Gateshead Birders

Bird records

(November 2003)

Background Waxwing by Gordon Pollinger part of flock at Blaydon, 23rd Nov.

Little Grebe - 1 on River Tyne at Dunston Staithes on 9th.
Pink-footed Goose - 21 East over Shibdon Pond on 16th.
Canada Goose - 2 at Watergate on 9th and 15 at Shibdon Pond 9th-16th.
Snow Goose - A probable escape at Far Pasture NR on 6th.
Wigeon - 1 on River Tyne at Timber Beach on 9th. 3 at Watergate on same day.
Shoveler - A drake at Shibdon Pond 13th-16th.
Common Pochard - 3 mmf at Watergate Lake on 9th.
Goosander - 19 S over Birtley town centre on 14th.
Common Goldeneye - Clara Vale on 2nd and a male at Timber beach on 9th.
Red-legged Partridge - 26 at Byermoor on 16th.
Water Rail - One in front of Screen hide at Shibdon Pond on 17th and 1 from main hide on 20th.
Common Buzzard - 1 on 6th at Clara Vale NR flew N.
Lapwing - 850 along River Tyne at Dunston Staithes on 9th. 274 counted at Shibdon Pond on 20th.
Golden Plover - 375 along River Tyne at Dunston Staithes on 9th, rising to 500 on 16th. A single at Burdon Moor on 23rd.
Redshank - 39 at Shibdon Pon on 20th and 48 on 23rd.
Dunlin - 70 at Timber beach on 15th and 113 there next day. Still 78 on 23rd.
Green Sandpiper - 2 at Blaydon Quarry on 2nd.
Common Snipe - Maximum count at Shibfon was 41 on 20th. Jack Snipe - 2 at Burdon Moor on 9th and another in front of Screen hide at Shibdon on 17th.
Woodcock - 1 at Stella Lane on 9th.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 adult at Dunston Staithes on 9th.
Little Owl - The usual bird seen roosting at Lamesley on 23rd [photo below PWD]

Kingfisher - 1 at Ryton Willows on 16th.
Green Woodpecker - 1 at Victoria Gatresfield on 23rd.
Skylark - 28 on Ravensworth Fell on 2nd.
Waxwing - 4 at Cowpen Road, Shibdon on 1st and 8 at Blaydon Shopping centre on 16-17th (see photos below), rising to 14 on 20th and 20 on 21st. and 36-38 on 22nd/23rd. Still 11 on 24th and 35 on 30th. Another flew south over Thornley Woodlands on 20th, 6 were also seen on 20th at Blaydon Burn and 50+ on Sunderland Road on 23rd. Yet another was seen on 25th,this time over Clara Vale.

Waxwings at Blaydon Shopping centre on 16th, part of a flock of 8 found by Brian Pollinger. This flock rose to 38 by the 23rd. Photographs by Paul Davidson

Fieldfare - 120 on Ravensworth Fell on 2nd and 75 at Burdon Moor on 9th.
Stonechat - 2 at Burdon Moor on 2nd.
Yellow-browed Warbler - a possible bird reported from Blaydon on 21st.
Willow Tit - 1 at Byermoor on 16th.
Tree Sparrow - 2 at Byermoor on 16th.