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Birds Of Gateshead

Species Accounts (Larks to Thrushes)

Woodlark Lullula arborea

Historical records only.

There are two records from the area. In March 1844 three specimens were killed near Swalwell, two of them being presented to John Hancock, and it seems likely that these were birds which had been wintering locally. The second record concerns a summering bird in potential breeding habitat. On 3rd August 1884 a bird was present in the grounds of Ravensworth Castle where it was supposed by observers, "to have passed the summer".

Skylark Alauda arvensis

A common resident.

Robson mentions the taking of a white individual locally and described the species as "commonly distributed". Today they breed across the borough on open ground and rough grassland. In the 1986/87 survey they were recorded as being present in over 46% of surveyed squares reaching their highest breeding densities on higher ground such as Ravensworth Fell. Many local birds move away in severe weather, but sometimes these are replaced by birds from elsewhere. The largest documented hard weather movements include an arrival of 600-700 birds around Shibdon Pond in mid-February 1983, and an easterly movement, during snow showers, over the same site of 508 birds in less than three hours on 9th February 1991. Small numbers of birds often arrive with autumn thrushes during September and October, with a small spring passage through the borough during March.

Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris

Historical records only.

There is a single record for the borough. In the winter of 1890, after a severe snowstorm, George Temperley found two birds in a field somewhere between Gateshead and Low Fell.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

A common summer visitor.

Last century Robson described "a good breeding station" at Winlaton Mill, as well as others higher up the R.Derwent. Today there is still suitable habitat in the Winlaton Mill area although it remains unused. There are four known colonies within the borough boundaries, although one is very small, and a further three within a short distance of, or actually on the boundary itself. The colonies inside the borough currently hold over 150 pairs of birds. Some colonies became deserted during the population crash of the early eighties and remain unoccupied to the present. The small colony close to Strother Hills Wood has become unsuitable for nesting due to the erosion of the sandy cliff which once held birds. The species is one of the earliest of the summer migrants to arrive often appearing in the last few days of March. Most birds move out of the area during late August with a few staying into early September. The earliest and latest dates so far recorded being 17th March 1990 and 22nd September 1991, both at Shibdon Pond. Favoured feeding localities include the Lockhaugh area of the R.Derwent, Shibdon Pond and along the upper stretches of the R.Team. On occasion large numbers of Sand Martin have joined the Swallow roost at Shibdon Pond with as many as 500-1000 birds being recorded during the late 1970's. There are a number of interesting recoveries from the ringing of local birds. Six birds previously ringed in the borough have been later caught in Hampshire, Kent and Sussex suggesting that they gather there prior to making the shortest possible crossing of the Channel on migration. One bird caught in the borough during May 1992 had been previously ringed in the Channel Isles.

Swallow Hirundo rusticola

A common summer visitor.

"Arriving in the middle of April", was Robson's comment and in the majority of years this remains the case. In 1989 however two birds were noted on the River Derwent at Blackhall Mill on 29th March, the earliest known record for the area. The latest recorded date is of a bird at Shibdon Pond on 4th November 1988. Swallows can be found breeding across the borough, being present in over 40% of surveyed squares in 1986-87. They are uncommon around central Gateshead, preferring barns and outbuildings, though they will sometimes use garages and other structures for nesting. Flocks of up to 200 can regularly be seen at good feeding localities such as Lockhaugh, Lamesley Sewage Farm, and Shibdon Pond. Some years a large autumn roost develops at Shibdon Pond, with as many as 3000 being recorded there in the 1970's. On 22nd September 1979, whilst trapping birds going to roost at Shibdon, a hybrid Swallow x House Martin was caught and another of this mixed parentage was trapped at Lockhaugh Sewage Works in May 1990. Nestlings ringed in the Derwent Valley have on a number of occasions returned from African winter quarters to breed within a kilometre of their hatching site.

House Martin Delichon urbica

A common summer visitor.

