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Sparrowhawks Becoming a common bird at feeders these days [Photos: Mike Taylor [top], Michael Eccles [middle] and Ron McHatton [lower]]

Sunday 27th February 2011

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Oystercatcher
Burdon Moor 2 Little Owl
Ravensworth Fell -200 Golden Plover
Coalhouse Pool, Ladypark -3 Oystercatchers.
Birtley reed bed pools -1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dipper, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Water Rail and a Goosander flew over.
Timber beach - 2 Oystercatchers
Tyne bridge -Single Kittiwake on nest ledges and a Sparrowhawk hunting feral pigeons.

Saturday 26th February 2011

Birtley Reedbed Pools - A singing Chiffchaff, 1 Kingfisher and 12 Reed Bunting.
Tyne bridge - Several Kittiwakes over theriver

Friday 25th February 2011

Derwent Walk CP - 2 Mealy and 20+ Lesser Redpolls this morning.

Mealy Redpoll at the Derwent Walk [Steven Fryer]

Burdon Moor -22 Skylarks, 1 Meadow Pipit and 200+ Golden Plover.
Ravensworth Fell -76 Fieldfare.
Coalhouse Pool, Ladypark -3 Oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers at Ladypark [Steven Fryer]

Shibdon Pond - 1 Oystercatcher, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.
River Tyne at Costco -2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Stargat e- 1 Skylark,7 Goosander and 1 Common Goldeneye
Barlow Fell - 1 Skylark.

Thursday 24th February 2011

Derwent Walk CP - 30 Meally Redpoll with 100+ Lesser Redpoll.
Rowlands Gill - 10 Red Kite, 4 Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard [Ron McHatton]

Dunston - Small Tortoiseshell in the Vicarage garden
Birtley - 40 Waxwings in The Avenue
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Oystercatcher and a Whooper Swan of unknown origin

Whooper Swan at Lamesley [Michael Eccles]

Tree-creeper This individual (if it is the same bird) in spending as much time on the ground and in the trees at Thornley [Derek Bilton]

Wednesday 23rd February 2011

Far Pasture NR - 6 Goldfinch, 2 Tree creeper, 8 Chaffinch , 6 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 4 Bullfinch, 1 female Kestrel and a Grey Heron with a frog
Derwent Walk CP - Meally Redpoll
Derwenthaugh Staithes - 1 Dunlin

Dunlin at Derwenthaugh [Steven Fryer]

Winlaton Mill - 2 Reed Buntings visited a garden for a second day

Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Sled Lane Pond - Goosander, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Sparrowhawk. Green Woodpeckers yaffling and Great spotted Woodpeckers drumming at the bottom of Sled Lane.

Great Spotted Woodpecker [Ron McHatton]

Stargate Pond - Goosanders,Tufted Ducks, two Red Kite, Green Woodpecker and a RoeDeer in the afternoon.
Derwent Walk CP - Single Mealy and Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Siskin, Dipper, 20+ Long-tailed Tit
Mouth of river Derwent - 66 Dunlin, 37 Redshank at roost, also nearby 4 Goosander.
Shibdon Pond- - 2 Oystercatcher have returned, Shelduck , Lapwing, Tree Creeper, Bulfinch , Goldfinch and Reed Buntings
Derwenthaugh Meadows - 50 +Curlew

Stock Dove at Clara Vale LNR [David Wilson]

Monday 21st February 2011

Stella- - A garden feeding station produced Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch. Bullfinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long tailed Tits, Jackdaws, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, House Sparrows, Magpies and Woodpigeon.
Watergate Park - 70+ Lesser Redpoll, Green Woodpecker and 12 Waxwings getting chased around by a male Sparrowhawk
Fellside Road, Whickham - 200+ Golden Plover
River Tyne at Costco - 1 adult Lesser black backed Gull

Sunday 20th February 2011

Ravensworth Fell - A mixed finch flock of 100+ birding consisting of Linnet, Greenfinch and Chaffinch.
Birtley reed beds - A Water Rail calling.
Greenford Lane, Lamesley -106 Greylags and 2 Pink-fotted Goose
Lamesley water meadows - 30+ Teal, 2 Shelduck, 2 Sparrowhawk, 10 Pied Wagtail and 100+ Lapwing
Shibdon Pond -1 Lesser black-backed Gull, 17 Herring Gull, 60+ Black-headed Gull and 20+ Common Gull.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Shibdon [Steven Fryer]

Watergate Lake - 1 Green Woodpecker and a Pochard

Saturday 19th February 2011

Clara Vale LNR -1Brambling

Brambling at Clara Vale [David Wilson]

Friday 18th February 2011

Lamesley Water Meadows -1 juvenile Peregrine watched catching a Lapwing
Birtley reedbed pools - 47 Pink-footed Geese flew over
Team valley -1 Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coal House Roundabout.
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth -2 feral Pink-footed Geese with Grey Lags.

