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Saturday 31st March 2007

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Little Ringed Plover (1st of the year) and 1 Ringed Plover

One of the Little Ringed Plovers at Lamesley [Paul Davidson]

Birtley sewage Works - 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Ringed Plover.
Shibdon Pond - 3 Sand Martin.
Barmoor - Robin singing at 4.15 am, full dawn chorus by 4.45am.
Gibside Estate - Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Nuthatch 3+, Bullfinch 2, Red Kite 3+

Friday 30th March 2007

Shibdon Pond - 3 Sand Martin all day are the first of the year, with 20 there late afternoon.

Sand Martin at Shibdon [Paul Davidson]

Cowen Road, Blaydon - Blackcap seen.
Saltwell Pk Cemetry - Woodcock 1
Birtley Sewage Works - Green Sandpiper 1, Ringed Plover 1, Lapwing 13, Kestrel 1, Pied Wagtail 9, Grey Partridge 2
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Red-legged Partridge

Thursday 29th March 2007

Cowen Road, Blaydon - Song thrush been singing here all day. Magpie watched robbing Mistle Thrush nest in laurel. Blackcap also seen.

Wednesday 28th March 2007

Eslington Park, Teams - 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 4 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Blaydon - First Small White butterfly of the year, also Buff-tailed Bumblee-bee (1st of year), 2 Small Tortoiseshell.
Shibdon Pond - 2 Oyster-catcher.

Oyster-catchers at Shibdon [Iain Clyne]

Tuesday 27th March 2007

Clara Vale LNR - 1 Kingfisher (m), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Song Thrush.
Birtley Sewage Works - Lapwing 11, Grey Heron 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Pied Wagtail 7, Snipe 23, Teal 46, Oystercatcher 4 over, Song Thrush 1
Blaydon - 1 Blackcap at Cowen road again (1st here since the end of February ... same birds?)
Gateshead Stadium - Partial albino Song Thrush

Monday 26th March 2007

Clara Vale- Pair of Willow Tits in an observer's garden

Sunday 25th March 2007

Timber Beach - 2 Goldeneye and 3 Teal.
Kibblesworth CBC - 1 Nuthatch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrel, 1 Reed Bunting, 8 Stock Dove, 1 Mallard, 2 Treecreeper, 11 Wren singing 33 Robins singing, 8 Sklyark singing, ONLY 2 Tree Sparrows - very concerning. Also 1 Hare and Frog Spawn noted

Stock Dove at Clara Vale [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Red Kites, 2 Robin, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Carion Crow, 1 Long tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting.
Clara Vale LNR - 1 Blackcap singing this morning in the reserve. The first singing bird here. Pair of Willow Tits in an observer's garden

Dunnock at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Rowlands Gill - The pale Common Buzzard made an appearance and a peregrine circled slowly a number of times overhead. Also 3 Sparrowhawk sightings all possibly the same bird, and numerous Red Kites active - well over 20 sightings mainly individuals and pairs, one pair in a wing shaking, tumbling display overhead, and a maximum count of five at any one time. Also a possible Goshawk was seen.
Lamesley Water Meadows - Displaying Common Snipe and Redshank. Nearby, 2 Jack Snipe and 10 Common Snipe, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, 2 Red-legged Partridge and a Red Fox.
Birtley sewage works - Green Sandpiper still present. 16 Lapwing, A pair of Ringed Plover displaying, 4 Chiffchaff .
Stargate - 20 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Green Woodpecker.
Shibdon Pond - 8 Goldeneye, 18 Canada Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Of Interest: What is probably the same 'White-headed' Lapwing seen at Birtley STW last month is now breeding on Ravensworth Fell.

Saturday 24th March 2007

Timber Beach - Single Ringed Plover present.
Sled Lane - Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Mute Swan, 8 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Goldeneye, 6 Tufted Duck, 24 Mallard.

