Gateshead Birders

The only notable report of this species prior to our modern period was of a flock of 40 near Rowlands Gill in February 1960. Flocks of up to 20 are common in the west of the borough. It would appear that local populations were high in the early seventies when a number of large flocks were reported for example 120 at Ryton in 1974. Probably as a result of the series of hard winters in the early eighties local population levels declined but they rose again through that decade, as indicated by the flock of 60 noted at Strother Hills Woods in July 1990. The species breeds in woodland and scrub. It is frequently found where broom dominates, the dense vegetation offering them relative safety in which to build their nests.

Marsh Tit Parus palustris

A rare local species.

No doubt this species is under recorded locally although it is much rarer than its close relative the Willow Tit preferring mature deciduous woodland. The locality producing most regular sightings over recent years is Paddock Hill Woods, where birds bred successfully in 1988. The species was also reported as nesting near Rowlands Gill in May/June 1978. Although Marsh Tit are one of the most sedentary of woodland species, birds occasionally wander away from their more usual sites, Ryton Willows has held birds on a number of occasions and on 30th June 1985 one was noted at Shibdon Pond.

Willow Tit Parus montanus

A common local resident.

The first documented breeding of this species in the vice-county was in April 1934 at Ravensworth, when birds were observed excavating a nest hole. However earlier evidence proves that birds were nesting locally long before this, a clutch of eight eggs taken on 20th June 1888 from an excavated nest near Rowlands Gill were obviously of this species and not of Marsh Tit as originally catalogued. Today the species can be found in most of the borough's woodlands although it is much less common than both Blue and Great Tit in parks and gardens. In Thornley Woods up to a maximum of four pairs breed in most years.

Coal Tit Parus ater

An abundant resident.

The species is found across the borough in all types of woodland, although it reaches its highest densities in mixed conifer woodlands. In pure conifer stands it is easily the commonest titmouse. Surprisingly this bird regularly nests in holes in the ground, usually on the side of a steep bank or under a tree stump. Birds frequently visit gardens with other titmice but prefer to cache whole food items away from the feeding station.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

An abundant resident and winter visitor.

One of the most widespread and common species in the borough it nests almost anywhere where boxes are made available regardless of whether they are situated in woodlands or in gardens. Up to 50 pairs are known to nest in Thornley Woods and very high densities in Paddock Hill Woods where the provision of boxes has allowed the breeding densities to rise as high as 16 pairs in one acre. A number of unusual nesting localities have been reported across the borough including the use of ornate lamp standards in Whickham and a drainpipe at the Thornley Woodlands Centre. Large numbers can visit feeding stations during the winter, up to 90 birds have been caught and ringed in one morning in Thornley Wood. Evidence for the presence of winter visitors in the area comes from ringing studies in the Derwent Valley. On a number of occasions birds ringed in nestbox study schemes on the edge of the Durham moors have been re-trapped at garden feeding stations in the west of the borough. Further to this a bird ringed during the winter in local garden was found breeding the following spring at Edmundbyers. This suggests that some Blue Tits nesting on the edges of the uplands behave as small scale altitudinal migrants, moving down the Derwent Valley to avoid the harsh winter weather of the moorland edges.

Great Tit Parus major

An abundant resident.

This species is very common across the borough nesting primarily in woodland but also in parks and shelterbelts. It will use garden nest boxes but it does so a lot less frequently than the Blue Tit. The species was recorded in 57% of surveyed squares in 1986/87 as oppose to the Blue Tit's 70%. Considerable numbers of birds visit winter feeding stations over relatively short periods of time e.g. 30 caught and ringed in three weeks at the Thornley Woodlands Centre. There are a number of interesting recoveries of ringed birds. Birds moving to the coast include a nestling ringed in Thornley Wood, recovered at Marsden, and an adult female later caught at Hauxley in Northumberland. Nestlings from Hamsterley Forest have been trapped at Thornley Wood suggesting some degree of altitudinal movement.

