Gateshead Birders

Birds appear in the borough as passage migrants in both spring and autumn. The spring passage period can span mid-March to mid-May, with most birds being noted in the first half of this latter month. This is well illustrated using figures from Shibdon Pond and Ryton Willows in May 1988. Fifteen birds were noted at the first site between 1st and 25th of the month, with 14 being logged at Ryton between 1st and 14th. Autumn birds are principally seen in August and though the movement is normally less protracted than that in spring flocks of up to 40 birds have occasionally been recorded at that time of year. Birds have been recorded at many localities along the Tyne between Bill Quay, in the east, and Clara Vale, in the west, with Shibdon Pond, Ryton Willows and the R.Tyne mudflats at Dunston being particularly well favoured. Birds are often seen in the Team Valley during the spring and it seems likely that birds may have occasionally bred in that area in the past with confirmed breeding taking place in the spring of 1992.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

An extremely rare visitor.

The only record concerns a report of a lone bird found on the Newburn to Ryton stretch of the R.Tyne in early April 1984. The bird was noted on a few occasions during the first week of the month and it seems likely that this was the bird which had been frequenting Teesmouth in late March of that year. It had been present for three days before disappearing in early April, re-appearing on the Tees on 11th to 13th of the month.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

A rare passage migrant.

A rare local breeder one of its former nesting sites now lies under the Metro Centre development on Derwenthaugh. The last occasion which birds were known to have hatched young at this site was 1976 and subsequent building has meant that the area is no longer suitable. Occasionally other localities have held pairs in springtime, and over the last few years the species has been noted with increasing frequency, pairs being present in both 1990 and 1991. Indeed in May 1991 one locality had at least five different individuals, and a bird was noted displaying at another site. Passage birds are recorded on an annual basis at Shibdon Pond and occasionally at other wetlands around the borough. The spring of 1992 saw breeding take place at two localities in the borough with a pair being briefly present at one other site.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

An annual passage migrant and scarce breeder.

Passage birds occur mainly in May and are regularly noted at Shibdon Pond, the R.Tyne mudflats at Dunston and at one or two localities in the Team Valley. For a number of years small numbers of birds have bred along the Team and young have been noted on a few occasions. In both 1986 and 1987 pairs were present on land adjacent to Shibdon Pond and it seems likely that breeding was successful in the first of these years when a juvenile was noted. In spring 1990 at least five, and up to seven pairs, were found nesting on derelict ground in the Dunston area. It seems probable that breeding had been taking place undetected at this locality for a number of years. These locally breeding birds appear earlier than passage birds, they may be present from late February and remain until late August or into September, with small numbers occasionally overwintering.

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus

A very rare passage migrant.

There is a single historical record of this species in our area, a small "trip" of five being found on Ravensworth Fell on 20th May 1967. Since then there have been two further sightings. On two occasions between 1982 and 1985 parties of birds were located in May, once again on Ravensworth Fell. The first sighting concerned a group of about a dozen birds with the second referring to a single bird. It would seem likely that this locality is a traditional stopping off site for migrating Dotterel and the occasional presence of "Northern" Golden Plover at the same site would tend to reinforce this theory.

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

A regular winter visitor and passage migrant.

Robson said of this species, "In some winters it is common at Gibside especially around Fellside." The species is now a regular winter visitor to the borough sometimes in quite large numbers though it is rarely seen away from its limited number of favoured sites. The largest flock in the area, which usually holds two or three hundred birds, but has contained over a thousands birds, can usually be found in the Ryton Woodside area to the north of Greenside. Other favoured spots include the fells around Ravensworth, Marley Hill and Fellside. These latter localities occasionally hold wintering birds but more regularly attract flocks of birds in late winter and early spring as they begin to move north and up to their breeding grounds on local moors. Spring passage seems to occur in two phases through the borough an early movement of local birds during late March and early April and a smaller passage of "Northern" type birds in late April or early May.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

A very rare visitor.

