Hoopoes in Durham

[Aseedy]

Hi there,

last week-end I was lucky enough to spot a hoopoe in an area of parkland just outside of durham - I've not seen one of these in durham for 30 years.

Anyone else seen one in the area

[GuyF]

Hi and welcome to the site,

Are you certain it was a Hoopoe? I think it's a bit unusual for them to be that far north at this time of year, and there are lots of Jays around in the parks at the moment which are easy to confuse with Hoopoes (same striking black and white wings and pinky body).

If it was definetely a Hoopoe then congratulations, they're beautiful birds and I've never been lucky enough to see one in this country yet. You might like to contact your local bird recorder, I'm sure they'd be interested in the record.
Guy

[Paul mabbott]

I agree - very early in the year for a sighting .....

Mind have heard about some very cold weather in southern Europe this week ........

Originally Posted by GuyF

Hi and welcome to the site,

Are you certain it was a Hoopoe? I think it's a bit unusual for them to be that far north at this time of year, and there are lots of Jays around in the parks at the moment which are easy to confuse with Hoopoes (same striking black and white wings and pinky body).

If it was definetely a Hoopoe then congratulations, they're beautiful birds and I've never been lucky enough to see one in this country yet. You might like to contact your local bird recorder, I'm sure they'd be interested in the record.
Guy

[John]

Sorry to disagree Paul but there have been 12 different Hoopoe reported since Sept 23rd (possibly more further back but that is that date I used). These birds have stretched from Cornwall through to the Shetlands. The Shetland one was on Oct 9th and there was one in Clyde on the 13th.

John

John

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I agree - very early in the year for a sighting .....

Mind have heard about some very cold weather in southern Europe this week ........

[Paul mabbott]

Thanks, John, fascinating ... but isn't that early for the average year? This is one of the few bird species that I pay attention to and I believe that it's "normal" for hoopoes to reach Yorkshire some weeks later ..
Cheers, Paul

Originally Posted by John

Sorry to disagree Paul but there have been 12 different Hoopoe reported since Sept 23rd (possibly more further back but that is that date I used). These birds have stretched from Cornwall through to the Shetlands. The Shetland one was on Oct 9th and there was one in Clyde on the 13th.

John

John

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by John

Sorry to disagree Paul but there have been 12 different Hoopoe reported since Sept 23rd (possibly more further back but that is that date I used). These birds have stretched from Cornwall through to the Shetlands. The Shetland one was on Oct 9th and there was one in Clyde on the 13th.

John

John

Your right John, Have seen Hoopoe in October before now and there have been quite a few records recently.

Paul

[John]

Hi Paul

Hoopoes seen in the north over the last five years were:

2006:

New Deer (Aberdeenshire on Nov 11th.
I-O-M on Oct 29th.
Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire) Oct 20th.
Shetland Oct 14th.

For 2005 were:

Fyvie (Aberdeenshire) From Nov 4th - 10th.
Orkney Oct 29th & 30th.
Boulmer (Northumberland) on Oct 29th & 30th
Longhouton (Northumberland) a long stayer from Oct 15th to the 28th.

2004:

Shetland Oct 15th
Western Isles Oct 4th & 5th
Blaydon (County Durham) on Oct 1st

2003:

St Cyrus (Aberdeenshire) Nov 9th
Fife Oct 31st
Embleton (Northumberland) Oct 30th
Low Newton-by-the-sea (Northumberland) Oct 28th
Buckie (Moray) Nov 1st
Shetland 22nd & 23rd Oct.
Malton (Yorks) Oct 4th to 7th.

2002:

Ashington (Northumberland) Nov 4th
Tolvah then on to Glen Feshie from Oct 14th to Oct 18th.
Balconie, Fife Ness & Killminning Castle between Oct 23rd to 30th

Hope that clears up a few misconceptions about how late Hoopoes can be.

John

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Thanks, John, fascinating ... but isn't that early for the average year? This is one of the few bird species that I pay attention to and I believe that it's "normal" for hoopoes to reach Yorkshire some weeks later ..
Cheers, Paul

[Aseedy]

Thanks for the interesting threads re the hoopoe.

I'm certain it was a positive identification. I've seen quite a few abroad and although it was a long time ago, have also seen them in the same place in this country.

My last (british) sighting was during the hot summer of 1976 during the school hols, we were about 13 and keen birders. Out and about most days seeing what we could find. The bird was around for a couple of days and then it disapeared until a few weeks later - Although it is a long time ago and rather hazy now, one day we spotted a number of hoopes - some we were convinced were youngsters.

At 13, unfortunatley we were humoured rather than believed. The birds disapeared shortly afterwards and we had no further sightings.

The area we used to call Bleachy Green, is a large area of woodland and parkland situated between Langley Moor and New Brancepeth just outside of Durham city.

Oh happy days.

Incidently, this isn't too far away from where the beeaters bred a few years ago at Bishop Middleham

[Paul mabbott]

Thanks, John,
It's obviously my memory doing strange things rather than the hoopoes!

Originally Posted by John

Hi Paul

Hoopoes seen in the north over the last five years were:

2006:

New Deer (Aberdeenshire on Nov 11th.
I-O-M on Oct 29th.
Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire) Oct 20th.
Shetland Oct 14th.

For 2005 were:

Fyvie (Aberdeenshire) From Nov 4th - 10th.
Orkney Oct 29th & 30th.
Boulmer (Northumberland) on Oct 29th & 30th
Longhouton (Northumberland) a long stayer from Oct 15th to the 28th.

2004:

Shetland Oct 15th
Western Isles Oct 4th & 5th
Blaydon (County Durham) on Oct 1st

2003:

St Cyrus (Aberdeenshire) Nov 9th
Fife Oct 31st
Embleton (Northumberland) Oct 30th
Low Newton-by-the-sea (Northumberland) Oct 28th
Buckie (Moray) Nov 1st
Shetland 22nd & 23rd Oct.
Malton (Yorks) Oct 4th to 7th.

2002:

Ashington (Northumberland) Nov 4th
Tolvah then on to Glen Feshie from Oct 14th to Oct 18th.
Balconie, Fife Ness & Killminning Castle between Oct 23rd to 30th

Hope that clears up a few misconceptions about how late Hoopoes can be.

John