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Monday 31st March 2008

Westfield Pasture - Also 6 singing Chiffchaff
Watergate Park - 1 Wheatear was new for the year
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Red-legged Partridge
Shibdon Pond - Willow Wabler today. Also Canada Goose 6, Shellduck 3, Tufted Duck 6 , Goldeneye 6, Cormorant 26 , Black Headed Gull 20+, Lesser Black backed Gull 15, Moorhen 12, Coot 20+, Herring Gull 12, Woodpigeon 2, Little Grebe 3, Wren 2, Goldfinch 6, Pheasant 1, Grey heron 2, Ruddy Duck 2.

Mute Swans started nesting at Shibdon on 31st [George Simpson]

Sunday 30th March 2008

Winlaton - 24 Whooper Swan that flew over were new for the year.
Shibdon Pond - 3 Ruddy Duck, 8 Sand Martin, 10 Common Goldeneye and 2 Fieldfare.
Kibblesworth Brickworks Pond - 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Tufted Duck
East Bradley Fell - A male Stonechat showing well this morning. Also 2 singing Chiffchaff and notable recent influx of Meadow Pipits- at least 20 seen/heard today with probably many more present.
Westfield Pasture - A singing Chiffchaff and a Willow Tit seen
Clara Vale - A Brambling visited a garden
Lamesley Water Meadows -Grey Wagtail, 3 Common Snipe, 3 Redshank, 8 Teal,
Birtley STW - 40 Pied Wagtail and 4 Grey Wagtail came in to roost.
Far Pasture NR - Chiffchaff 1, Red Kite 2, Kingfisher 1, Little Grebe 4, Teal 6, Snipe 3, Coots 3, Jay 1.

Drake Teal

A nice picture of a drake in flight at Far Pasture

[Ray Wilby]

Sunniside - Common Buzzard seen here today
Barlow Fell - Plenty of Kites flying around the road across the top via Barlow towards Clara Vale today ..

Saturday 29th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - 3 Ruddy Duck, 20 Sand Martin and Water Rail. Also Goldeneye 12, Tufted Duck 8, Little Grebe 4, Cormorant 10, Coot 10, Black Headed Gull 20+, Lesser Black backed Gull 15, Oystercatcher 3, Canada Geese 9, Mute Swan 2, Sand Martin 3, Grey Heron 1, Herring Gulls 6, Wren 1, Blackbirds 8, Magpies 4, Moorhens 14, Carrion Crow 20+ Ruddy Duck 3, Jackdaws 30+, Mistle Thrush 2.
Stargate Quarry - 2 singing Chiffchaff
Ryton - A Red Kite was actually on the grass verge of Cushy Cow Lane, Ryton and when disturbed , it only drifted off casually about 10 feet off the ground, still managing to interrupt traffic
Clara Vale - 2 singing Chiffchaff
Thornley WC - 1 singing Chiffchaff and Jays 2, Magpies 3, Bullfinches 3, Robins 3, Woodpigeons 10, GS Woodpecker 1, Dunnock 2, Yellowhammer 6, Pheasant 1, Coal Tit 3, Gt Tit 6, Blackbird 3, Chaffinch 8, Nuthatch 2, Carrion Crow 1, Stock Doves 6, Wren 1, Red Kite 1.

Friday 28th March 2008

Lamesley Water Meadows - (11:15) Sand Martin was new for the year
Shibdon Pond - (mid afternoon) Sand Martin and 2 Ruddy Duck on the pond
Clara Vale LNR - 1 Red Fox
Far Pasture NR - 2 singing Chiffchaff, one seen well had a ring on, 6 Grey Wagtail overflew the ponds, still no sand martins.
Derwent Walk CP - 6 Lesser Redpoll, another singing Chiffchaff, a Common Buzzard distinctive with many primaries missing, another blue Pheasant,and several Red Kites showing all along the Gibside area, one seen taking twigs into the trees.

Thursday 27th March 2008

Birtley - A Barn Owl was noted in the Komatu factory

Wednesday 26th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - 2 Ruddy Duck on the pond were new for the year
Lamesley Water Meadows -No sign of the Little Ringed Plover. Pied Wagtail 2, Magpies 3, Lapwings 9, Moorhens 3, Redshank 3, Jackdaw 5, Mistle Thrush 1, Snipe 3, Oystercatcher 2, Teal 8, Mallard 6, Black Headed Gull 1, Kestrel 1, Robin 1, Treesparrow 4, Coot 4, Woodpigeon 10, Greenfinch 1, Herring Gull 1.

Tuesday 25th March 2008

Lamesley Water Meadows -Little Ringed Plover, first for the year present. A Common Snipe and 2 Redshank present.