There are three known occurrences of this species in the borough. The first sighting was of a bird flying along the R.Tyne at Stella, Blaydon on 31st January 1976. Then over the period 1st to 16th October 1991 a number of birds were recorded at Shibdon Pond and on the R.Tyne mudflats at Dunston. A single bird was present from 1st to 6th at Shibdon with three there on 14th, and these same birds were also noted along the Tyne on a number of dates. The most recent record was of a single bird at Shibdon Pond on 14th September 1992.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

A common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor.

"This is a common resident species and inhabits rough and uncultivated lands", said Thomas Robson of it late last century. This remains the case today though increasingly birds are forced to nest in spring cereals as other habitats are lost. They can be found breeding across the borough but they prefer the higher grounds and less disturbed areas, though a good number of pairs can also be found nesting along the river valleys where there is open poorly vegetated ground. The highest concentration of birds is to be found in the damp grasslands along the Team and on the fells around Kibblesworth and Marley Hill. Birds were found breeding in over 34% of surveyed squares in 1986 and 1987, and with a few exceptions they were absent as a breeding species from the heavily built up areas in the eastern portion of the borough. There is a large mobile flock, of up to a thousand birds, wintering in the Tyne Valley and these readily move between favoured stop off sites such as Stella, Derwenthaugh, Greenside and, if water levels are low, Shibdon Pond. Periods of prolonged hard weather leads to an exodus of local birds, as in the winters of 1983 and 1984 when the species was absent for a number of months. Another flock of up to two hundred birds winters in the Birtley area and these have been observed, rather unusually, roosting on the flat roof of a local factory.

Knot Calidris canutus

An extremely rare passage visitor.

There is a single record of the species for the borough. A winter plumage bird was present at Shibdon Pond on the evening of 29th September 1992.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Historical records only.

The only documentation of this species' occurrence in the borough comes from Temperley's text on the Wood Sandpiper. He tells of how Durham County's first Wood Sandpiper was shot at White Mare Pool, a locality on the most easternmost boundary of the present day borough. The account tells how "it was running around on the edge of the pool in company with a Sanderling when both were killed with one discharge." The birds were shot by a "J. Richardson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne" in 1826. There have been no records since.

Little Stint Calidris minuta

An extremely rare passage visitor.

Rather surprisingly there is only one known record of this species in our area, a juvenile was present at Shibdon Pond on 11th September 1989.

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii

Historical records only.

The only local record concerns a single bird shot on the "King's Meadows", an island in the middle of the Tyne below Blaydon, on 25th May 1843, a typical date for a spring passage bird. Sadly the island no longer exists for even in Temperley's day he said it had "long since been dredged away".

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

A very rare passage migrant.

There is a single historical record of this species from within the borough boundaries. The first reference to the species being of a bird wintering in the Team Valley, noted on 23rd January 1943, a very unusual date for the species. The only modern records of the species come from Shibdon Pond. A juvenile was present there from 4th to 10th September 1990. Four were noted there on the 13th September in autumn 1991, with at least one being present until 24th of that month.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritimus

An extremely rare winter visitor.

There is only a single report of this species from within the borough boundaries, although no specific date for the sighting is available. One was observed on exposed riverside rocks at Bill Quay sometime during the winter of 1989/90.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

An annual passage migrant.

Small numbers of this species might be noted in both spring and autumn along the Tyne, with occasional wanderers to pond sites around the borough such as the Far Pasture wetland in the Derwent Walk Country Park. Peak numbers occur on autumn passage with a few birds noted each spring. The only site away from the Tyne which regularly holds any number of birds is Shibdon Pond. The autumn high tide roost at that site might number over fifty birds and these same birds commute to the Tyne at low tide to feed on the mudflats between Dunston and Blaydon. The species was once much commoner as a passage migrant in our area but there are now relatively few suitable sites for it. Small numbers usually spend the winter along the Tyne, with flocks of as many as fifty being recorded.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

A scarce but annual passage migrant.

