Gateshead Birders

Bradley Fell

Generally, Bradley Fell is classed as an area between Greenside and the Crawcrook Bypass, with the former mineral extraction site (referred to as site A, map ref NZ136628) forming the Eastern Boundary together with Sunnygill Terrace and Overstone Avenue, and Halliwell Dene SNCI the Western Boundary of the recording area, and incorporating Fell Farm SNCI including the fabulous mature Oak woodland (referred to as site B, map ref NZ133627), Coalway Plantation, Hazel Plantation, Jacky’s Plantation SNCI and adjacent farmland between named sites.
This area suffers considerable disturbance and vandalism, particularly site A, where repeated, deliberately set fires have damaged expanses of gorse and young trees, compounded by the fact that some of the worst attacks have occurred at the height of the breeding season. Most of the land on the Fells is in private ownership, some of which is regularly shot over, although this seems to have very little long term impact on the overall numbers of (suspected) quarry species such as Wood Pigeon, Corvids, Rabbit etc. Concerns regarding most of the avoidable issues and threats to the biodiversity of the whole area were forwarded to Tim Deveaux, Gateshead Council’s LA21 Officer, who was kind enough to reply in a comprehensive manner.
These issues aside, the area nevertheless attracts a wide range of resident and migrant birds, as this list will hopefully show:

