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October 2006

 

Waders at Shidon this October [Ray Wilby]

 

 

for previous months bird records see bottom of page

 

Sunday 29th October

Barlow Fell - 7 Red Kites
Clara Vale - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk tried to get a Blue Tit from the tree opposite the hide and missed, then tried again and caught a Blue Tit from the feeder on the right of the hide.
Thornley WC - 6-8 Long Tailed Tits. A Sparrow-hawk perched on the feeders and a Roe Deer was seen.
Far Pasture NR - Mute Swan cygnet no adults, 12 Long Tailed Tits, 6 Black-headed Gull (all youngsters)

Saturday 28th October


Derwent Walk Country Park - 2 Kestrel, 2 Goosander, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Dipper, flocks of Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrest.
Far Pasture - 1 Mute Swan cygnet, no sign of parents, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Jay, 1 Kestrel, Siskin, Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrest in car park.

Friday 27th October


Blaydon Industrial Estate - 1 Grey Wagtail
Stargate - Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher.
Rowlands Gill - Tawny Owl calling.
River Derwent, by weir - 2 Grey Wagtails, Dipper, Heron, Goosander and Kingfisher. Also about 60 Siskin flew over.

Kingfisher [Photo: Rick Thornton]

Thursday 26th October


Shibdon Pond - Lapwings 114,, Teal 271, Redshanks 36, Shoveler 23 Snipe 48, Grey Heron 7 and a Kingfisher.
Near Clara Vale - Small flocks of Fieldfare west this morning.
River Derwent, by weir - Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Little Grebe and Kingfisher.

Wednesday 25th October

Clara Vale - A Brambling and a possible Firecrest was heard in the hedge by the church.

Snipe Swimming at Far Pasture NR [Rick Thornton]

Monday 23rd October

Sled Lane Pond - Mute Swan 3, Black-headed Gull 21, Wigeon 9, Coot 16, Moorhen 14, Tufted Duck 2, Mallard 46, Cormorant 1, Jay 1

Sunday 22nd October

River Tyne - Dunston area - Rock Pipit between Redheugh and Dunston, Greenshank, 550 Golden Plover, 160 Redshank, Canada Goose, 2 Goldeneye (1st of winter), an adult Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Kingfisher also seen
Far Pasture NR - 1 Kingfisher -right in front of hide, Jay -at least 4 carrying acorns over to far side of pond, 1 Red Kite flew over, 1 Cormorant actively swimming and diving but pursued by 3 Mute Swans, c.8 possible Redwings flying over.
Shibdon Pond - Lapwings 50, , Teal 130, Redshanks 40, Shovelers 16, Snipe 21, Redwing - 38. A flock of 60 Pink-footed Geese flew over.
Near Clara Vale - A Long-eared Owl seen well in a hawthorn hedge with a Willow Tit nearby.

Lapwings arriving at Shibdon Pond [Ray Wilby]

Saturday 21st October

Lamesley sewage works - 8 Grey Lag flew over.
River Derwent - Dipper, 2 Goosander, a Grey Wagtail and excellent views of Otter sighting for about 20 mins
Far Pasture NR - Mute Swans 3, Dabchick 1, Teal 15, Goldcrest 2, Treecreeper 2, Wren 2, Jays 2, Blue Tits 4, Robins 4, Moorhens 2, Coots 6, Snipe 7, Red Kite 1, Kestrel 1,.Common Darter 3,
Shibdon Pond - Greenshank 1, Lapwings 200, Golden Plovers 200, Teal 60, Redshanks 100, Shovelers 11, Snipe 26, Heron 5, Moorhen 15, Cormorant 7, Black Headed Gulls 30, Dunlin 1.
Clara Vale - Kingfisher showing well.

Friday 20th October

Dyke Heads- Little Owl sitting on fence post.

Wednesday 18th October

Clara Vale - 6 Common Buzzard south were probably migrating. Also Sparrowhawk, and Pink-feet flew over.

