Gateshead Birders

Older

News

and

Gossip

Green Hirundines?

Overheard in the hide at Shibdon one morning in March.

"What do you mean you haven't seen a Sand Martin this morning?, They are all over the pond"

"Where, I can't see any?".

"Look, there's one now"

"That..., that green thing...?, that's a Greenfinch"

"Oops, please don't tell Doctor Gadwall"

Another email arrived in the post from the owner of the mysterious hut himself. He says "Has Dr. Gadwall revealed himself. If you look closely at the window of the 'hut' in the photo there is a strange ghostly face with long hair and a beard. It has a strange resemblance to a Gateshead birder, if they grew their hair and a beard".

What is he talking about ... Maybe we have discovered the use of the hut. It is being used to drink large amounts of alcohol!

The Doctor would also like to say he has NEVER revealed himself ... he leaves that to the Watergate lurker.

Dipped

Two Gateshead birders went twitching for the Alpine Swift at Scarborough. It had been seen for 5 minutes before they arrived but after many hours there were no more reports in the appalling weather. Our two twitchers decided to look on the cliffs below and arranged with other birders to contact each other if there was any news. An hour or so later, there was still no sign when they received a call. One birder is claiming he saw it over the Crown Hotel, where are you two?". They replied "Outside the Crown Hotel" They decided to go home!

Oh, and it was seen well again the next day (and the rest of the week too).

Sour grapes and Radar Ears

An email arrived recently at the feeding station, from a Durham lister no less, complaining that the Gateshead Birders are taking this year-listing far too seriously. The birder in question obviously has not looked at these News and Gossip pages.

He may be an hypocrite but has he a point?

Doctor Gadwall has been told in utmost secrecy, so please don't tell anyone else , that a certain bearded birder is very keen to get his hands on the Merganser Trophy this year. So much so that he has arranged to get his ears syringed in time for the spring passage/breeding season. Others are worried that he is surgically enhancing himself to obtain an unfair advantage. What's next ... Birtley barnets converted to private Heligolands and who knows what could be found in an enlarged McLay pocket?

The doctor has heard on the grapevine that Keith Bowie has been appointed coordinator of the NE Red Kite project. Congratulations to him and the Doctor is certain he will get the nod from Keith when they are available to be seen.

All news coming Doctor Gadwall's way will be posted on the Red Kite Page.

The Doctor has a very difficult time you know. He ignores the threats to his person just to bring you the gossip and works relentless to bring you the latest news. Its not easy. Take just the other day. Interviewing the warden at Shibdon Pond about future work to be carried out he was told that Exmoor Ponies would be brought in to keep the grass short. Innocently he asks "Where are you getting the Exmoor Ponies from"

"Exmoor!" was the reply.

Moth and Go!

An Angle Shades Moth was found in a birders house on the 14th March, and was the first macro moth of the year reported.

What was unusual was the locality. The moth was found in the hair of the birder as he awoke and was subsequently attacked by it before he bravely fought it off and captured it for identification.

Doctor Gadwall has had designs submitted to him with a funnel attached to this wonderful barnet for conversion into a mobile moth trap. It may well be that this wonderful head of hair is transmitting chemical sex messages to our local moth population. It is too early to tell but "Phermone Mike" may well be a major aid to our understanding of the Moths of Gateshead.

Recent Owl Records

Some strange things are happening to owls being reported in the borough this month (March 2004). First 2 local birders claimed a 'possible' calling from the edge of Watergate at lunchtime in bright sunlight. Doctor Gadwall was with other ducks at the lake at the time but heard nothing. Fortunately the observers reconsidered their record and decided to forget all about it and not mention it again ...until now.

But it gets worse. An apprentice birder is claiming a Short-eared Owl, in a bush no less at Rowlands Gill. A bush-sitting blind (no eye colour reported) SEO is certainly a very unusual record. And now a birder whose last Tawny was in the old days when wardens used to find something decent, is claiming one as he stepped out of his car. The Doctor has been told he was coming back from an all night rave but believes this is pure fabrication, by the birder himself. It is more likely he woke up from his beauty sleep because he forgot to take his cocoa.

At this rate who knows what's going to be claimed in the next owl box to be inspected.

Threat to Waterfowl in the Borough

The Doctor has been threatened to be rendered flightless over something mentioned in these news and gossip columns. He is so happy he knows that at least one person is looking at these pages.

Dipper Identification

The report of a Dipper on the Blaydon Burn was followed up and the observer interrogated by the owner of a large hut. It transpires that the bird had uni-coloured legs which as we know the Dippers in Gateshead all have multi-coloured tibia. Further research has shown that uni-coloured legs is in fact normal in Dippers. It has therefore been concluded that the birds on the Derwent and Team are in fact a different and new race .....Cinclus cinclus Westierungus.

Two of the locals decided to bravely leave the borough for a visit to the Scillies on 10th-12th October. Mike Laverick tried his best to grip the boys off and claimed both Pink-footed Goose and Common Buzzard, but they can live with that.

To find what they did see out of the borough look at Scillies 2003.

The first Common Goldeneye of the autumn was reported at Clara Vale on 2nd November. However, the observer who may want to remain anonymous is claiming it based on a whirring noise he heard which "must have been a Goldeneye's wings". The bird(s) were never seen. Some other observers have commented on the finders lack of experience with ducks.

The Doctor is considering opening a book! No not to read about the law of trespass but to set out the chances of a certain Gateshead birder of seeing a Tawny Owl in the borough. Incredible as it seems he has failed to see (or even hear!) this very common species for the last two years in Gateshead even though they are regularly reported just around the corner from him.

