Animals Insects Flora Sites News & Gossip

Little Grebe - 1 to 3 at the start of the month at Watergate, Derwent Country Park and Sled Lane Pond.

White Stork - A presumed escape was reported at Watergate early in the month and over Far Pasture on 15th.

Grey Heron - 6+ at Shibdon Pond in early January

One of the Grey Herons (above)
at Shibdon Pond in January [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Cormorant - 6+ at Sled Lane Pond from 1st to 4th at least.

Whooper Swan - The juvenile on Sled Lane Pond from 1st to 7th at least.

Juvenile Whooper Swan (above)
remains at Sled Lane Pond in January [Photo: Paul Davidson/Steven Fryer]

Mute Swan - An adult and 2 juveniles were with the Whooper Swan on Sled Lane Pond at the beginning of the month. Pairs remain on Shibdon Pond, Far Pasture LNR, Goodshields Lake. The pair with cygnets lost one of its young early month at Watergate Lake.

The pair of Mute Swan (above)
on Goodshields Lake [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Canada Goose - 50+ continue to be seen at Axwell Park, roosting at Shibdon. 2 at Watergate early month..

Grey Lag Goose - 2 feral birds remained at Burdon Moor early month. 3 presumably wild birds were amongst a flock of Pink-footed Geese that flew over Burdon Moor on 1st. 1-2 most days on Shibdon Pond.

Pink-footed Goose - 29 flew west overhead at Shibdon and a flock of exactly 150 flew west over Burdon Moor, both on first. Other flocks were noted flying west in Yorkshire the same day.

Shelduck- 3 at Shibdon Pond on 1st to 11th.

Shelduck, one of 3 present on Shibdon Pond during the month [Photo SF]

Teal - 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 1st to 3rd.

Wigeon - 1, possibly 2 drakes at Shibdon on 1st and a pair there 14th-16th January.

Tufted Duck - 12 were at Watergate on 4th, and 12 were present on Sled Lane Pond all month..

Common Pochard - A drake on Watergate Lake on 4th.

Common Goldeneye - A maximum of six birds at Shibdon Pond on 11th.

Goosander- Upto to 6 drakes and 4 females on Sled Lane Pond 1st to 7th. One over Shibdon Pond on 2nd..

Male Goosander (above)
one of upto 4 males and 2 females on Sled Lane Pond in January [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Red Kite - 6-8 remained in the Barlow area all month with 4 others back in the lower Derwent valley.

One of the Red Kite (wing tag No. 9) that is still in the Barlow Fell area early month [Photo: SF]

Red-tailed Hawk- A bird at Far Pasture NR on 17th had escaped from captivity

Red-tailed Hawk at Far Pasture mid month [Photo: SF]

Sparrow-hawk - A female was seen to attack a male Pheasant at Thornley Woodland centre on 5th. On the 9th, an adult male flew through the shopping precinct at Blaydon.

Merlin - A bird was reported at Far Pasture NR on 22nd.

Grey Partridge - 5 at Burdon Moor on 2nd-4th.

Water Rail - One at Far Pasture NR on 1st.

Lapwing - Up to 100 birds noted at Shibdon, Timber Beach and Springwell early month.

Golden Plover - 40+ Golden Plover. were on the 1st on Burdon Moor. A flock of 200 in fields near Barlow Fell on 3rd.

Redshank - 40+ at each of Shibdon on Timber Beach early month.

Dunlin - 2 on mud at Timber beach on 16th January.

Curlew - Largest count was on 29th when 25 flew over Stephen's Hall Farm towards Barlow Burn.

Woodcock - A bird was seen flying at dusk at Westfield Pasture and another at Ryton Willows during the month..

Common Snipe - 6 at Shibdon early month.

Herring Gull - Up to 1,800 at Greenside Landfill early month, including many Scandinavian race birds..

Great Black-backed Gull - Up to 600 at Greenside Landfill early month.

Glaucous Gull - A first winter bird was found on 3rd at the Landfill site between Ryton and Greenside. It remained faithful to some floodwater in an adjacent field until the 5th.

