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Tuesday 31st August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 1 Spotted Crake, 3 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, a juvenile Shelduck and 2 Kingfisher. . No sign of Spotted Redshank today.

Green Sandpiper at Shibdon

Rowlands Gill -A cracking Hobby over the village in the sunshine, drifting from east to west for a good few minutes until it had four goes at a passing House Martin, without sucess.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper with a Common Buzzard over Greenford Lane.

Kibblesworth brickworks pools -A Common Buzzard flew over.
Derwenthaugh - 16 Mute Swans

Monday 30th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 1-2 Spotted Crake, 1 Garganey, 6 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 2 Water Rail and 1 Kingfisher.

Greenshank at Shibdon Pond [Paul Davidson]

Barmoor, Ryton - 1 Common Buzzard flew over.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper.

Sunday 29th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Now 2 Spotted Crake, 1 Garganey, 3 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 3 Common Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, Also pair of Common Tern feeding young.

Spotted Redshank at Shibdon [Paul Davidson]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Green Sandpiper.
Cowen Road, Blaydon - Single Chiffchaff and juvenile Blackcap in garden plus a family party of Wren.

Juvenile Robin at Blaydon [Peter Harvey]

Saturday 28th August 2010

Shibdon Pond :- Spotted Crake plus 2 Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank and a Kingfisher

The Spotted Crake at Shibdon [Joanne Reavey]]

Clara Vale - Barn Owl seen twice the last few nights
Timber Beach - 1 Ruff

Ruff at Timber Beach [Joanne Reavey]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper still

Kingfisher at Shibdon [Ron McHatton]

Friday 27th August 2010

Shibdon Pond :- Spotted Crake still present. Now 6 Little Egrets. 2 Greenshank , 3 Green Sandpiper a Common Sandpiper, 1 female Mandarin and a Garganey.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper still

Common Snipe at Shibdon [Ron McHatton]

Thursday 26th August 2010

Clara Vale LNR - Kingfisher showing well, 3 Mallard, male Sparrowhawk, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Bullfinch and flock of 50 Goldfinch,
Shibdon Pond :- Spotted Crake still showing well, 4 Little Egrets. 2 Greenshank , 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Kingfisher, 4 Water Rail .

Greenshank on Shibdon Pond [George Simpson]

Burdon Moor -Mixed flock of 30+ Goldfinch and Linnet being chasd by a male Merlin.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper still

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 1  Spotted Crake , several Water Rails , 2 Greenshank , 2 Green Sandpiper , 1 Kingfisher.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank
Cowen Road, Blaydon - 1 Chiffchaff both calling and singing

Tuesday 24th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 2 Green Sandpiper , 2 Kingfisher , Spotted Crake , Greenshank , 5 Little Egrets and Water Rail.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper
Timber Beach - Sseveral Golden Plover at lunchtime.
Ravensworth Fell - 100+ Golden Plover

Monday 23rd August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake , 5 Little Egrets , 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper ,1 Greenshank , several Water Rail, Shoveler and a female Mandarin
Lamesley Water Meadows -2 Gadwall (later flew off), 2 Green Sandpiper, with a Greenshank on the nearby Church Pool.
River Tyne at Dunston Staithes - Juvenile Ruff still present.
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh- 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher and Curlew

Sunday 22nd August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake still showing all day, a Garganey 1 Greenshankm 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Water Rail, 3 Common Swift and 4 Little Egret still present. 2 Chiffchaff by the swimming baths.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1, possibly 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher. 10 Red-legged Partridge across the road included 6 juveniles.
River Tyne - 1 Little Egret at Stella, 1 Ruff at Dunston Staithes, 120 Redshank, 30 Curlew, 400 Lapwing and 1 Dunlin. Also 1 Common Swift

Saturday 21st August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake still showing early morning, an adult Mediterranean Gull briefly and 4 Little Egret.

Adult Mediterranean Gull at Shibdon Pond An fresh juvenile initially reported follwed by an rung adult. This adult on teh 20th does not appear to be rung. [Ray Wilby]

Friday 20th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake still showing. An adult Mediterranean Gull, a Garganey 1 Greenshank and 4 Little Egret still present.

One of 2 Garganey at Shibdon Pond [Paul Davidson]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 3 Green Sandpiper

Thursday 19th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake still showing. This time an adult Mediterranean Gull (ringed) and 5 Little Egret. In the reserve a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker and about 30 Goldfinches being terrorised by a Sparrowhawk
Derwenthaugh -1 Kingfisher

Wednesday 18th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake still showing. Also 2 Garganey, a Mediterranean Gull (a fresh juvenile), 1 Greenshank, 5 Little Egrets and several Water Rail (2 adult and 4 juvenile) present.

Greenshank at Shibdon This bird at Shibdon was joined in Gateshead by another at Lamesley. [Ray Wilby]

Tuesday 17th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake still showing on and off all day, active till 20:30hrs.. Also 2 Garganey, 1 Greenshank, 5 Little Egrets (4 most of day) , 65 Cormorant roosting with the Egrets 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Goosander, 1 Common Snipe and 6 Water Rail (2 adult and 4 juvenile) present.
Lamesley Water Meadows -Barn owl hunting 20:45- 21:30, between Church & Pub, often close to road, allowing good views. Also 2 Little Owls, 2 Green Sandpiper but no sign of any Ruff or Godwit .

Monday 16th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - Spotted Crake showing on and off all day. Also Greenshank, 5 Little Egrets and several Water Rail present.

Sunday 15th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - A Spotted Crake found here this morning. 5 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and 3+ Water Rail (adult and 2 juveniles).

