Animals Insects Flora Sites News & Gossip

Wednesday 29th April 2009

Far Pasture NR -The Red-rumped Swallow present for its 3rd day. Also present - Sand Martin 5, House Martin 3, Garden Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 3, Goldfinches 6, Common Buzzard 1, Robin 2, Chaffinch 3, Wren 1, Orange tip Butterfly 4, Swift 3, Red Kite 1, Kingfisher 2, Heron 2, Tufted Duck 2, Mute Swan 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 1, Canadda Geese 2, Great Tit 2, Coal Tit 3, Dunnock 2, Jay 1, Coot 4, Blackcap1.
Lamesley Water Meadows - A male Ruff (first of the year), and 2 Common Sandpiper. Also Swallow 2, House Sparrows 10, Linnet 2, Coot 3, Mallard 10+, Meadow Pipit 3, Oystercatcher 2, Redshank 5, Lapwing 15+, Shelduck 2, Starling 2, Teal 2, Woodpigeon 2, Ruff 1, Pied Wagtail 2, Greenfinch 2, Mistle Thrush 1, Robin 2, Jackdaw 10, Chaffinch 1.

Ruff at Lamesley [Paul Davidson]

Stargate - First Dingy Skipper butterfly of the year
Burdon Moor - 1 Cuckoo
Birtley reedbeds - 1 Sedge Warbler. Also Red Legged Partridge 1, Moorhen 1, Mallard 2, Willow Warbler 2, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1, Little Grebe 2, Chiffchaff 2, Coot 2, Reed Bunting 1, Goldfinch 2, Chaffinch 2, Common Whitethroat 1, Skylark 1.
Shibdon Pond - Canada Geese 5, Herring Gull 10, Oystercatcher 2, Magpie 2, Shelduck 2, Tufted Duck 13, Black Headed Gull 5, Mallard 15+, Lesser Black Backed Gull 2. Coot 3, Common Tern 2, Barnacle Geese 3, Goldeneye 1, Wren 1, Moorhen 3, Little Grebe 2, Chiffchaff 2, Reed Bunting 1.
Derwent beside Dam Head car park - A female Goosander together with 12 chicks on theriver. One very lone male further upstream - looks like his job is done.

Tuesday 28th April 2009

Far Pasture NR - The Red-rumped Swallow present still, usually over the adjacent sewage works together with 1 Swift and large numbers of House Martin, Sand Martin & Swallow. On the reserve itself 2 Grey Heron, pair of Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Chiffchaff, Blackap, Garden Warbler, 1 male Reed Bunting. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from the field opposite and a Tawny Owl was calling from the wooded area off the approach road.
Lamesley Water Meadows -2 Common Sandpiper commuting between the pool and the Church Pool.

Monday 27th April 2009

Far Pasture NR - A Red-rumped Swallow, a rare spring and autumn migranat from southern Europe, appeared late morning but was gone by 12:00. The first for Gateshead. Also a Garden Warbler (first of the year), little compensation for some of the birders who just missed the swallow.

The Red-rumped Swallow [Alan Mould]

Birtley reedbeds - Sedge Warbler singing, 1 Shelduck, 1pr Tufted Duck, c30 Swallow, 5+ House Martin
Shibdon Pond - 1 Common Tern
Teams - 8 Waxwing feeding in sycamore trees behind Bus Stop adjacent to newsagents on Askew Road West at 9.00am this morning
Burdon Moor - c20 Wheatear, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Snipe, 2 Redshank
Birtley Brickworks Pool area - 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
Bowes Valley NR - 3 Wheatear.

Sunday 26th April 2009

Burdon Moor - 1 male Ring Ousel, 1 singing Grasshopper Warbler (excellent views down to 1 metre), 18+ Wheatear. Singing Lesser Whitethroat on Ravensworth Fell along old railway track Kibblesworth - Birkhead cottages.

