Animals Insects Flora Sites News & Gossip

Little Grebe - 6 on Goodshields Lake, along the Derwent Walk on 18th.

Cormorant - 1 at Sled Lane Pond on 5th.

Whooper Swan - A juvenile on Sled Lane Pond on 5th and over Swalwell visitor centre on 19th.

Juvenile Whooper Swan (above)
at Sled Lane Pond on 5th December [Photo: Paul Davidson]

Mute Swan - An adult and 2 juveniles were with the Whooper Swan on Sled Lane Pond on 5th.

Canada Goose - 50+ continue to be seen at Axwell Park.

Grey Lag Goose - A skien of 20 Grey Geese, probably of this species were seen flying over Thornley Woodland centre on 4th. 2 at Lamesley Water Meadows on 7th to 28th..

Shelduck- 4 at Shibdon Pond on 1st and 3 remained until at least the 12th. 2 on the pond on 28th.

Teal - 71 at Shibdon on 11th and up to 20 on the Tyne most of the month. 60 at Stella on 30th was a large count for that site.

Shoveler - 5 at Shibdon on 27th-28th.

Tufted Duck - 7 were counted on Sled Lane Pond on 5th..

Goosander- 2 drakes on on Sled Lane Pond on 5th. 2 were at Stella and another 2 at Shibdon, both early morning of 12th. 2 more over the latter on 27th, 29thy and 30th.. It may be that only 2 birds are involved in all these records.

Drake Goosander (above)
at Sled Lane Pond on 5th December [Photo: Paul Davidson]

Red Kite - The first 4 birds returned back to the Derwent valley in the Rowlands Gill/Far Pasture area on 2nd/4th. By the 6th there were 8 over the Derwent Walk Country Park and 6 showed well at Rowlands Gill on 19th. 3 still in that area on 21st. At least 6 remained in the Barlow area all month.

Grey Partridge - 7 at Stella on 24th was the largest count.

Water Rail - One at Far Pasture NR on 4th and another heard at Shibdon Pond on 11th.

Lapwing - Largest count at Shibdon was 229 on 11th.

Golden Plover - 44 at Timber beach on 12th. A flock of 104 in fields near Barlow Fell on 27th.

Redshank - Small numbers most of the month at Shibdon.

Curlew - 49 were counted at Stella on 12th and 113 there on 24th.

Common Snipe - Two at Stella on 24th.

Jack Snipe - One at Stargate on 4th.

Woodcock - One seen at Barlow Fell on 2nd and another at Wetfield Pasture on 14th. One was at Stella on 24th.

Barn Owl - A Barn Owl was heard calling in the early evening of the 1st at Clara Vale, and a agin on 28th. It is the first recorded at this site for very many years.

Little Owl - One at Burdon Moor on 19th.

Short-eared Owl - One at Burdon Moor on 5th.

Kingfisher- One at Far Pasture NR on 4th

Waxwing - 300 Waxwing in the carpark of the Blaydon Shopping centre on the 5th. Later they were all in Cowpen road, by the Chain Bridge Road flyover, and remained there on 6th to 10th and 100-200 still there until the year end. 99 more were seen at Stargate on the 5th. 30 were by the football pitch at Shibdon Pond on 8th and 38 flew west over there on 11th. 43 were in Whickham on 13th, 30 over Felling next day and 80 in West Jackson Street on 16th. 19 were near Scotswood Bridge on 19th when another 15 in Low Fell. 30 more were in Rose Street on 21st. 30 of Shibdon Pond on 27th were probably from Blaydon as were 60 on the reclaimed area there on 30th. Several flew over Clara Vale on 28th.

Dipper - A pair of Dippers were photographed under the Derwent Viaduct on 4th.

A pair of Dippers on the Derwent [Photo: Alan Mould]

Stonechat - 1 still present on Burdon Moor on 5th and a pair there onn 19th.

Redwing - 20+ at Shibdon Pond on 5th, and 50 there on 11th. They are roosting in the Holly trees in the adjacent Clinic.150 mixed Redwing/Fieldfare at Clara Vale on 29th.

Fieldfare - One found dead at Barlow Fell on 2nd. 150 mixed Redwing/Fieldfare at Clara Vale on 29th.

Blackcap - A female at Clara Vale feeding station on 16th.

Goldcrest - 10 at Far Pasture NR on 4nd when a few in a flock of Goldcrest at Birtley.

Willow Tit- 1 at Lamesley Water Meadows on 7th and 2 at Westfield Pasture on 14th..

Marsh Tit - One at Thornley Woodland centre on 4th.

Long-tailed Tit - A flock of 25 at the Komatsu Factory on 2nd.

Nuthatch - 1 trapped and rung at Clara Vale feeding station on 27th.

The Nuthatch trapped at Clara Vale on 27th.

Yellow Bunting- up to 40 at the feeding station at Clara Vale in late December with several being trapped and rung.

One of the Yellow Buntings trapped at Clara Vale.

Brambling- 2 at Thornley woodland centre on 23rd and one feeding on the ground in Blaydon cemetery the next day.

Lesser Redpoll - A flock of 16 were at Shibdon Pond on 11th.

Bullfinch - Maximum count was 6 along the Derwent Walk on 18th.

Tree Sparrow- 3 were present most of December at Clara Vale with one being trapped and ringed there on 12th. Five birds were present on 25th-27th. One started to visdit a garden in Rowlands Gill in December, visiting daily again after intermittent sightings during the late summer/autumn period.

This Tree Sparrow
started to regularly visit a garden in Rowlands Gill from 1st December [Photo:Alan Mould]