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Monday 31st October

Shibdon Pond - No records of note
Blaydon Shopping precinct - Red Admiral.

Redshank at Shibdon [Steven Fryer]

Sunday 30th October

Timber beach - A large amount of Otter footprints on the mud.
Shibdon Pond - Kingfisher on the pond in the morning but was frequently harassed by a couple of Black-headed Gulls. 2 Sparrow-hawks also disturbing the birds on the pond. A late Red Admiral may be the last butterfly of the year as it has been for the last 2 years too (28th Oct 2004 and 2 November 2003). A Jay feeding newr the hide.
Ravensworth Fell - 4 Skylark, 6 Redwing and 45 Golden Plover

Saturday 29th October

Swalwell Bridge - Kingfisher, Gooseander and Dipper
Tennis courts in the Derwent Walk CP - Grey Heron on railings, Water Rail, Little Grebe, Gooseander and good size flock of mixed small birds - Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Blue, Great and Coal Tits at the Butterfly Bridge.

Little Grebe at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Far Pasture NR - Held the borough's first Goldeneye of the year together with Little Grebes, Grey Herons and a Kestrel
Timber beach - A Dunlin on the mud with a few Golden Plover and Redshanks.

Friday 28th October

Derwent valley - Last week a garden was visited by an Otter and two cubs.They were not observed but left footprints in a sand trap and left with twenty koi from the owners pond.They have returned but have not been able to gain entry to the pond due to new chain link fencing panels across the pond.The battle continues!

Thursday 27th October

Barlow Fell - Common Buzzard still about, no sign of the Stonechat but the Red Kites showing well.
Ryton Willows - Kingfisher at the Curling Pond.

Wednesday 26th October

Burdon Moor - 1 Common Buzzard.

Tuesday 25th October

Cormorant at Shibdon Pond [Photo Ray Wilby]

Dyke Heads - Common Buzzard again just west of Dyke Heads. Took off from ploughed/cropped field frequented by feeding Black-headed Gulls and flew off towards Greenside. A large raptor distantly seen flying off from this field on 23rd may have been the same bird.
Far Pasture -3 probable Whooper Swans seen.
Burdon Moor - 2 Stonechat and a Black Darter.

Stonechat at Barlow Fell [Photo Steven Fryer]

Barlow Fell - 8 Red Kites and two Common Buzzards were yet again with the kites! Also a Stonechat in one of the lower fields nearest the burn. The same three Swans that were seen at Burdon Moor photographed over here.
Clara Vale - 5 Fieldfare over, Tree Sparrow (in the village), and a Southern Hawker. Also the Kingfisher was from the new hide which has also been seen over the weekend both Sat and Sun.

Sunday 23rd October

Derwent Walk CP - An Otter on at Ladys Steps, Swalwell at approx 4pm.  It caught a fish on the weir
Shibdon Pond -30 Redwing and 23 Siskin in the scrub. 2 Shelduck and 40 Redshank on the pond.
Timber beach - 250 Golden Plover, 3 Mute Swan and a Shelduck.
Clara Vale - A Tree Sparrow in a back garden in the village. Kingfisher from the new hide again..
Low Fell - A Sparrow hawk swooped in and took one of the collared doves that were feeding ina back garden f. The same bird took a Starling 2 weeks ago in the same garden. This species is definately becoming more of a urban and suburban garden bird

Saturday 22nd October

Robin [Ray Wilby]

Greenside -Common Buzzard low over fields west of Dyke Heads Greenside about 5pm. Settled briefly in an Ash tree before flying off east
Far Pasture -"Pretty dismal day", with mainly Black Headed Gulls, Teal, Mallard, the cygnet about no Kestrels today.
Clara Vale - A Kingfisher from the new hide.

Friday 21st October

Far Pasture - The 2 Adult Mute Swans have left the pond, this will mean that the Cygnet can carry on growing up without them attacking it.
Shibdon Pond - 26 Snipe, 281 Teal and 7 Shoveler.
Derwent Walk - Otter seen mid morning on river Derwent under bridge at Swalwell

Thursday 20th October

Clara Vale - 1-2 Brambling
Far Pasture -Two Adult Mute Swans attacking the poor unlucky Cygnet (some youngsters have named it Lucky!), and not leaving it alone for any length of time. Also a black Pheasant was seen here.

Mute Swan at Far Pasture

Two adults arrived and harassed the young bird for most of the day before leaving. It is not known if these were the parents.

[Photo: Ray Wilby ]

Near Rowlands Gill -Along Holy Lane (road from Rowlands Gill to Barlow past kennels) there were 10 Red Kites, a Common Buzzard, 2 Common Kestrel and a Sparrow-hawk ambushing a small flock of Goldfinches / Jays / flock of Redwings.

"Black" Pheasant at Far Pasture - [Photo Steven Fryer] This bird has been around all year and usually has quite a large harem with him, but if you get a look at him in good light he's actually dark green (though we think Black Pheasant sounds much more sinister)

Wednesday 19th October

Clara Vale - 1000s of Redwings flying south-west..
Birtley - 8-9 Brambling flew over Komatsu

Tuesday 18th October

Shibdon Pond - 150 Redwing, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Shelduck and 2 singing Chiffchaff.

