The Merlin at Lamesley [Photo: Richard Barnes]

Saturday 30th September

Shibdon Ponds - Several of the young Mute Swans have died - investigations into their cause of death are continuing. 8 Snipe and 1 Grey wagtail seen.
Rowlands Gill - 13 Red Kites, 3-4 Common Buzzard, female Merlin, juvenile Kestrel seen in the Sherburn Towers area.
Timber Beach - 200 Golden Plover, Kingfisher, Common Seal and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the wasteland.
Barlow Fell - 4 Red Kites and a Common Buzzard.
Far Pasture NR - Wren, 2 Wigeon, 3 Coots, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebe, and 16 Teal. Later, several Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff singing- 1 Chiffchaff acught during a ringing session along with Willow Tit, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Song Thrush.
Thornley Woodland centre - 1 Willow Tit.

Friday 29th September

Rowlands Gill - Several Red Kites and a Harrier sp. seen in the Sherburn Towers area.
Shibdon Pond - Greenshank but was chased off by Jackdaws before it could land.

Thursday 28th September

Clara Vale - 3 Nuthatch and a late Willow Warbler.
Shibdon Pond - Greenshank but did not as harassed by Jackdaws for 15 minutes. 529 Lapwing, 73 Redshank, 19 Snipe, 8 Shoveler, 11 Grey Heron and 1 Sparrow-hawk. Several Water Rail calling
Far Pasture NR - 2 Wigeon

Wednesday 27th September

Barmoor -- Single House Martin - non since

Tuesday 26th September

Komatsu factory, Birtley - A skein of 20 Barnacle Geese flew west.

Monday 25th September

Shibdon Pond - A Peregrine flew NW over the pond towards the river Tyne.

Sunday 24th September

Shibdon Pond - 2 Grey Wagtail, 9 Shoveler
Blaydon - 9 House Martin
Westfield Pasture - 6 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Jay

Saturday 23rd September

Timber Beach - LEACH'S PETREL - flew up river toward Blaydon in mist this morning at 08:30. The observer said 'It was seen flying directly over the Tyne at low water. I say it was defiantly a Leach's and not a Storm based on its size around 8 inches - its flight easily changing speed and direction - it almost appeared to be enjoying outflying the Gulls - it also appeared to have a very ragged forked tail - more pointed wings and dull white rump - (at first sight it looked like a fat swift) - but it was the reaction of the gulls that drew our attention to it!) it flew very close to the water and finally outwitted the Gulls and flew up river toward Blaydon - it was very misty this morning and I know these birds only come ashore due to storms at sea but I honestly have to say 100% that is what I saw'. [Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa - Historical records only.- There are four records for the area spanning a period between 1830 and 1949. The first was a bird killed on the Tyne opposite the Old Mansion House, Newcastle in 1830. Some years later, on 1st March 1886 one was shot near Blaydon, though the specimen was not found until the 10th. This century there have been two other birds, both shot, on the Tyne. One was taken below Bensham Boathouse in November 1928, and finally one was at Ryton Willows on 24th April 1949. Considering that none of these birds were documented as occurring in storm conditions this cluster of records along the Tyne over a long time period would seem to be suggestive of some regular movement across country from Irish Sea to North Sea via the Tyne Valley.]

Also 100 Golden Plover.
Clara Vale - 2 Wigeon on the pond.
Shibdon Pond - Water Rail showing very well with the very low water levels - Almost in the middle of the pond at one point. Also 11 Grey Herons, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher, Migrant Hawkers, Ruddy Darters, 2 Mute Swans and 6 Cygnets.
Beacon Lough Estate - A probable Ring-necked Parakeet flew over.

Friday 22nd September

Goldfinch at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Shibdon Pond - Water Rail and Grey Wagtail

Thursday 21st September

Magpie feeding on grapes at Clara Vale [Ray Wilby]

Ryton by-pass - Still 50 Golden Plover in fields
Shibdon Pond - 3 Blackcaps 2 male, 1 female , Green Woodpecker in the reserve , this afternoon a Sparrowhawk was seen.

Wednesday 20th September

Shibdon Pond - Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10 Shoveler, 15 Snipe and 144 Teal.
Clara Vale golf course - Around 30 Siskin.

Crawcrook Quarry - Little owl

Tuesday 19th September

Shibdon Pond - Green Sandpiper, 8 Snipe and a Kingfisher.
Westfield Pasture - a late juvenile Spotted Flycatcher
Blaydon - 6 Mistle thrush flying/calling over Harford House, Cowen Road

Monday 18th September

Far Pasture -A ringing session caught 3 juvenile Willow Tit & a Goldcrest, also Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff but numbers much reduced since last week
Barmoor- A Starling noted gliding around like a House Martin to catch flying ants, the House Martins reacted by constantly mobbing the Starling.
Ryton by-pass - Around 200 Golden Plover with similar number of lapwings in fields

Sunday 17th September

Clara Vale - a late Lesser Whitethroat at Clara Vale
Shibdon Pond - Kingfisher, 8 Shoveler and a few Migrant Hawkers.
Burdon Moor - 50 House Martin, 4 Swallow, small numbers of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits flying over.
Kibblesworth Brickworks pool - 5 Common Buzzard.
Timber Beach - 61 Golden Plover and 2 Dunlin
Axwell Park Lake - Little grebe and Kingfisher

Saturday 16th September

Shibdon Pond - Maintenance now finished and viewing conditions from the hide are much improved.
Timber Beach - 74 Golden Plover.
Derwent Walk- Green woodpecker Stargate- Kingfisher and 3 Grey Wagtail

