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Birds Of Gateshead

Species Accounts (Sandgrouse to Woodpeckers)

Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus

Historical records only.

This irruptive eastern species invaded Britain on a number of occasions last century, with the largest influxes being in the years 1863 and 1888. On both occasions birds were present in our area. In the former year one was shot out of a flock of sixteen in a pea field at Ryton, whilst in the May of 1888 a number of birds were reported. On 25th May a male was shot at Whickham, around the same time a badly injured female was picked up near Blaydon and, on 28th, another was shot at Swalwell. During the 1988 invasion breeding occurred in North Yorkshire and Northumberland and it is conceivable that birds may even have bred locally.

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia

A common resident.

Stock Dove Columba oenas

A widespread resident.

In Robson's time Stock Dove were known to nest regularly in Axwell Park and Gibside, though it was believed to be "less common than the Woodpigeon". Although it is considered widespread in the borough today it is by no means a numerous bird and it is rarely seen in large numbers. Pairs tend to breed more or less in isolation from one another, though there are some apparent "colonies", as in the old castle at Ravensworth. Most breeding birds are in the western portion of the borough with concentrations of birds around Greenside and Ryton. The 1986-87 breeding survey showed that birds were present in only 15% of the squares that were covered, though it is thought that this reflects the "low profile" nature of the species rather than its real distribution. Occasionally flocks of up to thirty birds might be seen gathered at particularly attractive winter feeding sites such as High Thornley on the edge of Barlow Fell.

Woodpigeon Columba livia

A common resident.

This species was considered a common resident in the valley last century and it remains so today, both in the valley and across the rest of the borough. It breeds widely in a variety of habitats, suburban gardens, municipal parks, tall hedgerows and in almost all patches of woodland in the borough. It is one of the most widespread species being present in just under 70% of surveyed squares during the breeding seasons of 1986 and 1987. Large flocks gather on suitable farmland in the winter and roost in nearby wooedlands. Some concentrations can be very large indeed, like the one at Kibblesworth in January 1978 which was estimated to contain over 1000 birds.

Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea

A common resident.

This species breeds widely across the borough, principally in suburban areas often frequenting parks and large gardens. It is surprisingly almost absent from the mature woodlands of the lower Derwent Valley. There are no published records prior to 1973, when birds were reported as displaying at Rowlands Gill. It seems likely that birds were present in the borough prior to this, since their colonisation of Britain in the 1950's. Winter gatherings occur around locally abundant food supplies such as farmyard grainstores, and up to 100 birds have been recorded at Whickham in just such a situation.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

A rare summer visitor.

This species occurs in the area principally as a passage migrant, with intermittent and rare breeding records. Most sightings are in May and July, with a few reports of birds in August. The first documented record dates from 6th June 1978 when one was at Shibdon Pond and the following year a rather late bird was noted at Rowlands Gill on 22nd September. On 10th July 1981 four were present in the Hollinside area and it seems likely that birds may have bred in that area of the borough that year. The species was recorded in small numbers locally in 1983 and 1986 and in 1987 it seems likely that birds bred at one locality, being present from 8th May through to at least 14th July. Shibdon Pond has produced most reports of the species with Lockhaugh also being well favoured, both localities recorded birds in August 1991. A single bird at Shibdon on 14th May 1992 was the first spring record in the borough for a number of years.

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri

A very rare resident, the only local sightings of birds almost certainly refer to birds of captive origin.

There are two records for the borough, which might refer to the same bird. On 8th September 1990 a parrot fitting the description of this species was noted flying from Thornley Woods in the direction of Winlaton. Within a few days of this report this, or another, bird was reported from Bradley Hall, near Crawcrook.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

A widespread summer visitor.

Robson tells of his taking sixteen clutches of eggs in the Derwent Valley all of which contained one egg of this species. He documented eight different host species including Whinchat, Greenfinch and Tree Pipit, so presumably the species was a reasonably common summer visitor! Today birds can be heard around the borough wherever there are suitable host species, though they do tend to avoid built up areas and dense woodland. They might be noted from the end of April, with most birds arriving in the latter half of May and early June. Birds are most regularly seen on the high exposed areas of the borough such as Ravensworth Fell and Marley Hill, where they parasitise Meadow Pipits and at wetland sites such as Ryton Willows and Shibdon Pond. In July 1986, at Shibdon Pond, a juvenile was present which was being fed by both Dunnock and Meadow Pipit foster parents.

