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Little Grebe- 6+ were at Shibdon Pond all month and 2 pair were at Far Pasture NR, 1 pair at Stargate.

Little Grebe at Far Pasture

Cormorant - Maximum count at Shibdon was on 13th when 30 Cormorant were in the tree roost.

Grey Heron -About 8 pair had young in the nests and up to 4 visited most of the waters and the Tyne during the month with 4 at Shibdon Pond on several dates.

Mute Swan -The Mute Swans started to sit on eggs on 1st April. A pair were also at Stargate.

Grey Lag- 1 were at Lamesley Water Meadows on 3rd and 2 on 17th.

Pink-footed Goose -The feral bird remained all month at Saltwell. 8 wild birds were found in a flooded field at Lamesley on 10th but were gone the next day.

Canada Goose -Up to 54 commuted between Saltwell Park and Shibdon and at the later 2 pairs were breeding. On 24th - 1 nest was flooded out, 1 bird still sitting on the other nest. 2 were at Lamesley Water Meadows on 3rd.

Barnacle Goose- The 2 feral birds present all month. Usually one bird, occassionally both commuted between Saltwell Park and Shibdon most days.

Snow Goose - The feral bird present all month at Saltwell, occasionally visiting Shibdon..

Common Shelduck - 7 were counted at Shibdon Pond on 2nd and 4 birds were there next day. Possibly the same 4 were at Blaydon Quarry on 4th where 2 remained until the 17th and 1-2 at Lamesley Water Meadows on 17th and 18th.

Ruddy Shelduck -A bird was seen on Shibdon Pond in the early morning of the 4th.. It left later and was subsequently seen at Whittle Dene Reservoirs in Northumberland. It had a metal ring on one leg and had been rung at Killingworth Lake earlier in the winter. Unfortunately an escape. On 6th it was again at Shibdon and then moved to Saltwell Parl Lake where it remained for several days. . Saltwell Park Lake on 10th. On the 12th, the bird was present again at Shibdon at 07:15. It arrived with Canada Geese the previous night at 21:00 and is probably spending the day at Saltwell and roosting at Shibdon. On 13th it was at Saltwell Park Lake, performing well (eating crusts !!) . On 19th, it was outside the borough, in a flooded field next to Gosforth Park Nature Reserve, Newcastle .The last sighting was at Shibdon Pond on 24th, again seen early morning before flying off.

Shoveler - Six birds on Shibdon Pond, dropped to 5 next day and 4 on 3rd. 3 remained from 4th to 13th and a pair were last seen on 27th

Teal -10 were at Blaydon Quarry on 10th. 4 remained at Lamesley Water Meadows until 21st. Three pair at Shibdon Pond on 13th. Still a pair at Shibdon Pond on 24th.

Mallard - Breeding confirmed or at least suspected at Shibdon Pond, Far Pasture Pond and Lamesley Water Meadows.

Tufted Duck -Maximum count at Shibdon where birds were present all month was 14 on the 10th. More unusually, a pair at Lamesley Water Meadows on 16th and 17th and 8 were at Kibblesworth, on the flash pool on 24th

Common Pochard - A single was on Shibdon Pond on 8th-10th.

Common Goldeneye -a female or immature at Shibdon Pond on 2nd was the last of the winter.

Goosander - 2 females were at Clara Vale on 4th and 5th and 8 drakes on 27th One was at Far Pasture NR on 10th/11th and a pair were at Lintzford on 20th & 22nd. 1 was at Shibdon on 13th and 2 were there on 18th and 28th. 2 drakes were on Lamesley Water Meadows on 18th. Totally unexpected was a Goosander flying south low over fields at Bradley fell in heavy rain on 18th.

Ruddy Duck - At Shibdon Pond, At least one male on 1st/2nd and 2 maleon 3rd. By the 10th there were 3 Ruddy Duck (mmf) and 5(3m 2f) on 13th to 16th, 4 male and 1 female on 23rd and still 2 pair on 24th. By this time both pairs were displaying and mating..

Red Kite - Most birds remaining in the area, usually roosting in the Barlow area and coming into the Derwent valley mid morning. By mid afternoon they drift back to the roost area and usually play around the Rowlands Gill viaduct and Barlow Fell area before settling down to roost. Some birds are beginning to display.