All known records of this species in the borough refer to sightings at Shibdon Pond. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Ruff were once annual visitors to Shibdon in rather higher numbers than at present. Reports suggest tens of birds were regularly recorded during the 1950's and even into the 1970's. All but one of the recent sightings are of autumn passage birds and they usually occur in the period from early August to late September with the odd October record. The exception to this pattern was of a female bird noted on 31st December 1983. At present most records refer to singletons with, exceptionally, reports of small parties of birds.

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

A regular winter visitor in small numbers.

The "judcock" or "half-snipe" was described by Robson as a regular winter visitor to the valley and Temperley told of an impressive flock of 13 flushed from a marsh at Birtley on 16th January 1932. Gateshead still holds one of the few regular wintering sites of this species within the Vice-county. The Shibdon Pond/Derwenthaugh Pasture area has for many years been one of the principal sites for the bird, though currently numbers are much lower than in the past. The largest number counted there in modern times was 11 on 1st October 1974. During most winters there are a few birds recorded within the borough, they are often recorded into late March with the latest date being 17th April in 1992. Over a period of many years three birds have been caught and ringed at Shibdon Pond and Derwenthaugh. Other local sites occasionally holding birds include Blaydon Burn, Stargate Ponds, and on one occasion a wet ditch alongside the Gateshead Metro Centre.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

A rare breeder, common as a winter visitor.

"A resident" visiting marshy and wet grounds in winter, were Robson's comments on this species' local status. It can be found scattered across the borough during winter, when a bird or two might be flushed from all manner of damp fields or wet patches. Larger flocks are less common, with the only site regularly holding high numbers being Shibdon Pond. The largest number yet estimated to be present there was a gathering of 300 during early winter 1977. At present mid-winter gatherings of 100-120 birds would be more usual. As a breeding species it is decidedly uncommon with drumming birds being heard annually at Shibdon Pond, though it is probably only a sporadic breeder there. Rather like the Curlew it is commonest on the higher ground of the borough, with a small number of pairs scattered around Ravensworth Fell and the surrounding area. Its' only regular "lowland" breeding areas in the borough are in the Team Valley, where at least two pairs are present in most years. There are probably ten to twelve pairs breeding within the borough boundaries in the best of years, with a more usual population figure being between five and eight pairs. Over 200 Snipe have been ringed at Shibdon Pond over the years and these have generated a number of interesting recoveries the most spectacular of which were the two birds found over 2000 kilometres to the east, in what was the USSR.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

A common resident and winter visitor.

In Robson's time the species was widespread as a breeding bird in the lower Derwent Valley, Chopwell Wood being noted as a "favourite resort", and there were records of clutches of eggs being taken at a number of sites. At present the species is confined, as a breeding bird, to an area west of the Team Valley. However as a passage migrant Woodcock might be noted at a variety of localities in the eastern part of the borough principally during October and November. Smaller numbers of birds are also occasionally noted at "out of the ordinary" sites in spring when birds are returning to the coast prior to their journey north. Birds breed in all of the lower Derwent Valley woodlands and in some of the larger areas of tree cover such as Chopwell Woods, the Derwent Walk Country Park, Gibside and Ravensworth, they are present in relatively large numbers. As the species is nocturnal it is difficult to gain an accurate picture of just how many breeding birds there are locally. A conservative estimate would suggest that there are over 50 displaying males in the borough, and there may well be more.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

A rare passage migrant.

The majority of records of this wader concern nocturnal westerly flights of birds along the Tyne Valley during the early spring. This phenomenon was first noted in 1963 when birds were heard on 26th and 28th April as they flew up river at Blaydon. The following year a small party were heard at 2330 hours on 3rd May. Anecdotal reports suggest that a party of four birds were noted at Shibdon Pond at some time in the early seventies and one was present there in September 1976. Birds were once again noted overhead at Stella, Blaydon in 1981, with birds heard on 1st and 8th May, and again at the same site in 1984 when they were heard on 10th and 27th March. The fact that these movements are still being noted after 20 years strongly suggests that this is a traditional cross country movement and may occur on an annual basis. The most recent record concerned a summer plumage adult which was present at Shibdon Pond on 28th July 1992.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa laponica

An extremely rare winter visitor.