The first House Martins of the year normally arrive in the borough around the middle of April, with occasional records earlier in the month. Birds can normally be seen locally until the latter part of September with a few stragglers into October in most years. The latest recorded date for a bird in the borough is of one at Shibdon Pond on 17th November 1980. As a breeding species it is commoner than the Swallow and is much more frequently met with in the centre of built up areas. Where birds can find houses with their favoured wide eaves quite large colonies of this species can develop throughout the borough. This species seems particularly fond of feeding over sewage works and in overcast or thundery conditions hundreds can be found feeding at suitable sites such as Lamesley and Lockhaugh Sewage Works.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

A common summer visitor.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

A common resident and passage migrant.

This species is common across the borough wherever there is open ground. It was recorded in almost a third of all surveyed squares in 1986-87 and though it does occur close to habitation it is almost absent from heavily built up areas. The highest numbers of breeding birds are found on the rough grasslands of the "fell" areas of the borough. In most years peak numbers are noted during the spring passage of birds through the borough, in late March or April. At this time of year flocks of some 20-30 birds are not uncommon with up to 80 being noted at Derwenthaugh pastures on 25th March 1984. The highest number recorded in the borough was a flock of 245 on Parson's Haugh, Ryton Willows on 9th January 1991.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

A very rare winter visitor.

The first record of this species was of a pair of birds found together at Shibdon Pond on Boxing Day 1973. One of these remained until 19th January the following year. On 13th October 1974 a bird was found at Shibdon and, although it was occasionally noted as far away as Swalwell, it remained in the area until 2nd April 1975. There were no reports in autumn 1975, but the following spring a bird was present on Derwenthaugh Meadows between 31st March and 14th April. It seems likely that these records refer to a single bird returning to winter at the same site in successive years.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus.

An extremely rare visitor.

There is only a single record of this species in the borough. A single bird was seen on consecutive dates at Shibdon Pond on 6th & 7th October 1989.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flavissima

A regular passage migrant and rare breeder.

Last century this species could be found in the marshes around Dunstonhaugh and in the early 20th Century it was reported to have nested under cabbages in an allotment at the mouth of the Derwent. Today it is very much a declining species locally as many of its traditional wet pasture breeding sites have been reclaimed for industry or drained. A small number of pairs still breed in the Team Valley, with occasional pairs at other scattered localities. At present the total number of breeding pairs would probably be between five and eight pairs, and probably nearer the lower figure in most years. During the 1970's local numbers were appreciably higher with many more pairs breeding, i.e. four to five pairs on Derwenthaugh Meadows alone, and up to 200 passage birds were recorded as roosting in the reedbeds at Shibdon Pond in the autumn.

Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava

A rare passage migrant.

The first record for Britain of this, the nominate race of Yellow Wagtail, was a bird shot at Dunston Haughs on 1st May 1836. This bird had been accompanied by a female which probably belonged to the same race. Blue-headed Wagtail was suspected of breeding at the same locality in 1868 and the following year breeding was confirmed with two nests being found, the first breeding of this race in the British Isles. In 1870 a nest was found on 13th June, but this was crushed by a horse, however on 5th July a second nest was discovered and a brood of young were watched being fed by the parents. On 21st May 1872 an adult female was shot, once again at Dunston Haugh and some 20 years later breeding birds were once again discovered in the borough. This pair were on Shibdon Flats, the female was shot off the nest and the clutch of five eggs were taken. The next local record was not until 1959 when a male was noted on flooded ground in the Team Valley on 2nd August. The most recent record also comes from the Team Valley, a male being caught and ringed at Lamesley Sewage Farm on 29th April 1989.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinera

A widespread resident.