Barn Owl Tyto alba

A rare resident.

By late last century Robson said of this species, "now rarely met with in our district", though in the late 1940's Temperley documented that it was still breeding in the Derwent Valley and surrounding district. In November 1937 a bird which had been ringed as a nestling at Stocksfield the previous July was recovered at Winlaton. The borough still has relatively large areas of suitable Barn Owl habitat and over the last two decades there have still been regular sightings of this relatively unobtrusive species. Mapping of all known sightings over a 20 year period produces clusters of records around probable breeding localities and this would suggest at least ten "traditional" territories within the borough, at least four of which are still believed to be occupied to the present. All of the ten territories have probably held breeding birds in recent times but a variety of factors including loss of nesting sites and loss of rough grassland on which birds depend for hunting has probably led to a local decline. Taking into account reports from the latter part of the 1980's, the early 1990's and the Durham Bird Club's 1992 Barn Owl survey it would seem that there are at least five occupied territories within the borough. Perhaps the most unusual report was of a bird hunting the roadside verges of a Central Gateshead dual carriageway close to the south side of the Redheugh Bridge.

Little Owl Athene noctua

A scarce resident.

All records of this species refer to sightings since 1975 and although they have been expanding their range in recent years they are still absent from large areas of apparently suitable habitat. They favour open farmland with hedges and mature hedgerow trees. These conditions are well provided for at some of the species' favoured haunts in the borough, such as Kibblesworth and Lamesley. During the late 1970's birds were known to have bred in Clockburn Dene and in the early 1980's at Clara Vale, but both of these nest-sites are now lost. Current population estimates suggest that their are some ten pairs in the borough.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

A common resident.

Late last century Robson described the species as "regularly nesting in Chopwell Woods" and he documented a gathering of 14 birds in Blaydon Burn, during October 1882, and an unusual nest site, down a rabbit burrow, at Rowlands Gill. Tawny Owls can be found right across the area in both summer and winter. They prefer to nest in mature woodlands although they are known to breed in parks, cemeteries, and even in large gardens. They were recorded in 25% of squares during the breeding survey and considering that the species is such a nocturnal bird then this represents a surprisingly high level of coverage. The greatest number of birds is in the west where the Derwent Valley woodlands support the highest population density. With between 10 and 15 pairs in the Derwent Walk Country Park, Chopwell Woods and the Gibside Estate it is believed that there are over 90 pairs of this species presently breeding in the borough. Making it quite easily our commonest locally breeding bird of prey.

Long-eared Owl Asio otus

A regular winter visitor.

Temperley records that the species was a regular winter visitor to the Ravensworth Estate during the 1930's and there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that they were also regularly breeding there at that time. Last century Robson reported three clutches of eggs taken from Ravensworth and another from Chopwell Woods, the latter on 4th April 1884. The species is very secretive and is therefore probably overlooked. Localities where birds have been noted in recent years include Paddock Hill Woods, Thornley Woods, Clara Vale, Clockburn Dene, Strother Hills and Shibdon Pond. The last of these sites regularly has wintering birds, with up to four being present in early 1989. Dead birds have been found on two occasions, a road casualty on the Felling Bypass and one which was found shot in Blaydon Burn. There is ample suitable breeding habitat within the borough but there have been no recently confirmed breeding records. In 1986 birds were present in a suitable woodland during the breeding season and on two other occasions birds have been noted at other sites late into the spring. It seems highly likely that birds will be breeding within the borough but large numbers are not likely to be involved.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

An occasional winter visitor.