Common Buzzard - Singles at Gibside on 10th, Far Pasture on 11th and 22nd. One was seen on 24th at Barlow Fell being mobbed by Corvids and preasumably the same bird was seen over Ryton Willows later in the day.

Goshawk - A male bird was seen at Stella on 24th.

Sparrowhawk - Usual numbers reported including birds hunting in gardens and chasing a wide variety of bird prey including Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldfinch..

Merlin - A possible was seen at Far Pasture on 11th

Kestrel - Several pairs nesting by mid month and at least 5 birds regularly seen in the Far Pasture area.

Grey Partridge -Small numbers throughout the borough. At one site, there are perhaps 4 pairs in the area, despite continued disturbance by off road motorbikes over farmland.

Water Rail -On 13th, 3 or 4 calling Water Rails were heard. On 25th, A pair at Shibdon Pond seen at end of board-walk, the male contact calling loudly for almost an hour, giving the "sharming" call only once.

Coot - breeding confirmed at Shibdon and Stargate.

Oyster-catcher - One or two were present, thought somewhat erratically all month at Shibdon. 1 at Timber beach on 2nd. 2 at Clara Vale LNR on 3rd, 1 at Blaydon Quarry on 3rd to 17th , 2 at Ryton on 4th. and a pair were probably breeding at Lamesley Water Meadows on 17th where thy were present all month. A displaying bird near Near Coalway Plantation on 16th. On 23rd, at Stargate Ponds, 2 Oystercatcher were circling overhead peeping, they came from the direction of Blaydon Quarry. 10 were at Crawcrook Quarry on 22nd.

Lapwing - Breeding was confirmed at Lamesley Water Meadows on 17th. and Crawcrook Quarry on 22nd.

Golden Plover - 1,000 many in summer plumage and of the northern race on Ravensworth Fell on 2nd/3rd and 700 were still there on 17th.

Little Ringed Plover - - 2 on 10th at Lamesley Water Meadows were first of the year in the borough, and like last year, at the same site. They were still there on 11th and 12th but no further sig until 23rd when 1 still present and it remaining until May. Another was at Crawcrook Quarry on 13th to 17th

Ringed Plover - 2 on Timber Beach, neither colour ringed on 3rd. anand possibly another 2 were there on 10th. A single was there on 24th and possibly a different bird on 30th..

Curlew - Breeding birds at Ravensworth Fell, Lamesley Water Meadows, Bradley Fell farm and Burdon Moor during the month. One flew over Shibdon Pond on 24th.

Common Snipe - 2 at Timber beach on 2nd. 1-2 present all month at Lamesley Water Meadows and a bird was drumming there on 17th. Six were at Shibdon Pond on 13th.

Woodcock - On 5th, at Blaydon Burn in the evening; one flew from it's daytime roost in Blaydon Burn before dropping down to Blaydon Quarry.

Green Sandpiper - A bird was noted at Crawcrook Quarry on 22nd. One at Far Pasture on 30th remained into May..

Common Sandipiper - The first was one on 7th on the River Derwent at Swalwell followed by one at Stella on 10th. One was seen at Shibdon Pond on 16th and another on 27th. A single on the Derwent on 21st and 3 were at Clara Vale, on the river on 27th. One was seen at Far Pasture on 30th.

Redshank - 1-2 present all month on the Tyne at Timber beach and at Lamesley Watwer Meadows. Extensive flooding at Lamesley Water Meadows on 15th/16th resulted in 30 birds present on 16th. The next day a pair were probably breeding and were seen mating there on 21st.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Small numbers seen throughout. 8 were at Lamesley Water Meadows on 21st and 6 at Shibdon Pond on 28th.

Hybrid/Iceland Gull - On 24th-28th, An Iceland Gull reported from Shibdon Pond and a number recent reports of a Herring Gull resembling an Iceland Gull. On 30th, a possible Iceland Gull seen by several birders at Shibdon but there was much debate over the identification.

Kittiwake -No counts received from the Quayside.

Common Tern - The first Common Tern arrived at Shibdon Pond on 28th

Parrot species - A green parrot species, with yellow underparts and red in the wing flew over Burdon Moor on 19th.