"Less common than Pied", was how Robson described the status of this species last century, and it remains so today. Grey Wagtails can be found breeding along all of the main river valleys of the borough, with the highest density of pairs being on the Derwent. Birds can also be found along the Team and on the stretches of the Tyne above Ryton Willows. It is estimated that there are between 20 and 25 pairs breeding in the borough. The most isolated of these pairs are those found along the Black Burn in Washingwell Woods and at Ravensworth. Occasionally numbers of passage birds are noted as in August 1988 when a flock of circa. 30 birds were present at Lockhaugh Sewage works despite the fact that most of the local pairs were still distributed along the river Derwent. During the winter birds tend to move downstream onto the Tyne and the lower stretches of the Team. They have been noted around Saltwell Park Lake and they are regularly seen feeding around the rooftops of office buildings in Central Gateshead during cold spells.

Pied Wagtail Maotacilla alba yarrellii

A common resident.

This species can be seen across the borough in habitats as different as the built up areas to muck strewn farmyards. It breeds in a wide variety of crevices and holes wherever food is available, stacked wooden palates are often used in industrial sites. In autumn and winter they roost communally, often in large numbers. The reedbeds at Shibdon Pond are a traditional site for such roosts and in October 1975 it was estimated that between 400 and 500 birds were present there. From the evidence provided by a number of ringing recoveries of birds caught in the autumn at Shibdon Pond it would seem that many of our local birds head south and westwards for the winter. The most interesting winter recoveries include one found in Sussex, one recovered on the island of Jersey and two which had made there way as far as Portugal, one of them being found there only five weeks after ringing.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

A scarce passage migrant.

All records of this race come from modern times, and it is principally a spring migrant. The first documented record refers to three at Shibdon Pond on 29th March 1973 and the only confirmed autumn reports come from Shibdon on 5th September 1976 and Highfield in October 1990. Since 1986, when two were at Shibdon on 26th April, the species has been recorded almost annually at that site in spring, with up to four birds noted. Other well favoured sites include the sewage works at Lamesley and Lockhaugh, four were present at the former site on 29th April 1989. In spring 1991 there were a series of sightings at the Far Pasture Ponds adjacent to Lockhaugh Sewage Works which referred to at least 10 different birds between mid-March and May. In 1988 there was a mid-summer record of a bird at Shibdon Pond and the following year a bird was found to have bred with a Pied Wagtail at an industrial site in Birtley.

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus

An irregular winter visitor.

In Robson's words the "Bohemian Chatterer" was of "rare occurrence in the valley", though when it did occur it was sometimes seen in large numbers. Records from last Century include an unusually late bird at High Spen in May in 1889 and a number of other reports of small numbers of birds from around the lower Derwent Valley. In the first half of the 20th Century the area around Rowlands Gill became renowned for its wintering Waxwing. During the 1930's Waxwing visited the High Horse Close area, to feed on Guelder Rose berries, more regularly than any where else in the region. Temperley documents a series of sightings from there in the winters of 1931/32, 1932/33, 1935/36, 1936/37, 1937/38, 1941/42, 1946/47, and 1949/50. Small numbers of birds were also noted from there in 1951 and 1953, with a dozen birds also at Ravensworth in the former year. However between the years of 1953 and 1971 only five birds were recorded in the borough, three in Gateshead in January 1960, with one at the usual High Horse Close site that year and one there again in January 1967. The last twenty years has produced many more sightings with some very large flocks being recorded. Gatherings of over 100 were present in the borough in the winters of 1974/75 and 1988/89 and parties of 10-20 were noted in the winters of 1973/74, 1976/77, 1985/86, 1986/87. In recent years the most favoured areas include Blaydon, the Fellside area of Whickham, Winlaton, Shibdon Pond and the banks of the River Derwent at Swalwell. Winter 1988/89 brought a large influx to the British Isles and birds were present in large numbers, there were a number of flocks of over 50 birds, in the borough from November through to late April. This influx was surpassed in 1990/91 when a single flock at Swalwell numbered up to 300 birds with other flocks around the borough of 160 at Wylam, almost 100 at Lobley Hill, 30 at the Civic Centre in Central Gateshead, and widespread reports of smaller parties. It was estimated that well over 500 birds were present in the borough over the Christmas and New Year period. A bird which had been colour-ringed in 1990 at Aberdeen was found at Swalwell in December and through careful observation it was later tracked around the country also being seen near York and at Manchester. Late 1991 saw another influx of the species to the area with up to 50 being seen at the Swalwell R.Derwent locality, and other smaller flocks in Axwell Park, Shibdon Pond and the Team Valley.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

A scarce resident.