Last century it could be found breeding locally, a nest being discovered under a bramble in Chopwell Woods in 1868. During the late 1930's and early 1940's the Team Valley was a favourite haunt, with six birds being present there in November 1939. In late 1941 birds were present in the Lamesley area and the following year it is believed that birds may have bred on rough grassland nearby. Since then the species has become less common in the borough as open ground has been lost to development though it is still recorded on an annual basis, however numbers present fluctuate markedly from year to year. The most regularly used sites are the rough grassland areas around Bill Quay and Wardley, especially early in the winter, and the high open ground of Ravensworth Fell. Birds may occasionally wander into the middle of built up areas, one was noted at the Windy Nook Nature Park in 1981 and in autumn 1989 one was noted flying down Bensham Bank in Central Gateshead. The autumn of 1988 through to the spring of 1989 proved to be an excellent period for this species locally. Up to six birds were present at Shibdon Pond, with singles being noted at Dunston, Marley Hill, Kibblesworth, Fellside, and at Wardley. One seen at Ryton Willows in 1989 was later eaten by a fox. Subsequent to this influx a pair stayed in suitable breeding habitat into May 1989, but they did not breed successfully. Recent reports include singles at Shibdon Pond in November 1990 and December 1991, and one on Ravensworth Fell at this time. The spring of 1992 saw birds displaying at a potential breeding site but the outcome was unknown.

Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus

A very rare summer visitor.

Most records refer to historical times. Robson tells of a male and a female in the collection of "Mr Thomas Thompson" which had been shot at Lockhaugh, near Rowlands Gill, but no date is given. Writing in 1950 Temperley said, "On the Derwent there are still favoured spots, not so many miles above its confluence with the Tyne, where the Nightjar might still be found". There seems to have been a significant decline in the species locally between Temperley's time and our modern period though anecdotal reports suggest that birds were present in the lower Derwent Valley into the mid-1970's, with one possible report from the mid-1980's. In recent years there has been a slight recovery in numbers and birds were noted, not far from traditional sites, in the summers of both 1989 and 1991.

Swift Apus apus

A common summer visitor.

Robson considered this species to be scarce and was not aware of any nesting sites in the valley late last century. Today it is common between May and August with the first birds normally being noted in the last few days of April at Shibdon Pond. Most local birds arrive in May and by June they can be found nesting across the borough. Overcast or thundery conditions result in spectacular feeding concentrations over wetland sites and sewage works. An estimated 1000 birds were over Shibdon Pond on one date in 1967, though more usual numbers there in such conditions might be 100-200. Other exceptional counts include 500 at Shibdon in July 1973 and 29th June 1980 and, on the same date, a further 500 were feeding over Lamesley Sewage Farm. Birds start to leave the area during early August and by the latter half of the month numbers are normally well down. At this time of the year large southerly movements of birds are sometimes noted, e.g. 157 south in ten minutes over Shibdon on 11th August 1991, and this was only a small proportion of the many birds which were moving over that site during the day. In most years one or two birds straggle on into early September, with exceptionally late birds at Shibdon Pond on 16th September 1978 and 21-23rd September 1991. The most interesting recovery of a locally ringed Swift concerns a bird that was ringed at Shibdon Pond on 27th May 1979 and recovered five years later in Finistere, France.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

A scarce resident.

Historical records tell of it being resident on the Derwent with a nest being found there in 1870, one was shot at Lockhaugh on 9th April 1884. Temperley commented that it bred on the Tyne almost as far down as Gateshead and on the Derwent almost to that river's confluence with the Tyne. On 6th September 1943 a bird that had been ringed on 11th July at Kirkley Mill near Ponteland was found on Back Redheugh Road, Gateshead. The species' most favoured areas are along the Derwent and the more westerly reaches of the Tyne, although birds are frequently noted at Axwell Park Lake, Ryton Willows and Shibdon Pond. Birds are more frequently seen away from the rivers during the autumn and small parties may occur at particular sites, the Curling Pond at Ryton for example where up to four birds have been noted together. Gateshead has a healthy population of this fully protected species with between eight and ten pairs breeding in most years.

Hoopoe Upupa eopops

A very rare summer visitor.

The first reference to this species in the area is courtesy of Temperley, who tells of a bird, killed in Gibside, some time before 1931. There are a number of more recent records and though they span a period of some 30 years they all refer to the same site. On 29th May 1960 a bird was seen in the Ravensworth Estate and some 17 years later a spring bird was once again present there. The most recent record was of one at Ravensworth Grange, near Kibblesworth on 14th May 1988. This bird later moved into the Ravensworth Estate where it was seen on one or two occasions over the next fortnight.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

A very rare passage migrant that once bred locally.

