Gateshead Birders

The species was not recorded in the borough prior to 1986 but since then it has been of annual occurrence. The number of birds involved in sightings in recent years would suggest that it has probably been overlooked in the past. The vast majority of sightings refer to birds at Shibdon Pond and the first record for the borough concerns a bird in first winter plumage on 8th and 15th March 1986. Second winter birds were noted on the Tyne at Felling and Shibdon in late 1986 whilst during January 1987 four individuals were at Shibdon, three of them second winters and one in first winter plumage. One of the birds, having only one leg, was christened "Monopod" and this bird returned to winter at Shibdon every year between 1987 and the winter of 1991/92. Passage birds have been noted on a number of occasions in early spring; a first winter was on the Tyne at Felling on 11th April 1987, and first summer birds were present at Shibdon in both April 1988 and 1989. During the winter of 1987/88 three individuals were recorded at Shibdon but the following two winters produced only sightings of "Monopod". During winter 1990/91 three different birds were noted at Shibdon: a second winter bird and two adults, one of them Monopod. By late October 1991 "Monopod" had arrived once again at its' usual wintering locality and in early November 1991 a first winter bird was also present there. The only summer record of the species is of an adult on the Tyne at Scotswood on 3rd August 1989.

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla

An extremely rare visitor.

A first winter bird was found at Shibdon Pond during fieldwork for the B.T.O. Winter Atlas project on 22nd January 1984. It remained in this area until the 25th thereafter being widely reported around Tyneside. It returned to winter regularly on Tyneside until 1987 with subsequent sightings at Shibdon on 8th March, 29th November, 15th December 1986, and 14th January 1987.

Little Gull Larus minutus

A rare passage migrant.

An intermittent spring and autumn visitor there is also a single unconfirmed winter report. The late seventies saw a number of spring sightings at Shibdon Pond, an adult was there on 23rd March 1978 and the following year a first summer was present from 14th to 27th May. Three were well inland on the R.Tyne at Newburn on 11th October 1983 and at least three different birds were involved in a spate of records at Shibdon between 1st and 12th July 1987. In December 1987 there was an unconfirmed report of one amongst Black-headed Gulls at Shibdon and the following May, on 26th, an adult was seen, once again, at Shibdon Pond.

Sabine's Gull Larus sabini

An extremely rare visitor.

The only record of this species in the borough concerns an adult, moulting into winter plumage, on the roof of the International Paint factory at Felling, on 9th August 1979.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

A common winter visitor, widespread at other times of the year.

The status of this species has changed significantly since last century, when Robson described it as "an irregular visitant to the valley". Today it can be seen across the borough throughout the year, though very few adults are noted during the breeding season. A number of local ponds and fields attract flocks of 300 to 600 birds and favoured localities include Shibdon Pond and the River Tyne at Blaydon and at Ryton. Shibdon regularly has winter roost and pre-roost gatherings of up to a 1000 birds although up to 8000 have been noted. From here they cross the river to roost upon the roof of the nearby Vicker's armaments factory. This species very often exhibits plumage abnormalities and in recent years those noted at Shibdon include a bright pink bird on 14th January 1987 and an albinistic bird which wintered there in 1989/90. Birds can be seen feeding across the borough on pastures and large numbers congregate on the refuse disposal sites at Greenside and Kibblesworth. The origin of some of our locally wintering bird is indicated by the fact that on two occasions birds ringed in Norway have been recovered at Shibdon Pond.

Common Gull Larus canus

A common winter visitor, scarce in summer.

Birds can be seen across the borough during winter but it is a decidedly scarce species in summer when a small number of immature birds might be present at sites along the R.Tyne or at Shibdon Pond. Common Gulls often gather at the same roost places as "Black-heads" but not normally in such large numbers. They feed alongside other gull species but on average seem to spend a greater proportion of their time searching pastures for invertebrates. They return regularly to traditional feeding pastures such as the well favoured areas at Leadgate and above Chopwell.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

A regular summer visitor, rare in winter.

