Sunday 30th April

Lamesley Reedbeds - Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler(2), Swift(6)
Lamesley Water Meadows - 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 White Wagtail, 5 Swift. 2 Shelduck arrived later.
Hedley Hall Woods - 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 13 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 1 Willow Tit. Also Red Kite over
Ravensworth Fell - 5 Northern Golden Plover in summer plumage, Oyster-catcher
Timber beach - 2 Ringed Plover. Also a well established patch of Shining Geranium (G. lucudum), possibly the first post 1970 record for the borough.
Lobley Hill -Little Owl seen at the bottom of Lobley Hill just on the A1 roundabout been chased by a crow
Shibdon Pond - Blackcap 5 singing, Song Thrush 6, Swallow 3, Sand Martin 80+, Swift 9, Greylag Goose 2, Tufted Duck 8, Little Grebe 3+, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Great Black Backed Gull 2, Goldeneye 1pair, Ruddy Duck 1 male, Reed Bunting 3 singing,Chiffchaff 4 singing, Sedge Warbler 2 singing, Whitethroat 4 singing, Bullfinch pr, ong-tailed Tit 1 pr, Goldfinch; 44 species recorded.
Barlow village - Pair of Dippers in the Burn. Nuthatch,Tree-creeper, Swallow, House Martin, Green woodpecker and a resident pair of Kestrel all seen recently..

Saturday 29th April

Sand Martins at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Ravensworth Fell - Female Wheatear and a Weasel neaby on Burdon Moor.
Lamesley Water Meadows - Sand martin 35+, White Wagtail 4-5, Pied Wagtail 6+, Yellow Wagtail 2, Skylark, Lapwing 4, Redshank 4, Heron 1, LBB Gull 1, Shelduck 2, Little Ringed Plover 8+, Oystercatcher 2 and Common Sandpiper 1.
Lamesley Reedbeds - Sedge Warbler singing early morning. Later, Skylark 1+, Sand Martin 60+, Pied Wagtail 8, Willow Warbler 7 singing, Blackcap 3 singing, Coot 24 + 4 young, Shelduck 2, Chiffchaff 2, Goldfinch 2, Yellowhammer 1, Kestrel 1, Swallow 3
Shibdon Pond - Singing Sedge Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 16 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap and 6 singing Reed Bunting. 2 Swift in evening.
Clara Vale - Westfield - 8 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap and 2 Common Whitethroat Also 6 Peacock, 5 Small Tortoishell, 1 Comma and 1 Orange-tip.
Clara Vale LNR- Ringing included 1 Common Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap (up to 8 singing) & Great Spotted Woodpecker. Also a Peacock Butterfly in the pit yard.
Far Pasture NR - Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Snipe, Mute Swans nesting, Coots with 6 chicks, Reed Bunting, Heron, two pairs of Little Grebe, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Kestrel, Jay, Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins and Pied Wagtail.

Goldfinch [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Stargate - 1 Orange-tip butterfly

Common Whitethroats now widespread.

Friday 28th April

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Little Ringed Plover.
Swalwell - Swift Flying over Maguires fish shop at 20:10.
Hedley Hall Woods - 1pm - 3 Grasshopper Warblers and one Lesser Whitethroat singing also numerous Common Whitethroats Willow Warblers and the odd Chiffchaff.
Bradley Fell - Grasshopper Warbler reeling from field edge set aside at 10pm this evening. Also 2 male Blackcaps together earlier and stunning views of a Red Kite very low over the old workings east Bradley Fell. It dropped down to pick up what looked like rabbit carrion. There was quite a large fire at this site last weekend.
Shibdon Pond - A pair of Goldeneye(first summer male) displaying, A male Ruddy duck, 3 pair Little Grebe, 3 Common Whitethroat, 100 Sand Martin, 20+ Swallow and 6 swift. A Garden Warbler along the western boundary path.

Thursday 27th April

Barmoor - lunchtime -- Swift 2, (earliest the observer can recall, usually 4-8 May), Swallow 2, House Martin 4.
Axwell Park - Pipestrelle and Noctule bats seen.
Winlaton- One observer tonight had a beautiful Silver Pheasant in his back garden feeding. It must have escaped from someone’s collection so if you hear of anyone who has lost one it is in Winlaton
Burdon Moor –male and female Wheatear, 2 Oyster-catchers, Whitethroat, Willow Warblers 1-2pm
Stargate - The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year back at this regular spot for them

Collared Dove at Clara Vale [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Wednesday 26th April