Cormorant. Occasional flyover birds noted.
Grey Heron. Often seen overhead, occasionally noted feeding on damp areas.
Whooper Swan. One confirmed March record of passage birds flying north, with several other distant ‘possible’ sightings
Greylag Goose. Several winter flocks noted overhead.
Barnacle Goose. One Autumn record of c60 over the area.
Mallard. Occasional visitor to damp/flooded areas at site A.
Sparrowhawk. Frequently noted, particularly at site A. Almost certainly breeds.
Common Buzzard. One August record of a bird low over the oak wood at site B.
Kestrel. Noted almost daily, probably several breeding pairs in the area.
Grey Partridge. Fairly common. Breeds in area with family parties noted most years, although exact numbers of breeding pairs are unknown. Winter coveys of 15+ regular on farmland and at site A.
Pheasant. Very common breeder. Several roost in adjacent garden.
Oystercatcher. Frequently noted March – October, possibly breeds just to the west of the area.
Golden Plover. Occasional autumn/winter flocks on farmland.
Lapwing. Common in winter. A pair successfully reared young on farmland several years ago but it is not thought breeding has occurred since.
Common Snipe. Regularly flushed from damp areas at site A.
Woodcock. The area is one of the most reliable winter sites in Gateshead for this species, with birds even seen in adjacent gardens. This species is frequently encountered at sites A and B – the former is particularly favoured due to the persistent waterlogged nature of the soil throughout the winter months. Breeding may occur at site B as a pair have been noted there in June, although this is impossible to confirm due to the difficult and restricted access.
Curlew. Noted throughout the year, with singing birds noted just outside this recording area in fields west of Halliwell Dene and by Kyo Lane.
Common Redshank. Several records, mainly of flyover birds.
Black-headed Gull. Common on farmland in winter.
Common Gull. Regularly noted in winter.
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Regularly noted.
Herring Gull. Constantly overhead.
Great Black-backed Gull. Regularly noted.
Common Tern. Birds possibly originating from the Shibdon Pond colony are occasionally seen overhead.
Stock Dove. Regularly noted throughout the area, although site A is particularly favoured. Several pairs probably breed.
Wood Pigeon. Abundant breeder throughout the area. Winter flocks often in excess of 100 birds.
Collared Dove. Very common breeder.
Cuckoo. At least one singing male recorded every year. The hedgerow trees between site B and Jacky’s Plantation are favoured song posts, and sightings are guaranteed there during May/early June.
Tawny Owl. Fairly common throughout the area, with birds noted in all woodlands. A pair roost in trees in Greenside and often call during the daytime.
Long-eared Owl. One August sighting of a bird in an isolated Scots Pine in the oak wood at site B. The large area of mature Hawthorn adjacent to this wood provides an ideal habitat for this species, and it would not surprise me in the least if breeding has occurred.
Swift. Numerous during the summer months.
Green Woodpecker. Site A is a most reliable site for this species, with at least 1 and occasionally up to 3 birds frequently encountered feeding on the ground and in young trees there. Also noted at site B and Hazel Plantation. Probably breeds although not confirmed.
Great Spotted Woodpecker. Common in woodlands and at site A. Successful breeding has occurred at 2 sites in Coalway Plantation during the past 2 years.
Skylark. Can be numerous in winter depending on whether stubble is left. Breeding dependant on crop rotation – many singing birds can be present during one year but very few the next.
Sand Martin. Feeding parties occasionally noted from the nearby breeding colonies at Crawcrook Quarries.
Swallow. Numerous April – October.
House Martin. Common during the summer months.
Meadow Pipit. Fairly common autumn/winter. 1-2 pairs attempt to breed most summers.
Grey Wagtail. Frequently noted October – March. Several birds feed on the adjacent lane every year during November/December.
Pied Wagtail. Regularly noted throughout the area.
Wren. Abundant resident.
Dunnock. Abundant breeder.
Robin. Very common breeder and winter visitor.
Wheatear. Often noted on passage (particularly August) at site A. Although breeding has not yet occurred, this site shows potential.
Blackbird. Very common breeder, abundant in winter.
Fieldfare. Often numerous during autumn/early winter, smaller numbers regularly noted December – April.
Song Thrush. Common throughout the area, although site A is particularly favoured and has a good breeding population.
Redwing. Often abundant during early autumn/winter – the Hawthorns and other berry-bearing trees at site B in particular can be seemingly full of birds from October until the food supply is exhausted.
Mistle Thrush. Common breeding resident.
Grasshopper Warbler. Reeling birds have been heard at two locations; one at site A, the other from damp set aside, which could be heard from gardens in Greenside. However, no birds were heard last year.
Sedge Warbler. A male singing from oilseed rape in 2004 was possibly the first record for this area.
Lesser Whitethroat. Noted at site A. Breeding status unknown.
Common Whitethroat. Present in good numbers along hedgerows and in the gorse at site A. Double figure counts of singing males are not unusual during late spring. Population appears stable.
Garden Warbler. Fairly common, with regular sightings in particular from sites A and B. Also seen and heard singing in the vicinity of adjacent gardens.
Blackcap. The area has a healthy population, and is one of the commonest warbler species. Birds regularly over winter in the vicinity of adjacent gardens.
Chiffchaff. Probably the commonest warbler. Numbers of singing males recorded each spring would indicate that the area has a large and perhaps growing breeding population. The gorse and young trees at site A are a particularly favoured late summer feeding site, with good numbers of juvenile and post breeding adults often present.
Willow Warbler. Very common, with the largest numbers of singing males consistently recorded from Sites A and B.
Goldcrest. Each October/November the gorse at site A can be seemingly full of newly arrived wintering Goldcrests. Although no proper census has been carried out, it is thought, on occasion numbers must run well into three figures. Resident birds also occur in wooded areas, and a pair regularly breeds in pines by the adjacent gardens.
Long-tailed Tit. Very common resident. Sites A and B provide ideal breeding habitat and this species thrives in this area.
Marsh Tit. Only one record.
Willow Tit. Fairly common resident. Parties of juvenile birds are encountered every year, with breeding almost certainly occurring at site B. The gorse at site A is a favoured feeding area and birds can be seen easily there. This species is also ever-present in nearby garden feeding stations during winter.
Coal Tit. Numerous resident – the area has a healthy population of this species.
Blue Tit. Abundant resident.
Great Tit. Abundant resident.
Nuthatch. There has been a notable increase of this species across this area in recent years, and birds are now present in all wooded areas. There is at least one resident pair in trees adjacent to the gardens.
Treecreeper. Common in all woodlands, with juveniles noted most years from for example Coalway Plantation.
Jay. Fairly common, noted on most visits. Regular garden visitor.
Magpie. Very common throughout. Dead birds which appeared to have been shot, found on two occasions.
Jackdaw. Common. Large numbers regularly feed on the pasture at site A, and nearby Sunnygill Terrace has a breeding colony.
Rook. Regularly noted.
Carrion Crow. Several breeding pairs.
Starling. Common resident.
House Sparrow. Small feeding parties are regularly encountered on farmland. However a local birder has had only two records of single birds in his garden since 1996!
Tree Sparrow. Several past records of 1-3 birds from farmland in the extreme south of the recording area, although none since 2001.
Chaffinch. Extremely common resident.
Brambling. Winter visitor in varying numbers. By far the most reliable site is the area of mature Beech trees at Jacky’s Plantation.
Greenfinch. Extremely common resident.
Goldfinch. Common breeding species. Winter flocks can be sizable if stubble is not ploughed.
Siskin. Regularly noted in autumn/winter, with flocks sometimes in excess of 30 birds. Birds have been noted singing during late spring, although whether breeding has occurred is unknown.
Linnet. The large expanse of gorse at site A harbours a good breeding population, in some years perhaps exceeding that of Ryton Willows. Large winter flocks if stubble is left.
Lesser Redpoll. Small numbers recorded most months, particularly late summer. No suggestion of breeding activity despite the availability of suitable breeding habitat.
Bullfinch. A healthy breeding population exists in this area, with birds noted on most visits.
Yellowhammer. The area has a high population of breeding pairs, with the highest density being the large expanse of gorse at site A. Indeed, a comprehensive census would possibly reveal more pairs in this recording area than in any other comparable area in Gateshead Borough. Counts in excess of 60 birds have been noted on winter stubble.
Reed Bunting. Small numbers occasionally noted on winter stubble.