Monday 17th October

Shibdon Pond - 4 Shelduck, pair of Wigeon, 157 Lapwing and 68 Redshank.
Far Pasture NR - 26 Wigeon flew west

Sunday 16th October

Stargate - A GOSHAWK was seen on the hills behind the pools, the 145th species for the year in the borough. Crawcrook Quarry - Red Admiral

Friday 14th October

River Derwent -A pair of Dipper, a redhead Goosander and two Grey Wagtailss flew past going downstream. Nearby another pair of Dipper (different coloured rings) and a single Grey Wagtail.

Thursday 13th October

Clara Vale - 3 Blackcap, Kingfisher and large numbers of Blackbirds and Robins this morning.

Tuesday 11th October

Shibdon Pond - 10 Wigeon on the pond.
Stargate - Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Snipe, Water Rail and a Kingfisher
Clara Vale - On the river were a Kingfisher, Common Seal, 2 Grey Heron and 2 Moorhen.
Westfield Lane - Little Owl and Red Fox.
River Tyne at Ryton - Kingfisher and a flock of Lesser Redpoll.

Common Snipe at Far Pasture - showing a little better the the bird below [Photos Iain Thompson]

Spot the Snipe

They can almost disappear when they want to.

Monday 10th October

Shibdon Pond - 22 Snipe, Water Rail, Kingfisher and a large female Sparrow-hawk. A Red Admiral was also seen.
Watergate Park - A Ruddy Duck, Southern Hawkers and Common Darters.
Clara Vale - 4 Swallow
Bradley Fell -Mixed flock of 50+ Swallows and House Martins feeding over Coalway Plantation 6pm this evening, slowly moving in a southerly direction over Greenside.
Far Pasture NR - Jays (3-4) very conspicuous hiding their winter stashes in the bull-fields. Also 1 Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Common Darter
Derwent Walk: Red Kite hanging in the air low and directly overhead just south of Far Pasture was devouring what looked like part of a female pheasant from the size and colouring of the primary feathers on show, so probably a roadkill. It hung (or Kited) on the spot for some time as it munched on its lunch rather like how a Hobby devours a dragonfly on the wing, only moving off when another Kite came along (obviously didn't want to share) but an excellent view of a piece of interesting behaviour.
Thornley Hide: Red Kite flew over and a Small Tortoishell butterfly flitting around.

Sunday 9th October

Shibdon Pond - 200 Pink-footed Geese flew over heading west. Also 57 Redshank, 150 Lapwing, 11 Snipe, 1 Wigeon, 11 Shoveller, 200 Teal, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Siskin, 1 Water Rail in front of hide, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Sparrowhawk.

Grey Heron at Far Pasture

At Far Pasture on 9th, this Grey Heron took a good 10 minuets for the heron to swallow the eel, and it was still wriggling.

[Photo: Tom Dixon ]

Burdon Moor - 8 Stonechat (pr + 4m:2f young), 1 Wheatear, 2 Red Kite.

Stonechat at Burdon Moor

Up to 8 Stonechat were at Burdon Moor

[Photo: Paul Davidson ]

Clara Vale - 4 Swallow

Another of Gateshead's young Mute Swans takes off from Far Pasture[Photo Iain Thompson]

Saturday 8th October

Shibdon Pond - A Bar-tailed Godwit flew off west at 09:50 first record for 16 years. Also 44 Redshank, 160 Lapwing, 22,Snipe, 1 Wigeon, 1 drake Gadwall, 11 Shoveller, 201 Teal, 3 Kingfisher. 6 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Water Rail, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Swallow.
Far Pasture NR- - 5 Red Kites, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, and 2 Mute Swans
Ravensworth Fell - One Red Kite

Friday 7th October

Ravensworth Fell- A hunting Short-eared Owl between Burdon Moor & Hedley Fell.
Rowlands Gill - Badgers continue to show

Goldfinch in winter (well October)

[Photo: Ray Wilby ]

Thursday 6th October

Shibdon Pond- One of the young cygnet Mute Swans found dead on the pond.
Clara Vale - Small numbers of Redwing flying over.

Wednesday 5th October

Clara Vale - Small groups of Skylarks all heading NE. Tawny Owl flushed out of a garden tree.

Tuesday 4th October

Clara Vale -Lesser Redpoll and Woodcock seen.

Monday 3rd October

Westfield Pasture - Small influx of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins today.

Sunday 2nd October

Shibdon Pond - 5 Shelduck, 180 Lapwing, 60 Redshank, 2 singing Chiffchaff and a Water Rail. 2 Migrant Hawker. Pink Waxcap fungi fruiting nearby
Westfield Lane - Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. Little Owl nearby

Saturday 1st October

Shibdon Pond -- 2 Migrant Hawker and 2 singing Chiffchaff.
Far Pasture NR - Wigeon present (see below), presumably one of the Shibdon birds.

Wigeon on Far Pasture[Photo: Ray Wilby ]