Lamesley Water Meadows - New record count of 11-12 Little Ringed Plovers and Up to 9 White Wagtails, 6 Pied Wagtails. Also 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Oyster-catcher.
Lamesley Reedbeds - Common Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 5+, Willow Warbler 2, Sand Martin 100+, House Martin 100+, Reed Bunting 10, Greylag 2, Canada Goose 1, Shelduck 2.
Ravensworth Arms, Lamesley -10.30 pm- Little Owl
River Derwent at Swalwell - Pair of Mute Swans nesting under the bridge

Tuesday 25th April

Shibdon Pond- Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 12 Willow Warbler and 6 Blackcaps all singing. About 200 Sand Martins over the pond.
Lamesley reedbeds - 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, a Common Whitethroat and about 100 sand martins resting on the ground south of the reedbeds in the dry field just before the sewage works.
Ravensworth Fell - Little Owl sitting on fence post at the crosroads of Birklands/Birkhead Lanes.
Far Pasture NR - Single Common Buzzard, a Common Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler and Swift.
Lamesley Water Meadows -Now 9 Little Ringed Plover present, 1 Ringed Plover and 7 White and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Again no sign of the Water Pipit,
Axwell Park - Tawny Owls are being regularly at the moment in the distance from the direction of Blaydon cemetery and two separate owls calling from Axwell Park woods between 9-9.30pm Sunday night.

Monday 24th April

Lamesley Water Meadows -A Blue-headed Wagtail (This is the first borough record since 1989.) , 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 White Wagtail and 2 Little Ringed Plover. Water Pipit reported again at 15:00hrs and again no sign later.
Westfield Pasture - Grasshopper Warbler, Common Whitethoat and Brambling
Kibblesworth CBC - 1 Little Owl, 30 Fieldfares, 3 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 15 Willow Warbler males singing.

Kestrel [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Sunday 23rd April

Chopwell Woods- 2 Grasshopper Warblers "reeling" near bottom of woods next to the new bike trail.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Little Ringed Plover, 4 White Wagtail, 2 Shelduck and 2 Oyster-catcher. A Garganey drake was seen late in the afternoon but no sign by 19:30 hrs. A Water Pipit was watched at the side of the pool left of the hide, then it flew to the edge of the scrape around the central area with White Wagtails. There were also Meadow Pipit around it for good comparison. This is the first borough record since 1976.
Stargate - Several Green Tiger Beetles (Cicindela campestris) were seen - see insects page for more pictures

Green Tiger Beetles (Cicindela campestris) at Stargate. These little creatures can give you a quite painful nip.They are not called tiger for nothing [Brian Pollinger]

Birtley STW - 3 Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper.
Burdon Moor - A Short-eared Owl showing very well. Also the first Common Whitethroat and at least 13 Wheatears present and a Brown Hare.
Ravensworth Fell - 2 Wheatear and a northern Golden Plover.
Chopwell Woods - The first Tree Pipit, singing in the uusal clear fell area. Beware there is also a Meadow Pipit using a tree as its song post in the same felled area, closer to the road. Also 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Comma Butterfly.
Far Pasture NR- Willow Warbler 5+ , Chiffchaff 1, Sparrowhawk 2, Kestrel 1, Little Grebe 2+, Teal 2, Stock Dove 2, Blackcap 1, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Sand Martin. 29 species

Shelduck in flight [Ray Wilby]

Shibdon Pond - Mistle Thrush 4, Blackcap 5 singing, Mallard 51, Canada Goose 5, Coot 17, Heron 3+, Ruddy Duck male and female (seen briefly by the island), Goldeneye 6, Shelduck 3, Tufted Duck 10, Little Grebe 1+, Common Sandpiper 1 on rafts, Chiffchaff 5 singing, Willow Warbler 25 singing, LBB Gull 6, Barnacle Goose 2, Siskin 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Reed Bunting 1 singing, Sedge Warbler 1 singing, Teal 2, Bullfinch 2 pairs, 40 species.

Mistle Thrush [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Female Kestrel [Ray Wilby]

Saturday 22nd April

Birtley Sewage Works- 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Swift, 30+ Sand Martin, 10 House Martin and 2 Swallow
Lamesley Reedbeds - 1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker , 1 Canada Goose, 17 Linnet , another brood of 2 Coot perhaps 1 or 2 days old, 1 Kestrel, 2 Blackcap, 5+ Willow Warbler and 5+ Chiffchaff.
Shibdon Pond - The first Sedge Warbler of the year in the first phagmites bed.

