Gateshead Birders
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Little Grebe - Present all month at Shibdon with 5 counted on 8th April. 5-8 present at both Watergate Park and Far Pasture throughout April.

Cormorant - 1 or 2 noted flying over Komatsu on 1st to 3rd April.

Grey Heron - 1 flew of Komatsu on 1st April. 3 at Shibdon on 8th - 13th April.

White Stork - Bearing a ring from Harewood House in Yorkshire, a bird was present in the morning of the 4th April before flying off to the south. This bird was the same as seen at East Boldon in March and is the regular wandering individual which was at Lamesley previously in May 2002. One of the locals reports it being present since 19:00hrs on 3rd.

The White Stork at Lamesley Water Meadows and the ring number FIU showing that the bird originated from Harewood House, Yorkshire. [Photo PWD]

Mute Swan - 2 pairs on River Derwent at Owlet Hill on 18th April.

Whooper Swan - A single seen flying up the Tyne on 7th April.

Grey Lag Goose - 1-4 still at on Lamesley Water Meadows on 1st-30th April and 6 there on 11th and 9 on 12th.

Pink-footed Goose - The tame bird often present on the grass in front of Shibdon Pond on 1st-18th April. Flock of 45 flew west over Shibdon Pond on 11th April.

Barnacle Goose - The escaped bird still at Shibdon Pond on 1st-18th April.

Canada Goose - Up to 6 present at Shibdon during April with a least one pair nesting. Two over Clara Vale on 8th April. 7 south over Lamsley on 18th April.

Goose species - What was originally reported as a Barnacle Goose on Lamesley Water Meadows on 2nd April, still present 3rd-30th April.. However the bird is a hybrid, thought most likely to be Canada Goose x White -fronted Goose and obviously an escape.

The hybrid goose at Lamesley Water Meadows [Photo PWD]

Common Shelduck - Up to 6 present on Shibdon Pond 1st - 18th April but 14 counted on 7th, 12 on 12th and 11 on 13th. 2 on river Tyne at Timber beach on 11th April.

Shoveler - A drake on Shibdon Pond on 3rd - 7th April and at Far Pasture on 10th.

Teal - 4-10 present on Lamesley Water Meadows, Shibdon Pond, Kibblesworth brick pond and the River Tyne (Ryton, Stella, Blaydon & Timber beach) on 1st - 30th April. 32 counted at Timber beach on 11th April.

Tufted Duck - Maximum count of 15 at Shibdon during April.

Common Pochard - pair on Shibdon Pond on 4th April and 3 on 7th/8th.

Common Goldeneye - 5-14 daily on Shibdon Pond on 1st-18th April.

Goosander - 8 counted between Clara Vale and Ryton on 8th April. One male over Shibdon Pond on 11th April. Two males over Swalwell Cricket ground on 21st April

Ruddy Duck - 3 drakes that arrived at Shibdon Pond on 8th April were the first of the year. Still present 9th-17th and they were joined by a female on 18th. At least 2 still present on 25th.

Osprey - 2 records - 1 reported heading down the Derwent valley over Thornley Woodland Centre on 3rd April. Another on the 23rd April, flew over the pond and headed west. It was seen a little later flying west over Newburn Business Park

Marsh Harrier - A (female) gliding at height and speed from the direction of the Derwent Valley overhead Rowlands Gill in a N-NW direction on 13th April.

Common Buzzard- One mobbed by corvids at Sunniside on 22nd April

Peregrine - The dark young bird flew over Shibdon Pond toward the Tyne on 8th April.

Grey Partridge - A pair were at Stella on 17th April.

Red-legged Partridge - 2 still present on Ravensorth Fell to 15th April at least.

Water Rail - 2 heard at Shibdon Pond on 2nd April and 1 on 18th.

Common Oyster-catcher - 1 - 2 regular at Shibdon Pond on 1st to 30th April, 1 at Clara Vale on 8th April and 2 at Kibblesworth brick pond on 11th. 4 at Stella on 16th April.

Lapwing - 4 at Stella on 16th April when 9 at Crawcrook Quarry.

Golden Plover - 30 on Ravensworth Fell on 3rd to 11th April and 200 there on 15th.

Little Ringed Plover - One at Stella on 1st April was the first of the year. 2 were here again on 23rd April, in flight as they flew over towards Newburn. Pair noted at Kibblesworth Brick Pool late in the month.

Ringed Plover - Four at Stella on 1st April and one on 8th-10th.

Common Sandpiper - One on the river Tyne at Blaydon on 16th April was the first of the year.

Redshank - 17 on Shibdon Pond on 1st and 8-10 there on 2nd to 5th April. 2 on river at Ryton Willows on 8th April and 76 counted at Timber beach on 11th when 2 at Kibblesworth brick pond and a single at Lamesley Water Meadows.

Dunlin- 1 at Timber beach on 18th April was the only record.

Black-tailed Godwit - 1 reported at Shibdon Pond on 21st April was the first record this year.

Common Snipe - 3 at Shibdon on 2nd April and 2 on 11th. 3 at Kibblesworth brick pond on 11th April and another 3 at Burdon Moor. 2 at Stella on 16th April.

Jack Snipe - One seen at Far Pasture NR on 4th April. Singles flushed at Stargate Quarry and Burdon Moor on 11th April. Another at Westfield Lane on 12th April.

Woodcock - A single flushed at Stella on 1st and one flew over Lamesley Water Meadows on 4th April.

Kittiwake - First birds returned on 7th April and regular thereafter.

Tawny Owl - One noted roosting at Ryton on 8th April and one seen on Derwent Walk on 11th. Others at Axwell Park on 12th and Birtley on 15th.

