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Wednesday 31st March 2010

Clara Vale - 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Swallow and a Sparrowhawk
Shibdon Pond - 60+Sandmartins and a few Swallows over the pond most of them came in from the north west
Derwenthaugh meadows - Shelduck
Watergate Lake - Handful of Swallow over the lake today.

Match of the Day
2 Shelduck playing football at Derwenthaugh

Tuesday 30th March 2010

Winlaton Mill - 16 Fieldfare flew over, with a Blackcap in a garden at nearby Hagg Hill
Lamesley Water Meadows (10:15-11:40); 1m Shoveler, 3pr Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 1pr Oystercatcher, 4 Redshank, 6 Swallow, 8+ Sand Martin, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet. Of the six Swallow, one was perched on the fence near the hide three flew through north at 11:05 and two stayed for a while feeding low over the water.
Clara Vale LNR - 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker aand a Blackbird nest building.

Year list stands at 111 - Osprey was new today

Monday 29th March 2010

Birtley Brickworks Pool - 3 Canada Geese south, 1pr Shelduck, 1pr Teal, 3 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 1 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 LBb Gull, Green Woodpecker heard, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 4 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, 1 Willow Tit singing, 1 Jay, Linnet, Bullfinch & Reed Bunting.
Bowes Valley NR/Kibblesworth Brickworks Pool - 3 Little Grebe, 1pr Greylag Geese, 4m Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 1pr Coot, 1pr Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 3 Sand Martin north, GS Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting.
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - Osprey over drifting NNW towards Ravensworth mobbed by Gull's @09:54, 1 Grey Heron, 5pr Teal, 1pr Kestrel, 1pr Red-legged Partridge, 14 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1pr Song Thrush, 50 Linnet.
Team Valley - 1 Grey Heron, 12 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 2pr Tufted Duck, 1pr Buzzard displaying, 1 Kestrel, 1 Dipper, 1pr Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Tree Sparrow

Tree-creepers Tree-creepers seem to be everywhere at the moment [Ray Wilby, Norman Scott & Derek Bilton]

Sunday 28th March 2010

Ravensworth Fell - 2 Oyster-catcher, 2 Redshank
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Swallow and 3 Redwing. 1 Peregrine seen nearby
Far Pasture NR - 80+ Sand Martin, singing Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Buzzard, 3 Red Kite, 5 Common Snipe, 1 Willow Tit and 2 Little Grebe
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank
Burdon Moor - 24 Whooper Swan flew over heading north. 7 Wheatear (5m,2 F) present.

Saturday 27th March 2010

Crawcrook Quarry - Single Sand Martin this morning and a Common Buzzard.
Lamesley Water Meadow - 1 Swallow.
Far Pasture NR - Firecrest reported today was a Chiffchaff. 1-2 Kingfisher
Westfield Pasture -1 Little Owl

Friday 26th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 2 Gadwall (pair), , pair of Goldeneye , pair of Oystercatchers ,8 Shelduck 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Tufted Ducks. Several
Chiffchaffs singing in the reserve
Derwenthaugh meadows - Curlew , pair of Oystercatchers , 4 Shelducks and a few Pied Wagtails
Far Pasture NR - 2 Willow Tit, 12 Sand Martin, singing Chiffchaff, 1 Kingfisher and 3 Common Snipe. No sign of the Firecrest today.
Lamesley Water Meadow - 1 White Wagtail was new for the year.

Thursday 25th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 5 Goldeneye 2 male 3 female , 6 Shelduck
Greenside - High Spen - 2 Green Sandpiper on roadside flash
Derwenthaugh meadows - Curlew, pair of Oystercatchers and a Shelduck

Chiffchaff at Far Pasture [Ron Hindhaugh]

Wednesday 24th March 2010

Far Pasture NR - The Firecrest showed at 08:30hrs on the path from the car park to the hide.
Shibdon Pond - 3 Male Shoveler,   3 Goldeneye 1male  2 Femal, pair of Little Grebe , pair of Oystercatchers on one of the rafts
Wardley - A male Reed Bunting visited a feeder in one observer's garden

Reed Bunting [Joanne Reavey]

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

Near Tanfield Railway - 2 singing Chiffchaff
Clara Vale to Ryton - Several singing Chiffchaff
Shibdon Pond - 4 Common Goldeneye (3m;1f), 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Far Pasture NR - No sign of Firecrest today but 7 Common Snipe, 2 Little Grebe,1 Chiffchaff. A Grey Heron feeding on frogs.

Singing Goldcrest at Far Pasture NR But the Firecrest that has been trapped or reported 4 times now is far more elusive

Monday 22nd March 2010

Far Pasture NR - The Firecrest showed well at 13:30hrs on the path from the car park to the hide.
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - Pair of Pintail were new for the year. The Green Sandpiper still present.
Burdon Moor - The first Wheatear of the year seen today.
Ravensworth Fell - A Long-eared Owl in suitable breeding territory seen.
Shibdon Pond - 3 Goldeneye 2male 1 female, Mute Swans started to build a nest and dozens of Sand Martins over the pond iin the afternoon.
Team valley - A single Swallow (another first of the year) at the roundabout at end of Teams Valley near Sainsburys at 15:00hrs.