Little Ringed Plover at Lamesley Water Meadows

A record shot. The first of the year.

[Paul Davidson]

Watergate Park - Water Rail see well again

Water Rail at Watergate

This site is becoming a very good spot for this species

[Will Cook]

Monday 24th March 2008

Lamesley Water Meadows - No sign of the Green Sandpiper

Sunday 23rd March 2008

Lamesley Water Meadows - Green Sandpiper late morning. Also 3 Redshank present.
Ravensworth Fell - 2 Little Owl and a Red Kite in fields by Kibblesworth

Little Owl

This bird was at one of the usual sites in the Lamesley area.

[Paul Davidson]

Shibdon Pond - Kittiwake on the pond and a Stoat seen.
Near Causey - 2 Common Buzzards

Saturday 22nd March 2008

Stargate - Green Sandpiper this morning.
Derwent Walk CP - Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Dipper on the river

Dipper on the Derwent

Dippers breed early in the year, and will often have laid eggs before the end of February

[Derek Bilton]

Bradley Fell - Brambling back on garden feeders today. Also 8 Bullfinch, several Geenfinch, numerous Chaffinch, 2 Nuthatch, 1-2 Willow Tit, 1 Coal Tit and numerous Blue and Great Tits.

Friday 21st March 2008

Shibdon Pond - Again 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull but no Sand Martins yet in the borough

No sign of the reported Black Grouse in the Barlow Fell area despite intense searching.

Thursday 20th March 2008

River Teams - 2 Chiffchaff in song & 1 Kingfisher calling vocally again - breeding looking more likely.

Wednesday 19th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - The Yellow-legged Gull may have been present again today. Also 3-4 Redwing.
Gatesheadhead Stadium - Tree Sparrow in a garden near the stadium

Tree Sparrow

This bird was photographed in a garden near Gateshead Stadium

[Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - Little Grebe and Teal noted.

Tuesday 18th March 2008

River Teams - Pair Kingfisher showing signs of breeding behaviour, 2 Goosander (pr) and a drumming Great-spotted Woodpecker
Shibdon Pond - The adult Yellow-legged Gull seen again
Rowlands Gill - A pair of Blackcap a visiting garden feeding station
Winlaton - 3 Red Kite over housing estate

An amazing unconfirmed report of a male Black Grouse at Barlow Fell today, by the old covered reservoir (NZ150601) and then flew to the NE and landed near the footpath to Barlow (NZ155605) approx.

Monday 17th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - 4 Greylag and 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Also Buff-tailed Bumble-bee - first of the year.
Clara Vale LNR - 1 Chiffchaff singing this morning
Gateshead Sage - 2 Ringed Plovers in the Sage car park at 16:30 today.
Watergate Park - 3 Oyster-catcher, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe
Pockerley Pond - 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mallard, 1 Moorhen & 2 Coot on the pond with a Chiffchaff nearby.

Sunday 16th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - An adult Yellow-legged Gull for 15 minutes was the first of the year. A Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Sparrowhawk, 10 Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher also present.

Yellow-legged Gull at Shibdon

The first of the year. March is by far the best month for this species in Gateshead, the majority of records coming from this site.

[Paul Davidson]

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Shibdon

Compare with the Yellow-legged Gull above

[Paul Davidson]

Birtley reedbeds - 5 Teal
Birtley sewage works - 2 Shelduck.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Teal, 4 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 1 Meadow Pipit and 2 Linnet.
Burdon Moor - 2 Red Kite, 570 Golden Plover (mainy of them in summer plumage and showing characteristics of the northern race)
Sled Lane Pond - 3 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Goosander
Thornley Woods - Roe Deer showing well
Kibbesworth - First CBC of the year at only half visit beacuse of cold wind & rain but.. 2 Tufted Duck - new species for site, 1 Moorhen, 1 Red Leg Partridge, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Treecreeper, 14 Robin in song, 6 Tree Sparrow
East Bradley Fell -l Common Buzzard, 1-2 Red Kite, 1-2 Sparrowhawk and Kestrel in a 20 minute spell at lunchtime today

Saturday 15th March 2008

Birtley reedbeds - 16 Reed Bunting, 2 Water Rail and 6 Shelduck.
Burdon Moor - 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Red Kite, 25 Curlew, 45 Golden Plover, 2 Teal, 10 Greylag, 3 Oyster-catcher and 3 Brown Hare (2 'boxing')
Thornley WC - 06:30 - Two Roe Deer, Great Spotted Woodpecker (m+f) ,Jay , 6 Bullfinch, Blue, Great & Coal Tits and Chaffinch. In the afternoon a Sparrowhawk was watched unsuccessfully crashing through the Holly bushes at Thornley on a couple of occasions.
Far Pasture NR - 08:30 - 3 Red Kites , 4 Reed Bunting, 8 Teal, 2 Canada Goose, Snipe, 2 Greylag Goose and 4 Little Grebe.

