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Little Grebe - 2 present on Far Pasture all month

One of Far Pasture's Little Grebes [Photo SF]

Cormorant - Small numbers at Sled Lane and Shibdon and on the Tyne all month with widespread occasional birds being seen flying other parts of the borough.

Grey Heron at Cklara Vale LNR [Photo SF]

Whooper Swan - The juvenile remained on Sled Lane Pond all month still with the Mute Swans and is now as tame as they are.

The juvenile Whooper remains at Sled Lane [Photo SF]

Mute Swan - Usual pairs with or without last years young and 6 fighting for supremacy on Shibdon on 1st. 

Grey Geese sp. - 220 flew north-east over Clara Vale on 4th.

Barnacle Goose - 2 dropped in at Shibdon Pond on 15th were they on their way to Spitzbergen Or Saltwell Park? [Probably the latter, the 2 birds from Saltwell had recently been at Wallsend Swallow Pond but it looks like they have returned them to Gateshead!] They remained until 23rd.

Canada Goose - Up to 25 on Shibdon Pond all month

One of the Canada Geese at Shibdon [Photo SF]

Grey Lag Goose - 1 or 2 occasionally at Lamesley Water MEadows and Shibdon Pond during the month. Seven flew over Shibdon on the morning of the 26th.

Shelduck- a maximum of 16 (17th) counted on Shibdon all month, frequently displaying.

Teal - 15 at Far Pasture on 2nd.

Green-winged Teal - A drake found on Shibdon Pond on 27th was a first for Gateshead but not unexpected. No sign of it the following day, but was refound in March.

The Green-winged Teal at Shibdon [Photos PWD]

Pintail - A drake found on Shibdon Pond on 21st remained until the month's end.

The Pintail at Shibdon [Photo PWD]

Wigeon - 1 at Far Pasture on 2nd.

Tufted Duck - No birds were on sHibdon but usual numbers on Sled Lane and Watergate.

Common Pochard - 3 Shibdon Pond on 8th and one on 26th but neither stayed for long.

Common Goldeneye - A maximum of 31 at Shibdon Pond on 28th but usually 10-12 present all month, frequently displaying. 1 or 2 on Sled Lane all month also.

Goosander- Up to to 5 on Sled Lane Pond all month.

Two of the Goosanders at Sled Lane [Photo SF]

Red Kite - A minimum of 11 at Far Pasture/Gibside all month and late a second bird was announced to have died. 10 were over Whickham on 3rd.

Common Buzzard - A bird on 6th was seen flying over the Metrocentre being mobbed by Crows. 2 were seen with Red Kites heading SW over Rowlands Gill on 16th. - Another? was seen to fly north down the Derwent valley towards the visitor centre on 21st.

Sparrow-hawk - 1 or 2 birds seen regularly throughout the borough all month.

Merlin - The bird at Far Pasture continued to be seen with a report on 3rd.

Grey Partridge - 1 at Stella on 20th and 2 at Burdon Moor on 27th.

Red-legged Partridge - 1 Ravensworth Fell on 3rd and 9 on 6th

Two of the Red-legged Partridges on Ravensworth Fell [Photo PWD]

Water Rail - On showed very well at Far Pasture NR on 4th-18th. A bird was seen at Shibdon on 27th on 2 seperate occassions.

Oyster-catcher - 1 at Stella on 20th and another at Clara Vale on 25th. Oner was at Bradley Fell on 27th and a pair were at Shibdon on 28th.

Lapwing - 54 over Victoria Garesfield was the only large count, Birds were displaying on Ravensworth Fell on 26th.

Golden Plover - 39+ Golden Plover were on the 3rd on Burdon Moor and 250 there on 6th and 500 on 26th, 200 next day. 3 were also seen flying over Ryton Bypass at the regular site on 27th.

Woodcock - 1 roding over Clara Vale on 26th.

Common Snipe - 15 at Far Pasture on 2-6th and and smaller numbers throughout the month.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - One over Birtley on 24th.

Unlike last month, no large counts of Black-heade Gulls were reported [Photo SF]

Tawny Owl - One calling at Rowlands Gill on 6th. A bird at Bradley Fell on 21st in trees next to a garden with another calling at 06.45hrs. One was seen again there on 23rd flying from roost tree next to house at 5.45pm and noted almost daily to the month's end.

Little Owl - One at Ravensworth Fell on 13th

The Little Owl at Ravensworth Fell [Photo PWD]

Short-eared Owl - One again at Burdon Moor on 27th.

Stock Dove - 2 Clara Vale on 19th

Kingfisher- 1 Clara Vale on 19th

The Kingfisher is still being seen at Clara Vale LNR [Photo SF]

Ring-necked Parakeet - On 1st, one was flying around, chasing and being chased by a couple of Magpies by the Bay Horse Pub on on Windy Nook Road at 13:00. Then watched in Albion Street for while, where it was flying from tree to tree and ,roof to roof and seemed to be staying in that area…obviously enjoying its new found freedom.