Mistle Thrush at Lamesley [Paul Davidson]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Wheatear, 2 broods of fledged Lapwing and 3 Redshank with 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, 25 Sand Martin and 2 female Sparrowhawk at the Church Pool

Common Whitethroat at the Church Pool [Paul Davidson]

Birtley Reedbeds - 20+ Common Swift, single Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing on other side of road, 1 Common Whitethroat. 3 Common Buzzard nearby.
Kibblesworth brickworks pool - 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Orange-tip butterfly.
Stargate - 1 singing Lesser Whitethroat
Shibdon Pond - Single Common Whitethroat and Common Swift. Pair of Canada Geese nesting on the nearby Derwenthaugh Meadows.

Saturday 25th April 2009

Shibdon Pond - Common Whitethroat and Common Swift
Spen Banks - Cuckoo (first of year) and 2 Common Whitethroat. Also 1 Common Buzzard.
Ryton Willows - Grasshopper Warbler still present
Westfield Pasture - 3 Willow Tit.

Friday 24th April 2009

Ryton Willows - Lesser Whitethroat (first of the year), Grasshopper Warbler still present and a pair of Grey Partridge
Clara Vale - 1, possibly 2 Lesser Whitethroat at Black Ashy
Shibdon Pond - Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler (first of year) today.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Mute Swan, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Common Buzzard. Church Pool produced 2 Redshank & 2 Common Sandpiper.
Birtley Reedbeds - 1 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 singing Common Whitethroat (first of year) , 2 pair Shelduck & 3 Kestrel .
Birtley Brickworks Pool area- 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler & a pair of Yellowhammer.

Thursday 23rd April 2009

Shibdon Pond - Common Tern (first of year) briefly.
Teams - Waxwings heard calling from garden of Tyneview Place, Teams at 8.30 this morning, but despite an immediate search of the estate, and adjacent roads unable to pin down the flock.

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

Lamesley Water Meadows - Single male Yellow Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail

Tuesday 21st April 2009

Shibdon Pond - Drake Mandarin this afternoon

The Mandarin at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Stella- An Iceland Gull seen at 18:00 hrs
Lamesley Water Meadows - Redshank 2, Woodpigeon 2, Crow 2, House Sparrow 8, Starling 1, Pied Wagtail 2, Moorhens 8, Mute Swan 1, Blue Tit 1, lapwing 8, Jackdaw 6, Greenfinch 2, , Brown Rat 5, Rabbits 10, Wren 2, Coots 8, Teal 2, Goldfinch 2, Robin 1, Oystercatcher 2, Mistle Thrush 1, Magpie 1, Linnet 2, Swallow 1.
Birtley reedbed pools -, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 2, Mallard 3, Magpie 2, Willow Warbler 2, Kestrel 1, Moorhen 1, Little Grebe 2, Coot 4 (2 Adults+ 2 Chicks) Greylag Geese 2, Reed Bunting 1, Great Spotted woodpecker 1, Chaffinch 2, Lesser Black Backed Gull 5, Carrion Crow 2, Blue Tit 1,

Female Pheasant [11 year old Josh Vince-Urwin]

Far Pasture NR - Little Grebe, Dunnock 5, Robin 2, Great Tit 2, Goldfinch 6, Pheasant 3, Chiffchaff 5, Little Grebe 2, Mute Swan 2, Canada Geese 2, Willow Warbler 4, Coot 4, Reed Bunting 2, Wren 1, Grey Heron 2, Water Rail 1, Magpie 4, Red Kite 3, Swallow 2.
Burdon Moor -- Skylark 3, Meadow Pipit 1, Carion Crow 1, Swallow 1, Reed Bunting 1.

Grey Heron [11 year old Josh Vince-Urwin]

Monday 20th April 2009

Swallow at Lamesley   Fairly common by the 20th [Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - A Grasshopper Warbler singing and a male Tawny Owl calling at 3pm .
Derwenthaugh - Drake Gadwall present, presumably one of the Shibdon birds.

