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October 2008
for previous months bird records see bottom of page |
Friday 31st October 2008
Bradley Fell old workings -Another Woodcock at 4pm today. Also Tawny Owl
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Kingfisher
Whickham - Big movement of birds heading west this morning. Fieldfare, Redwing & Wood Pigeon in flocks of 20+ and smaller groups of Blackbirds
Thornley WC - Kingfisher
feeding at the pond in both morning and afternoon
Thursday 30th October 2008
Bradley Fell old workings - Woodcock near dusk today
Ravensworth Fell - 15 Golden Plover
Wednesday 29th October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - Grey wagtail , along with the Kingfisher 1, Blackheaded Gulls 30+, Canada Geese 20+ flew over, Lapwings 20+, Goldfinches 3, Pied wagtails 2, Snipe 6, Grey Heron 1, Sparrowhawk (F) 1, Redshank 1, Tree Sparrows 2, Moorhen 4 (2 adults + 2 Chicks), Jackdaws 30+, Teal 2.
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Moorhen with late fledged chick It seems that several species are late this year, most probably these are birds that have re-layed after failure due to the floods. [Joanne Reavey] |
Ravensworth Fell - 15 Golden Plover
Tuesday 28th October 2008
Clara Vale - A flock of 10 Bean Geese flew west this morning. This is perhaps the first record for Gateshead of this species. The specific race (Tundra/Taiga) could not be determined.
Greenside - The reported Common Crane record was checked today and after discussions with the local farmer it was thought to be just a Grey Heron. At North Greenside: 40 Redwing, 2 Jay, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Nuthatch & Tawny Owl showing well.
Ravensworth Fell - 15 Golden Plover
Monday 27th October 2008
Greenside -An unconfirmed report passed to the Thornley WC of a Common Crane seen here today.
Birtley Reedbeds - A female Peregrine over the Lamesley Reedbeds, mobbed by male Sparrowhawk, drifted slowly north-west just after 2pm.
Clara Vale LNR - Female Blackcap and around 10 Lesser Redpoll in the resereve today.
Sled Lane Pond - late afternoon - 4 Mute Swan, 2m 1f Wigeon, 1m 2f Shoveler, 1m 5f Tufted Duck, 35-40 Coot, numerous Mallard & Moorhen, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Jay, 4 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, several Long-tailed Tit and several Siskin heard.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Redwing and 1 Tree Sparrow
Ravensworth Fell - 15 Golden Plover
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Kingfisher at Clara Vale [Michael Eccles] |
Sunday 26th October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Tree Sparrow, 7 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. 1 Comma butterfly, 1 Migrant Hawker and 6 Common Darter. Also a Lesser Black-backed Gull showing the features of the Continental race intermedius.
Shibdon Pond - 14 Shoveler ,c200 Teal, 1 Shelduck, , 110 Redshank, 6 Common Snipe, 1 Lapwing, 2 Jay, 6 Long-tailed Tit.
Timber beach - 150 Golden Plover.
Far Pasture - 2 Little Grebes, c6 Siskin, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Red Kites, Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff,
4 Mallard, 4 Moorhen & 30 Carrion Crows over far tree line. In the Car Park Area - 3 Goldcrests, 12 Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, 2 Robin, Great Tit , 2 Wren, K estrel on telegraph pole, 10 Red Kites overhead heading towards Gibside, Sparrowhawk being chased by crows heading towards river.
Thornley Woods Hide - 1 Sparrowhawk sitting in tree then trying to take birds from birdtable, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Willow Tit, Jay, Goldcrest
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This juvenile Sparrow-hawk at Thornley may have known it was being watched [Derek Bilton] |
Saturday 25th October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - Kingfisher 1
Whickham - 15 Golden Plover north at 2pm
Friday 22nd October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, 7 Snipe, 1 Grey Wagtail, Robin, Wren, Curlew, Redshank, Mallards, Moorhen, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Lapwing & Kingfisher. The Kingfisher was a very lucky bird, the Sparrowhawk almost caught it, but the Kingfisher dove into the water to escape, it was back on station and fishing approx 20 mins after the Sparrow incident...