Tree-creeper at Clara Vale Want to try and attract something different to nest in your garden? Nest-boxes specifically designed for this species are now commercially available. This species is one of 11 species of woodland birds that is actually increasing, despite it being thought that it finds nesting in natural cavities difficult due to predation from Great Spotted Woodpeckers. [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Clara Vale LNR - 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher (F), 1 Treecreeper, 5 Blue Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Yellowhammer, 1 Blackcap and a Stoat. A Red Kite flew over. At least 6 Chiffchaff inc 1 ringed, Lesser Redpoll, Treecreeper & Bullfinch. Ring necked Parakeet flew over the new pond at 10.30 calling loudly as it headed West.

Tree Sparrows at Barlow Fell Small numbers are around at scattered sites such as Barlow Fell and Clara Vale, but numbers appear to have dropped on the stronghold of Ravensworth Fell. [Photo: Ray Wilby

Barlow Fell - Several Red Kites and 3 Tree Sparrows from the pub car park at Barlow. On the footpath heading south Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Lapwings and 2 displaying Red Kites.

Friday 23rd March 2007

Shibdon Pond - Juvenile Iceland Gull early morning and what is presumably the same bird was on the Tyne opposite Newburn at 11:45.

First-winter Iceland Gull on the Tyne One of perhaps three birds in this area. [Photo: Gordon Pollinger]

Stargate Pond - 12+ Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Little Grebe and a pair of Kestrel at a potential nest-site.

Male Reed Bunting (with female inset) at Shibdon Shibdon Pond is an excellent spot for this species [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Thursday 22nd March 2007

Shibdon Pond - A singing Chiffchaff this morning,showing well along the bridleway just to the NW of the pond. Plus 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Birtley sewage works - Green Sandpiper still present.

Tuesday 20th March 2007

Clara Vale - 2 Blackcap, 10 Redwing, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Kestrel (Pair hunting together), 30+ Yellowhammer, 20+ Chaffinch, 3 Long-tailed Tit,
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Blackcap at Clara Vale Blackcaps summer diet consists of mostly small tree-living insects such as bugs, froghoppers, spiders and harvestmen, flies, thrips, beetles and sawflies. In autumn and winter they also eat fruit, fat and grated cheese. Their favourite .... you guessed it .... Apples! [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Headley Hall woods - 4 Woodcock roding between 6.30 and 7pm and 2 Tawny Owls also calling.
Sled Lane - Goldeneye 1m1f, Tufted Duck 2m2f, Mute Swan 8
Sunniside- 100 Golden Plover in fields behind the Potter's Wheel public house.

Nuthatch [Norman Stocks]

Derwent Walk CP - The pale Common Buzzard made an appearance today harrassed by crows and until it came overhead. Again it initially fooled the observer in thinking it was an osprey. Also seen was a Green Woodpecker female that showed well in trees by the road and a Redshank and Grey Wagtailat the weir.
Far Pasture NR -1 Lesser Redpoll
Shibdon Pond - c8 Goldeneye
Timber Beach - 2 Ringed Plover

Blue Tit at Hagg Hill Wood [Steven Fryer]

Monday 19th March 2007

Greenside - Badger foraging in a local garden at 23:00hrs

Sunday 18th March 2007

Lamesley sewage works - 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover and 3 Redshank.

Green Sandpiper at Birtley sewage works One of two birds wintering at Birtley (Lamesley) sewage works. The best spot is the roadside pool south of the works entrance to the sewage works. But please watch out, this is a surprisingly busy road. [Photo: Paul Davidson]

Shibdon Pond - Woodcock in the reserve and on the pond, 11 Goldeneye 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Little Grebe, 30 Coot, 50 Mallard, 17 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swan, 22 Black Headed Gull, 2 Sheldduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Moorhen, 27 Cormorant, 5 Common Gulll and 1 Magpie. A Chiffchaff in the Clinic car park.
Rowlands Gill - 7 Red Kite over main road, playing in the wind
Timber Beach - 1 Ringed Plover.
River Tyne at Costco - 5 Shelduck
Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Grey Lage and 1 Shelduck.
Hookergate - 1 Red Kite
Bradley Fell - on garden feeders male and female Siskin, 2 prs Bullfinch, numerous Greenfinches and Chaffinches, Willow Tit and Nuthatch, plus Tawny Owl calling from roost tree (11am).
Hagg Hill Wood private feeding station: 8 Bullfinch, 2 Siskin, 3 Goldfinch and flying past Red Kite, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Goosander, 2 Teal, 4 Mallard and displaying Sparrowhawk.