Nuthatch Sitta europea

A widespread resident.

The first local record of this species dates back to 1964 when birds where noted just outside of the borough at Hamsterley Mill. Birds were regularly present in that area over the next 15 years but apart from the occasional report from Lintzford, and an isolated report from Thornley Woods in 1976, birds did not seem to be colonizing Gateshead over this period. However from autumn 1981 birds were increasingly seen in the lower Derwent Valley. This expansion seems to have been linked to the increase in the amount of standing dead timber produced as a result of the spread of Dutch Elm Disease and the consequent increase in the number of available nest-sites. The first confirmed breeding in the Derwent Walk Country Park took place in 1984. Two years later there were eight pairs scattered around the woodlands of the Park and the most recent estimate stands at 10 pairs. The dependence of the species on newly available dead wood for nesting and the supplementing of its winter food supply at feeding stations has no doubt helped it consolidate its spread into the borough. The species appears to be continuing its expansion with three to four pairs now breeding at Ryton Willows and reports coming from a wide range of new localities. These include Blaydon Dene, Saltwell Park, Shibdon Pond, Whickham and, most recently, Greenside.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

A common resident.

A widespread though relatively unseen resident, it was noted in 18% of surveyed squares and is present in most areas of woodland in the Derwent and Team Valleys. It is absent from central Gateshead, with the exception of the thickly wooded parks and cemeteries of Saltwell and Heworth. Traditionally the species was considered scarce as is evidenced by the observer, when one killed itself against his window in 1931 near Birtley, who commented that he had never before seen one in that area. The woodlands of the Derwent Valley are the stronghold of the species in the borough, the highest count being of 16 birds in Thornley Wood in March 1991. Unusual behaviour has been noted at local feeding stations where birds have been seen picking fragments of peanut from the ground below bird feeders.

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

An extremely rare summer visitor.

The only known sighting is of a bird reported from a garden in Whickham on 8th July 1989. The spring had been a good one for the species in the county, with at least one passage bird being seen elsewhere and a pair of birds also being present at one locality in the county.

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

A rare passage visitor.

Temperley's text tells of how, at some time before 1831, a pair of Red-backed Shrikes, nesting on the Ravensworth Estate, were killed by Lord Ravensworth's keeper. The species was not documented again in the area until 1961 when a bird was seen in the Team Valley on 7th June. On 18th May 1977 a male bird was discovered at Shibdon Pond, the bird was heard singing and the following day a female was also found to be present. The pair were noted prospecting for nest sites and were present until the 22nd when it was believed they were disturbed by birdwatchers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a pair did breed successfully elsewhere in the borough that year and this may have referred to the re-located Shibdon birds! Spring 1977 was a good one for the species in the county with a least five males scattered over the region. The most recent record was of a first winter bird at Shibdon Pond from 5th to 8th September 1986.

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor

A very rare winter visitor.

This species seems to have been somewhat commoner in the borough in the past. Robson tells of a number of birds being "obtained": a female at Blaydon Haughs in 1836, a pair late last century in Whickham and in 1880 a bird was shot by the river at Dunston Haughs. A pair of birds were present at Folly Plantation, Birtley on 4th November 1944, one of them remaining until 8th and from 6th December 1966 a bird was present for six days in the Ravensworth Estate. There are a number of modern records but these probably refer to the same bird returning annually to the same wintering locality. A bird was found at Shibdon Pond on 25th February 1972 and it remained in the area until 8th April. What was almost certainly the same bird re-appeared on 12th November, staying through to the end of the year and into the next, being last noted on 25th February 1973. In subsequent winters it was noted from: 3rd November 1973 to 16th March 1974 and from 15th October 1974 to 26th March 1975. It was not seen after this latter date. The bird frequented the scrub and hedgerows of Shibdon Pond and Derwenthaugh, with occasional forays into Axwell Park. The species has not been recorded in the borough since.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

A common resident.