Gadwall at Derwenthaugh [Steven Fryer]

Thornley WC - 3 Common Buzzard overhead
Birtley Brickworks Pool area- 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler

Green Woodpecker [Ron McHatton]

19th April 2009

Winlaton - 2 singing Grasshopper Warblers
Ravensworth Fell - A Long-eared Owl in breeding habitat, 250 'Northern' Golden Plover.
Burdon Moor - 2 Grey Partridge
Ryton Willows - Grasshopper Warbler singing, Common Sandpiper on the river, calling water Rail and pair of nesting Mute Swans for the first time in several years. 2 more singing Grasshopper Warbler between Ryton and Newburn Bridge.
Kibblesworth - 4th CBC for year- 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 400 Golden Plover, 22 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Wheater, 37 Willow Warbler (in song), 5 Swallows, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Jay, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Siskin, 25 Red Leg Partridge, 5 Tree Sparrow, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Roe Deer

Oystercatchers Seen on nearly every area of water in the borough this spring [Ray Wilby]

Birtley Brickworks Pool area; - 2 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 1 Oystercatcher, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Swallow, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling briefly), 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff & 6+ Willow Warbler.
Long Acre Wood- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 1 Swallow, 5 Willow Warbler & 1 escaped 'white' Parrot sp.
Crawcrook Quarry - 1 Wheatear
Birtley reedbed pools - First Common Swift of the year.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Redshank, 2 Canada Goose, 15 Teal, 2 Grey lag Goose, 1 Blackcap with another 3 of the latter, together with a pair of mating Oyster-catcher, pair of Tufted Duck and Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin at the nearby Church Pool.
Shibdon Pond - Pair of Shoveler,
Derwenthaugh Meadows - 2 Wheatear
Dunston Staithes - 2 Dunlin, Kittiwake, 19 Lesser Black-back Gull, 13 Common shelduck and 4 Curlew
Sunniside - House Martins back at their nest site,

Saturday 18th April 2009

Burdon Moor - 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron flying over, 6 Curlew, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, 2 Greylag Geese, Swallow, Skylark, 2 Oystercatcher and a Pied Wagtail.
Derwent walk CP - 1 Kingfisher, 1Grey Wagtail and 2 Dipper.
Hedley Hall Woods - 1 Grasshopper Warbler still singing, 3 Tree Sparrow, 4 Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Male Linnet at Lamesley [Joanne Reavey]

Friday 17th April 2009

Shibdon Pond - 3 Barnacle Geese

Thursday 16th April 2009

Far Pasture NR - Blackcap
Lamesley Water Meadows - Red-legged Partridge and a Common Buzzard.

Red-legged Partridge at Lamesley [Joanne Reavey]

Burdon Moor - Several Wheatears and many Meadow Pipits

Wednesday 15th April 2009

Near Wardley -First Mallard ducklings of the year

Mallard chicks at Wardley [Joanne Reavey]

Clara Vale LNR - First Moorhen chicks of the year.

Moorhen chicks at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Tuesday 14th April 2009

Shibdon Pond - First Common Sandpiper of the year. Also 2 Barnacle Geese, 100+ Sand Martin and a few Swallow.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Red-legged Partridge

Monday 13th April 2009

Burdon Moor - Ring Ousel early morning and a singing Grasshopper Warbler
Ravensworth Fell - 1 Little Owl
Lamesley Water Meadows - Common Buzzard, 3 Swallow, 5+ Sand Martin, 1 House Martin and a male Blackcap singing in the Ravensworth Arms car park.
Birtley Reedbeds; Coot pair with 3 young, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 male Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler.
Bowes Valley NR/Clarty Lane; 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 18+ Curlew overflew, 2 Swallow, 5+ Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, 3 Blackcap (2m1f), numerous Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Stoat.
Kibblesworth Brickworks Pool; 3 Little Grebe, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck.
Crawcrook - Green Woodpecker, Little Owl and 3 Willow Tit

Jay at Thornley [Ron Hindhaugh]

Sunday 12th April 2009

Timber beach - 1 Ringed Plover
Burdon Moor - 7 singing Willow Warbler, 15 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Buzzard, 10+ Skylark and 2 drumming Snipe.
Ravensworth Estate - 1 Common Buzzard
Shibdon Pond - 1 Water Rail
Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Swallow, 4 Teal, 6 Redshank
Hedley Hall woods - 1 singing Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff

Grasshopper Warbler at Hedley Hall Woods [Steven Fryer]

Winlaton - 1 singing Grasshopper Warbler

Late report of a Brambling at Shibdon Pond last week.