Friday 21st April

Lamesley Water Meadows -2 White and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
Lamesley STW -Single White and Yellow Wagatail.
Barlow Fell - 40+ Curlew

Stonechat [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Thursday 20th April

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2, Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, 2 Redshank and a White Wagtail still present.
Lamesley STW - The first Common Swift of the year. Also 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 25 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow and a House Martin.
Shibdon Pond - 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Small Tortoiseshell. Later, Barnacle Goose 2, Canada Goose 8, Goldeneye 2, Tufted Duck 17, Lesser Black-backed Gull 6, Sand Martin c75, Heron 1, Blackcap, Shelduck2, Little Grebe 3, Ruddy Duck 1 male, Swallow, Pheasant 7, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff 3 singing, Willow Warbler 15 singing, Kestrel, Teal 2, Song Thrush.

Wednesday 19th April

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Little Ringed Plovers,and a White Wagtail still present.

Tuesday 18th April

Wheatear at Ryton Willows [Steven Fryer]

River Tyne- Clara Vale to Newburn Bridge - A walk along the river today produced some excellent views of an Otter, probably a female, just west of Ryton Willows. Also 21 Goosander, 12 Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff and 10 Willow Warbler were counted,together with 2 Grey Wagtail, single Oyster-catcher, Redshank and a Dipper. Butterflies on the wing included the first Orange-tips, 3 male and a female at Maryside Hill and a total of 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 8 Peacocks and a Comma. Bees on the wing included Buff and White-tailed Bumblebees, Common Carder Bee and large numbers of Tawny Mining-bee. A Common Buzzard was seen over Castle Hill.
Ryton Willows - Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Redpoll and a Common Sandpiper with 2 Wheatears in the horse field between there and Newburn.
Westfield Pasture - 7 Fieldfare over in the morning and a Woodcock was flushed later.
Stargate - 5 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoisehell butterfly.
River Tyne at Costco - Still 2 Wheatear on waste land next to Costco, Dunston.
Timber Beach - 2 Little Ringed Plover.
Shibdon Pond - A third Barnacle Goose has joined the two feral birds. Its origin in unknown.

Robin in Saltwell Park [Photo: Robert Shreeve]

Monday 17th April

Lamesley Water Meadows - There are now 8 Little Ringed Plovers, a Kingfisher, 3 White Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Linnet, pr Shelduck, pr Oystercatcher, 3 pr Redshank also Lapwing, Teal, Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron.

Little Ringed Plover at Lamesley [Photo: Paul Davidson]

Lamesley STW - 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Willow Tit, singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
Clara Vale - 2 Wheatear present.
Thornley Kennels - 6 Wheatear
Gibside Estate - 5 Red Kite
Crawcrook Quarry - 1 Red Kite
A1 by the Angel - Common Buzzard.
River Tyne at Costco - 4 Wheatear on waste land next to Costco Dunston and on wasteland on opposite side or road where fly tipping is taking place (near concrete blocks).
Clara Vale to Ryton - a walk along the riverside produced 6 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 9 Willow Warbler and a Willow Tit.

Sunday 16th April

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper & 2 Little Ringed Plover. A Yellow Wagtail was present later in the day. Little Owl seen nearby.
Lamesley STW - 1 White Wagtail, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Green Sandpiper. House Martin with good numbers of Swallows & Sand Martin. 3x Siskin also flew over.
Shibdon Pond - Single Ruddy Duck and 4 Goldeneye. 2 feral Barnacle Geese are visiting occassionally.
Bradley Fell - Common Buzzard over the old workings east edge of Bradley Fell this morning - almost collided with a wayward helium filled party balloon. Also 2 singing Willow Warblers, several Chiffchaffs and a Swallow
Birklands Lane - 3 Wheatear flew NE over.
Ravensworth Fell - 1 male Ring Ouzel in the field next to the renovated house with the old train carriage in.
Derwenthaugh area - 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Wheatear and a Green Woodpecker.

Saturday 15th April

Kibblesworth CBC - 6 Crossbills (2nd site record), 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Owl, I Red Kite (no 47), 3 Swallows, 3 Willow Warblers, I Siskin (singing), 3 Kestrels, I Fieldfare, 1 Grey Squirrel (4th site record)
Burdon Moor - 1 Wheatear
Stargate - Male Redstart and a flock of 7 Jay
Lamesley STW - Oystercatcher 2, Canada Goose, Green Sandpiper 2, Little Ringed Plover 1, Linnet 11, Reed Bunting 30+, Yellowhammer 10+, Kestrel, Coot with 2 recently hatched fledglings

Oyster-catcher at at Lamesley [Ray Wilby]

Clara Vale - Merlin flew over heading north. Also a Green woodpecker in the reserve today.
Crawcrook Quarry - 100+ Sand martins a Red Kite.
Thornley WC - 2 Peacock butterfly.
Derwnt Walk CP - 2 Comma butterfly
Westfield - Maryhill - 5 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff and a flock of 5 Jay.