The only record concerns a party of 43, flying east in severe weather, along the Tyne at Scotswood on 14th December 1989.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

A scarce passage migrant.

Prior to 1985 there are no records of this species for the area but its appearance on an annual basis since then suggests that it has been formerly overlooked. Autumn sightings outnumber spring records almost two to one and the majority of reports are of single birds. The principle exception to lone bird sightings is a report of a huge flock of over seventy birds flying west over Sunniside on 26th July 1985. Most reports of birds are of "fly-overs" but occasionally birds are seen feeding at Shibdon Pond or on the R.Tyne mudflats at Dunston. The majority of known spring sightings have occurred between 1st and 10th May and most birds have been noted as heading in a westerly direction regardless of season.

Curlew Numenius arquata

A scarce resident, and winter visitor.

The only historical reference to the species is with regards to breeding birds in the Team Valley in 1944/45. Prior to this time breeding birds had not been known to be present in the area although no doubt they will have been breeding on the higher ground. Today one or two pairs still breed in the damp pastures of the Team Valley, but most breeding birds in the borough occur above the 500 foot contour, in localities such as Chopwell, Greenside and Ravensworth Fell. In the order of 15 pairs breed within the borough though in good years this may rise to 20. During autumn and winter birds can be found feeding on the mudflats along the R.Tyne at Dunston and roosting on the derelict Dunston Power Station site. These birds undertake a daily flight to and from the river to feed in fields around Blaydon Burn and Reely Mires. As many as 60 birds have been counted in this daily movement and they can be observed flying west at dawn and eastwards, to their roost by the river, at dusk.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

A very rare passage visitor.

A surprisingly uncommon visitor to our area, no doubt due to the relative scarcity of wader habitat locally. There are no confirmed reports prior to the mid-eighties and all sightings have been in a period between mid-August and early September. The first record was of an adult at Shibdon Pond on 15th August 1985, and this was followed by a bird flying along the Tyne at Ryton Willows on 6th September 1987. In 1988 a moulting adult spent 28th and 29th August at Shibdon and in 1989 one flew east over Shibdon on 10th August. Most recently the autumn of 1992 saw the borough's best ever series of records, juveniles were present at Shibdon on 25th August and 1-2 were there regularly from 3rd-26th September 1992, with three on a couple of dates. Over this period a further bird was at the Far Pasture Wetland in the Derwent Walk Country Park.

Redshank Tringa totanus

A rare summer visitor, commoner on passage and in winter.

Robson mentions the taking of a number of clutches of eggs from Shibdon Flats late last century, and according to Temperley birds were nesting there and at Dunstonhaugh some 40 years later. Today birds frequent the tidal stretches of the R.Tyne throughout the year. The largest numbers are present during the autumn, when over 150 birds might be found feeding on the exposed mudflats between Dunston and Swalwell. During the breeding season birds are much rarer now than in previous times and this is principally due to the loss of wet pastures along the river valleys. Up to six pairs still breed within the borough, the principal resorts being the Team Valley, derelict land adjacent to the Tyne mudflats and on Ravensworth Fell. Passage birds might be found at a wide variety of ponds and wet areas, whilst high tide roosts of as many as 180 birds have been recorded at Shibdon Pond in the autumn.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

An annual passage migrant.

This elegant wader is an annual autumn passage migrant, which is occasionally noted in springtime. Records come from a wide variety of sites across the borough, including fly over records from both Washingwell and Strother Hills Woods. The most frequently visited localities include the Far Pasture Wetland in the Derwent Walk Country Park, the River Tyne mudflats and Shibdon Pond. There are records most autumns from late July through to September, with a peak in August. The majority of sightings refer to single birds, with numbers occasionally rising to three or four at Shibdon Pond. The largest count was of seven at Shibdon Pond on 14th August 1990. There is a single record of overwintering in the borough. In 1989 two autumn birds remained in the area until late November, one of them often being present at Shibdon Pond, and along the R.Tyne, throughout the winter and into the following April.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

An annual passage migrant, rare in winter.