Saturday 11th April 2009

Kibblesworth Common Bird Census - 18 Willow Warblers in song, 4 Common Buzzards (in air together displaying, with a possible 5th in distance), 2 Red Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk - display, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 1 Marsh Tit (Railway Line), 2 Willow Tits - nest hole excavating, 12 Red Leg Partridges, NO Grey partridge for 3rd visit running, ONLY 2 Tree Sparrows (20 pairs 5 years ago), 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Woodcock, 1 GS Woodpecker, 26 Robins in song, 12 Linnets (flock)
Watergate - 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Little Grebe, c30 Tufted Duck
Burdon Moor - 1 Whinchat (male), 7 singing Willow Warbler, 8 Wheatear, 7 Willow Warbler, 1 Red Kite and a drunning Snipe. Little Owl on nearby Ravensworth Fell

Male Wheatear at Burdon Moor [Joanne Reavey]

High Spen Woods - 2 Tawny Owl

Friday 10th April 2009

Shibdon Pond - 10 singing Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap
Burdon Moor - 11 singing Willow Warbler, 3 Wheatear and a Willow Tit
Lamesley Water Meadows - A possible Jack Snipe reported. Also seen were Moorhen 10, Curlew 2, Lapwing 40+, Oystercatcher 2, Mallard 5, Kestrel 1, Pied Wagtail 2, Redshank 4, Teal 12, Starling 12, Jackdaw 2 , Meadow Pipit 2, , Snipe 3, Linnet 5, Collared Dove 1
Clara Vale LNR - Chiffchaff 2, Mistle Thrush 2, Blackbird 4, Blue Tit 2, Woodpigeon 4, Willow Warbler 1, Moorhen 1, Robin 2, Chaffinch 2, Pheasant 1, Goldfinch 2, Great Tit 2, Magpie 2, Bullfinch 2, Greenfinch 1, Siskin 1, Dunnock 2, Coal Tit 1, Blackcap (M) 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

Blackcap at Clara Vale Michael Eccles and Ray Wilby

Far Pasture NR - Swallow 1, Teal 2, Coot 6, Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Canada Geese 2, Little Grebe 1, Red Kite 1, Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 1, Pheasant 2, Moorhen 3, Wren 1, Dunnock 2, Blue Tit 1, Robin 1, Jay 2, Sparrowhawk 1.

Influx of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps with many sites throughout the borough holding singing birds today.

Thursday 9th April 2009

Burdon Moor - 4 Willow Warbler and 10 Swallow
Lintzford - A White Stork flew over at midday and 2 hours later was seen over Blaydon
Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Swallow

Wednesday 8th April 2009

Birtley Reedbed Pools - 1 singing Willow Warbler
Lamesley Water Meadows - 3 Swallow

Tuesday 7th April 2009

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Swallow
Birtley Reedbed Pools - 4 Swallow
Far Pasture NR - 3 Common Snipe, 2+ singing Chiffchaff. Several Swallow and House Martin over the car park.
Derwent Walk CP - 1 singing Willow Warbler was the first of the year
Hagghill Woods - 1 Swallow

Monday 6th April 2009

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Grey Heron, 1 Whooper Swan (flew off North 08:10hrs), 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1pr Oystercatcher, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Reed Bunting.

Whooper Swan and Oystercatcher at Lamesley [Steven Fryer]

Birtley Reedbed Pools - 1pr Little Grebe, 1pr Mute Swan, 2 male Blackcap (1 singing) & 1 Dipper on the Team.
Birtley Brickworks Pool - 5 Tufted Duck.
Urpeth Wood - 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay.
Fellside Road, Whickham - 1 Little Owl
Ravensworth Fell - 1 Little Owl and 200 Golden Plover

Golden Plovers on Burdon Moor [Steven Fryer]

Stargate - Green Sandpiper still present
Burdon Moor - 1 Ring Ousel flew over at 06:45 as did 4 Fieldfare. 2-3 Wheatears, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 Red Kite, 1 male Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 10+ Skylark (probably many more), 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Linnet, 2 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 10 Lapwing and a Redshank

Wheatears on Burdon Moor [Steven Fryer]