Considered a common resident last century, this rather sedentary species tends to be "heard and not seen" although it is common in most local woods. The species is most often seen flitting between stands of oaks in the autumn as it collects acorns. It prefers mixed or broadleaved woods though it can be found in pure coniferous stands. There were notable influxes into Britain of continental Jays in the autumns of 1983 and 1985 and birds were noted in a number of unusual sites such as Shibdon Pond and Sunniside Village, where a party of six were observed flying west on 25th October 1983.

Magpie Pica pica

A common resident.

Last century Robson thought this species to be decreasing due its persecution, although he did document his discovery of a number of nests locally in 1895 and 1896. In the last 20 years there has been a significant increase in the numbers of Magpies in the borough. They were found to be present in two thirds of the surveyed squares during 1986-87 and it continues to expand to the present. It breeds in many habitats: woodlands, hedgerows with mature trees, parks and also large gardens. It roosts communally in winter at traditional spots and counts of over forty birds have come from sites at Blaydon Burn, Lockhaugh, and Ryton Willows.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

An abundant resident.

Late last century Jackdaws nested in the slopes of Scar Bank, which is now in the Derwent Walk Country Park, however local birds now rarely need to use such natural sites. The vast majority of local birds nest in the disused chimneys of houses in local villages such as Chopwell, Rowlands Gill and Winlaton Mill. Large flocks of birds can be seen in these areas after the young have fledged. This habit of chimney nesting is widespread across the borough where ever houses have been converted to central heating from their original coal fires. Birds forage on rural grassland for invertebrates, in waste paper bins for scraps and can frequently be seen searching dung for edible items. Birds from Rowlands Gill were studied in 1990 after birds were suspected of contaminating doorstep milk with a bacterium causing food poisoning. An aberrant coffee-coloured bird (exhibiting "non-eumelanic schizochromaticity"), hatched in Chopwell in 1988, was observed nesting building in 1991 only 400 metres from its birth place and was still present in 1992.

Rook Corvus frugilegus

A common resident.

It would appear that the species has declined locally since Robson's time. Undoubtedly it is still common, there are twelve active rookeries in the borough and birds can be found breeding from Heworth in the East to Bradley Hall in the west. A survey of local rookeries in 1989 suggested that there were over 100 pairs of birds nesting in the borough. Some of the breeding colonies have remained remarkably stable over the years. Others have exhibited a marked decline such as the one at Winlaton which finally became exctinct in 1992. The once large Paddock Hill colony had declined to eight pairs by 1982 and ceased to be active in 1984, birds apparently moving up to the rookery at Rowlands Gill. 1991 saw the first nesting of one or two pairs at a new site in the Lockhaugh area and this may see the establishment of a new colony. The site faithfulness of birds is illustrated by the fact that rookeries at Axwell Park and Gibside (which was the original source of the Paddock Hill rookery) mentioned by Robson in his text last century, remained active into the 1960's. This latter colony still had a few birds presnt in the late 1970's.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

A common resident.

A common species across the borough, they were present in over half of all surveyed squares during 1986-87. They nest in woods and along hedgerows with mature trees, frequently taking advantage of waste food and scraps in built up areas. In urban habitats they regularly nest on pylons and, around the Metrocentre, on lamp standards. The species rarely flocks, unlike Rooks and Jackdaws, although Temperley mentions a congregation of 70 birds roosting at Ravensworth in May 1946. Recently, in the winter of 1989, over 100 would regularly gather at dusk on Goodshields Haugh by the River Derwent. They are probably significantly commoner now than last century and this is probably due, not to reduced persecution by gamekeepers but by a reduction in the total number of gamekeepers in the area.

Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix

A rare winter visitor.