Temperley commented that they nested on the Derwent to within three miles of its confluence of the Tyne, and last century Robson recorded it nesting near Rowlands Gill. Today it is much commoner in the area with at least eleven nesting pairs, and as many as thirteen in good years. The Derwent holds over 90% of the borough's breeding birds, with territories regularly spaced upstream from Winlaton Mill. In 1987 a pair nested on one of the lowest tidal stretches of the Derwent only a few feet above the high tide level. The only other regular territory is on the borough boundary at Wylam. During flood conditions birds move off the main rivers onto sidestreams, where feeding is easier. On such occasions they are seen in Thornley Wood and have been seen in Washingwell Wood. Ringing work on local birds has highlighted a regular dispersal of first year birds, moving up to 5km from their hatching place. In Gateshead the movement has usually been downstream, presumably making up the deficit of birds on the lower stretch of the river due to the low productivity of breeding birds here. The majority of birds moving into this area come from the Pont Burn at Hamsterley Mill. Colour-ringing has brought to light one record of male bigamy, the bird helping to successfully rear two broods at the same time.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

An abundant resident.

This is a very common species across the borough its population levels varying greatly from year to year according to the severity of the winter weather. In spring 1978 it was estimated that in the woodland of Clockburn Dene there had been a 50% decline after the severe snow of the previous winter. Common Bird Census work undertaken in Paddock Hill Wood during the 1980's further illustrate these fluctuations. After a series of hard winters in the early eighties eleven singing males were present in the spring of 1983 with the same number the following season. This fell to seven in 1985 but over the next four years there was a continuous steady rise in number until in the spring of 1989 a total of 28 singing birds were counted in the same area. The species favours woodland thickets and dense scrub though it can be found in gardens and during the winter in fen and reedbed areas.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

An abundant resident.

There has probably been little change in this species' status locally since last century when Robson wrote, "it may be seen in any garden". It nests in a variety of habitats though it is not present in mature woodlands, preferring hedgerows and woodland edge. Suitable habitat, like that in the Ravensworth Estate, can hold large numbers of birds as evidenced by the fact that 26 were ringed in a small trapping area there during a three month period in winter 1980/81.

Robin Erithacus rubicola

An abundant resident and winter visitor.

Robins were considered common by Robson last century and they remain so today. They can be found in many different situations and will nest where ever there is sufficient cover to build a safely concealed nest. Daily counts at Shibdon Pond during the autumn period suggest that small numbers of birds move into the borough during October, these may be coming from the continent or from further north in Britain.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Historical records only.

In the summer of 1931 a Nightingale was found singing at Stampley Moss, Thornley Woods, close to Rowlands Gill. It was heard singing from 24th April to 23rd June. The singing bird was seen by many observers, including George Temperley, and on a few occasions a pair were seen, indeed one rumour suggested that the birds nested but that the eggs were taken. Over 100 people were said to have come to hear the birds, which led to rowdy scenes and stones being thrown at the birds. This probably constitutes the first birdwatching "twitch" in the region. It was later found that the Reverend Father F.Kyute of St. Agnes, Crawcrook had, on more than one occasion, lost or released captive Nightingales. In a letter written in 1932 he stated that he had released two pairs at Alnwick in March 1931. Later in 1931 a bird was reported singing at Bradley Hall close to Crawcrook, and Father Kyute said that he had released birds there in both 1928 and 1929. This is the only known breeding attempt by the species in the Vice-county of Durham.

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

An extremely rare visitor.