Jay [Photo: Rick Thornton]

Tuesday 17th October

Sled Lane - Mallard 52, Coot 19, Moorhen 11, Mute Swan 1, Tufted Duck 1, Black Headed Gull 18, Wigeon 2


Monday 16th October

Bradley Fell old workings - Jay, Grey Heron and a pair of Kestrels

Sunday 15th October

Redwing [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Timber Beach - 200 Golden Plover
Clara Vale - birds caught during ringing session included Kingfisher (1st time ringed at Clara) a juv male, Great Spotted Woodpecker & 2 Nuthatch. Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff singing
Shibdon Pond - 150 Lapwing, 6 Shoveler, 150 Teal, 20 Snipe (20), 5 Long Tailed Tits
Bradley Fell old workings - 2 groups of c50 then c80 Redwing over

Saturday 14th October

Barmoor - 25 Grey Lag flew north
Bradley Fell old workings - 3-6 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Skylark, several Redwing

Friday 13th October

Barmoor - 40 Grey lag over
Derwentwaugh/Swalwell - Willow Warbler singing
Greenside - Red Kite 1

 

Thursday 12th October


Bradley Fell old workings - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiff Chaff, 10-15 Long-tailed Tit, 1-2 Treecreeper, 2-3 Jay, numerous Yellowhammer on fell and adjacent gardens.


Wednesday 11th October

Bradley Fell Old Workings - 8 Redwing this morning

Tuesday 10th October

Sled Lane - Mallard 32, Little Grebe 1, Mute Swan 1Coot 11, Moorhen 4

Monday 9th October

Barmoor - 20+ Goldfinch visiting niger feeders

Sunday 8th October

Shibdon Pond - Kingfisher, 60 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 200 Teal, 3 Shoveler, this afternoon.

Redshank at Shibdon Pond [Ray Wilby]


River Tyne at Costco - 600 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, Common Seal,

Saturday 7th October


Shibdon Pond -2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew east. 50 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, 5 Redshank and 150 Teal.

Some of the Snipe at Shibdon Pond [Ray Wilby]


Far Pasture NR - 2 Wigeon, 2 Snipe and a Red Kite.

The two Wigeon are still at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Friday 6th October

Shibdon Pond -280 Golden Plover, 550+ Lapwing, 49 Redshank, 19 Snipe, 400 Teal, 14 Shoveler

Thursday 5th October

Shibdon Pond -3-4 Chiffchaffs - calling & singing, 1 Blackcap, 30-40 Blackbird/Song Thrush - again extraordinarily high bird activity,
especially around newly cleared areas, 2 Kingfisher, 300 Lapwing, 250 Teal, 2 Redshank & only 1 Mute Swan

Common Buzzard [Photo: Ray Wilby]

Wednesday 4th October

Clara Vale - Redwing west, together with a light southerly passage of Skylarks. Later a flock of Barnacle Geese flew west overhead.
Shibdon Pond - c400 Lapwing, c300 Teal, 14 Snipe, 40 Redshank, 100 Golden Plover, 10 Shoveler 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in scrub, 40 Blackbirds & 20 Song Thrushes - possibly influx - bird activity VERY HIGH - small tit parties, robins, bullfinch, goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll sp. and one lonely Sswallow
Victoria Garesfield - Two redwings this afternoon on Lintzford Lane

Tuesday 3rd October

Shibdon Pond - A skein of Grey Lag Geese flew east at 07:30
Gibside - 55 Barnacle Geese flying west.

Monday 2nd October

Far Pasture -Still 2 Wigeon present

1 of the Wigeon at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

Sunday 1st October

Old workings Bradley Fell - 10-15 House Martin, singing Chifchaff, several Jays, scattered small groups of Skylarks and Pied Wagtails over, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Willow Tit heard amongst gorse, Sparrowhawk and fair numbers of Yellowhammer. Tawny Owl later.
Dunston -A Tawny Owl on Kingsmeadow School Field, Dunston at 7pm tonight was seen being chased into a tree by a crow.

Nuthatch [Ray Wilby]


Shibdon Pond - Single Greenshank, Grey Wagtail, Swallow and Kingfisher.
Axwell Park - Tawny Owl calling.
River Tyne at Dunston - 4 Grey Heron, 300 Lapwing and a Red Admiral .
Ravensworth Fell - 2 Tree Sparrow, 9 Golden Plover, 65 Linnet and 2 Sparrowhawk and 2 Swallow.
Kibblesworth - 2 House Martin.
Clara Vale - 30 Skylark flew over.

Grey Heron with a large eel

[Ray Wilby]

 

 

 

 

 

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