Wednesday 22nd October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Kingfisher
Thornley WC - Kingfisher
feeding at the pond
Tuesday 21st October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - Kingfisher 2, Greylag Geese 21, Moorhens 14 including 2 chicks, Grey Heron 1, Black Headed Gull 20+, Kestrel 1, Common Snipe 18, Curlew 1, Sparrowhawk 1.
Monday 20th October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Curlew & 1 Kingfisher.
Birtley Brickworks Pool - 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Canada Geese (10 flew off north), 2 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Moorhen, 200+ mixed gull flock including 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 30+ Goldfinch.
Bowes Valley NR - 3 Snipe, 1 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit.
Birtley - 1 Peacock,
Sunday 19th October 2008
Shibdon Pond -At least 200 Redshank roosting on the islands
Lamesley - A single Fieldfare flew over-
Saturday 18th October 2008
Lintzford - Four House Martin over a Lintzford garden were later than usual. With the latest dates 2003-2007 being 1st-10th (average 5th) however the latest recorded date for a bird in the borough is of one at Shibdon Pond on 17th November 1980
Friday 17th October 2008
Shibdon Pond -200 Redwing in the reserve and quite a few Goldcrest.
Derwenthaugh - Medicago arabica (Spotted Medick) noted, the first Gateshead record since at least 1970.
Cowen Road, Blaydon - Buff-tailed bumble bee
Thursday 16th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - Migrant Hawkers on the wing plus 1 male Common Darter, and 100+Redshank
Derwenthaugh Meadows - 100+Curlew
Wednesday 15th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 6 Redwing in the reserve
Tuesday 14th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 1-2 Migrant Hawkers still on the wing
Clara Vale LNR - Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Kingfisher, Wren, Sparrowhawk and 3 Rats.
Monday 13th October 2008
Clara Vale LNR - Kingfisher 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Greenfinch 6, Willow Tit 1, Coal Tit 8, Chaffinch 4, Greater Spotted Woodpecker 1, Blue Tit 8, Rat 1, Jay 1, Magpies 3, Nuthatch 1, Moorhens 3, Kestrel 1 and 1 Red Fox
The Willow Tit at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]
Lamesley Water Meadows - Kingfisher 1, Snipe 2, Moorhen 2 plus 2 chicks, Greylag Geese 2. Also 2 Southern Hawker
Sunday 12th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 200+ Teal and a Kingfisher
Timber beach - 17 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk
River Tyne at Dunston - 300 Golden Plover, 267 Lapwing, 25 Mallard, 3 Teal and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Kibblesworth Brickworks pools - 12 Common Darter, 1 Migrant Hawker and a Comma butterfly.
Watergate Lake - 43 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 1 Goosander, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Saturday 11th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 248 Teal, 15 Shoveler and a Kingfisher. Also 2 Migrant Hawker
Lamesley Water Meadows - Greylag Geese (100+), Teal (9), Mallard (1), Pheasant (1), Moorhen (8+), Snipe (15), Kingfisher (1), Mistle Thrush (2).
Birtley Brickworks Pool area - Little Grebe (1), Tufted Duck (1), Kestrel (2), Meadow Pipit (4), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Blackbird, Chiffchaff (1), Goldcrest(2), Long-tailed Tit (10), Great Tit, Jay (1).
Note : Birtley Brickworks Pool, is in the western part of NZ2656, just south-east of the sewage works and is marked as such on the OS map. It is NOT Kibblrdworth brickworks pool. Although the flooded clay pit is on private property viewing is possible from the fence on the south side.
Nuthatch at Clara Vale LNR [Derek Bilton]
Friday 10th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - Kingfisher and 1-+ Shoveler, single Southern and Migrant Hawkers and 2-3 Common Darter.