There is a single historical record of uncertain origin and one modern record. Temperley tells of a bird "killed against telegraph wires" in County Durham on 25th September 1883. The bird was in the collection of H Walton of Birtley, which is within the borough, although it is not known whether the specimen was found at that locality. There is a single modern report was of a first year male or a female at Shibdon Pond from 12th to 15th September 1989.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

A very rare passage migrant.

There are only two records, both from the spring of 1986. The first, a "female type bird", was present in Clockburn Dene on 18th April, with a similarly plumaged bird at Shibdon Pond on 2nd May. Spring 1986 was an excellent one for this species on the north-east coast, with a major influx occurring around mid-April and smaller numbers being observed into May.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

A scarce summer visitor and passage migrant.

Robson considered this species common in the Derwent Valley last century however there appear to be significantly fewer birds in the lower valley today. There are few regular breeding sites, although the species has been known to nest at two sites in the Derwent Walk Country Park, in Chopwell Woods and near High Thornley. On the higher fells of the borough birds sometimes frequent thick hedgerows and small copses, but in most years there are probably not more than five pairs breeding within the borough, with perhaps up to ten in the best seasons. The species is most evident as a passage migrant. The most favoured spring locality being Shibdon Pond, although birds have been reported at a wide variety of sites. The earliest date for a migrant was 15th April 1986 in Blaydon Burn, whilst autumn passage can be noted from late July through to September. Autumn birds occasionally join tit flocks and on at least two occasions have been reported from gardens in the Winlaton area.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

A scarce summer visitor and passage migrant.

This species would appear to be declining locally over the last two decades as traditional sites have been lost to development or have become "scrubbed over". In an average year perhaps five pairs might breed across the borough, with most of these being concentrated on the higher ground around Ravensworth Fell and similar sites. Some birds can still be noted around traditional sites in the Team Valley and, less regularly, Shibdon Pond. Passage birds can be met with almost anywhere where there is open ground with rough herbage. The first birds arrive in the last week of April, in most years, with autumn stragglers sometimes being seen into mid-September.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata

A rare visitor.

Late last century the species was not common locally, Robson reported a nesting pair near Burnopfield (just outside of the borough) and documented the taking of specimens from Axwell Park and Blaydon Burn. Early this century the species seems to have fared better with breeding reported at Chopwell and a nest being found near Greenside in 1937. During the 1970's the species was a regular winter visitor to Derwenthaugh, Ryton Willows and Shibdon Pond, and anecdotal evidence suggests that birds were breeding at the first two sites over this period. Birds became increasingly scarce through the decade and males reported at Ryton and Shibdon in January 1984 were the first in the area for a number of years. A single bird, at Greenside, in 1985 was the only report between 1984 and 1989. In 1989 a male was seen in suitable breeding habitat near Greenside in May and in the August of that year a female, or immature bird, was seen at the same locality. The site has now been lost to development! The year of 1990 brought a spate of reports from across the borough. In March a pair were at Ryton Willows and a female at Shibdon Pond. In autumn a female or immature was once again at Shibdon, on 7th October. There was a single winter record at Shibdon in early 1991, a female spending 13th to 16th January there.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

A well represented passage visitor and rare breeder.

The species was rarely recorded by Robson in the lower valley last century, though birds did nest in a small quarry on Blaydon Bank and, in 1892, in one of the spoil heaps of the Blaydon Main Colliery. Today spring passage migrants might be seen from any time in late March through to the middle of May. On passage birds frequent open country in the higher parts of the borough and they may be present in quite large numbers i.e. over 25 birds in one field on one date in May 1991 at Kibblesworth and up to 65 scattered around Ravensworth Fell in early May 1992. Small numbers of passage birds are also recorded along the Tyne Valley at sites such as Shibdon and Ryton Willows. Autumn passage is normally less marked than in spring, birds being noted between early August and early September. Some of the large, long winged, birds seen in the borough during late May undoubtedly belong to the northern race leucorrhoa and will be bound for Iceland and Greenland. The species breeds sparsely on the fells around the borough, though a family party where found in 1986 at Greenside Quarry and breeding occurred in 1990, and possibly 1991, by the River Tyne at Dunston. There are probably not more than a handful of birds nesting in the borough in an average year.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus

A scarce passage migrant.