Robson believed that this sub-species occurred "sparingly" in the Derwent Valley, whilst at present it can only be considered a rare local visitor. The largest number recorded locally was of a flock of four at Rowlands Gill in March 1960. During the 1970's birds were noted on a regular basis at Shibdon Pond, single birds being seen in the winters of 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1978. There were then no sightings until January 1982, with a another long period of time passing before the next record in December 1988, once again at Shibdon Pond. Presumably the same bird was responsible for a number of sightings near Paddock Hill Woods that winter and at Greenside Tip on 14th May. The most recent record was of a bird seen on a number of dates during winter 1989-90 at Goodshields Haugh.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

An abundant resident and winter visitor.

The earliest recorded breeding of birds in the borough was of a pair which were feeding young at a nest site near Birtley on 4th January 1931. During the winter of 1941-42 a large roost, estimated to contain 1,000,000 birds, was nightly attracted to the West Dunston Staithes. It would seem likely that this is the roost which now frequents the Newcastle City centre. Today Starlings can be found in almost any situation although they reach their highest density in the mosaic of urban gardens and open spaces around housing estates and the town centre. There appear to be no large winter roosts in Gateshead today, although post breeding gatherings of several thousands may roost in suitable cover such as the dense willows of the main island at Shibdon Pond. Last century Robson documented a number of unusually coloured birds, including a cinnamon one, being taken locally. Some birds move through the borough to winter further south, as shown by the bird found dead late in March in Buckinghamshire which had been previously ringed at Whickham. The origin of some of our wintering birds is indicated by a bird ringed at Whickham in January 1969 and found dead in Smolensk, Russia, in April 1974.

Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus

Historical records only.

There is a single mention of this species in the area, one being shot on Black Fell, Gateshead, on 15th September 1856.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

An abundant resident.

It seems unlikely that this species has significantly changed its status since last century, when Robson thought it "one of the commonest, if not the commonest resident of the vale". Today the species is not quite ubiquitous in the borough but it is undoubtedly very common and can be seen in a wide range of situations. The species is very sedentary and is absent from mature woodlands and most open ground although small isolated colonies occur around farm buildings in such places. Occasionally the species is found nesting in somewhat unexpected localities, such as the colony which was present in a dense patch of holly at Kibblesworth in the early 1980's. Large winter gatherings of up to 300 have been noted where food is abundant, stubble fields and grainstores for example. Surprisingly this species never visited the Thornley Woodland Centre feeding station between 1983 and 1992. Despite the fact that adults, nesting 400 metres away, occasionally visit the car park of the Centre during the breeding season to collect caterpillars for their young.

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

A widespread resident.

This species was first identified on Tyneside by Hancock in 1834 when he killed one at Rabbit Banks, by the side of the Tyne near Central Gateshead. Robson thought it much less common than the House Sparrow, though he did know of its nesting in Axwell park and a few other localities. Today they occur on farmland mainly around the edges of the borough's higher ground: Chopwell, Greenside, Kibblesworth and Lamesley are all well frequented by the species, with smaller numbers around Fellside, Ryton and Sunniside. In recent years new colonies have begun to establish at Lockhaugh and Parson's Haugh, Ryton. Occasionally large winter flocks are present on stubble, when they gather with finches and buntings. Up to 100 birds were present at Marshall Lands farm on 27th December 1983. Winter flocks of 40-70 birds can often be seen around Greenside and up to 60-70 visited the Clara Vale feeding station during winter 1991/92.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

A common resident and winter visitor.

This species is one of the commonest in the borough and it can be found in a wide range of rural and urban habitats, though it is less common in the most built up of areas. It was recorded in over 68% of surveyed squares, only Blackbird, House Sparrow and Willow Warbler being more widely spread. The greatest density of breeding birds can be found on broadleaved woodland edge though appreciable numbers are also found in parks and in areas with mature hedgerows. During winter flocks of 150-200 birds might be found at a number of places where food is plentiful, with birds gathering under beech trees in "mast years" and grain stores in farmyards. By late March local birds are normally paired off and setting up territory. Flocks still noted locally at this time of year probably consist largely of continental birds wintering here and these will move back to their northern breeding grounds later in the season. Evidence of this comes from ringing, a bird ringed on 28th July 1990, in southern Norway, was caught at the Thornley Woods feeding station in Decmber 1991. A female ringed at Shibdon in October 1985 was later killed by a cat, in northern Denmark, in June 1989.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

A common winter visitor.