Great-spotted Woodpecker at Hagg Hill Note the stiff tail feathers with the adapted firm shafts that enable woodpeckers to use their tails as a prop when climbing trees [Photo: Steven Fryer ]

Thornley WC - 1 Siskin, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 7 Coal Tit, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Yellowhammer, 2 Robin, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blackbird, 5 Woodpigeon, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Treecreeper and a Nuthatch

Tree-creeper, unusually on the ground at Thornley [Ray Wilby]

Saturday 17th March 2007

Blaydon railway station - No sign of any Waxwings today.
Birtley sewage Works - Single Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and a Common Buzzard.
Washingwell Woods - Chiffchaff, pair of Yellowhammer and a Grey Wagtail/
Lamesley reedbeds - Chiffchaff singing by the bridle way.
Clara Vale LNR - Chiffchaff, male Kingfisher, pair of Long-tailed Tit nest-building, 2 Sparrowhawk.

Yellowhammer at Clara Vale Males are unmistakeable with a bright yellow head and underparts, brown back streaked with black, and chestnut rump. In flight it shows white outer tail feathers. Often seen perched on top of a hedge or bush, singing. Its recent population decline make it a Red List species. [Photo: Frank Anderson]

Barlow Fell - 3 Red Kites
Far Pasture - 9 Red Kites, 5 Teal, 2 Little Grebe
Thornley WC - 2 Bullfinch, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Treecreeper (feeding on ground again), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Yellowhammer and flyover Red Kite and Grey Heron

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Clara Vale This is one of the birds that has been rung at this site. [Photo: Ray Wilby

Sled Lane - 16 Mallard, 4 Goldeneye, 8 Tufted Duck and a Chiffchaff heard singing.
Bradley Fell Old Workings: : Ground feeding Green Woodpecker later heard yaffling and splendid views of a Red Kite - easy pickings here at the moment as the local rabbit population has been badly affected by disease.

Male Kingfisher at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Friday 16th March 2007

Blaydon railway station - 8 Waxwing this morning
Bradley Fell Old Workings: 1-2 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Tit plus a third on garden feeders, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, singing Skylark and Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit.

Thursday 15th March 2007

Axwell Park - Green Woodpecker 'Yaffling' and Great spotted Woodpecker drumming at 6.30am today in Axwell park woods. Two Blackcap. M&F still regular garden visitors.

Long-tailed Tit gathering nesting material at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Clara Vale LNR- At least 2 Chiffchaffs, male Blackcap and Green Woodpecker.
Sled Lane - Chiffchaff heard and 4 Goldeneye still on the lake.

A reliable report of two colour-ringed Dippers at Rowlands Gill (birds were copulating) yesterday. Female was ringed as an adult (already 1+ year old) in late august 2002 at Rowlands Gill and has bred there every year (although no records last year - no one looked). The male was a ringed as a juv at Nine Arches viaduct in Sep 2003, it paired up with a young female and set up territory at Paddock Hill Wood in winter 2003/4. In early spring the female was killed crossing the A694 at Thornley (in floods - was moving off river). The male then moved at set up territory near Far Pasture but was moved round at lot by adult males. A good age for the female. The only other local Dipper of this age was also at Rowlands Gill

Wednesday 14th March 2007

Far Pasture NR- 6+ Red Kites around. Several Bullfinches, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits, a Willow Tit and two singing Chiffchaffs in the hedgerow. A weasel was seen scurrying across the road and TEN Grey Wagtails flew overhead from the sewage compound in groups of 2, 2, 4,and 2 in quick succession towards the river. Woodcock roding in the evening and 2 tawny Owls calling.
Clara Vale NR - Displaying pair of Kingfishers, 2 male Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and Jay.
Kibblesworth - First CBC of the year today: - 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Red Leg Partridge, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Little Owl (diff pairs), 10 Tree Sparrow, 35 Yellowhammer (flock), 1 Redwing, 24 Robins singing, 14 Skylark singing, 14 Collared Doves. Bird activity very high - probably best ever March visit.
Blaydon - At Harford House, a pair of Oyster-catchers flew over heading NW.
Tyne Bridge - The first Kittiwakes have returned

Nuthatch at Thornley Woods   [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Large influx of Chiffchaffs with 10 birds singing at 7 locations today.