What are the chances of him seeing one in 2004?

Good odds should be available ............. Place your bets now!

Hint: This is what one looks like!

One of our local birders has asked Dr Gadwall to point out the the yearlist is for how many species can be seen or heard. He believes some local birders are seeing how many species can be flushed in 2004. The Doctor does not agree with flush-racing even though Gateshead has the World Champion .... ask any Mandarin or Dusky Warbler!

Social Evening

The social evening and presentation of the Merganser award was held on Friday the 20th Feb. in the Rising Sun at Crawcrook. This was the most awaited event of the year after Andy McLay putting his hand in his pocket.

Doctor Gadwall was devastated not being able to attend in person but he did sent one of his finest correspondents. Unfortunately the said person went to another private function first, so he arrived late and well oiled. This means the reports of the evening from our man on the spot is as patchy as a Laverick record description. Everyone appeared to have a good time especially our correspondent! The Doctor apologises for sending a boy to do a Drake's work!

The presentation of the Merganser Trophy to the yearlist winner Brian Pollinger was carried out by the previous champion, Mike Laverick. Mike's eyes could be seen watering as he handed over the prize, he was that pleased for the new champion!

Two old Walrus (ML, left & winner, BP)

The appearance of a large hut in the car park at the Woodland centre generated much discussion, particularly when it was discovered to be for the use of a senior warden. Why does he need to move out of the main building and into this container together with 2 female wardens for example? Suggestions of rivalry, making room for Red Kite coordinators, love-nests and body odours were all strongly denied..... allegedly.

..... Cabin Crew ... Doors to manual.

What is the mysterious hut used for? If you know, tell your Doctor!

PWD handed over a certificate to BP as recognition for all the pointing he has carried out over the year. A well deserved prize for a true expert. Doctor Gadwall had two other certificates for presentation for Tree & Wetland Conservation. However our reporter was so keen to hit the lemonades he forgot to bring them along. These will be presented to the lucky winners in the near future.

Another 'winner' was Steve Westerberg who got Tawny Owl as he staggered home from the pub after the awards do. I'm sure the Owl Presentation Trust winner for non-disturbance of Tawny Owls for the last 2 years is so pleased for him.

More gossip arising from the night will be posted as soon as the correspondent recovers from all the excitement.

Mike Laverick saw a deer running towards Burdon Moor on Sunday 14th September 2003 from a moving car. Though the other occupants of the car (PWD/KR) did not see it, Mike is claiming it may have been a Munjac. Whatever next .. Carabou at Kibblesworth?

Mike was off all week in late October. He visited Burdon Moor on most days and saw nothing. During the same period, Short-eared Owl, Jack Snipe and Stonechat were all seen there. How could that be?

A Snow Goose of unknown origin was at Far Pasture on the 6th November. An excellent bit of spotting by the observer. How on earth he could see something even that big and white in the jungle of vegetation I don't know!

A certain correspondent disputes the identity of the Common Seal in the photograph published on the Animals Page. The person claims it bears an uncanny resemblance to a mudwrestling Gateshead Birder. The address of the correspondent or the identity of the suspected mud-wrestler can be obtained by sending a blank cheque to the Doctor at the usual address.

(Under the big stone, 3rd tree on the left, Duck feeding station, Shibdon).

A Jack Snipe was seen by a birdlist winner at Lamesley Water Meadows on 11th January this year. Questions are being asked how this bird was seen in this very sensitive area without trespassing. Doctor Gadwall would love to know how this is achievable so he can pass on these remarkable skills to all the other birders on how to see this elusive species. Another birder, not in the top two, has said that the finder must of trespassed. Shame on you .... tarring the name of this fine birder who of course would not dream of doing such a thing!

On looking for the possible Yellow-browed Warbler at Blaydon on 21st my informant tells me that Andy Mclay asked the observer if he was sure the call was not a Starling sitting on the church roof. To hear a Yellow-browed Warbler in Blaydon Precinct it must be carrying a megaphone!

A ringing session at Shibdon Pond to catch Moorhens on 16th resulted in only 3 birds caught. The chuckling call note of the other 50+ was reported when the nets were being put away.

9 Goosanders at Birtley High Street was certainly unusual. The finder denies they were Christmas Shopping but on some sort of migration past the (in)famous Komatsu Head.

The Doctor received an email from apprentice birder Barnes .... He quotes "Fieldfare continue visting gardens in cod spell". Has anyone else noticed the increase in sea fish, if so please let the Doctor know so he can get the animal page updated.

More threatened Waterfowl

Another threat to the Gadwall population of Gateshead has risen it's ugly head. The finder of the Iceland Gull was so excited at finding something (at long last) that he initially reported it as a Glaucous Gull, though he did quickly correct himself. The old Anas was also so shocked he forgot to update these pages from Glaucous to Iceland over the weekend. Our wonderful gull spotter thinks yours truly did this on purpose just to wind up the Larus King and has threatened to cut off more than just his wings.

Doctor Gadwall overheard the following conversation between two of the local birders at the weekend, as their car screeched to a halt at Ebchester, just over the borough boundary.

Birder 1 ........ Did you see them birds in the tree?

Birder 2 ........ Yes they were Starlings

Birder 1 ........ Are you sure they were Starlings?

Birder 2 .........Definitely!

Birder 1 (gets out the car and checks them anyway) ........ They are 40 Waxwings.

Birder 2 ......... I thought they weren't Starlings!