Gateshead Birders
	Animals Insects Flora Sites News & Gossip

Little Grebe- 1-4 present on Shibdon Pond, Far Pasture and Watergate Lake during the month.

[Bittern - 1 reported by staff at Blaydon Swimming baths on 15th - see News ]

[Night Heron - 1 probable reported over Axwell Park towards Blaydon Swimming baths on evening of 19th - see News]

Mute Swan - 2 on Lamesley Water Meadows on 11th. 2 flew over Kibblesworth Brick Pond on 21st. Pair nesting with female sitting at Watergate Lake by 21st March.

Grey Lag- 7 on Lamesley Water Meadows on 13th, and 1-3 on 14th-30th. 2 at Watergate Lake on 21st and 2 Shibdon Pond on 28th. Also on the 28th, another group of 3 (with a Pink-footed Goose) were seen at Shibdon Pond, having previously been seen over both Lamesley Water Meadows and Stella and from their tameness were thought to be escapes.

Pink-footed Goose - On the 28th, a bird with a group of 3 Grey Lag seen at various sites but thought to be an escape (see above).

Canada Goose - 2 on Lamesley Water Meadows on 13th, Up to 12 present all month at Shibdon Pond and another 2 at Axwell Park.

Barnacle Goose- 1 at Shibdon on 17-28th was rather tame and probably an escape.

Common Shelduck - Maximum of 14 at Shibdon Pond during the month (A record count for Gateshead).

Pintail - 2 (pair) on Lamesley Water Meadows on 13th-15th.. Presumably the same pair present again on 26th-27th. See below.

[Photographs by PWD]

Shoveler - A drake on Shibdon Pond on 14th (first of the year)

Teal - Maximums of 81 on Lamesley Water Meadows on 6th-30th and 75 at Shibdon during the month.. 8-20 on River Tyne at Dunston, Kibblesworth brick pool and Far Pasture during the month.

Tufted Duck - 4 to12 present at Shibdon Pond, Axwell Park, Watergate Lake and Far Pasture during the month.

Common Pochard - Maximum of 5 (17th) present all month at Shibdon Pond. A drake at Far Pasture on 12th.

Common Goldeneye - Maximum counts of 20 on both the River Tyne in the Dunston area and at Shibdon Pond during the month.

Goosander - 2 seperate birds flew south over Shibdon Pond on 14th. Pairs on Derwent at Swalwell, Rowlands Gill and Lintzford during the early part of the month.

Peregrine - An immature over Stella on 14th and at Woodside, Ryton on 26th.

Red-legged Partridge - 2 on Ravensworth Fell on 21st. and 27th

Oyster-catcher - Single at Lamesley Water Meadows and up to 3 at Shibdon Pond on most days throughout the month. 2 at Burdon Moor on 18th and Stella on 28th.

Golden Plover - Several hundred at Burdon Moor on 18th

Ringed Plover - One at Stella on 25th

Curlew - A pair displaying at Kibblesworth Brick Pond on 21st. Ravensworth Fell held a maximum of 80 during the month.

Common Snipe - Single at Shibdon Pond on 18th.

Woodcock - Singles flushed at Clara Vale on 20th and Shibdon Pond on 21st and again on 26th.

Redshank - 35 at Shibdon Pond on 14th. 2 at Kibblesworth Brick Pond on 21st.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Regular throughout the borough all month

Iceland Gull - The adult noted at Shibdon Pond last month was on River Tyne opposite Newburn on 17th and 24th

Tawny Owl - 1 heard at Axwell Park on 7th and another at Sunniside on 12th

Short Eared Owl - One at Hollinhill Lane, Rowlands Gill on 12th.

Long-eared Owl - One flushed at Ravensworth on 26th

Kingfisher - 1 at Shibdon Pond on 16th and 28th.

Green Woodpecker - Calling at Victoria Garesfield on 21st and 1 present early morning of 27th at Shibdon Pond.

Waxwing - 20-38 on Thornley Lane, Rowlands Gill/Lockhaugh on 1st - 3rd but no sign on 5th. 10 reported at Shibdon Pond on 10th. 22 flew over both Winlaton and Shibdon on 27th.

Sand Martin - 4 at Shibdon on 17th were the first and a maximum of 7 present most days thereafter. Noted at Far Pasture NR on 20th, 5 present next day.

Stonechat - 1 at Watergate on 18th and 1 female at Far Pasture on 21st.

Wheatear - 1 at Watergate on 18th and 3 at Stella on 20th. 1 at Burdon Moor on 21st.

Chiffchaff - 2 at Shibdon and 1 at Watergate on 18th were the first of the year. Up to 7 daily at Shibdon after the first record and 1-4 noted at Blaydon Station, Clara Vale and Far Pasture NR before the month end.

Marsh Tit - 1 noted in a garden at Axwell on 13th.

Common Starling - 600 at Burdon Moor on 18th.

Common Crossbill - 2 males reported at Victoria Garesfield GC on 18th.

Brambling - 1 at the feeding station at Clara Vale on 30th.

Lesser Redpoll - Small flocks noted at Shibdon and Watergate.

Siskin - Noted at Far Pasture on 21st.