Last century the Wryneck was still widespread as a breeding species in woodlands around Britain and Robson commented that it was "common in the lower part of the vale up to the year 1842". In 1834 it was found nesting near Swalwell and on 16th May 1836 a male was shot in Axwell Park. Almost 40 years later an early migrant was shot in Gibside on 4th April 1872 and this proved to be the last local record for almost a century. The first modern record was of a male in song at Stella, Blaydon from 7th to 11th May 1970. The two most recent records both come from spring 1989. On 30th April a bird was found in a large urban garden in Low Fell and, almost a fortnight later, another was at Shibdon Pond on the evening of 11th May.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

A scarce resident.

This species was much less common in the past, indeed Robson thought it rather rare in the lower valley last century, he documented only two records, specimens obtained from Lockhaugh and Axwell Park. During this century the species has spread to become much more widely dispersed across the borough. It was first noted in Chopwell during 1927 and it colonised the Gibside and Ravensworth Estates at roughly the same time, with regular reports around Rowlands Gill by 1945. The lower Derwent Valley remains its stronghold in the borough whilst there are also a few birds present in the Team Valley, the woodlands along the Tyne and near Marley Hill. Over recent years birds have been reported throughout the year at a variety of localities and these include Chopwell Woods, the Derwent Walk Country Park and Strother Hills Woods. The species is a lot less common than Great Spotted Woodpeckers and are not usually found in the suburban, and even urban, areas into which the commoner species sometimes penetrates. Its local habitat preference is for mature open woodland with large clearings and rides, but it will fly well away from woodland in order to feed. The breeding population of this species is confined to the western half of the borough and it is believed that there are probably eleven pairs of birds holding territory in most years.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

A common resident.

Late last century Robson still considered this species to be a rare resident, although it was breeding regularly in Gibside. Like the Green Woodpecker this species has spread significantly during this century. By 1921 it had reached Chopwell Wood and the Ravensworth Estate from its' "beach head" in Gibside. Today it is widespread across the borough being found in almost all woodland blocks and types. In winter it ranges widely, often visiting garden feeding stations in the west of the borough as well as moving into suburban parks. Small numbers probably breed in these localities as well as in the wooded denes to the east of the Team Valley. The species lives at high densities in broadleaved woodland where, on average, there is a pair every 20 acres, whilst in pure conifer stands it has been estimated that birds require over 80 acres of woodland to maintain a territory. There are over 40 pairs breeding in the borough and these are supplemented by an unknown number of northern breeding birds during the winter. Small numbers of these large birds, of the race major, probably reach our area each winter and in recent years two such birds have been caught and ringed. One spent the winter of 1989-90 in the area around the Thornley Woodlands Centre the other was at Clara Vale feeding station in November 1991. There is one historical record of a female of this race shot at Winlaton Mill on 31st January 1931.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor

A rare resident.

Small numbers of this species would appear to have been present in the lower Derwent Valley since last century, though due to their secretive nature and their preferred habitat they are rarely recorded. From last century there are unconfirmed reports of birds being shot near Crawcrook and of them being seen "frequently" in the Gibside Estate. However Temperley believed that these records were less than 100% reliable but there is no doubting the specimen obtained there in 1888. On 10th September 1954 a bird was watched down to a distance of some five yards in a suburban garden in Whickham and during the 1950's birds were noted regularly in the Wylam area, with drumming being heard in spring 1960. Birds were present in woodland just outside of the borough during the 1970's and on a number of occasions drumming was heard. On 19th November 1978 a bird was seen in a garden at Stella, whilst other autumn records around the borough include, a male at Ryton Willows on 4th September 1986 and a female at Chopwell Woods on 28th November 1987. Birds have been present in suitable breeding habitat during the spring at three different sites over the last two decades and it would seem likely that birds breed within the borough at least occasionally. The most recent records are of a male at Ryton Willows on 7th March 1990 and single bird in the Derwent Walk Country Park during March 1992.