This species was thought a "common winter visitant" by Robson and although its numbers vary quite considerably from year to year it could still be described so today. Robson recognised the species reliance on beech mast telling of their favourite local spot being under tall beech trees in Gibside. The Derwent Valley woodlands, Whickham, with its parks and large gardens, and Sunniside may all hold large flocks, with other birds regularly noted in the Fellside and Kibblesworth areas. In hard weather small numbers often accompany Chaffinches to garden feeding stations. Winter 1988-89 was particularly good for the species locally with over 300 birds in the lower Derwent Valley, the largest single flock containing over 150 birds. Occasional birds stay into April and on at least two occasions there has been evidence of attempted breeding. In 1978 a pair of birds were noted together in a Derwent Valley woodland until at least 23rd April and in May a male was found singing. The following month a female was discovered feeding young in a different part of the same wood and it is believed that the young were fledged. In May 1986 a lone male was discovered singing in Washingwell Woods and on one occasion he was seen to attempt to mate with a Chaffinch. The female Chaffinch was known to have nested and produced young though these appeared to be of pure Chaffinch stock. The only ringing recovery of this species is of a bird ringed in March 1988 at Whickham and killed by a cat three years later, rather unusuallly, in the same area.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

A common resident.

Probably the most widely distributed finch to be found in the borough, it occurs in the greatest range of habitats from woodlands and gardens to city centre landscaped areas. It is less common than Linnet and Chaffinch in their favoured habitats but outnumbers them both in the built up areas of central and eastern Gateshead. Winter gatherings of the species can be large and they are often seen in the company of other finches and buntings at good feeding sites. Flocks of up to 150 have been noted feeding in stubble fields around High Thornley at this time of year. Roost gatherings can number hundreds of birds, the largest yet recorded being of 256 at Sunniside on 24th October 1985, although up to 200 were also reported as roosting along the Banks of the Tyne in February 1988.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

A common resident.

This species has obviously become much commoner locally since last century, Robson recalled seeing it only once in the valley "in the wild state". Today the species is common as a breeding bird across the borough. In the busiest of built up areas they make use of trees on traffic islands and the central reservations of dual carriageways. In late summer they gather in large flocks, although they mix less often with other species than many other finches. They can be seen feeding on the seeds of knapweed, burdock, creeping thistle and teasel, whilst in the winter they often resort to conifers, as in Washingwell Woods, where over 100 were feeding on larch seeds in 1986/87. Like other cardueline finches they roost communally the largest documented gathering being of at least 90 birds at Shibdon Pond in December 1986.

Siskin Carduelis spinus

A common winter visitor, rare in summer.

It would seem from Robson's account of this species last century that it is much commoner today than it was then. He documents a number of occurrences including flocks at Swalwell in July 1948 and a pair in Blaydon Burn in November 1888. Over the last two decades the species has become increasingly common in the lower Derwent Valley, though its numbers can fluctuate from winter to winter. It now breeds on an annual basis though only in small numbers, perhaps up to ten pairs in the borough in most years, though this may rise significantly in some years. Singing males are regularly noted in the Derwent Walk Country Park, up to five in May 1992. Other sites with breeding birds, regularly include, Strother Hills and Chopwell Woods, the latter site sometimes holds many pairs. In winter they feed principally in conifers and alder although numbers can also be found feeding on birch often accompanied by Redpolls. The Derwent Walk Country Park usually holds winter flocks numbering more than 100 birds. The winter of 1985-86 saw large numbers of birds in the borough and many were ringed in the Whickham area. The subsequent reports generated from the recovery of ringed birds suggest that most birds, coming from north-west Scotland, move through the area to the south coast and Belgium for the mid-winter. A particularly large flock of over 350 birds was noted in Chopwell Woods in February 1988, whilst up to 200 have been noted around Strother Hills and Victoria Garesfield on a number of occasions. Small numbers of birds can often be found frequenting the maturing amenity tree-planting along the Tyne at sites such as Friar's Goose and Felling Shore.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

A common resident.