Timber beach - 2 Ringed Plover

Ringed Plovers at Timber Beach [Steven Fryer]

Sunday 5th April 2009

Hedgehog at HaggHill [Steven Fryer]

Birtley reedbed pools -5 Chiffchaff, 2 Shelduck, 1 Blackcap, Pair of Coot pair feeding 5 chicks,

Very early breeding Coot [Steven Fryer]

Shibdon Pond - 2 Gadwall (both males) and several Chiffchaff singing.
Lamesley Water Meadows - Adult Whooper Swan . 2 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Teal, 1 Snipe, 5 Greylag Geese, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Red-legged Partridge. Swallow over later.

The much photographed and twitched Whooper Swan at Lamesley Water Meadows [Paul Davidson]

Far Pasture NR - 3 Blackcap (mff), Several Comma/Small Tortoiseshell/Comma. 2 Common Buzzard nearby.
Burdon Moor - 3 Wheatear, 3 Oystercatcher
Thornley WC - 1 singing Blackcap and 2 Brambling still
Stargate - Green Sandpiper and 10 Fieldfare.
Bowes Valley & Kibblesworth Brickworks Pond - 1 Green Woodpecker calling, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Oystercatcher , 3 Common Buzzard 3, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peacock butterfly
Longacre Wood - Comma , Peacock and Small White butterfly
Saltwell Park - Common Buzzard circling overhead

Saturday 4th April 2009

Birtley reedbed pools - Singing Blackcap again and 2 Chiffchaff.
Shibdon Pond - 2 Gadwall (both males) and 7 Chiffchaff singing.
Far Pasture NR - 2 Blackcap
Thornley WC - 1 singing Blackcap and a Crossbill flew over Paddock Hill.
Near Kibblesworth - 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Little Owl

Friday 3rd April 2009

Burdon Moor - 1 Wheater by the top road next to the railway carriage

Wheater at Burdon Moor [Paul Davidson]

Shibdon Pond - 1 Swallow and 2 Gadwall. Also Mute Swan 5, Tufted Duck 10+, Canada Geese 8, Cormorant 5, Moorhen 10+, Coot 14+, Magpie 2, Wren 1, Little Grebe 3, Herring Gull 10+, Lesser Black Backed Gull 5, Oystercatcher 3, Mallards 20+, Goldfinch 1, Herring Gull 10+, Grey Heron 1.
Stargate - 2 Green and 1 Great SpottedWoodpecker, Mute Swan on nest
Thornley Woodland Centre - Chiffchaff 2, Long Tailed Tit 3, Wren 2, Chaffinch 6, Blue Tit 4, Gt Tit 6, Coal Tit 6, Magpie 2, Woodpigeon 6, Robin 2, Pheasant 3, Blackbird 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 (mmff), Nuthatch 3 , Dunnock 1, Brambling 1, Willow Tit 1, Bullfinch 3, Crossbill 1 in Pine trees on right of path as you go into the hide.

Chiffchaff at Thornley [Ray Wilby]

Thursday 2nd April 2009

Jay at Thornley [Derek Bilton]

Birtley reedbed pools - Singing Blackcap and the wandering White Stork flew by again and continued over Ravensworth Fell.
Derwent valley - 4+ Common Buzzard and a pair of Sparrowhawk.

Little Owl at Clara Vale Rather scarce this year - apparently not after saying this ! Apparently several of the well known roosting spots have been abandoned and new areas are being used. [Gordon Pollinger]

Clara Vale - 1 Little Owl seen

Reed Bunting at Burdon Moor [Anne Briggs]]

Wednesday 1st April 2009

Rowlands Gill - The first Swallow of the spring this afternoon up Hollinhill Lane, another seen maybe half hour later may have been same one. Four Common Buzzards there too, including birds both skydancing and another hovering. 3 Common Buzzards late morning t over the village.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Oystercatcher
Birtley reedbed pools - A flock of 65 Barnacle Goose flew over mid afternoon.
Thornley WC - 1 Chiffchaff.

Chiffchaff at Thornley on 1st April Quite common throughout the borough since mid March but still awaiting the first Willow Warblers. [Joanne Reavey]