The first record of the species locally was sometime last century, Robson telling of one that was shot near Whickham, but there is no precise date or locality for the taking of the bird. During the 1930's Temperley noted that birds were often seen in the Team Valley, overwintering occurring there in 1935-36, with up to three being present in the autumn of 1936. Green Sandpipers are commonest on autumn migration appearing at any time after the last week of July and often remaining into September. The Lockhaugh area of the R.Derwent is particulary attractive to the species but they are also regularly noted at Shibdon Pond and Ryton Willows. It is the passage wader most likely to be seen away from the established wader habitats, birds having been seen at Clara Vale in the west of the borough and on the small stream which runs through Washingwell Woods. The largest documented gathering was of 12 birds at Shibdon Pond on 16th August 1981. Wintering birds have been noted in the Lockhaugh area in 1987-88 and 1988-89, and there was a single mid-winter sighting at Shibdon Pond in 1990.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

A rare passage migrant.

The first record of this species for County Durham came from just within our present day boundary, at the White Mare Pool, Wardley. Selby tells of "a beautiful specimen of this very rare bird" being shot there in 1826. The next two reports, both from the R.Team near Urpeth, are separated by a period of some 43 years. One was present there on 1st September 1923 and another on 19th June 1966. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the species was a scarce but regular passage migrant at Shibdon Pond during the seventies but the only documented sighting is of one there from 4th to 29th August 1977. The most recent records score one each for autumn and spring passage. There was one at Stargate Ponds on 24th April 1987 and, most recently, a bird was at Shibdon on 27th August 1991.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

A common passage migrant, rare in summer, very rare in winter.

Robson described this species as "one of the commonest waders that visit the Derwent" and he recorded finding a clutch of eggs near Winlaton Mill in May 1895. The species occurs commonly as a passage migrant along all of the main rivers of the borough and small numbers also breed. In a good year a pair might fledge young on each of the principal rivers of our area leading to a maximum population of only three breeding pairs. Breeding occurred at the Far Pasture Wetland, for the first time, in the summer of 1992. Spring sightings tend to be of single, or pairs of, birds but parties of as many as fourteen have been noted in the autumn. Favourite haunts include the Tyne from Ryton to Wylam and anywhere along the lower stretches of the Derwent. A rather late bird was present at Wylam on 7th November 1959 suggesting the possibility of local overwintering. This phenomenon was confirmed in the winters of 1988-89, 1989-90 and probably also in 1990-91. In the first of these winters at least two, and probably three, different birds spent the winter on the Tyne between Blaydon, Ryton Willows and Wylam. The following year what may have been the same bird was noted between the months of November and February at Ryton Willows, Shibdon Pond and the on the R.Derwent at Eelshaugh. This latter site also produced a single winter report in February 1991.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

A very rare visitor.

The first record of this coastal wader from within the borough concerned two summer plumage birds on the Tyne at Blaydon Haughs in late April or early May 1989. However there are anecdotal reports suggesting that birds occasionally turn up on the mudflats at Dunston and they are quite regularly seen on the river at Bill Quay. Recent records suggest that the species might have been overlooked along the Tyne in the past. On 15th August 1990 a summer plumage male was found at Shibdon Pond and on 5th February 1991 two were on the Tyne at Bill Quay. Finally, on 25th October 1991, a winter plumage bird was observed, once again, at Shibdon Pond.

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

A very rare passage migrant.

So far this is the only phalarope species recorded in our area and both records for the borough refer to single birds on the tidal stretch of the R.Tyne. On 22nd October 1987 a bird spent much of the day feeding on the Ryton Willows to Newburn stretch of the Tyne. This was shortly after the 1987 "hurricane" which displaced large numbers of this, and other species of seabirds, into unusual inland situations. The second report was during the following autumn when one was seen a little further upstream, at Wylam, on 12th October 1988.