The Glaucous Gull at Greenside Landfill [Photo: Paul Hindness]

Mediterranean Gull - An adult winter was at Watergate Lake on 1st early afternoon and the same or a second bird spent about 5 minutes amongs 300+ Black-headed Gulls early morning. on 2nd at Shibdon Pond.

Black-headed Gull - 300 at Shibdon on 1st, 250 at Watergate on 4th and up to 800 at Greenside Landfill early month.

Black-headed Gull (1st winter) in flight [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Tawny Owl - One flushed from near the hide at Clara Vale LNR early morning of 4th, others seen/heard at Axwell Park and Bradley Fell

Little Owl - One at Ravensworth Fell on 3rd.

Wood Pigeon - Largest count was 200 at Bradley Fell on 29th.

Stock Dove - One at Bill Quay Farm feeding station on 18th.

Kingfisher- One at Far Pasture NR on 2nd to 4th and another on 4th to 7th at Clara Vale LNR both which showed very well.

Kingfisher showing well at Clara Vale LNR [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Waxwing - 50 flew over Watergate Park on 1st when 30 flew over Shibdon Pond and the adjacent tip at first light. One Waxwing seen briefly in the carpark of the Blaydon Shopping centre on 2nd but no sign later. 13 were by Blaydon railway station on the morning of 3rd. 30 were at Shibdon Pond on 8th. No more reports until the 12th, when 25 flew over Stargate late afternoon, presumably to roost somewhere local. 2 were in Birtley Front Street on 14th, rising to 7 the next day. A largish flock of about 100 in the trees on Beacon Lough Road on 17th and 18th, with about 30 lined up on guttering drinking the melted snow.

Waxwings still at Blaydon but would soon be gone [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Green Woodpecker - 1 at Far Pasture on 3rd and another at Bewes Hill, Stargate on 9th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1-2 seen daily at Thornley WC during the month and occassionally elsewhere in the Derwent Valley. One at Bill Quay Farm feeding station on 6th, 25th and 26th and another at Bradley Fell on 29th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a birder's garden in the Derwent valley [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Dipper - One bird noted in a very small stream at Far Pasture when the water levels were high on the Derwent on 1st.

Stonechat - 2 remained on Burdon Moor in early January but can be elusive.

Robin [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Redwing - 20+ at several widespread sites, including Bill Quay Farm feeding station on 18th.

Fieldfare - Small numbers at several widespread sites.

Chiffchaff - A bird, presumably a wintering one, was heard singing in Rowlands Gill on 13th.

Goldcrest - 6 at Far Pasture NR on 4th.

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

Willow Tit - Singles noted at Clara Vale, Victoria Garesfield and Far Pasture during January and 3 by Bradley Fell late in the month..

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 Thornley WC [Photo: Steven Fryer] & Clara Vale LNR, below [Photo Gordon Pollinger]

Tree-creeper - 1-2 noted quite regularly at Thornley WC

Nuthatch - 1-2 noted during month at Clara Vale LNR, Bradley Fell and Thornley WC and

Tree Sparrow- A few were at Westfield Lane on 8th.

Reed Bunting- 1 at Thornley WC feeding station on 22nd.

Yellow Bunting- 1-2 at Clara Vale LNR on 4th, with 12 there on 7th.

Brambling - 1 at Bradley Fell on 30th

Hawfinch - A single seen on 16th at Victoria Garesfield

Chaffinch, male (above) feeding at Thornley WC [SF]

Lesser Redpoll - A few noted at Chopwell on 2nd

Mealy Redpoll - 4 Mealy Redpoll were found at Clara Vale LNR on 4th. They were in the small trees by the entrance to the new hide.

Siskin - A few noted at Chopwell on 2nd

Greenfinches, 3 male, 1 female (above) feeding at Clara Vale LNR [SF]

Bullfinch - 8 seen on one feeding table at Thornley Woodland centre on 4th and 9 on 22nd was the largest count. A Bullfinch visiting a birder's garden in Rowland's Gill was a garden tick.

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

Jay (above) feeding at Thornley WC [SF]