Chiffchaff at Clara Vale As usual the frist of the summer migrants to return to Gateshead [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Tuesday 13th March 2007

Westfield Pasture - Chiffchaff singing and the first Tree Sparrow here for quite some time.
Clara Vale - A flock of 250 Fieldfare, 15 Yellowhammer, 10 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Blackcap, 5 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker
Lamesley Water Meadows- 3 Moorhen, 4 Tree Sparrow, 2 House Sparrow, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Lapwing, 2 Redshank. 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Teal
Watergate Park - 10 Tufted Duck, about 100 Black-headed Gull, 2 Canada Geese and 2 Mute Swan.
Sled Lane - 8 Tufted Duck. 8 Mute swan, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Long Tailed Tit.
Rowlands Gill - 2 Peacock Butterflies with 8+ Red Kite over Gibside. Nearby c20 linnet, 4-5 singing skylarks, 3 Lapwing, only 1 yellowhammer singing but a a flock of 70+ in distant hedgerows.
Spen Banks Wood - Green woodpecker (heard only)
River Derwent, behind Tennis Courts - Chiffchaff singing, 4 Teal (2M, 2F), 1 Dipper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 12 Goldfinch.
Elsewhere in the valley - An occupied Grey Heron nest could be the start of a new colony

Monday 12th March 2007

Clara Vale - 3 Whooper Swans flew over heading NW
Timber Beach - A Grey Seal reported at 14:30 today.
Strother Hills - White-tailed and Red-tailed Bumble-bees. Also a pair of Red Kite.
Far Pasture -Chiffchaff singing again, 2 pair Red Kites continue to display, mate and nest build.

Sunday 11th March 2007

Clara Vale - Tree Sparrow seen in one of the village gardens again, and later on the roop-top ariel.
Birtley sewage works - A Green Woodpecker calling, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank and a Lapwing with a white head

Lapwing at Birtley sewage works At the same site as the Green Sandpipers this unusual plumaged bird with a white head makes you look twice. [Photo: Paul Davidson]

Shibdon Pond - 2 Goldeneye, Lesser Black-backed Gull and the feral Barnacle Goose
Far Pasture NR - 2 pair of Red Kite, 1 pair nest building. Also 2 Little Grebe and 9 Teal.
Timber Beach - 2 Ringed Plover.
Thornley Lane, Rowlands Gill - 25 Redwing
Birtley - 2 Oyster-catcher and a Goosander flew over

Coot in flight at Sled Lane [Ray Wilby]

Saturday 10th March 2007

Ravensworth Fell - A pair of Red Kites
Lamesley water meadows - 5 Grey Lag and 2 Oyster-catcher
Far Pasture NR - Chiffchaff singing again
Axwell Park - Tawny Owl calling
Clara Vale LNR - Kingfisher watched catching at least 5 fish

Kingfisher at Clara Vale LNR [Michael Dawson]

Friday 9th March 2007

Clara Vale - Tree Sparrow seen in one of the village gardens.
Lamesley sewage works - 1 Ringed Plover.
Paddock Hill Woods - 1 Chiffchaff singing.
Westfield Lane - Little Owl seen
Birtley - Pair of Oyster-catcher displaying on the roof of the Komatsu Factory and a Grey Wagtail there also.
Far Pasture NR - 1 Chiffchaff singing in the hedgerow and 2 pairs of displaying Red Kites over Lockhaugh Bank wood. The pale Common Buzzard seen again over Gibside.

