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Bird records

(October 2004)

All of 2004 records

Little Grebe - Up to 5 remained on Shibdon Pond at the start of the month. 2 on the River Derwent near the Cricket Pitch on 21st.

Mute Swan - One flew over Shibdon Pond on 3rd October and again on 10th. 2 on the Tyne at Timber beach on 31st.

Canada Goose - A flock of 85+ on Shibdon Pond throughout the month.

Barnacle Goose - The 2 Feral birds from Saltwell Park remained until at least the 27th. A flock of 20 flew west over the pond on 1st.

Pink-footed Goose - A flock of 30 flew over several spots in the Blaydon area, heading SE. Another flock of 50 flew over Clara Vale on 23rd and presumably a different flock NNW over the A1 at Team Valley on 31st.

Common Shelduck - A juvenile on Shibdon Pond on 1st-3rd. and 2 adults there on 31st.

Wigeon - Up to 4 still on Shibdon Pond on 1st-16th.

Teal - Maximum count at Shibdon Pond of 127 (21st Oct) but still only a few on the river Tyne.

Shoveler - 20+ on Shibdon Pond 1st-10th with still 6+ at the month's end..

Common Goldeneye - A single bird arrived on Shibdon Pond on 10th.

Red-breasted Merganser - A redhead on the new pond at Clara Vale on 23rd but was gone the next day.

The Red-breasted Merganser at Clara Vale on 23rd.

Goosander - 2 redheads on Shibdon Pond on 3rd.

Hobby - A Hobby seen near the Washington boundary at Birtley on 2nd and was perhaps the bird at Shibdon a couple of weeks ago. Another or the same heading west over the Thornley Woodland centre on 3rd.

Lapwing - 12 at Shibdon Pond on 2nd and only small numbers on the Tyne early in the month. 9 at Barlow Fell on 2nd.

Golden Plover - 17 at Barlow Fell on 2nd. Possibly as many as 1,000 present on Burdon Moor on 24th-25th and at Timber beach on 31st

Curlew - 8 at Blaydon Burn Meadows on 10th and 20 on the Tyne most of the month.

Redshank - Maximum counts of 45 on the Tyne at Dunston during the month and 70 at Shibdon Pond on 8th. Numbers rose on the Tyne until 170 there on 31st.

Dunlin - 2 on Shibdon Pond on 2nd with 3 there next day when another 4 on the shore at Timber beach. Numbers rose on the Tyne until 34 there on 31st.

Jack Snipe - 1 at Shibdon Pond on 24th.

Common Snipe - 5 on Shibdon Pond 1st/2nd and 14-16 regularly counted there from 3rd to 31st, with 20 seen on 19th. 6 at Crawcrook Quarry on 26th.

Barn Owl - One by the A1 at Birtley on 26th.

Short-eared Owl - 2 at Burdon Moor on 24th.

Tawny Owl - A bird was noted at Hedgefield Pasture on 9th. Two Tawny Owls were calling in the evening on 26th in Clara Vale village

Kingfisher - Present again on the morning of the 3rd, at Clara Vale LNR, on the new pond for at least an hour and still there on 23rd.

Hoopoe - A bird was seen flying over the A1 and over the western side of Shibdon Pond by a very lucky observer on 1st. It was extensively looked for but without success but may well have been lurking in some local garden.

Dipper - 1- 2 regularly on the River Derwent by the weir in the country park.

Waxwing - 5 over Oakfield Road, Whickham on 30th and 1 the following day.

Green Woodpecker - One foraging in horse grazing field off Derwent Walk at Rowlands Gill on 4th. Another at Clara Vale LNR the same day and again on 23rd. Singles at both Path Head Quarry and Bewes Hills on 10th.

House Martin - 15 birds at Birtley on 2nd were apparently still feeding young over the town. A flock of 75 were feeding over the football pitch at Shibdon on 3rd. 4-5 were over Far Pasture NR on 4th.

Stonechat - Six birds were seen at Burdon Moor on 24th, and though only one seen next day, 4 were there on 26th.

Blackbird - Still very good numbers at Shibdon Pond feeding on the abundant berry crop at the start of the month and at Stella on 9th..

Redwing - One on the reserve at Shibdon on 2nd was the first of the winter and 3 were in neaby Blaydon cemetery later in the day. Two were noted at Westfield Pasture on 8th and Clara on 10th A small flock over Birtley also on the 8th. Many over Clara Vale on 26th and small numbers throughout the borough late in the month.. Over 100 were at Shibdon on 29th.

Song Thrush - Like Blackbird, very good numbers at Shibdon Pond feeding on the abundant berry crop at the start of the month.

Mistle Thrush - A flock of 15 counted at Shibdon Pond on 1st.

Fieldfare - The first of the autumn was a flock flying west over Clara Vale on 9th. Many flocks were noted flying over Burdon Moor on 24th and over Clara Vale on 26th and 50 over Shibdon Pond on 28th. Small flocks flying west at several sites on 31st.

Reed Warbler - A bird was seen and heard in the phragmites bed at Shibdon Pond on 1st by 2 seperate observers.

Chiffchaff- 1-2 still on the reserve at Shibdon on 2nd and 3-4 at Far Pasture NR on 4th. A singing bird still at Clara Vale LNR on 7th.

[Willow Warbler - One was reported at Shibdon Pond on 21st]

Blackcap- 1-2 still on the reserve at Shibdon on 2nd and a male still at Clara Vale LNR on 7th. Another was at Westfield Pasture the same day.

Goldcrest - 1 at Far Pasture NR on 4th and 4+ at Shibdon Pond on 31st.

Long-tailed Tit - 8 were by the hide at Shibdon Pond throughout October.

Nuthatch - 1 was in Blaydon cemetery on 2nd.

Tree-creeper - 1 was in Blaydon cemetery on 2nd.

Tree Sparrow - 1-2 regular at the feeding station at Clara Vale LNR. 3 on Ravenworth Fell on 31st.

The Tree Sparrow at Clara Vale LNR on 23rd

Brambling - The first of the autumn was one at Stella on 9th, followed by 3 at Shibdon on 29th.

Siskin - 6 at Shibdon Pond on 24th.

Lesser Redpoll - 30 at Shibdon Pond on 31st

Bullfinch - A pair Far Pasture NR on 4th.

Goldfinch - 3 were at Shibdon Pond on 31st

©2002 Wigeonsoft Rare Bird PhotosJanuary-July 2004 recordsJuly 2004 records onlyJune 2004 records onlyMay 2004 records onlyApril 2004 records only December 2003 recordsNovember 2003 recordsOctober 2003 recordsSeptember 2004 recordsAugust 2004 records

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