Friday 14th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - Juvenile Iceland Gull on the pond early pond .
Near Ryton - 1 Barn Owl
Timber Beach - 2 Shelduck
Far Pasture - An unsuccessful attempt to see roding Woodcock at dusk, however did produce several calling Tawny Owls, a Pipistrelle Bat (the first of the year) and a Red Fox.
Rowlands Gill - 2 pair of displaying Red Kite and both the first Honey Bee and Garden Ant

Wednesday 12th March 2008

River Team, by Team valley trading Estate - At least 2 Kingfishers on the river plus 2 Grey Wagtail in the trading estate

Tuesday 11th March 2008

Tyne Bridge - 3+ Kittiwakes around the Bridge this afternoon - First of the year
Cowen Road, Blaydon - 1 occassionally 2 Pheasants visiting on of the gardens here.
Wood Anemone & Primrose in flower at Swalwell visditor centre

Monday 10th March 2008

Lintzford - Lamesley Meadows - 1 Grey Heron, 2 Greylag Geese, 10+ Teal, 2 pair Mallard, 5+ Moorhen, 2 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher, 15+ Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 50+ Woodpigeon, 2 Robin, 5+ Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 3 Magpie, 10+ Jackdaw & c20 Starling.
Shibdon Pond - 3 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Mute Swan, 24 Canada Geese, 10 Goldeneye (6 drakes), 1 Kestrel, 1 Pheasant, 1 Water Rail (near the end of the boardwalk), 1 Green Woodpecker (heard only), 10+ Wren, 5+ Robin, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Reed Bunting & various numbers of Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird,

, Great Tit, Magpie & Chaffinch.
Watergate Forest Park - 3 Little Grebe, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Buzzard (soaring to the south over Ravensworth), 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker (heard only), 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Reed Bunting & various numbers of Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw & Carrion Crow.

Blue Tit at Far Pasture

Due to last summer's weather this was one of a number of species that had a very poor breeding season and has been noticably scarcer this winter.

[Ray Wilby]

Sunday 9th March 2008

Lintzford - 5 Red Kite and a Common Buzzard
Ravensworth Estate - Pair of Common Buzzard
Burdon Moor - 5 Golden Plover, 5 Grey Lag, 8 pair of Lapwing on territory, 11 Skylark singing
Lamesley Water Meadows - Redshank 1, Tree Sparrow 10, House Sparrow 6, Teal 8, Oystercatcher 2, Moorhen 6, Mallard 2, Woodpigeon 20+ , Greylag Geese 2, Jackdaw 8, BH Gull 20+, Red Legged Partridge 4, Grey Heron 1, Herring Gull 1, Coot 5, Starling 35+, Blackbird 3, Song Thrush 2, Snipe 2, Kestrel 1, Pied Wagtail 1 and a Stoat.
Timber Beach - 2 Ringed Plover
Whickham - Blackcap singing
Far Pasture NR - 5 Red Kite, also Robin 3, Dunnock 3, Coots 7, Moorhen 3, Little Grebe 2, Blue Tit 5, Gt Tit 4, Wren 1, Long Tailed Tit 6, Grey Heron 2, Snipe 2, Teal 12, Kestrel 1, Redwing 20+, Pied Wagtail 3, Goldcrest 3.
Shibdon Pond - 9 Goldeneye, 12 Mute Swan

Tree-creeper at Thornley

Though quite easy to see at Thornley, and other sites in the borough, it is very unusual for a bird to come onto the actual table to feed. They are even more often observed creeping up the support of the feeding table than being on the platform itself.

[Ray Wilby]

Thornley WC - Green Woodpecker and a Woodcock 'flushed by the girl filling up the bird-feeders'. Also Chaffinch 6, Blue Tit 3, Gt Tit 10, Nuthatch 2, Coal Tit 3, Blackbird 2, Dunnock 2, Robin 2, Yellowhammers 3, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Red Kite 2, Long Tailed Tit 3, Treecreeper 1, Bullfinch 3, Pheasant 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Woodpigeon 20+ Mallards 2, Wren 1.