Additional Information.
Further ‘possible’ sightings include Peregrine, Barn Owl, Waxwing, Yellow Wagtail, Firecrest and Crossbill – Little Owl apparently occurs at Halliwell Dene, although the nearest reliable site to the above recording area is the hedgerow Ash trees at Kyo Lane between Rockwood Hill and the boarding kennels. Suitable Wood Warbler/Redstart/Tree Pipit habitat exists, although the lack of public footpaths make access to the most promising and least disturbed areas difficult.
Site A shows tremendous potential as a future Stonechat wintering site and possible Whinchat breeding site. The recording area as a whole is also ideal for Red Kites, and if the Hobby continues its’ expansion northwards then this area is a fair bet for Gateshead’s first breeding pair.

A wide variety of other wildlife can also be found in this area. Larger mammals include:

Roe Deer. Frequently encountered at sites A and B plus Coalway Plantation. Groups usually number 1-4, although I have seen two different groups of 6 deer at two separate locations within 10 minutes of each other. They are also regular visitors to the gardens of Overstone Avenue.
Badger. Probably occurs in woodland, although the best spot to see them is literally a doorstep in Greenside! Locals regularly feed them.
Fox. Fairly common, with numerous sightings from sites A and B, Coalway Plantation and in the vicinity of my garden. The remains of an adult Fox is still in the field near site B where it was almost certainly shot on 11/11/2004.
Stoat. Occasionally seen.
Weasel. A few sightings, including in the vicinity of adjacent gardens
Rabbit. Sites A and B hold large populations, although numbers do seem to vary, possibly due to hunting activities.
Red Squirrel. This species was previously noted in the late 1990s at Site B and at Hazel Plantation, although it now seems to be absent.
Grey Squirrel. Unknown until about 4 years ago. It is now very common and seen in most woodlands on virtually every visit, as well as in the vicinity of adjacent gardens.
Hedgehog. Very common.

The area also supports a good variety of commoner butterflies (particularly site A) and wild flowers. Autumn displays of Fungi can also be very impressive at site A.

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