2 Pink-footed & a Grey Lag Geese at Kibblesworth [Steven Fryer]

Stargate Pond -4 Goosander, Tufted Duck, 1 Green Woodepcker and several Long-tailed Tit

Female Goosander at Stargate [Ron McHatton]

Thursday 17th February 2011

Sled Lane Pond -Coot sitting on nest.
Clara Vale LNR -1 Water Rail still showing and Marsh Marigold in flower
Far Pasture NR - 1 Grey Heron, 2 Teal, 15 Mallard and a Water Rail.
Watergate Lake - 1 Green Woodpecker
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh Staithes -A mixed flock of Redshank and Dunlin plus 11 Mute Swan
Derwent Walk CP - 1 Mealy Redpoll with 12 Lesser Redpoll this morning.

Wednesday 16th February 2011

River Tyne at Costco - Shelduck, Mute Swans, Black Headed Gulls and large flocks of Lapwing.
Sled Lane Pond - Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, 1 Buzzard heading towards Bradley Fell and a few Redwing at Bradley Hall. Kestrel hunting at the top of Sled Lane.

Goldeneyes displaying at Sled Lane Pond [Ray Wilby]

Shibdon Pond -50+Goldfinches  , Bullfinches ,Chaffinches  Siskins , Reed Bunting , 100 +Lapwing
Derwenthaugh meadows - 37 Curlew
Watergate Lake - 1 Kingfisher watched catching 2 fish.

Kingfisher at Watergate [Will Cook]

Tuesday 15th February 2011

Strother Hills - A flock of 16 Barnacle Goose flew over. Also 4 Common Buzzard and 5 Red Kite.
Swalwell - 7 Waxwing on Market Lane by Abbeymoor Centre
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh Staithes - 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Derwenthaugh[ George Simpson]

Clara Vale LNR -1 Water Rail
Axwell Park - Several Grey Heron on nests

Grey Heron at Axwell [Paul McGinn]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 80 Curlew, 100 Lapwing, 40 Black headed Gull, 40 Teal, 1 Coot and 2 Magpie with a pair Shelduck at the south end. Also 20 Curlew nearby.

Curlews and Lapwings at Lamesley [Roy Jackson]

Monday 14th February 2011

Ravensworth Fell - 1 Crossbill flew over, 40 Tree Sparrow, 200 Linnet, 60 Chaffich, 2 Brambling, 2 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit and a Common Buzzard. 1 Golden Plover also flew over.
Sled Lane Pond- Goosander & 2 Goldeneye
Bradley Hall 5+ Tree Sparrow
Derwenthaugh Meadows - 47 Curlew
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh Staithes - 150 + Lapwing and Cormorant

Cormorant at Derwenthaugh [George Simpson]

Lintz Ford Lane: 5 Red Kite

Lesser Redpoll at Clara Vale LNR [Photo: Michael Eccles]

Clara Vale LNR - 5 Siskin, 7 Greenfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Treecreeper, 5 Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tits at Clara Vale LNR [Michael Eccles]

Sunday 13th February 2011

Axwell Park -14 Grey Heron circling above heronry at Axwell Park this morning
Fellside - 100 Lapwing in field below Fellside,
Swalwell - Pair of Goosander flying down river
Derwent Walk CP- 60 Siskin + 2 Lesser Redpolls in alder on side of Kite Hill in the Park.
Shibdon Pond- 8 Shelduck, c20 Teal, c20 Lapwing, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Reed Bunting.

Teal at Shibdon [Paul Davidson]

Blaydon shopping precinct car park- c15 Siskin, Mistle Thrush.

Saturday 12th February 2011

Derwent Walk CP - 40 Lesser Redpolls in an Alder trees N of Clockburn Lake this am with at least 2 Mealy Redpolls with them.
Rowlands Gill - 4 Red Kite including one with pink 86 wing tag.
Lintzford - 1 Common Buzzard
Sled Lane pond- 5 Goldeneye, male Goosander, 2 pr Wigeon, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 drumming Great spotted Woodpecker
East Bradley Fell- Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, pr Stock Dove, c500 Wood Pigeon. Nothing at the formerly productive but unfortunately increasingly trashed former workings area. On/around garden feeders c10 Brambling still, 2 male Siskin, 4 Greenfinch, c10 Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Willow Tit. Tawny Owl seen on a few evenings on low branch overlooking feeders.

Friday 11th February 2011

Cowen Road, Blaydon - 8 Redpoll sp. feeding on ground in garden
Far Pasture NR - Long-tailed Tit (6), Goldcrest (2), Willow Tit (6), Chaffinch (4), Treecreeper (1), Coal Tit (4), Bullfinch (4), Dunnock (3), Kestrel (2), Magpie (4), plus 3 Bank Vole. More unexpectedly, a Noctule Bat flew from the river directly over the car park
River Tyne, Clara Vale - Ryton - 51 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Oyster-catcher

Thursday 10th February 2011

Birtley town centre - 13 Waxwing
Lobley Hill - Waxwings are still turning up at the Norwood pub having been seen twice this week even though there are no apples left

Water Rail at Clara Vale LNR This bird has been present all winter [Photo: Paul McGinn]

Clara Vale LNR - Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Long tail Tit, Siskin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Water Rail.

