Gateshead Birders
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Little Grebe - Up to 5 remained on Shibdon Pond all month. 2 were at Blaydon Quarry on 5th. An adult continued to feed its 3 chicks at Stargate Quarry 5th-9th but on 19th feeding just one chick -no sign of others. Presumably the male plays no part in rearing the young. A week later it was more independant and started diving.

Mute Swan - Noted at Shibdon where the young are now getting flighty and Stargate during the month.

Canada Goose - A flock of 61 landed on Shibdon Pond on 12th and up to 65 on the month during the rest of the month.

Barnacle Goose - The 2 Feral birds from Saltwell Park arrived the Canada Geese on the 15th and remained until at least the 26th. 20 birds flew west up the Tyne over Shibdon on 24th September.

Greylag Goose - 3 at Lamesley Water Meadows all month,

Common Shelduck - One on Shibdon Pond on 14th and 2-3 there on 16th. 1-2 present most days until 26th.

Wigeon - 4 appeared on Shibdon Pond on 8th, rising to 5 next day and 6 on 11-12th and rising to 7 on 15th-19th. 18 were counted on 30th.

One of the six Wigeon at Shibdon Pond [Photo: PWD]

Teal - Maximum count at Shibdon Pond of 60 on 12th. and 100 there on 16th-26th. 57 on Far Pasture NR on 18th September. Only a few on the river Tyne towards the end of the month.

Garganey- The two birds found at Shibdon Pond on 30th August were still present 1st to 15th September.

One of the two Garganey at Shibdon Pond [Photo: PWD]

Shoveler - Three birds remained at Shibdon Pond 1st to 2nd September. 4 were present on 8th, 7 on 9th, 8 on 10th and 12 on 11th-16th. 17 were counted on 19th and 28 on 26th with 21 still at the month end.

Common Pochard - A pair on Shibdon Pond all month

Tufted Duck - Only a few remained at Shibdon Pond by the start of the month.

Common Goldeneye - An early bird on Shibdon Pond on 16th September.

Ruddy Duck - At least 2 females and 1-2 young still on Shibdon Pond on 12th and 2-3 between 19th and 26th.

Osprey - A single fishing on the Derwent between Far PAsture and the Weir on 20th & 21st.

Red Kite - Scattered records as far west as Birtley and east to Greenside - See Kite News for more details.

[Marsh Harrier - a possible male flew over the Derwent valley on 5th ]

Common Buzzard - 1 noted at Urpeth Grange and 2 at Winlaton Mill both on the 8th, have probably been attracted to the area because of the Red Kite introduction. One over Far Pasture on 23rd.

Sparrow-Hawk - One was seen to catch but drop a juvenile Green Woodpecker at Stella on 11th. Upto 3 on Ravensworth Fell during the month and many other sitings throughout the borough.

Peregrine - One noted in the Team valley early in the month with two Red Kites.

Hobby - A juvenile was seen well but briefly at Shibdon Pond on 12th as it flew over the pond.

Grey Partridge - 5 at Ravensworth Fell on 5th. A single was noted on several dates at Blaydon Quarry (5th-19th). Another single at Stella on 19th.

Lapwing - Only one at Shibdon all month but a flocks of several hundred remains on the river between Dunston and Stella. 4 at Blaydon Quarry on 4th. 100 on Ravensworth Fell on 19th September.

Golden Plover - 82 with Lapwings on Ravensworth Fell on 19th September.

Redshank - Maximum count of 80 on the Tyne at Dunston during the month and 24 at Shibdon Pond on 25th and 67 on 30th September.

Dunlin - 2 on the Tyne at Timber Beach on 19th September.

Green Sandpiper - One at Burdon Moor on 3rd, 2 at Blaydon Quarry on 5th and another at Crawcrook Quarry on 11th. 2 were at Blaydon Quarry on 19th.

Curlew - Maximum count of 25 on the Tyne at Dunston during the month. One at Blaydon Burm meadows on 19th-23rd. Another single flew up the Derwent valley on 26th September.