In Robson's time this was considered an uncommon local species, though he did document the shooting of a bird at Broad Oak, a little way up the Derwent Valley from Blackhall Mill and just outside of the current borough boundary. Anecdotal evidence suggests that small numbers of birds pass through the borough on an annual basis with most reports coming from the Kibblesworth Common and Ravensworth Fell areas. Spring passage birds have been noted at Shibdon Pond on 16th April 1989 and 19th March 1990, with the single autumn record there being on 7th November 1989. Spring passage birds were recorded on Ravensworth Fell in both 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Blackbird Turdus merula

An abundant resident and winter visitor.

A very common species in Robson's time and still so today. It breeds in a wide variety of habitats across the borough and can be seen from the centre of built up areas to the middle of the Derwent Valley woodlands. It is probably more widespread in the area than the House Sparrow though it is less numerous. Numbers of continental birds reach the borough each autumn, often arriving just before the first Redwing of the winter. At suitable concentrations of food, such as ripe Hawthorn berries, flocks of up to fifty birds might be noted. Winter birds ringed at Whickham have been later recovered from as far afield as Estonia and the Ekofisk Oil Field in the North Sea.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

A common winter visitor.

This thrush normally arrives in the borough in the last few days of September or during early October, though the main influx is usually in the second half of the latter month. On first arrival the species takes advantage of hawthorn and other berries, before moving into the open fields of the fell areas around Barlow, Kibblesworth and Coalburns. The mid-winter population is usually small as hard weather drives birds further to the south-west. The largest numbers often occur on spring passage, when flocks of hundreds can sometimes be found on Ravensworth Fell and similar open localities. On 16th April 1981 at least 700 were in fields between Byremoor and Sunniside. The majority of birds have left the borough by mid-April with a few stragglers occasionally remaining into early May. In 1991 a bird was noted, apparently in territory, in suitable habitat during both June and July and a bird was present, at least briefly, in the same area the following spring.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

An abundant resident and winter visitor.

Somewhat less common than the Blackbird, it is almost as widespread and will readily nest in urban gardens as long as disturbance is not too great. There is some evidence, from Common Bird Census studies in the borough, to suggest that there has been a decline in local numbers over recent years and this would, unfortunately, comply with the national trend. Numbers are swollen in the autumn by an influx of continental birds, these often arrive with Redwing in late September. A bird ringed in autumn at Ravensworth was found dead during March in northern Spain three years later.

Redwing Turdus iliacus

A common winter visitor.

Robson thought of it as a "common winter visitor" and it still is today. Birds arrive in the borough anytime from late September through to early October depending on the prevailing weather conditions. Like Fieldfare they frequent areas with many berry trees but unlike that species they tend to remain more to one area. Once all of the local berry stocks have been exhausted then birds will move into local woodlands and, occasionally, gardens, where they forage amongst leaf litter. They rarely gather in such large numbers as Fieldfare, the biggest gatherings invariably being noted when they first arrive and when birds are concentrated on berry crops, in such circumstances up to 300 birds might sometimes be noted together.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorous

A common resident.

A much scarcer species than the Song Thrush or Blackbird it is still, however, relatively common and widespread across the borough. The species was noted in 61 kilometre squares, out of a total of 140 covered, during the 1986/87 survey and it can be seen in a wide range of habitats. They nest in larger trees than other thrushes and are not so dependant on such a dense shrub cover. Cemeteries and municipal parks are well favoured, the short grassland providing good foraging opportunities whilst ornamental trees offer nest sites. Birds are normally noted in pairs or small parties although gatherings of up to 30 birds are often seen where berries are abundant in late summer and early autumn. Rowan berries are a particular favourite of the species in late August and early September.