Tawny Owl - On 12th, at Birkheads Lane, Ravensworth Fell at 19.45hrs a Tawny Owl was seen flying around the Hedley Park on Birkheads Lane, and disturbed a Cuckoo perched in a tree there - quite a shock for the observer! One noted at Derwent Walk CP on 19th was found roosting and other singles seen along the Keelman's Way, Blaydon Burn, Bradley Fell and Axwell Park.. The resident Overstone Tawny Owls continued to show well, and were often heard calling during the daytime.

Short Eared Owl - One at Burdon Moor on 24th

Little Owl - One on 13th-17th at Crawcrook Quarry

Cuckoo - 1 flushed in the evening of 12th by a Tawny Owl at Birkheads Lane, Ravensworth Fell was early and the first of the year.

Kingfisher - The regular bird remained at Far Pasture NR until the 17th .One at Lintzford Bridge showed well on 20th to 23rd and one at Lamesley water meadows on 17th.

Green Woodpecker - A bird was seed at Clara Vale on 5th. A yaffling bird was seen flying between hedgerow fields at Bradley Fell on 11th and 19th. Noted throughout the month at Stagate. Others were noted at Lamesley on 16th, Far Pasture on 4th and 16th, Near Coalway Plantation also on 16th, Paddock Hill on 17th and Path Head Quarry on 23rd.

Green Woodpecker at Far Pasture

Great Spotted Woodpecker - One was noted at Shibdon Pond on several dates during the month. At least 3 visited the feeders at Clara Vale LNR during the month. A male was taken by a Sparrowhawk at Chopwell on 23rd while the female watched. a pair was confirmed breeding at Bradley Fell. Noted also during the month at Blaydon Burn, Thornley Woodland centre, Path Head Wood and a male which was was the first for a good few months in a particular garden in Rowlands Gill.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - On 3rd, a male was drumming and calling in the early afternoon at the Thornley Woodland Centre. A series of records at Clara Vale of another male withy the bird being seen on the feeders on 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 18th, 20th, 21st and 23rd. On the 24th a bird was drumming and seen well in the trees by the river Tyne. Late afternoon it was again on the feeders at the nature reserve and again at 19:03-19:09 hrs. Finally, on 30th a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was watched drumming in riverside trees and then flew across the Tyne and continued drumming there (Wylam - Close House)

Common Swift - One at Clara Vale on 26th was the first of the year, followed later in the day by 3 at Birtley WTW. The next day at one was over Winlaton and 3 at Shibdon on 27th. There were several at Shibdon Pond on 30th when 4 were at Far Pasture NR.

Wood Pigeon -Noted at Shibdon Pond as "particularly prominent" on 24th, the commonest bird on the reserve with many nests seen.

Stock Dove - One or two birds were recorded near Coalway Plantation, Stargate, Bradley Fell, Shibdon Pond, Far Pasture NR and Blaydon Burn.

Dipper - Pair were noted as breeding at several sites in the borough incluing Lintzford Bridge.

Skylark - Seems to be increasing a little and birds were noted at many sites including Summerhill and Stargate . On Bradley Fell, the local birder commented "On the plus side numbers of singing Skylarks over the eastern part of the Fell remain fairly high",

Sand Martin - Usual good numbers noted at Shibdon Pond, Stargate and Blaydon Quarry. Also 20+ noted at Lamesley Water Meadows, Burdon Moor and Far Pasture NR

Swallow - Good numbers noted by some observers but others have commented on their scarcity.

House Martin -The first House Martin of the year was at Blaydon Burn on 13th, followed by others from the 15th at Shibdon, Birtley and Rowlands Gill. However it was not until the 29th that good numbers were reported at Shibdon Pond and the first arrived at Bradley Fell.

Pied Wagtail - Small numbers noted throughout and 16 counted at Crawcrook Quarry on 22nd.

Grey Wagtail - 2 on 23rd at Lintzford and 1-2 noted also on the River Derwent, Blaydon Burn, Lamesley Water Meadows and Birtley STW.

Grey Wagtail at Lintzford

Redwing - One at bradley Fell on 4th was the last of the year.

Ring Ousel - One on 24th at Bowes Railway on the old railway line by the Kibblesworth Brick Pool.

Wheatear - A male at Burdon Moor on 1st was followed by 2 at Chopwell Woods on 5th. 5 were counted at Stella on 10th. Four at Burdon Moor on 17th, rose to 8 by 15th and 15 by 24th.