This is one of the earliest migrants to arrive locally, the first few birds usually appearing around mid-March. The numbers then rise in early April when 10 to 15 birds might be at Shibdon Pond. An unprecedented local influx of this species occurred during the summer of 1989. The small flock of birds usually present at Shibdon built up steadily through May and by 11th June 104 were counted and the number peaked at 194 on 31st July. On this latter date a number of dark mantled birds were present in the flock. Four of these were adjudged to be of the race intermedius, which occur as a rare but annual passage migrant at Shibdon in both spring and autumn, with the other two being of the much rarer and darker northern race fuscus. Another bird fitting the description of one of these dark northern birds was present in autumn 1991. Spring birds are frequently seen displaying at Shibdon and pairs have re-appeared there later in the season with recently fledged young. This suggests that there is a small local breeding population and birds were believed to have bred in 1991 on the rooves of the housing complex at Saint Cuthbert's Village in Central Gateshead. These are rare wintering birds locally with only one or two birds being noted most winters, their favourite winter locality being on the Tyne a little upstream of Ryton Willows.

Yellow-legged (Herring) Gull Larus (argentatus) micahellis

A rare but annual passage migrant and summer visitor.

This distinctive race of Herring Gull hails from the western Mediterranean and is treated as a separate species by continental ornithologists. The first report dates from 27th July 1987, when a bird was present in the company of two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and since then birds have been noted annually. In 1988 different adults were present from 18th March to 1st April, and on 18th and 19th August. The summer of 1989 saw an influx of this bird to our area, no doubt associated with the large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls present at the time. Four different birds, three adults and a second summer, were recorded between 22nd May and 31st July of that year. During 1990 there was only a single report, an adult bird on 26th July. The summer of 1991 saw more reports of adults on 29th March, 26th May and 21st June, 11th and 12th September, whilst a second winter bird was present on 21st September. Most recently an adult, accompanied by Lesser Black-backed Gulls, was present in the Felling area of Gateshead during late March and early April of 1992.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

A common winter visitor.

Large numbers of this gull congregate at Greenside, Wardley and Kibblesworth refuse tips, as well as at the various sewage outfalls along the Tyne. Large concentrations of this species can be seen bathing at Wardley in the east of the borough, in the small ponds near Red Barns, and in the west at Shibdon Pond. Many of the birds present in the borough during the winter are of the larger Scandinavian race and these mix freely with local birds. As well as racial variability the Herring Gull seems particularly prone to plumage aberrations. On 20th December 1982 a pure white bird with pink legs and black yellow-tipped bill was present at Shibdon and another, with normal beak and leg colouration, was there from 3rd to 15th February 1986. Partly white or "coffee" coloured birds are seen on an almost annual basis and on 6th February 1986 a bird exhibiting the characteristics of a hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull was noted. On 2nd October 1990 a very large dark backed bird with yellow legs was noted at Shibdon Pond. The size and colouration of this bird were consistent with it being a bird of the race omissus which is considered an extreme type of the north-eastern scandinavian race.

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

A rare visitor.

There are no historical records of this species but in our modern period it has been recorded in at least 14 out of 21 years. Sightings have become increasingly regular over the last decade but it is noticeable that inland occurrences are fewer in mild winters. Of all the birds recorded less than 25% of sightings referred to adults which probably mirrors the national picture. One might expect this arctic gull to be principally a winter visitor but close examination of the records shows that most sightings have occurred in May with at least two in June! March also has a relatively high number of reports and this may be due to birds moving inland and across country along the Tyne Valley. Records are well spread across the area especially at sites where large numbers of gulls gather, consequently Shibdon Pond as a "well-watched" gull site has amassed over half of all Gateshead records. The most recent sighting was of an immature bird at Greenside Tip in November 1990.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus

A rare winter visitor.