Sunday 21st March 2010

Birtley Reedbed Pools - 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Shelduck and a Weasel
Ravensworth Estate - 8 Common Buzzard soaring in one spiral - possibly birds on passage
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 18 Teal and 3 Tree Sparrow
Ravensworth Fell - 210 Golden Plover, 3 Common Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 22 Teal, 1 Little Owl and a Red-legged Partridge.
Far Pasture NR- The Firecrest showing well, also Chiffchaff.
River Tyne by Swing Bridge - 20+ Kittiwake

Saturday 20th March 2010

Lamesley Meadows (08:30-09:15) - 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank, 1pr Oystercatcher, 2pr Shelduck, 11+ Pied Wagtail.
Birtley Reedbed Pools - 2 Sand Martin

Long-tailed Tit [Joanne Reavey]

Friday 19th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 2 Sand Martin plus a pair of Kingfisher , male Goosander, 2 Lesser Black backed Gull and Curlew in top field.
Derwent Walk CP -6 Sand Martin in Winlaton Mill/Hagghill area with a Peregrine being seen further up the valley towards Rowlands Gill. Also singing Chiffchaff near the tennis courts.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 3 Sand Martin and a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Redshank.
Watergate Park - An early House Martin was new for the year. Also Common Pochard here
River Tyne at Timber Beach - 1 Ringed Plover
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth; 1pr Shelduck, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer, 4 Reed Bunting, 4 Roe Deer.
Birtley Reedbed Pools - Chiffchaff singing, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Treecreeper.

Four-winged Gull [Roy Jackson]

Thursday 18th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 2 Sand Martin again present. Also Shibdon 6 Shelduck ,4 Goldeneye 1 male 3 female ,2 Oystercatchers on the football field and a Woodcock .

Peacock at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Birtley Reedbed Pools - Singing Chiffchaff and Green Woodpecker but again no sign of the Cetti's Warbler
Clara Vale - Singing Chiffchaff
Far Pasture NR - Mating Mallards at Far Pastures, Goldcrest there too but elusive and Little Grebe

Little Grebe at Far Pasture NR -[Joanne Reavey]

Wednesday 17th March 2010

Clara Vale - River Tyne at Clara Vale and Wylam: 2 Dipper on the river and 3 Bullfinch, Goldfinch and Tree Sparrow in one observer's garden. The reserve held Blue/Great/Coal Tits (5 of each) , Blackbirds 4, Wren 2, Robin 2, Dunnock 2, Greenfinch 1, Long Tailed Tit 4, Jackdaw 2, Magpie 2, Pheasant 2, Moorhen 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.
Birtley Reedbed Pools - A Common Buzzards and a singing Chiffchaff but no sign of the Cetti's Warbler.
Derwenthaugh - A pair of Goosander and a Green woodpecker feeding in the field
Sled Lane Pond - Goldeneye 3, Tufted Duck 8, Mute Swan 3, Coot 10, Mallard 20, Little Grebe 1.
Thornley WC - Yellowhammer 12+, Jackdows 4, Magpie 2, Bullfinch 4, Blackbird 5, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Chaffinch 6, Coal Tit 6, Dunnock 4, Great Tit 8, Nuthatch 2, Pheasant 2, Woodpigeon 5, Willow Tit 1, Wren 1.
Shibdon Pond -2 Sand Martin were seen in the afternoon

Tuesday 16th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 18 Redwing and a Sparrowhawk

Monday 15th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 11 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatchers (2 on the little island and 2 on the football pitch) and a male Goldeneye
Far Pasture NR- The Firecrest reported again.

Sunday 14th March 2010

Far Pasture NR - The Firecrest trapped and rung last month was recaught late morning. Also 3 Goldcrest seen, 1 singing (all unrung). 2 Common Snipe
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - Green Sandpiper, single Barnacle Goose with 86 Greylag, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Teal and 4 Tree Sparrow
Church Pool, Lamesley - 1pr Tufted Duck,
Ravensworth Fell - 100 Golden Plover, 150 Lapwing and a Red-legged Partridge.
Kibblesworth Grange - 2 Oyster-catcher.
Shibdon Pond - 10 Shelduck
Sled Lane Pond - 4 Common Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 10 Wigeon.
Westfield Pasture - 1 Woodcock at nearby Maryside Hill

Great Tit [Joanne Reavey]

Saturday 13th March 2010

Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - Green Sandpiper, single Barnacle Goose with 33 Greylag, 1 Oyster-catcher, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Roe Deer.
Lamesley Meadows - 1pr Shelduck, 1 Red-legged Partridge.
Church Pool, Lamesley - 1pr Shelduck, 1pr Tufted Duck, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Westfield Pasture - 2 Woodcock

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Derwenthaugh Meadows - 2 Oyster-catcher
Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - Green Sandpiper still present, also 55 Grey Lag Geese, 2 Shelduck and 57 Curlew with 2 Oystercatcher nearby.
Ravensworth Fell - 50 Golden Plover and 2 singing Skylark seen.
Birtley - Reed Buntings still visiting the feeders in a garden even though the weather has improved.