Common Snipe - 4-5 at Burdon Moor on 4th-11th but 20 there on 7th when 60 flushed during wiork at Lamesley Water Meadows. 10 regularly counted at Shibdon 5th-26th, often just in front of the hide giving excellent views.

Some of the Common Snipe at Shibdon Pond [Photos: GP]

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Still 1-5 at several sites to 26th September.

Mediterranean Gull - One was reported at Fellside road, Whickham mid month.

Tawny Owl - One noted at Birtley on 29th.

Stock Dove - One noted at Burdon Moor on 5th and other singles at Far Pasture on 11th and on Ravensworth Fell on 19th.. 2 at Timber beach on 26th September.

Common Kingfisher - One was seen at Shibdon Pond on 10th and 26th, one at Far Pasture NR on 15th and another noted at Clara Vale LNR on 17th, 25th and 26th.

Green Woodpecker - A juvenile was caught at Stella on 11th by a Sparrow-Hawk. The bird was dropped by the raptor but the observor found that it was far too injured and had to be destroyed. In Axwell Park, one of the gardens on the estate on 12th. Singles at Stargate and Pathhead Quarry on 19th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - More out of place records included birds at Burdon Moor on 5th and Lamesley Water Meadows on 12th. A male at Blaydon Burn on 15th.

Common Swift - The only records for September were 2 at Clara Vale on 10th and 1 over Shibdon Pond on 19th.

Skylark - 20 were on Ravensworth Fell on 19th September.

Sand Martin - 4 were still at Crawcrook Quarry on 10th and 2 still at Shibdon Pond on 12th. 2 at Far Pasture Nr o 19th.

Common Swallow - Still fair numbers throughout the borough by the 26th, with young still in nest at Birtley on 23rd. 100 were over Blaydon Burn on the evening of the 10th. Small south passage over west of borough on 26th/27th.

House Martin - Still good numbers throughout the borough by the 26th, with young in nests at several places and counts of over 60 at Sunniside, Far Pasture NR and Shibdon Pond..

Meadow Pipit - A large count of 150+ was made at Stella on 10th.

Blackbird - A notable increase in numbers at both Westfield Pasture and Shibdon Pond on 17th.

Song Thrush - A notable increase in numbers at both Westfield Pasture and Shibdon Pond on 17th.

Mistle Thrush - A flock of 16 counted at Shibdon Pond on 12th.

Whinchat - One at Stella on 11th was the first record this year.

Wheatear - Four were on Ravensworth Fell on 19th September.

Chiffchaff- 2+ noted at Westfield Pasture on 2nd September. One was singing at Costoc on the river Tyne on 9th. At least 3 juveniles in the Clinic Car-park at Shibon on 12th when others were at the back of the reserve. One on 11th at Far Pasture. A single at Shibdon Pond and 3+ at Far Pasture NR both on 19th September. another at Clara Vale on 26th September when at least 2 still singing in the Derwent valley and another the next day..

Blackcap- 2+ noted at Westfield Pasture on 2nd September. One in Low Pasture area on morning of 7th. and another at Far Pasture NR on 19th.

Garden Warbler - 1 seen at Westfield Pasture on 2nd September.

Common Whitethroat - One noted at Burdon Moor on 5th.

Goldcrest - One in trees by the main hide at Shibdon on 19th.

Spotted Flycatcher - 1 seen at Westfield Pasture on 2nd September was the first record for this site. Another was at Derwent Walk Country Park on the 10th.

Willow Tit - 3 were at Westfield Pasture on 3rd September. Singles at Stargate Quarry on 9th, Far Pasture NR on 11th and another at Blaydon Burn on 15th-23rd. One noted at Pathhead Quarry on 19th. and another at Clara Vale on 26th.

Long-tailed Tit - Small groups noted at Shibdon and Far Pasture during the month and a number of records of 1-3 birds throughout the borough. 8 at Shibdon Pond on 26th.

Nuthatch - One at Beech House, opposite Blaydon Burn on 19th

Linnet - The maximum counts were 30 in the Derwent valley on 5th and 120 on Ravensworth Fell on 19th September.

Tree Sparrow - One in Clara Vale village on 16th