Friday 14th April

Lamesley STW - Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover and Willow Warbler. 4 Peacock Butterflies.
Lamesley Water Meadows - Another Common Sandpiper, another White Wagtail showing particularly well and 3-4 Little Ringed Plover.
Derwent Walk - Green Woodpecker calling from woods next to Golden Lion ay Winlaton Mill. Pair Grey Wagtails and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Axwell Park - Green woodpecker in the woods before flying off towards Shibdon Pond.Present again later. The Reed Bunting still regular all day visitor to the garden feeder station there. Feeding direct from seed feeder.

The Reed Bunting at Axwell Park

Shibdon Pond - Singing Willow Warbler. 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Comma and 4 Peacock Butterflies.
Spen Banks Wood - 4 Crossbills still present. Also 4 singing Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap.
Crawcrook Quarry - breeding Lapwing and Curlew and 1 Comma Butterfly.
Clara Vale - Willow Warbler this morning. Some tube feeders were deliberately smashed yesterday evening. They will be replaced as soon as possible. A Common Buzzard flew over, initially flying east then mobbed bu crows and flew back west. A flock of 31 Greylag flying NW also flew over..2 Peacock butterflies.
Far Pasture NR - 1 Comma

1 pair of Little Ringed Plover also at a private site in the west of the borough.

A rather aggressive looking Song Thrush at Far Pasture [Photo: Carolyn Wood]

Wednesday 12th April

Long-tailed Tit [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - Spring migrants today at Far Pasture headed by a singing Willow Warbler and a few chiffchaff scattered around, pair of Blackcap chasing each other through the scrub. small numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin over the car park and sewage works. On the pond, Mute Swans and Coot are nesting, one of the pairs of Little Grebe were gathering nesting material and Moorhens were getting amorous.

Little Grebe at Far Pasture wrestling with a large tiddler [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Small numbers of Snipe feeding in the open, Grey Heron fishing and Kestrel hunting. Pairs of Jay and Great-spotted Woodpeckers flying around the pond-side trees. A Willow Tit showed well at a nut feeder someone has put up, and with numerous common residents in the vicinity and flying over, a total of 39 species in the area (even without seeing the usual Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk and Long-tailed Tits).

Squabbling Coots and a Willow Warbler at Far Pasture [Photos: Ray Wilby]

Tuesday 11th April

Clara Vale LNR - An afternoon visit proved to be very rewarding in terms of relaxation and birds seen. Two male Blackcaps and a male Brambling were seen feeding below the feeders in front of the hide on several occasions. Three Siskin (2 male and 1 female) visited the feeders throughout the afternoon.

Male Brambling at Clara Vale [Photo: Stephen Wales]

Other birds seen there included Mallard (3), Moorhen (1), Coot (2), Pheasant (1m & 1f), Woodpigeon (6), Stock Dove (5), Greenfinch (7+), Chaffinch (10+), Blue Tit (4+), Great Tit (4+), Coal Tit (2), Magpie (2), Jackdaw (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Dunnock (2), Robin (1) and Yellowhammer (5+). A Chiffchaff was heard singing further inside the reserve.

Siskin not on the feeders at Clara Vale, male above, female below [Photos: Ray Wilby]

Monday 10th April

High Spen wood- 2, and later 4 Crossbills seen.
Barlow - Single Swallow flew over

Sunday 9th April

Lamesley STW - 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 1 House Martin, 3 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Grey lag and 1 singing Chiffchaff. 2 Redwing and 6 Mute Swan flew over, the latter landing in a nearby field.

Grey Lag in flight at Lamesley [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oyster-catcher, 2 Shelduck, 5 Sand Martin and 8 Swallow.

Great Spotted Woodpecker and brambling at Clara Vale
[Ray Wilby]

Clara Vale LNR - 1 Brambling, 4 Blackcap, 1 Siskin, 2 Great Spotted woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch and 1 Bullfinch..

Male Blackcap at Clara Vale
[Ray Wilby]

Cock Siskin at Clara Vale
[Steven Fryer]

Riverside at Costco - 20 Teal, 2 Shelduck and 2 Grey Partridge.