Tuesday 9th March 2010

Bishop's Pool, Kibblesworth - 1 Green Sandpiper

Monday 8th March 2010

Westfield Pasture - Little Owl being mobbed by 6+ Yellowhammers
Shibdon Pond - 1.25 pm - A Peregrine appeared over the pond causing all the gulls to take flight - It was mobbed by corvids and flew of towards Axwell Park
Derwenthaugh - 1 Oystercatcher
Lamesley reedbed pools - Cetti's Warbler seen and heard today.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 Oyster-catcher
Kibblesworth Grange - 2 Oyster-catcher.

Oystercatcher at Derwenthaugh This species is on the move with birds noted at 3 sites on 8th March [George Simpson]

Sunday 7th March 2010

Winlaton - 2 Skylarks singing
Lamesley reedbed pools - No sign of the Cetti's Warbler this afternoon but Green Woodpecker and a Common Buzzard was seen nearby.

Saturday 6th March 2010

Clara Vale - 32 Goosander on the Tyne. Moth trapping seesion overnight produced 2 Pale Brindled Beauty and a Dark Chestnut
East Bradley Fell - Male Brambling on garden feeders most of the afternoon with 2+ Willow Tit, 2 Nuthatch and c10 Bullfinch. Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Redwing & calling Stock Dove in nearby trees.
Sled Lane - 4pm - 1 Little Grebe, 10 Wigeon, 2m 2f Goldeneye, 1f Goosander, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Canada Goose, 4 Mute Swan plus Mallard, Moorhen & Coot

Friday 5th March 2010

Shibdon Pond - A Woodcock and a pair of Oystercatchers circling and calling in the morning and a Water Rail noted in the afternoon.

Thursday 4th March 2010

Derwent Walk CP - 2 Cormorant and a male Goosander on the wooden island in Goodshields Lake. 2 Red Kite mobbing a Carrion Crow by last year's nest site and several Dipper on the Derwent.
Derwenthaugh - 75+ Curlew at high tide.

Wednesday 3rd March 2010

Birtley reedbed pools - Cetti's Warbler singing again.
Westfield Pasture - 2 Woodcock this evening
Far Pasture NR - 2 Tawny Owls hooting, over near the monument, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Willow Tit, Great, Blue and Coal Tit, 1 Bullfinch, 5 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Snipe, 10 Long Tailed Tit 4 Chaffinch.

Willow Tit at Far Pasture NR [Ray Wilby]

Shibdon Pond - Pair Mute Swan displaying and mating. In the afternoon a Red Kite flew over the pond from the Newcastle area and looked as if it landed in Axwell Park
Derwent Walk CP - A large flock of Long-tailed tits near Thornley centre, plus three treecreepers there, A Cormorant fishing in the reed beds in the lake, 2 Dippers on the river upstream from the viaduct, Kestrel on the flood plain and a Common Buzzard over the lake.

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Shibdon Pond - 5 Redwing along with Goldfinch ,Bullfinch , Siskins , Chaffinch , and singing Reed Buntings. Nearby, Grey Wagtail bathing in the Derwent
Clara Vale LNR - Long tailed Tit 4, Chaffinch 6, Goldfinch 3, Robin 2, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 6, Wren 2, Pheasant 5, Magpie 2, Willow Tit 1, Greenfinch 3, Bullfinch 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Coal Tit 3, Sparrowhawk 1.
Derwent Walk CP - Only the usual common birds here today. Large flocks of Lesser Redpolls and Siskins in derwent valley but non at feeding station. Quite a few birds singing Magpie repairing nest.
Birtley reedbed pools - No sign of the Cetti's Warbler today.

Monday 1st March 2010

Birtley reedbed pools - Despite report to the contrary, Cetti's Warbler singing at 10:20 (usual spot), 1 Little Grebe but no sign of any Chiffchaffs today. The Cetti's was last reported on 21st February
Derwenthaugh - 47 Curlew and a Oystercatcher on the meadows.
Birtley Brickworks Pool - 1 Grey Heron, 6 Greylag Geese, 1pr Mallard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Woodcock, Green Woodpecker, 1pr Willow Tit, 2 Jay, 1 Siskin, 30 Lesser Redpoll, 1pr Bullfinch, 1 Yellowhammer, 6 Reed Bunting
Bowes Valley NR - 6 singing Skylark back on territory.
Clara Vale -100+ Siskin

Click this drawing above for a sound recording of our Cetti's Warbler recorded on the 9th March by Ian Mills

for previous months bird records see bottom of page