Kibblesworth Brickworks Pool - Common Buzzard and Red Kite
Birtley - 6 Redwing flew over
Thursday 9th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 2 Migrant Hawkers, 1 Common Darter. A pair of G.S.Woodpecker in the reserve, Shelduck and Shoveler on the pond and a Helophilus pendulus Hoverfly.
Lamesley Water Meadows; 100+ Greylag Geese, 5 Teal, 4+ Moorhen, 4 Lapwing, 1 Kingfisher ('hovering' right outside the hide), 8 House Sparrow.
Birtley Brickworks Pool area; 1 Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Pheasant, 1 Moorhen, 4 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper (flew off west @0955), 250+ Black-headed Gull, 4+ Common Gull, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail (on the Rowletch Burn), Woodpigeon, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff (singing briefly), 2 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, 1 Yellowhammer.
Bowes Valley Nature Reserve (former Kibblesworth landfill) and Clarty Lane; 2 Mallard, 1 Red Kite (over west), 1 Common Buzzard (over Urpeth Wood), Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 10 Pheasant, 10 Moorhen (5 juveniles), 4 Swallow (over south @1320), 2 House Martin (over south 1250), 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 4 Jay, 2 Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, 2 Yellowhammer.
River Tyne, Swalwell - Flock of 8 Whooper Swan flew east (8 reported yesterday at Big Waters, Northumberland).
Wednesday 8th October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Grey Heron, 100+ Greylag Geese, 1 Buzzard right in front of the hide, scattering all the gulls, before drifting south, 3 Moorhen, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 4+ Common Gull, 1 Kingfisher and 80 Lapwing overflew north.
Shibdon Pond - Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter on the wing today
Ravensworth Estate -3 Common Buzzard over the castle
Cowen Road, Blaydon -Peacock butterfly
Monday 6th October 2008
Birtley Clay Pit area - 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 7 Skylark overflew, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Willow Tit, 2 Jay & 2 Roe Deer.
Bowes Valley Nature Reserve (former Kibblesworth Landfill) and Clarty Lane - 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 3 Red-legged Partridge, 9 Grey Partridge, 8 Pheasant, 1 Swallow, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 4 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, Blackbird (10+), 1 male Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 15+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Treecreeper, 3+ Jay, 2+ Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch & Bullfinch. Also a Dipper on the River Team at the southern end of the Lane.
Lamesley Reedbeds - 2 Little Grebe, 3 Teal, 10+ Moorhen, 10+ Coot, 2 Lapwing overflew & 1 Bullfinch.
Shibdon Pond - Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters seen
Sunday 5th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 2 Redwing
Clara Vale LNR - 2 Goldcrests and a Treecreeper in amongst a mobile tit flock passed through feeding area 3 times in an hour.
Goldcrest at Clara Vale [Chris Barlow]
Westfield Pasture - Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter noted at Westfield
Derwenthaugh - Red Admiral, Peacock, Silver Y and a Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar
Lamesley Water Meadows - 9 Snipe, 3 Curlew, 151 Grey Lag, 1 Kingfisher, 34 Curlew and 11 Long-tailed Tit
Watergate Park - A Kingfisher at the lake and 6 Redwing in Washingwell woods, plus a Red Kite over today
Saturday 4th October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 60 Redshank and 15 Shoveler
Friday 3rd October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 84 Redshank and 20 Shoveler and a Kingfisher
Thursday 2nd October 2008
Lamesley Water Meadows - 3 Grey Heron, 3 Snipe, 3 Curlew, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Mallard and 7 Moorhen
Shibdon Pond - Migrant Hawker and Common Darter still on wing
Wednesday 1st October 2008
Shibdon Pond - 5 Shoveler , 1 Shelduck and several Migrant Hawkers
Lamesley - Barn Owl reported in evening behind the Ravensworth Arms.
Clara Vale - A flock of about 120 Pink-footed Geese flew SW