This Green Woodpecker at Thornley was 1 of 3 birds seen today [Will Cook]

Sunniside- 2 Red Kite
Clara Vale - Green Woodpeckers in reserve and at Eels Wood and 3 Common Buzzard nearby.
Crawcrook Quarry - 30 Fieldfare and 15 Redwing.
East Bradley Fell -A nice range of commoner species today included Red Kite, 2 Kestrel, Tawny Owl, Jay, c8 Redwing, Treecreeper, a pair of Nuthatch, several Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, c6 Bullfinch and singing Yellowhammer and Skylark.
High Spen / Greenside -A Red Kite and 14 Curlew over the road this afternoon

A good day for Common Buzzard [Gordon Pollinger]

Saturday 8th March 2008

Shibdon Pond - Drake Pochard and 2 Oyster-catcher. Also Cormorant 42, Mute Swan 5, Black Headed Gull 70+, Herring Gull 40+, Lesser Black Backed Gulls 3, Canada Geese 30+, Grey Heron 2, Coot 15, Tufted Duck 12+.
Far Pasture NR - Roe Deer 3, Red Kite 8, Kestrel 2, Teal 25, Coot 5, Dunnock 3, Robin 3, Great Tit 3, Moorhen 5, Mallard 5, Little Grebe 2, Snipe 1, Long Tailed Tit 12, Wren 1, Bullfinch 1.

Friday 7th March 2008

Shibdon Pond -Water Rail, Shoverler, Pochard and 2 Oyster-catcher
East Bradley Fell - Common Buzzard showing well late this afternoon. Also Tawny Owl later.

Wednesday 5th March 2008

Undisclosed sites -Pairs of Buzzard displaying at 2 sites and hopefully will settle down to breed.
Lobley Hill area - 3 Common Buzzard noted with a Sparrowhawk and another 'Blue' Pheasant

Tuesday 4th March 2008

Lamesley Water Meadows area - 1 Cormorant (flew over), 1 pair Mallard, 33 Teal, 2 Kestrel, 3 Red-legged Partridge, 10 Moorhen, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 30 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 100+ Woodpigeon, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch and various numbers of Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw & Carrion Crow.

Red-legged Partridge at Lamesley

Birds have been seen here and at Burdon Moor, Ravensworth Fell this year. Larger than the grey partridge, it has a large white chin and throat patch, bordered with black. It has a greyish body with bold black flank stripes, and a chestnut-sided tail. It is an introduced species, mainly for sport..

[Ray Wilby]

Beacon Lough - Callendar Court area - 30+Redwings,male and female Bramblings feeding amongst the beech trees and a Grey Wagtail.
Lamesley - 12+ Common Snipe, 12 Curlew, 7 Reed Buntings, 15 Redwing 2 Mistle Thrush.
Team valley trading estate - 200+ corvids at the east side of the estate after dark
Lobley Hill area - 2 Common Buzzard

Monday 3rd March 2008

Timber Beach - Dunlin 50+, Black-headed Gulls 30+

Dunlin at Timber Beach

50 or so currently wintering here

[Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - Long-tailed Tit 3, Teal 28+, Snipe 3, Wren 1, Little Grebe 3, and a Red Fox.
Thornley WC - Bullfinch 2, Coal Tit 5, Gt Tit 5, Blue Tit 5, Blackbird 4, Yellowhammers 6, Chaffinch 3, Robin 2, Dunnock 2, Woodpigeon 50+, Wren 1, Mallard 2, GS Woodpecker 1 Nuthatch 2, Magpie 3.

Sparrowhawk

This bird continues to show well and uses the feeding station at Thornley Woodland Centre regularly

[Derek Bilton]

Sunday 2nd March 2008

Shibdon Pond -15 Tufted Duck, 20 Goldeneye, 2 Oyster-catcher
Far Pasture NR - Sparrowhawk, 54 Teal, 3 Little Grebe and 3 Red Kite
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Oyster-catcher with a Little Owl nearby
Saltwell Park Lake - 4 Pochard and a Peregrine flew over

Female Pochard

Saltwell Park Lake is the only site that has held a female this year

[Paul Davidson]

Crawcrook quarry - Common Buzzard over, flew west. Single Fieldfare. Small group of 7 Meadow Pipits
Clara Vale LNR - Willow Tit in feeding station.
Sled Lane Pond - 2 Wigeon, 8 Tufted ducks, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Goldeneye and 1 Goosander.
Thornley WC - 20 species seen despite the high winds, including the Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker (pair), Nuthatch, 3 Siskin and a pair of Red Kites displayed quite low over the feeding area.

Jay at Thornley Woodland Centre feeding station

Never had a view of one this close?, then get down to the feeding station.

[Joanne Reavey]

Low Thornley - Single Tree Sparrow seen one possibly two others heard, and a male kestrel occupied a nesting box.
Sad note -the Thornley 'Blue Pheasant' was found dead on the main road yesterday, victim of roadkill, a typically tragic end for a really beautiful and unusual bird.

R.I.P

The Thornley Blue Pheasant

Saturday 1st March 2008

Far Pasture NR - Kingfisher seen most of the day
Birtley town centre- Tawny Owl singing in the early hours