There are two historical records, both of them in the mid-sixties. An immature bird was seen in the Team Valley on 19th August 1964, an unusual date, with another on the Tyne below the Tyne Bridge on 21st December 1966. Considering that this species is commoner than the Iceland Gull on the north-east coast it is a little surprising to find that it occurs less regularly than that species in the Gateshead area. It is more restricted to the winter months than is Iceland Gull but like that species the vast majority of records refer to immature birds. Shibdon Pond, with ten out of twelve records, is the most favoured locality but this is probably as a result of the concentration of observers at that site. Four records from recent years suggests that there may be an occasional small spring passage of birds through the area. In April 1988 second summer and first winter birds were present at Shibdon on 3rd and 10th respectively, the following year a first winter bird was noted heading up the Beamish Valley on 19th March and on 14th March 1992 a first winter bird was seen at Shibdon Pond.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marina

A common winter visitor.

This bird can be found across the borough in winter and like the Herring Gull it gathers at refuse tips, sewage outfalls and other areas which provide easily available food. Aside from small numbers of immature birds which might be seen along the Tyne it is scarce in the summer months. Occasionally individuals exhibit their truly predatory nature birds at Shibdon Pond have been recorded taking Moorhen, attacking Teal, Coot and on at least one occasion a fully grown Mallard. During the seventies when refuse tipping was occurring on land adjacent to Shibdon flocks of up to 700 birds were recorded there. Today the largest flocks to be seen locally are at the small ponds close to Red Barns in Wardley in the east of the area, no doubt due to the close proximity of the adjacent landfill site.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

A restricted but common summer visitor.

The earliest record of the species in the borough concerned three birds feeding under the Tyne Bridge on 10th May 1948. Since then there has been a major change in the nesting behaviour of this maritime species resulting in the establishment of one of the few urban seabird colonies in Britain and the furthest inland Kittiwake colony in the country. By 1960 birds were regularly being noted up river in the spring and summer and in 1962 this led to the establishment of a breeding colony on old riverside buildings at Gateshead Quayside. In the summer of 1963 three nests produced seven eggs and four young were fledged. By the early 1970's the initial colony was well established and another colony had started even further up river at Dunston. On 19th July 1972 counts revealed the presence of a total of 47 nests, 30 at Dunston and 17 on the Baltic Flour Mill ledges at Gateshead. By the early 1980's there were some 103 pairs nesting and these were split between Gateshead and a developing colony on the Newcastle side of the river, the Dunston site had been lost due to demolition work. By the beginning of the next decade, in summer 1990, 189 pairs were found nesting on the Baltic Flour Mill and a handful of pairs had established a foothold in yet another new colony, on the International Paint building, downstream at Felling. By 1991 this new site had expanded to some 30 pairs. Birds arrive at the nesting ledges at any time from late February through to early March, but mainly through April and into May. By early June the majority of birds are incubating and most of the young birds are fledged by mid-August. When these inland colonies were first established the adult birds would fly down river to the sea in order to feed but as the Tyne has become cleaner birds are able to forage closer to the breeding site. No doubt this trait is responsible for increased numbers of sightings further west, as far upstream as Ryton Willows. At Shibdon Pond it has become a scarce but annual summer visitor, with as many as five present in July 1985, with rare mid-winter records, mainly of first year birds.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

A rare summer visitor.

A few of these birds probably wander up the R.Tyne into the borough during the late summer most years, although confirmed sightings are relatively few. The first documented record dates from 12th August 1979 when two adults were at Shibdon Pond, two days after this a party of ten were on the Tyne near Bill Quay. Anecdotal evidence suggests that birds are regularly in the Felling area during the latter part of August. On 22nd August 1984 two were noted heading upstream at the Tyne Bridge, with up to six being seen there during the month. A bird was noted in the Felling area in early September 1989, when birds were also noted at their most westerly documented site in the borough, a party of five being seen at Ryton Willows on 5th September. Most recently an adult and attendant juvenile were noted at the Dunston Mudflats on the Tyne on 16th August 1992.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

An annual passage migrant.

