 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
They breed right through summer - full leaf offers great cover & ripe cereals inexhaustible food. In my BTO nest recording days l was on c480 nests one season and wanted to break 500 so targeted Woodies in August. Nearly all nests were successful with very few April-May nests escaping predators
The thing that really stands out in my memory was the call - just like a Blue Tit to my ears.
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The thing that really stands out in my memory was the call - just like a Blue Tit to my ears.
Never understood people who get dogs then pay someone else to walk them. Seaton Snook north of Tees and Seaburn beach you regularly see vans pull up and one person then “walks” 10-12 dogs. If you don’t have time to look after a dog then don’t feckin get one. It’s not rocket science
November 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Never understood people who get dogs then pay someone else to walk them. Seaton Snook north of Tees and Seaburn beach you regularly see vans pull up and one person then “walks” 10-12 dogs. If you don’t have time to look after a dog then don’t feckin get one. It’s not rocket science
Stunning birds. I saw one in my brother’s garden when he lived on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Stunning birds. I saw one in my brother’s garden when he lived on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
Sorry to hear that Gary. Hope Liv improves even a little will help. Great garden bird up here. Cracking little birds anywhere.
November 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Sorry to hear that Gary. Hope Liv improves even a little will help. Great garden bird up here. Cracking little birds anywhere.
And of course the herbicides, “cleaner” harvesting and lack of winter stubbles that increases winter mortality for our farmland birds, which coupled with lack of invertebrates on which to feed young reducing productivity means declining populations are inevitable
November 14, 2025 at 8:15 AM
And of course the herbicides, “cleaner” harvesting and lack of winter stubbles that increases winter mortality for our farmland birds, which coupled with lack of invertebrates on which to feed young reducing productivity means declining populations are inevitable
Yip that’s my theory as well. Lost track of the times we should (ie would have got birds in the past) but don’t. I always check Eastern European eastwards to see where the winds there originate from before getting my hopes up or down.
November 13, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Yip that’s my theory as well. Lost track of the times we should (ie would have got birds in the past) but don’t. I always check Eastern European eastwards to see where the winds there originate from before getting my hopes up or down.
Same for me. They were pretty much an expected late autumn/early winter bird in small flocks of coastal stubble was left overwinter as it usually was. Can’t recall more than just a single passage bird in last 10-15 years. Similar for Snow Bunting. No Corn Buntings whereas had winter flocks of 80+
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Same for me. They were pretty much an expected late autumn/early winter bird in small flocks of coastal stubble was left overwinter as it usually was. Can’t recall more than just a single passage bird in last 10-15 years. Similar for Snow Bunting. No Corn Buntings whereas had winter flocks of 80+
And don’t we know it! I don’t think we get much of the way of even common migrants now unless winds originate well to the east not from just over The North Sea as used to be the case.The further east you go the less serious the population decline has been is my admittedly completely untested theory.
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
And don’t we know it! I don’t think we get much of the way of even common migrants now unless winds originate well to the east not from just over The North Sea as used to be the case.The further east you go the less serious the population decline has been is my admittedly completely untested theory.
Good read. I used to love Birdracing and did one in May for 20 years +. Very long day (20-22 hours) covering the whole of County Durham and with a best day of 150 species and an aggregate over all of the years in excess of 200 species it was great fun and a useful way of noting changes over time.
November 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Good read. I used to love Birdracing and did one in May for 20 years +. Very long day (20-22 hours) covering the whole of County Durham and with a best day of 150 species and an aggregate over all of the years in excess of 200 species it was great fun and a useful way of noting changes over time.
And you succeeded sir! First shot is cracking.
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
And you succeeded sir! First shot is cracking.
Or maybe an Arctic Warbler Dave?
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Or maybe an Arctic Warbler Dave?
That’s a canny Hauxley hatrick Mike!
November 8, 2025 at 8:15 AM
That’s a canny Hauxley hatrick Mike!
Sounds like a decent visit despite the weather
November 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Sounds like a decent visit despite the weather
Glad you got your Hen Harrier target (even though it wasn’t in the North East😉)
November 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Glad you got your Hen Harrier target (even though it wasn’t in the North East😉)
I saw the very similar Rufous backed Negrito when l visited my brother in Argentina. Superb little birds!
November 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
I saw the very similar Rufous backed Negrito when l visited my brother in Argentina. Superb little birds!
WTF is wrong with some people🤷♂️
November 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
WTF is wrong with some people🤷♂️
In Durham we used to have a handful of sites where they were reasonably regular and could be seen in spring usually with a lot of searching but at least you knew you had a chance - not any more.
November 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
In Durham we used to have a handful of sites where they were reasonably regular and could be seen in spring usually with a lot of searching but at least you knew you had a chance - not any more.
2/2 next year or two. Cetti’s now common on Tees marshes but Bearded Tit seem to be finding it difficult to get a foothold. Best year ever for Hobby in 2025. Whinchat struggling however and Redpoll much reduced in numbers and distribution
November 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM
2/2 next year or two. Cetti’s now common on Tees marshes but Bearded Tit seem to be finding it difficult to get a foothold. Best year ever for Hobby in 2025. Whinchat struggling however and Redpoll much reduced in numbers and distribution
Surprised at Black Grouse - in last few years they have been doing well in Durham. Corn Bunt struggling but 6+ fledged broods at one site this summer (dry and warm). Lesser Spot probably gone Wood Warbler likewise or soon will be. LEgrets well established Spoonbills and GWEgrets will breed 1/2
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Surprised at Black Grouse - in last few years they have been doing well in Durham. Corn Bunt struggling but 6+ fledged broods at one site this summer (dry and warm). Lesser Spot probably gone Wood Warbler likewise or soon will be. LEgrets well established Spoonbills and GWEgrets will breed 1/2
In previous winters there have been sightings of 1-2 at Widdrington Moor Lake where they can be seen distantly but without disturbance with a scope from the roadside. Not seen any reports so far this autumn/winter.
October 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
In previous winters there have been sightings of 1-2 at Widdrington Moor Lake where they can be seen distantly but without disturbance with a scope from the roadside. Not seen any reports so far this autumn/winter.
In May 1982 l had 2 Poms come straight overhead off sea east side of Southsea (Hants). They flew inland purposefully NE on a line that would bring them out at The Wash and have no doubt they were “cutting the corner” on active migration on a route they had presumably taken before.
October 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
In May 1982 l had 2 Poms come straight overhead off sea east side of Southsea (Hants). They flew inland purposefully NE on a line that would bring them out at The Wash and have no doubt they were “cutting the corner” on active migration on a route they had presumably taken before.
Certainly one of my Argentinian favourites
October 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Certainly one of my Argentinian favourites
Grey quiet chilly affair here most of week. Still feeling bit rough but at least cough subsided today giving my sore ribs some relief. Probably get back to 100% just in time to go to work Monday🙄
October 17, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Grey quiet chilly affair here most of week. Still feeling bit rough but at least cough subsided today giving my sore ribs some relief. Probably get back to 100% just in time to go to work Monday🙄