Wednesday 7th March 2007

Stargate - 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 5 Mallard, 1 Mute Swan and a singing Skylark.
Gibside Estate - a pale-looking Common Buzzard
Sled Lane - 2 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Goldeneye and 3 Tufted Duck. 2 Blackcap and 2 Tree Sparrow were also seen here

Pair of Kingfishers at Clara Vale The male is courting his his future mate [Photo:Rick Thornton]

Clara Vale - 10 Yellowhammer, 1 Blackcap, 6 Blue Tit, 8 Great Tit, 1 Long Tailed Tit and 1 `isher

Cock Bullfinch at Clara Vale LNR [Ray Wilby]

Costco-Timber Beach - 2 drake Goldeneye, c36 each of Redshank and Curlew. 7 Shelduck. At least 2 possibly 3 Ringed Plover.
Birtley Sewage Works - Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Sandpiper, c40Lapwing, 4 Mallard, 3 Grey Heron over.
Birtley - Flock of Pink-footed Geese flew SE towards the Angel/
Derwent walk area - 8+ Red Kite, 1 Common Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk. 3 Roe Deer could also be seen feeding in the open over the valley viewed from Lockhaugh Farm access road.

Report of an Osprey over Gibside was erroneous [Pale Common Buzzard]

Female Goldeneye at Sled Lane [Ray Wilby]

Tuesday 6th March 2007

Shibdon Pond - An adult Iceland gull on the pond for 15 minutes before flying off.
Clara Vale NR - Green Woodpecker again present.
Rowlands Gill - A Red Kite landed in an observer's garden to feed this morning. An excellent garden tick

Female Bullfinch at Hagg Hill wood Everybody like a bit of Bullie [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Monday 5th March 2007

Clara Vale LNR - Chiffchaff today - This could be either a wintering bird or less likely a very early migrant, Green Woodpecker also present.

Sunday 4th March 2007

Shibdon Pond - Common Pochard, Oyster-catcher and Goosander
Timber beach - 2 Ringed Plover and about 50 Dunlin
Stella - The 1st winter Iceland Gull still present together with 2-3 Scandinavian Herring and British Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Teams - 17 Whooper Swan flew over -

Collared Dove at Lamesley Water Meadows [Ray Wilby]

Lamesley - Little Owl, 5 Greylag, 1 Teal, 2 Oyster-catcher and on nearby Ravensworth Fell, 2 Red-legged Partridge .

One of five Grey Lag Geese at Lamesley Water Meadows [Ray Wilby]

Rowlands Gill - Lintzford - 4 Red Kite counted .
Axwell Park - 50 Redwing, 11 pair of Grey Heron, Sparrow-Hawk and 2 Goosander.
Bradley Fell old workings - Common Buzzard mobbed by crows plus a Red Kite, probably attracted by a number of rabbit carcasses scattered about the workings and adjacent fields.
Clara Vale LNR - Red Kite circling over the Tyne at Clara Vale then flew south over the reserve.
Far Pasture NR - 4 Little Grebe, 12 Teal, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Goldcrest, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 7 Red Kite and 10 Snipe.

Little Grebe at Far Pasture[Ray Wilby]

Saturday 3rd March 2007

Shibdon Pond - Oyster-catcher on the pond.
Washingwell Woods - 3 Tawny Owls calling and a Kingfisher at the adjacent Watergate Park Lake.
Timber beach - 2 Oyster-catcher.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 112 Curlew and 5 Grey Lag

Female Siskin at Clara Vale   [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Male Siskin at Hagg Hill wood Most of these birds will be leaving us soon [Photo: Steven Fryer]

Clara Vale - Green Woodpecker vocal, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker,2 Sparrow-hawk, small numbers of Siskin & Lesser Redpoll, 1 Tree-creeper, 4 Greylag & 1 Mute Swan over & Red Kite. During the ringing session a juvenile male Blackcap was caught Its worth noting that the Blackcap ringed at Gibside in December was also a juvenile..Bullfinch (3 new 2 retrap), Siskin 1, Lesser Redpoll (1new 1 retrap), ) 3 Yellowhammer, & Song Thrush among the days catch.

Long-tailed Tit at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Sled Lane Pond - 2 Common Goldeneye

Starling Like the House Sparrow, seems to be getting a little commoner again ... but only a little [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Friday 2nd March 2007

Blaydon town centre - A Nuthatch in the Postal Sorting Office/precinct area.
Birtley Sewage Works - Snipe 35, Teal 20, Mallard 20, Shelduck 2, Green Sandpiper 1, Grey Wagtail 1,

Thursday 1st March 2007

Birtley - Small skein of Grey Lag and an Oyster-catcher over town centre