Pair of Shelducks on the Tyne at Costco [[Photo: Ray Wilby]

Ravensworth Fell - 2 Common Buzzard.
Westfield Pasture - Tawny Owl, Little Owl and Woodcock

Saturday 8th April

Wren at Thornley Woods
[Ray Wilby]

Lamesley STW - 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 3 Swallow, 3 House Martin and a flock of 10 Linnet flew over.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oyster-catcher, 2 Grey Lag, 2 Teal and a Common Buzzard soaring over the nearby marshalling yards.
Shibdon Pond - Ruddy Duck still present .
Far Pasture NR - 1 Chiffchaff

Singing Chiffchaff at Far Pasture [Carolyn Wood]

Clara Vale LNR - 1 Siskin and 4 Blackcap including 2 males feeding on apples - 1 trapped and rung.

Siskin on the nut feeders at Clara Vale LNR [Photo: Michael Dawson]

Riverside at Timber Beach - 1 Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover at Timber Beach [[Photo: Paul Davidson]

Friday 7th April

Clara Vale LNR - Brambling still present
Watergate Lake - No sign of the Great crested Grebes
Shibdon Pond - 4 Swallow & 28 Sand Martin

Chiffchaff at Far Pasture
The earliest of the warblers, there are many singing around the borough despite the cold and snow [Photo: Carolyn Wood]

Far Pasture NR - 1 Chiffchaff and Stock Dove occupying nest box

Stock Dove roosting in its nest box at Far Pasture
[Ray Wilby]

Thursday 6th April

Watergate Lake - 2 Great Crested Grebe present all day
Barmoor - First tadpoles of the year.
Shibdon Pond - Willow Warbler singing by the hide.

Wednesday 5th April

Shibdon Pond - Willow Warbler singing .
West Gateshead - Little Ringed Plover at last years breeding site.
Lamesley STW - 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Swallow, 3 House Martin
Kibblesworth CBC - 3 Wheatears (2m&1f), 2 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Grey Partridge, 50 Linnet (flock), 1 Willow Tit, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Little Owl.
Clara Vale LNR - Brambling and a pair of Blackcap.

Male Blackcap at Clara Vale One of four birds showing well at Clara Vale and presumably due to the cold weather, still eating the apples at the feeding station [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Greenside Church - 40-50 Fieldfare flew north over

Kingfisher at Far Pasture [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - 8 Snipe, 20 Teal, 5 Dabchicks, 6 Mallards, 6 Coots, 2 Red Kite, 12 Teal, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs singing in the distance. No sign of the Mandarin Duck or the Kingfisher today.

Grey Heron arriving at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Near Burnhopfield - Red Kite near the Pack Horse Pub.

Tuesday 4th April

Mandarin at Far Pasture This drake was elusive during its day here [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR- Drake Mandarin present but can be difficult to see. Blackcap singing here and a Red Fox showing.

Female Bullfinch at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Clara Vale - Male Brambling by the new feeders. Also a Red Kite nearby, the first for the area.

Brambling at Clara Vale [Photo: Stephen Wales]

Rowlands Gill - In a local birder's garden - Getting up to a dozen Siskin in the garden daily, and this morning had a male Brambling feeding with the chaffinches, almost full summer moult, and a garden first.

Chiffchaffs reported as singing 'everywhere' in the borough today

Monday 3rd April

Shibdon Pond - Ruddy Duck still present
Far Pasture - Kingfisher showing well and a Common Buzzard flew over

Sunday 2nd April

Birtley - 1 singing Chiffchaff
Axwell Park - The Reed Bunnting still visiting n observer's garden feeding station .
Sled Lane pond - Chiffchaff singing plus 2 male and 3 female Goldeneye, several pairs of Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe Thornley - 20 House Martins now present.

Saturday 1st April

Clara Vale - 2 singing Chiffchaff
Birtley STW- 1 Little Ringed Plover.
Shibdon Pond - The first Ruddy Duck back.

Ruddy Duck at Shibdon
The first bird of the year, a male as is usual. Like everything, a little later than last year when the first bird arrived on 30th March [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Bradley Fell - Chiffchaffs have arrived at last, with 4 singing birds today - 12 days later than last year. Also present Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Redwings and a Red Kite

Great Spotted Woodpecker [Photo: Michael Dawson]

Far Pasture - Roe Deer in the left hand side field. Kingfisher showing up in a tree to the left of the left hand pond. Kestrel and Red Kite on show. Many Sand and House Martins now present.

Kingfisher at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Thornley WC - Nuthatch cleaning out the nestbox.

Nuthatch 'spring cleaning' at Thornley WC [Ray Wilby]

[Red Kite just over the boundary, over B&Q, Scotswood]

for previous months bird records see bottom of page