Two Wheatears at Burdon Moor

Grasshopper Warbler - One at Bill Quay on 13th was the first of the year. Near Greenside on 20th, at least 1 Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling (8.20pm -9pm) from a rough grass field boundary between rape fields midway along the footpath thatruns between Woodside opp Gingler Lane and Greenside village centre, west of Dyke Heads. It was still reeling the next day..A bird was reeling at Low Guard's Wood on 25th. One on the 30th was singing in SW corner of Shibdon Pond. Another was singing at Westfield Pasture on 24th and yet another the same day at Derwent CP..

Sedge Warbler - The first bird was father later being recorded at Shibdon on 24th.

Reed Warbler - The first bird of the year was at Shibdon as usual in the phragmites bed on 30th.

Chiffchaff - 3 were counted at Clara Vale on 1st. At Bradley Fell on 2nd, 9 Chiffchaffs were heard singing during a walk taking in about 20% of available habitat. singing birds also noted at Shibdon(7), Chopwell("numerous"), Lintzford(1), Derwent CP (a good scattering, especially around Far Pasture and Ryton(3)

Chiffchaff trapped at Clara Vale LNR

Willow Warbler - Small numbers throughout the borough from the start of the month then a large influx of 18th with subsequent counts of 7 at Chopwell on 7th, 10+ at Shibdon on 24th

Blackcap - The first was one at Clara Vale on 1st and others gradually arrived in the brough during the month with birds being recorded at Far Pasture, Bradley Fell(widespread), Shibdon Pond(max count of 5 on 24th), Chopwell, Longacre, Blaydon Dene, Swalwell, Path Head Wood, Thornley Woodland Centre and Stargate.

Common Whitethroat- Following the first at Bowes on 2st, singles were then noted singing at Blaydon Quarry(24th), Westfield Pasture(24th), Far Pasture NR(30th), Shibdon Pond (24th to 30th), Clara Vale on 27th and Bradley Fell on 29th.

Lesser Whitethroat - One at Path Head Quarry on 23rd was the only record.

Goldcrest - Noted at several spots including a singing male at Bradley Fell.

Coal Tit - Several were noted feeding in gorse bushes on 17th at Summerhills.

Willow Tit - A Pair were nopted in the hedgerow. at Bradley Fell Farm on 2nd and 1 nearby on 7th. Also one was at Blaydon Burn on 10th.

Long-tailed Tit - Breeding confirmed at Shibdon Pond

Tree-creeper - Noted during the month at Blaydon Burn, Shibdon, Thornley WC,

Nuthatch - Usual numbers at ThornleyWoodsland centre with birds commencing breeding. Elsewhere, records of note included 3 were at Blaydon Burn on 17th and Near Coalway Plantation they were commented on as being particularly prominent here at the moment

Reed Bunting - 9 were counted at Shibdon Pond on 24th and several pairs were noted to be breeding here and also at Far Pasture, Birtley STW, Lamesley Water Meadows, Watergate Park, Stargate and Lintzford.

Yellow Buntings - Good numbers breeding and commented at Bradley Fell by one observer as particularly numerous.

Brambling - A pair were at Clara Vale on 4th and 5th On 21st at the River Derwent at Swalwell, approx 20 Bramblings were feeding in the canopy of a large sycamore. Possibly more birds were as they were hard to spot due to the closing canopy. Some were males in breeding plumage.

Bullfinch - A male was seen singing at Shibdon on 24th and birds were noted at several spots during the month including a pair regularly visiting a garden in Rowlands Gill.. On 16th at Swalwell Visitor Centre there were 15 Bullfinches on the tables.

Bullfinch trapped at Clara Vale LNR

Goldfinch - 5 at Lintzford on 23rd was the largest count with smaller numbers at many other spots. Numbers seemed down compared to recent years at Bradley Fell.

Linnet - 21 were counted at Crawcrook on 22nd with a few pairs seen at a handful of sites. Numbers seemed down compared to recent years at Bradley Fell.

Tree Sparrow - A flock were noted in Chopwell woods on 5th and one was at Westfield Pasture on 24th. and a pair at Barlow Fell on 22nd. A bird regular in a garden at Rowlands Gill but its mate has not been seen.

Jay - One to three noted at many sites. Noted as particularly prominent here at the moment at Coalway Plantation.