Friday 15th September

Komatsu factory, Birtley - Kingfisher fishing on small pond.
Crawcrook Quarry - 6 Common snipe and a Tawny Owl.
A695 Woodside/Ryton- Lapwing 250+ & 20 Golden Plover
Barmoor - House Martin 27, Swallow 2

Thursday 14th September

Dunston Staithes- Kingfisher fishing on the Teams nr the Staithes
Timber Beach - 57 Golden Plover, Red Admiral

Wednesday 13th September

River Derwent - An Osprey seen flying up the Derwent from Shibdon
Shibdon Pond - Water Rail, Kingfisher, 8 Shoveler and 49 Redshank from Hide late afternoon.
Timber beach - 57 Golden Plover, 8 Curlew.
Dunston Staithes- 12 Grey Heron and 75 Lapwing roosting on the staithes
Redheugh - 1 Great Spotted woodpecker under Redheugh Bridge, flew up river - first site record

Tuesday 12th September

Swalwell visitor centre - Green woodpecker heard
Far Pasture NR - Kingfisher on pond. Many Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and 1-2 Blackcaps in the hedges.
Timber Beach - The large numbers of Lapwings and Redshank were joined this afternoon by a flock of 75 Golden Plover these were on the mudflats by the old boat in quite a tight knit group resting rather than actively feeding - they had already began loosing most of their summer plumage. Also seen 2 Grey Wagtails and 16 Curlews.
Shibdon Pond - 1 Water Rail - showing well on Teal Pond at 7.00pm plus c 250 Teal, 40 Redshank

Monday 11th September

Shibdon Pond - 2 Mediterranean Gull seen today. An adult this morning and a first-winter at 16:00hrs. 49 Redshank on the pond.
River Tyne - 2 Black-tailed Godwit on the mud by the mouth of the Derwent. 1 Golden Plover at Timber beach

Clara Vale - 1 Stonechat and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Rowlands Gill - Four Common Buzzards - two soaring around in the direction of Sherburn Towers Farm, another two came directly overhead in a fast glide in a SW direction. The observer says he Will be keeping his eyes peeled skywards over the next few weeks because he's convinced that the number of Kites now congregating together in the Barlow/Sherburn area will attracta Honey Buzzard or two for his house list. Thats his theory anyway - And after the Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Red Kite on Friday, together with regular Sparrowhawk and Kestrel whos going to disagree with him?
Far Pasture NR - 3 Black Darters, 1 Common Hawker, 1 Ruddy Darter and lots of Southern Hawker Dragonflies. Also 1 Common Snipe, 2 Teal, 2 adult + 1 juv mute swans + 1 red kite.

Sunday 10th September

Long-tailed Tit at Thornley [Ray Wilby]

Kibblesworth Brickwork pools- 4 Common Buzzard (2 adults and 2 juveniles) flew over calling giving a superb display. Also a flock of 39 Mistle Thrush,
Clara Vale - White Stork flew over SE. Spotted Flycatcher in the village
Metrocentre - White Stork flew over heading west.
Westfield Pasture - 12 Blackcap
Far Pasture NR - Migrant Hawker.
Thornley Woods - Roe Deer & Red Fox

The Stork was also seen at Hexham by 150 people watching the rugby Tynedale v Blaydon!

Saturday 9th September

Bradley Hall - still 2 Green Sandpipers.

Friday 8th September

The Merlin at Lamesley [Photo: Richard Barnes]

Rowlands Gill -Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Common Buzzard & Red Kite all seen over one lucky observer's garden
Lamesley Reedbeds - Merlin hunting Hirundines in the evening roost. Also, a Green Sandpiper flew over
Shibon Pond - Numerous Chiffchaffs & Small Copper

Thursday 7th September

Clara Vale - Green Woodpecker

Wednesday 6th September

Shibdon Pond - 25 Mistle Thrushes feeding on the football pitch ,1 Green Woodpecker in the reserve

Tuesday 5th September

Shibdon Pond - Swift at 7pm
Axwell Park - Tawny Owl calling at dusk
River Derwent - Kingfisher by Metro Radio

Monday 4th September

Shibdon Pond - Swift, 25 Goldfinch & 36 Long tailed tit

Sunday 3rd September

Shibdon Pond - Garganey showing well am at least, also Kingfisher, 5 Shoveler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay & 6+ Migrant Hawkers
Bradley Hall - 2 Green Sandpipers
Westfield Pasture - 3 Willow Tit & Tawny Owl
Dunston - Dunlin on Timber Beach with Lapwing and Redshank. Great Spotted Woodpecker over the waste ground , 2 Kingfishers (flew up Tyne & slalomed though the struts of staithes - very impressive high speed chase!), 75 Lapwing, 75 Redshank, 12 Curlew, 10 Grey Heron
Marley Hill Pit - Red kite seen

Saturday 2nd September

Shibdon Pond - No sign of Garganey. 2 Shoveler Bradley Hall - No sign of any Green Sandpipers & no sign of Greenshank
Lamesley Reedbeds - Sedge Warbler, 27 Pied Wagtail & 13 Mistle Thrush
Dunston Timber Beach to Costco usual numbers of Lapwing and Redshank, several Grey Heron, 12+ Curlew, a Dipper flew up the Tyne from Timber Beach and strangest of all a Grey Squirrel crossed the mudflats to climb upon the old wooden structure which it sat on the top for at least half an hour!
Watergate Pond - 1 Kingfisher, 8 Little Grebe
Dunston Staithes - 2 Common Sandpipers

Friday 1st September

Shibdon Pond - Garganey again, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, many Willow/Chiffs.

Lamesley Reedbeds - Green Sandpiper & 3000 Swallows in roost

for previous months bird records see bottom of page