A very common farmland bird across the borough. It is found mainly in the more rural western half although good numbers can also be found around White Mare Pool and Wardley in the east. Small numbers breed in roadside scrub at several localities in the east and also along the Banks of the Tyne, whilst a few pairs almost penetrate into Gateshead town centre. The species' breeding strongholds are on farmland around Kibblesworth, Marley Hill, Fellside and over onto Barlow Fell and Greenside. From mid-summer large flocks gather on farmland to feed on grain and arable weed seeds, typical flocks might involve up to 150 birds. Although there is some evidence that the species has declined slightly over the last two decades in the borough it is not faring as badly on a local level as it is over the rest of Britain as a whole.

Twite Cardeulis flavirostris

A rare winter visitor.

The first record of this species in the borough was of a bird at Shibdon Pond on 24th January 1984, although two had been seen just outside the borough in November 1980. The second sighting was of one, on 23rd November 1984, at Washingwell Woods. In the winter of 1987, during a period of hard weather a flock of some 30 to 40 birds were reported as being present on Barlow Fell. Two years later birds were once again found in this area, six being present on Farmland at Reely Mires, near Greenside, on 15th October 1989, though it is believed that as many as 30 had been there the previous day. Shortly after this, on 25th October, a lone male bird, in the company of Linnet, was at Ryton Willows. The following month a flock of approximately 30 birds was noted near Sherburn Towers Farm, Rowlands Gill. It seems likely that this series of records were probably produced by a small flock of birds wandering here and there around the area during the winter period. The most recent record of the species was during hard weather in early 1991, when one was present at Shibdon Pond from 11th to 13th February.

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis flammea cabaret

A widespread resident, common in winter.

Redpoll were considered a resident species by Thomas Robson and although there is a breeding population in the borough today there is a noticeable build up in numbers during the autumn and winter. Lesser Redpoll were present in 19% of surveyed squares in 1986-87 and they showed a distinct westerly bias in their distribution in the borough. This probably mirrors the distribution of suitable breeding woodlands and scrub. Birds nest in conifers, birch and hawthorn scrub, but they will also breed in mixed landscape trees of about 20 to 25 years of age. Winter sees large gatherings in suitable feeding areas, birch seed being one the species' principal foods at this time of year. Hence woodlands with large amounts of birch attract many Redpoll. Flocks of up to 100 are often present along the Derwent Walk. In good seed producing years larch also attracts many birds, as shown by the flock of some 300 present in a larch plantation in Chopwell Woods during the winter of 1987.

Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea flammea

A scarce winter visitor.

There is a single historical record of one, shot in Axwell Park, on 13th March 1892. It would seem likely that birds have been overlooked in the past as the subspecies is now recorded on an almost annual basis. During the winter of 1984-85 there was a large influx of these northern birds into the British Isles, with large numbers being present in the borough. On 17th February 1985 a flock of approximately 200 birds consisted almost entirely of "mealies", whilst another 50 were in Milkwellburn Woods and small parties were scattered across the rest of the borough. The most recent records concern two birds at Ryton Willows in December 1990.

Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni

An extremely rare winter visitor.

On 13th February 1991 an Arctic Redpoll was found near Timber Beach, Dunston, in the company of Lesser Redpoll and one other bird. The other bird was structurally similar to the Arctic Redpoll though it showed none of the classic identification features exhibited by the first bird. Though positive identification remains uncertain it is conceivable that the second bird was also of the northern species. The winter of 1990-91 saw a large influx of Arctic Redpoll to eastern Britain and this sighting would fit into the general pattern of occurrences.

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

A scarce visitor, occasionally widespread.