There are no documented historical records but no doubt birds will have been appearing along the Tyne and at other suitable localities for many years. Most birds are noted in the autumn, but spring passage birds are occasionally noted, normally in mid-May. There was a marked increase in the number of local sightings during the seventies and eighties. The increase is probably as a result of the gradual cleaning up of the River Tyne, which has provided birds with better feeding opportunities, and the spread to the north-east of the inland nesting habit, which is so much a feature of this species in the south-east of the country. From late July through August large numbers of birds might be seen along the Tyne, with sometimes as many as 200 being noted on the river at Bill Quay. As water quality has improved more of these birds are being seen further up river and in late July 1987 a flock of 105 birds was present as far west as the Scotswood Bridge. Nesting was first attempted in the borough in summer 1986 at Shibdon Pond. In some subsequent years a pair or two have summered at this site but as of yet breeding has not been successful. The latest date on which a bird has been noted locally is 1st October 1989, on the Tyne at Newburn. There is a single record of a bird exhibiting first summer, or "portlandica", plumage, this was present on the River Tyne at Ryton Willows on 11th June 1992.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisea

A rare passage migrant.

This species is principally a bird of autumn passage, the majority of records falling between 10th August and 12th September though there are a handful of spring reports during late April and early May. There are no historical records, the first documented report being of one at Shibdon Pond on 10th August 1977. In recent years birds have been noted rarely at Ryton Willows, whilst Shibdon attracts occasional birds. In the eastern half of the borough, on the Tyne by Felling and Bill Quay large flocks of "commic terns" gather in late summer and no doubt these flocks regularly contain small numbers of Arctics. Most recently birds were noted at: Ryton Willows, where there were two on 2nd September 1989 and at Shibdon Pond, where there was a juvenile on 21st September 1991.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger

A very rare passage migrant.

All known records refer to birds seen at Shibdon Pond. The first record was of three summer plumage birds on 28th May 1973. Five were present the following year on 16th May and 1976 produced a single report of one bird on 30th May. The only autumn records for the borough are one, at Shibdon, on 26th September and seven at the same site on 11th September 1992. The spring of 1990 saw a huge influx of this species to Britain and on 2nd May at least eight birds were noted at Shibdon. A party of seven were seen during the morning and these birds stayed for approximately an hour, whilst a further lone bird, which arrived in late afternoon, stayed until dusk.

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

An extremely rare passage visitor.

There is a single autumn record, of an adult in winter plumage, at Shibdon Pond on 11th September 1992.

Guillemot Uria aalgae

A rare winter visitor.

There are only a handful of records of this species in the area, and it would seem highly likely that it has been under-recorded along the Tyne in the past! The first documented record was of one on the Tyne above the Scotswood Bridge on 1st February 1985. In early 1986 there were a series of sightings of birds, with at least two, and perhaps four individuals, being involved. A bird at Ryton Willows on 17th February was picked up uninjured after crashing into a tree and two days later two birds were on the Tyne at Felling whilst on 2nd March a lone bird was at the same locality. This cluster of sightings was associated with a period of hard weather in the North Sea which had driven many auks inshore during February 1986. Considering that the species is quite regularly noted on the Tyne as far west as Jarrow Slake it would seem likely that birds visit our area, especially along the Felling stretch of the Tyne, more than has been previously realised.

Little Auk Alle alle

A very rare winter visitor.

Invariably birds recorded in our area are associated with coastal "wrecks" of the species. Robson tells of one shot near Blaydon in the winter of 1894-95, when there had been "many on the coast". Into this century and one was picked up dead at Marley Hill, on 17th November 1948, over 14 miles from the sea. During the phenomenal passage of Little Auk off the north-east coast in February 1983 there were reports of birds being picked up or seen in Blaydon, Wylam and in the Team Valley. At the latter locality as many as ten birds were seen scattered around the grasslands of the industrial estate. Further inland a bird was noted at Wylam in February 1986, this probably displaced by the same weather which had driven Guillemots up the River Tyne. Most recently one was picked up in Central Gateshead between 23rd and 25th November 1987.