Gateshead Birders

Bill Quay Riverside

A tidal stretch of the R.Tyne, close to the International Paint Factory. The river can be overlooked from the track which runs westwards from below the Bill Quay Community Farm at grid reference NZ288627.

The river is probably at its most interesting in late summer at low tide when large numbers of fishing terns might be present as well as a few wading birds. A few pairs of Kittiwake have recently started to nest on the International Paints building and these can be seen from April trhough to August. During the winter small numbers of waders can be seen at low tide along the river banks, these include Lapwings, Snipe, Redshank and quite often Turnstone, at their furthest regular inland locality in the region. Cormorant are always to be seen along the river, and occasionally more unusual seabirds such as auks and divers have been noted.

List of bird species recorded here