The first mention of the species in the north-east comes from an account in Hancock's catalogue of the birds of Northumberland and Durham. The account tells of a nest found on 24th February 1856 at Coalburns which, by 1st of March, contained three eggs. That same year, in July, a pair with four eggs were found in a plantation at Marley Hill, whilst some years later, in June 1881, an adult and four juveniles were watched drinking at Spen Banks above Rowlands Gill. In 1890 Robson commented that "many of these birds were in the lower valley" and he took eight specimens in the neighbourhood. Rather surprisingly the next documented records in the borough were not until 1975 when 15 were noted at Whickham, a gap of 85 years! In July 1979 three were noted in Thornley Woods and these proved to be the forerunners of a large influx which saw birds present throughout the next winter, especially in Chopwell Woods, with up to 27 being there in February 1980. In November 1980 birds were once again noted at Chopwell and they remained throughout the subsequent winter. Chopwell, being the largest coniferous wood in the borough, is undoubtedly the best locality for the species and small numbers are believed to breed there in most years. The rest of the eighties saw increased numbers of this species locally. A large influx occurred from June 1985 and over the following year birds were often present in Chopwell, Strother Hills, Thornley and Washingwell Woods. It was believed that breeding may have taken place at some three or four localities around the borough after this influx. Another influx occurred in July 1988 and at that time birds were noted at many of their usual sites but also at Ryton Willows and two were even noted over Shibdon Pond. Breeding was confirmed at Ravensworth and Chopwell after this influx. The largest influx of birds yet recorded in the borough, and probably the British Isles, occurred from July 1990 and into the winter of 1990/91. Hundreds of birds were present in the borough with records from many sites and many flocks of between 20 and 60 were noted. Many birds bred in Chopwell Woods with possible breeding birds noted in a number of other localities including Gibside and the Derwent Walk Country Park.

Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus

An extremely rare vagrant.

There is a single multiple occurrence of this species locally. On the 14th November 1990 a party of Parrot Crossbill were discovered drinking at a farmyard track at Heavygate, Chopwell. The birds were feeding in the pine plantations of Chopwell Woods, and estimates of numbers range from a minimum of 19, to as many as 60 or even more. Birds were present until at least the turn of the year, eight of them being caught and ringed by the Durham Ringing Group.

Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator

Historical records only.

There is a single record of this extremely rare visitor to the British Isles. A moulting female was shot at Bill Quay "sometime before 1831". There is a degree of controversy over most claims of this species but after a series of reviews by the ornithological authorities the Gateshead bird is considered "one of the most acceptable" records. There are currently ten accepted occurrences of the species in Britain and as the bird from Bill Quay is the earliest amongst them it therefore constitutes the first British record.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

A common resident.

Almost a century ago this species was described by Thomas Robson as "to be found nesting on both sides of the Derwent" and it is still found widely across the borough today, although it is much commoner in the western half. This is despite a marked decline noted by Temperley earlier this century which he attributed to the actions of finch trappers. Bullfinch are found across the borough in woodland and parks being most numerous in the valley woods of the Derwent and the Tyne, flocks of more than 10 are only rarely encountered. The species is particularly common at Ryton Willows, whilst smaller numbers can be found scattered eastward through Saltwell Park, the Gateshead Denes and some of the larger cemeteries.

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes

A widespread local resident and winter visitor.