Green Woodpecker at Clara Vale [Ron McHatton]

Bradley Fell - 3 Common Buzzard and a singing Skylark

Wednesday 9th February 2011

Whickham - Around 30 Waxwings at Burnthouse Lane at 11.30a.m,
Lamesley Water Meadows - Lesser Black-backed Gull, Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 39 Curlew & 50+ Teal
Kibblesworth T junction - 34 Greylag Geese
Far Pasture NR - 10 Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Willow Tit in carpark, Grey Heron and 8 Teal on the pond. 20+ Siskins and plenty of Bullfinch near Lockhaugh Farm and a female Sparrowhawk on the telegraph pole
Derwent Walk CP - 96 Pink-footed Geese, Long tailed Tits, 3 Dipper, Roe Deer, Common Buzzard, Red Kite

Red Kite at Rowlands Gill [Ron McHatton]

Rowlands Gill - The 96 Pink-footed Geese also seen over here
River Tyne at Costco to Dunston - Good numbers of Black-headed, Common, Great Black-backed and Herring Gull. Also Teal, Redshank, Curlew, Cormorant, Mallard and Shelduck, plus pair of Mute Swan and a single male Goldeneye and 2 Little Grebe on the river. A mobile flock of about 50 Lesser Redpoll in the river Teams area.

Goldcrest at Far Pasture NR [ Carole Jeffrey]

Tuesday 8th February 2011

Ryton - A Brambling visted one lucky observer's garden
Cowen Road, Blaydon - 3 House Sparrow - the first at this site for a very long time. Also 2 Mute Swan flew over.
Shibdon - Siskin, Tree Creeper , several Reed bunting including a singing male, Greenfinch , Bullfinch , Jay.
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh - Several Redshank and Dunlin and a Grey Wagtail.
Lamesley water meadows- 1 male Shoveler and 17 Teal this lunchtime.
Clara Vale LNR - 2 Tree Creeper, 1 Jay, 1 Water Rail, 4 Siskin and a Sparrowhawk

Treecreeper at Clara Vale LNR [Michael Eccles]

Rowlands Gill - 2 Common Buzzard in a presumed territorial dispute involving 2-6 Red Kites, like a Battle of Britain
dogfight.

Monday 7th February 2011

Highfield- 12 Waxwing
Lamesley water meadows- Still 75 Teal
Sunniside - 1 Little Owl
Sled Lane Pond - 4 Goldeneye (mmmf)
Clara Vale LNR - 2 Tree Creeper, 1 Jay, 7 Long Tail Tit, 2 Siskin,
Derwenthaugh meadows - 44 Curlew
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh - Several Redshank and Dunlin

Black-headed Gull An excellent photo of a very common winter visitor [Michael Eccles]

Sunday 6th February 2011

Lamesley water meadows- 1 male Shoveler and 75 Teal
Shibdon Pond - 18 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 30 Goldfinch , 5 Bullfinch , Siskins , Greenfinch , Dunnock and Jay.
Thornley WC - 3 Roe Deer, 3 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch & GS Woopecker
Far Pasture NR - 1 Goldcrest

Friday 4th February 2011

Thornley WC - 1 Sparrowhawk plus Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Willow Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Grey Heron and the Treecreeper still feeding on the ground.

Thursday 3rd February 2011

Sled Lane Pond - Goldeneye(3m ; 1f), 4 Wigeon (mmff), 3 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Tufted Duck and 30+ Black-headed Gull

Tuesday 1st February 2011

Shibdon Pond - 10 Shelduck , 5 Goldeneye (2 adult and 2 immature male, 1 female), Siskin, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Jay
Derwenthaugh meadows - 47 Curlew
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh - Several large flocks of Lapwing , Redshank and Dunlin being terrorised by a Sparrowhawk
Cowen Road, Blaydon - Singing male Greenfinch
Ravensworth Fell - 58 Golden Plover, 2 Little Owl, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 96 Fieldfare, and 3 Red-legged Partridge.

2 different Little Owls on Ravensworth Fell [Steven Fryer]

Birtley reedbed pools - 1 Woodcock, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 12 Lesser Redpolls and 1 Reed Bunting.

Redpolls of the Derwent Walk CP A flock of Lesser Redpoll found earlier in the month held a few Mealies. On Sunday 23rd the flock of nearly 100 birds contained 12+ Mealy Redpolls, at least one of which showed a prominent unstreaked rump. Another, was larger and whiter than any of the Mealies but had fairly streaked undertail coverts. Having sought some expert opinion it was thought that at least 1 bird is a possible Coues' Arctic Redpoll Top possible Coues's, bottom two Lesser Redpoll and the Redpoll flock, rest Mealy Redpolls. [Photos : Paul Davidson, Steven Fryer & Burt]

for previous months bird records see bottom of page