Waxwing - 7 were seen briefly at Blaydon on 27th.

Green Woodpecker - One flew off in the direction of Axwell Park from Shibdon on 2nd, it was seen again on 27th.. Birds also seen at Far Pasture on 3rd and 6th. On 5th, a Green Woodpecker was in the roadside trees at Sled Lane. One at Victoria Garesfield on 6th. One calling at Bill Quay farm on 10th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1-2 seen during the month at Victoria Garesfield, Thornley WC, Clara Vale LNR and Bill Quay Farm feeding station during the month. 4 at Clara Vale on 27th and 5 at Whickham GC on 5th were the largest counts.

Up to 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers present at Clar Vale LNR [Photo SF]

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - An elusive bird was seen and photographed at Clara Vale LNR on 4th and seen again on 25th.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Clara Vale on 4th

Grey Wagtail - The only bird reported was one at Far Pasture on 18th

Skylark - Birds were displaying on Ravensworth Fell on 26th.

A Robin at Clara Vale[Photo SF]

Redwing - 30 were counted regularly at Shibdon Pond on 7th-28th and 43 over Derwent valley CP next day were the largest counts. Thousands were seen over Clara Vale in bad weather on 23rd, many coming down to feed and large numbers were also in the Rowlands Gill area. 100 over Shibdon the next day.

Fieldfare - Small numbers throughout the borough most of the month, particularly on Ravensworth Fell and Clara Vale. c20 in trees at Rowlands Gill on 21st during fall of snow. Thousands were seen over Clara Vale in bad weather on 23rd, many coming down to feed and large numbers were also in the Rowlands Gill area. they stripped at Holly bush of its berries within 24 hours.

Two of the many Fieldfare that dropped in to feed at Clara Vale in the bad weather [Photos SF/Iain Thompson]

Goldcrest - 1-2 at Far Pasture NR and Whickham GC during February.

Willow Tit - Singles noted at Clara Vale, Swalwell Visitor centre, Bradley Fell and Far Pasture during February

Long-tailed Tit - Small groups noted at many sites including Far Pasture, Thornley, Clara Vale, Bradley Fell, Bill Quay Farm feeding station and Shibdon.

Long-tailed Tit at Clara Vale on 23rd February [Photo: Iain Thompson]

Tree-creeper - 1-2 noted quite regularly at Far Pasture NR and Victoria Garesfield, and occasionally at Whickham GC and Shibdon Pond.

Nuthatch - 1 at Victoria Garesfield on 7th and one at Bradley Fell at the end of the month.

Tree Sparrow- A bird at Shibdon Pond at 07:45 on 3rd. One continuing to visit a garden in Rowlands Gill, during the month. Larger counts of 10 at Crawcrook on 14th. 40 on Ravensworth Fell on 7th

Reed Bunting- On 8th/9th a male singing in the marsh at Shibdon Pond was still in winter plumage.2 were singing there on 26th. 1-2 were also at Clara Vale LNR and Far Pasture NR towards the end of the month.

A Reed Bunting at Far Pasture [Photo SF]

Yellow Bunting- 40 on Ravensworth Fell on 7th and 50 at Crawcrook on 13th in a stubble field, followed by 30 regular at Clara Vale for the rest of the month.

Brambling - 12 at Victoria Garesfield on 7th. 2 were at Clara Vale on 25th, 3 there next day. None on 27th but a bird flew over the village later in the day.

Just usual numbers of Chaffinches during the month [Photo sf]

Hawfinch - A bird showed very well at Victoria Garesfield on 6th.

Greenfinches at Clara Vale LNR [Photo SF]

Goldfinch - Maximum counts were 6 at Shibdon Pond on 14th and 12 on 24th. Smaller numbers elsewhere including the feeding station at Clara Vale LNR and noted as scarce in the Bradley Fell area this month due to the lack of stubble.

Goldfinch at Clara Vale LNR [Photo SF]

Siskin - A few noted at Far Pasture all month but 150 there on 6th.

A Siskin at Far Pasture [Photo PWD]

Lesser Redpoll - 1 at Shibdon on 27th.

Bullfinch - 6 Bullfinches at Shibdon on 2nd and 24th was the largest count but 2 birds in a garden in Rowlands Gill on 11th was a garden tick for the observer.

The "Three Finches"

Goldfinch, Greenfinch and an aggressive male Bullfinch on a bird feeder in a Rowlands Gill garden. [Photo: Alan Mould].

Jay - A few seen in the Derwent valley, especially at Far Pasture, Victoria Garesfield and Thornley WC.

Jays show well at Thornley Woodland Centre [Photo SF]