Spotted Crake at Shibdon The first here for many years

Lamesley Water Meadows -3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit (the latter early morning only), plus the feral Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese

Ruff (top) and Black-tailed Godwit at Lamesley [Paul Davidson]

Whickham - A Lesser Whitethroat in a garden for it's 2nd day.

Saturday 14th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 1 Little Egret , 11 Redshank , Snipe, Oystercatcher
Derwenthaugh Statithes - 100+ Redshank roosting on the Staithes
Lamesley Water Meadows - Single Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper still present and now joined by a Ruff, the first of the year
Clara Vale LNR - A Little Egret flew over hading east at 18:30 hrs.

Friday 13th August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 5 Little Egrets, four of which decided to leave at 07:35 flying east over Blaydon probably heading for Ryton Willows. Still 1 present in the evening plus 15 Redshank.
Lamesley Water Meadows - Single Black-tailed Godwit still present.

Thursday 12th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - Single Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper again presnt this afternoon.
Shibdon Pond -1 Green Sandpiper.
Stragate Ponds -1 Kingfisher

Wednesday 11th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - Single Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper present.
Shibdon Pond -2 Little Egret, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper , Oystercatcher , Snipe, Water Rail and Stock Dove

Still 4 Little Egrets present Now looking rather settled, roosting on the island and feeding as well as giving excellent photographic opportunities

Tuesday 10th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Common Snipe and 2 Green Sandpiper again this morning with a family party of 4 young Little Owl on nearby Ravensworth Fell.
Clara Vale - Kingfisher, Moorhen, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Sparrowhawk (tried twice to take Moorhen chick off pond), Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Bullfinch,

Kingfisher at Clara Vale LNR [Michael Eccles]

Shibdon Pond - 5 Little Egret , 1 Water Rail , 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Sandpiper ,1 Common Snipe, 1 Kingfisher along with 90+Geese Willow Warbler, Long Tail Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnock, Green Sandpiper, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Moorhen, Coot, Common Terns, Great Black Backed Gull (killed moorhen chick), Black Headed Gulls 5, Cormorant 2, Mallard, Magpie (killed and ate Vole or Shrew).

Pair of Common Tern at Shibdon Another very poor breeding season for them here with probably only 2 young being raised. One pair has very recently hatched young in mid August after relaying but it's unlikely they will survive.

Monday 9th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Common Snipe but no sign of any Green Sandpipers.
Shibdon - 4 Little Egret and 1 Green Sandpiper still present.
Derwent Walk - 2 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Dipper, female & 8 young Goosander, Green & Great spotted Woodpecker.
Whickham - 2 Common Tern north over Whickham centre in afternoon
Kibblesworth brickwork pools - 1 Grayling

Sunday 8th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Snipe with 8 Common Buzzard (family party of 5, 1 pair and a single adult), 4 Sparrowhawk, a juvenile Wheatear, 1 Grest-spotted Woodpecker

Common Buzzard at Lamesley

Shibdon - Still 5 Little Egret, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher and a Green Sandpiper present. Later, one of the Egrets spent a few minutes dive bombing a Herring Gull along  with the Common Terns , it then flew of North over Newcastle. The other 4 remained all day.

5 Little Egrets at Shibdon Depending on the tides 3-4 usually leaving early morning with 1 -2 remaining throughout the day. All return to roost in the evening.

Blaydon Burn - 43 Curlew on the meadows
River Tyne - Stella to Dunston - 1 Ringed Plover, 12 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 600+ Lapwing, 17 Grey Heron.
River Tyne - Ryton - A Little Egret flew east at 16:05hrs

Saturday 7th August 2010

Shibdon - Still 5 Little Egret and a Green Sandpiper present

Friday 6th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - 9 Common Snipe
Shibdon - Now 5 Little Egret present together with a Green Sandpiper

Thursday 5th August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper again. Garganey reported on Rare Bird Alert at 15:30hsr but elusive - no further details.
Shibdon - 3 Little Egret, 1Common Snipe

Common Snipe at Shibdon [ George Simpson]

Wednesday 4th August 2010

Shibdon - 2 Little Egret, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler & 1 Water Rail feeding in open at back of pond, opposite the hide.

Green Woodpecker Photographed through his kitchen window at Lintzford [Richard Ormerod]

Lintzford (Gateshead side) - For the past 10 days 2 lucky observers have been blessed with Tawny Owl fledglings in their garden on most nights.  There are definitely two but on a couple of occasions maybe they heard three of their "squeaks" for food (though have only visibly seen two at any one time).

Tawny Owl Since late July, for for the past 10 days 2 lucky observers have been blessed with Tawny Owl fledglings in their garden on most nights.  There are definitely two but on a couple of occasions maybe they heard three of their "squeaks" for food (though have only visibly seen two at any one time). [Richard Ormerod]

Crawcrook Quarry - 4 Green Sandpiper present this afternoon.

Tuesday 3rd August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - Greylag 15, Lapwing 100+, Canada Geese 38, Woodpigeon 3, Black headed Gull 6, Starlings 20, Moorhens 3, Crow 1, Jackdaw 1 Linnet 2, Swallows 4, Sand Martin 3, Mallard 3, Wren 1, Goldfinch 20+,

Monday 2nd August 2010

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Green Sandpiper. A Barn Owl and a Little Owl seen very early morning.

Sunday 1st August 2010

Shibdon Pond - 4 Little Egret early morning, 3 later flying off. Herring Gull seen to kill and a a Common Tern chick
River Tyne at Ryton - 3 Little Egret (presmably from Shibdon) here in the afternoon.
Derwenthaugh - Brood of well grown Goosander.

Kingfisher at Far Pasture NR Scarce after last winter, the few pairs that survived have had a good breeding season and now starting to show up at their usual favourite sites [Ray Wilby]

for previous months bird records see bottom of page