Little Owl - Single at Clara Vale on 8th and 12th April. One seen again on Ravensworth Fell on 12th April.

Kingfisher - One flushed from a tree by the hide at Shibdon Pond on 1st April. One seen regularly all month at Ryton Willows. One on River Derwent by Lockhaugh Meadows on 11th April.

Stock Dove - A pair prospecting a nest site on the old wooden jetty at Timber beach on 11th April.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - One over Ryton GC on 8th April. 1-3 regular as usual at Thornley Woodland centre throughout April.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - One reportedly heard and seen on 3rd April in the same area as in the past 2 years. This bird could not be relocated despite many hours of searching.

Green Woodpecker - 1-2 at Thornley Woodland centre and others along the Derwent Walk throughout April. Single birds also noted at Lamesley on 4th April , Shibdon Pond on 10th and 25th and Far Pasture on 11th-30th.

Common Swift - The first birds appeared on the 28th April in the Derwent valley, more were seen on the 29th. On the 30th April there were 3 at Clara Vale, followed by 30 in the evening at Shibdon Pond.

Sand Martin - 30+ at Shibdon on 2nd and 3rd April was the maximum count but 20+ regular. 4 at Far Pasture on 1st April , 50 at Derwenthaugh on 3rd and 3 at Birtley STW on 4th April. Influx on 18th resulted in 50 at Far Pasture, 30 at Shibdon and 70 at Birtley CTW.

House Martin - The first of the year was one noted in the Derwent valley on 3rd April. Occassional records of this bird by the caravan site but it was not until the 18th April when more appeared with singles at Far Pasture and Shibdon and 10 at Birtley CTW.

Common Swallow - 3 at Far Pasture on 1st April, the first of the year, followed by 1 at Shibdon Pond on 3rd April and another seen in the Derwent valley the same day. 2 occassionally at Shibdon on 4th-12th. Single at Far Pasture on 12th-13th. Influx on 18th April, with other hirunines and double figures at Far Pasture , Shibdon and Birtley CTW. They were noted around several breeding sites the same.

Grey Wagtail - Four on Derwent Walk on 10th April. One at Birtley CTW on 18th April.

Yellow Wagtail - Singles noted at Birtley STW on 11th and 18th April.

White Wagtail - One at Birtley CTW on 18th April was the first of the year

Tree Pipit - The first of the year were two at Chopwell Woods on 16th April, one still singing in heavy rain on 18th.

Dipper - 20 pairs nesting on Derwent in Gateshead (about 16km long), plus at least 2 unpaired males. 2 of the nests 120m apart.

Wheatear - One at Stella on 2nd - 11th April, and 2 on 9th and 16th and 4 on 17th. A pair were still present on 20th - 25th April. Other records were 5 (mmmff) at Burdon Moor on 11th April, one at Birtley CTW on 18th and a pair were on Barlow Fell on 24th April.

Redstart - One noted in a garden at Wrekenton on 16th April.

Fieldfare - 17 passed through Clara Vale on 1st April followed by 22 on Ravensworth Fell on the 5th April. 10 over Burdon Moor on 11th April. 56 on Ravensworth Fell on 12th and finally 20 were at Reely Mires on 13th April.

Redwing - 1 passed through Clara Vale on 1st and 1 on Ravensworth Fell on 12th April were the only records.

Common Whitethroat - One at the Heather Fields, Winlaton on the 20th April was the first of the spring, followed the next day by one at Shibdon Pond which was still present on 23rd- 24th..

Lesser Whitethroat - A singing bird on the evening of 24th April at Shibdon Pond was the first of the year.

Blackcap - One on the Gateshead side of the Stanley Burn on 4th April was the first of the year. 1-2 noted at both Clara Vale and Ryton on 8th April and regular throughout the borough by the 9th.

Garden Warbler - The first of the year was one reported at Shibdon on 20th April.

Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reported singing first thing on waste ground behind football pitch at Shibdon Pond on 17th April and again on 20th and 23rd. Good views one reeling from a bush in the field opposite the car park at Far Pasture on 23rd April. Another singing at Burdon Moor on 25th April.

Chiffchaff - 5 to 7 present on the reserve at Shibdon 1st - 17th April. 1 at Far Pasture on 1st April. Good number along the Tyne by 8th and regular throughout the borough on the 9th. 17 singing birds along Derwent Walk on 13th April and 6 at Shibdon four days later.

Willow Warbler - The first of the year was one at Swalwell Visitor Centre on 3rd April. This was followed by two at Blaydon tennis club on 4th and one at Shibdon on 7th. Fair numbers noted Clara Vale - Ryton - Shibdon on next day and regular throughout the borough by the 9th. One singing in more unusual habitat at Timber beach on 11th April

Willow Tit - 2 near Clara Vale on 8th April and 1 at Far Pasture NR on 25th April.

Nuthatch - 1 at Clara Vale on 8th April. 1-4 present all month at Thornley woodland centre. One at Stella on the 17th April was the 1st record for the site.

Tree-creeper - 1 at Ryton on 8th April and 1- 2 regular at Thornley/along Derwent Walk.

Tree Sparrow - Four at Westfield Lane, Clara Vale on 11-12th April. A single was seen feeding on back lawn in Rowlands Gill on 28th -29th April.

Yellow Bunting - 200 at Ryton Haugh on 4th April.

Brambling - 1-2 males at the feeding station at Clara Vale on 1st to 11th April with five birds, (1 male, 4 female) there on 8th.

One of the male Bramblings with a female Chaffinch at Clara Vale [Photo: G. Pollinger]

Siskin - 1 at Clara Vale on 8th April.

Lesser Redpoll - 1 at Clara Vale on 8th April and 11 there on 15th. 33 were counted at Crawcrook Quarry on 16th April.