The first recorded breeding of Hawfinch in the County of Durham occurred, in what is now Gateshead, during 1884. On this occasion a clutch of eggs were taken from a nest at Winlaton on 29th May. However it seems likely that birds were breeding locally earlier than this since a juvenile killed itself against conservatory glass in Gibside in August 1879. In 1885 three clutches of eggs were "taken" and several nests were seen in the vicinity of Gibside during 1892. A further clutch of eggs was taken at Winlaton in 1893 and in that year a pair nesting in Axwell Park were predated by Magpies. By 1905 Temperley noted that the species had spread as a breeding bird to Ravensworth and some 60 years later it was still being noted regularly at that locality. During our modern period, and considering the secretive habits of the species, Hawfinch have been surprisingly well recorded in Gateshead. They have been noted at a minimum of ten different sites during the breeding season and it is believed that up to fifteen pairs breed annually in the borough. There are two "traditional" winter gathering sites, one of these, where birds feed principally on beech mast, has held up to 16 birds whilst the other has even larger numbers. It is believed that this latter site, with counts of up to 54 birds may occasionally hold more than 70 birds in total. In late winter birds are often noted moving around the Derwent Valley woodlands, for example 15 over Lockhaugh Farm on 15th February 1989 and by late April they are returning to their regular spring haunts such as Ryton Willows and Washingwell Woods. Birds have occasionally been noted away from the usual localities, one flew west over Shibdon Pond on 20th September 1987, one was with Yellowhammers at Clara Vale on 6th November 1988, whilst a small party of birds was present in Saltwell Park on 28th February 1980.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

A very rare visitor.

Robson mentions the species as "only a winter visitor" but these
probably refer to birds higher up the Derwent Valley. There are three modern records. On 4th January two were seen flying west over Mayfield Hill, near Clara Vale, on 30th March 1989 a female was flushed from the bare ground at the side of some small ponds near Wardley and most recently two flew north over Heavygate Farm, Chopwell on 5th December 1990.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

A common resident.

Robson documents a very late nesting record last century, a nest with three eggs being found near Winlaton on 14th September 1890. As in Robson's time the species is still common and was found in over 60% of surveyed squares in the borough. It favours open habitats and the largest concentrations of birds can be found where gorse, broom or hawthorn provide nesting cover. The species seems to be almost completely absent from built up areas as a breeding bird. They do occur in the eastern part of the borough where the edges of housing and industrial estates abut farmland or open areas such as golf courses. In winter large flocks gather to feed on grain or stubble and 260 were noted in just such a congregation at the edge of Washingwell Wood on 21st January 1989.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

A common resident.

Robson thought it "somewhat common in marshy or ill-drained meadows" but today they are increasingly found in drier habitats as well. The densest breeding congregations are in marshland bordered by scrub or woodland edge. Such habitats can be found at Pockerley Farm Pond, Ryton Willows and Shibdon Pond where over 20 pairs breed. At Ryton birds can be found nesting in gorse scrub alongside Yellowhammers. The total borough population probably numbers over 50 pairs. During the 1970's large winter roosts gathered at Shibdon Pond, the largest count being 300 on 15th February 1975. At present more usual roost sizes at that site might number 30-40 birds. Occasionally birds are seen at garden feeding stations in hard weather and this habit is being increasingly noted amongst local birds.

Corn Bunting Milaria calandra

A scarce resident now becoming increasingly rare.

Robson described this species simply as resident in the valley, whilst some 50 years later Temperley commented that it was becoming much scarcer in the "Vale of Derwent" although at his time of writing it had been recently noted around Winlaton and Greenside. Sadly this species is still decreasing locally and even since the early 1970's there has been a marked decline. At that time it was spread sparsely across the borough but it could be found breeding at Greenside, Kibblesworth, Ryton and in the Team Valley, with regular winter flocks noted at one or two localities. Ryton was a favourite wintering spot, some 50-60 birds being present there in February 1976, whilst as recently as January 1984 a flock of 15 was found near Chopwell. Today there are only sporadic records of singing males across the borough. Until the building of the Ryton bypass in the late 1980's three to five males could be found in the area to the east of Greenside but these birds have now been lost as the habitat was destroyed. Direct habitat destruction is not the only cause of this species' local decline, some changes in crop type and management also seem to be involved. Areas still occasionally holding birds include the farmland around Kibblesworth and Lamesley, and in the far east of the borough, Follingsby. There is suitable habitat for the species on Barlow Fell, at Fellside, around Chopwell Village and probably other localities but at present none of these areas regularly hold birds. At present the average season probably sees no more than five territorial males in the whole of the borough, with perhaps one or two more in good years.