Gatesheadbirders

The Last Post

2014-04-10T15:37:00.004+01:00

Due to several reasons but especially as more and more people are now using social media to inform everyone of their sightings, fewer numbers are now examining Blogs such as this one. That's just the way it is, things change, so unfortunately this will be the last posting.
However don't worry as I know not everyone has Twitter or Facebook account so by all means email in your sightings. I have created a new Twitter account Gatesheadbirder and will tweet any sightings (and any good pictures) you email in to the Gatesheadbirder email account.

So for the last post

Thurs 10th AprilBurdon Moor - 1 Ring Ousel still present

Wed 9th April
Derwenthaugh Park between Winlaton Mill and Nine Arches Viaduct - Willow Warblers and Blackcaps singing
Burdon Moor - 1 Ring Ousel

Ring Ousel at Burdon Moor [Paul Davidson]

Tues 8th April
Shibdon Pond - 1 Common Sandpiper. Also Orangetip, Comma, Speckled Wood. Small White butterflies as well as Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell on the wing

Butterflies at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Mon 7th April
Paddock Hill Wood - 2 male Blackcaps in sycamores by river Derwent and Kingfisher and Goosander on the river there.

Sunday 6th April
Dunston Vicarage Garden - 2 peacock butterflies

Peacock in the Vicarage garden [Rev. David Atkinson]

Burdon Moor - No sign of the Black Grouse.

Saturday -5th April
Clara Vale LNR - Had 24 species in 2 hours highlights were Yellowhammer, Siskin, Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaff, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk & Kingfisher.

Siskin at Clara Vale [Derek Bilton]

Burdon Moor - Amazingly a female Black Grouse was seen here. Also 2 Wheatear present

Friday 4th April
Lamesley water meadows - 50+ Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Shelduck.
Ravensworth arms - 20 tree sparrow
Watergate - Pair of Teal, 8 Tufted Duck & 2 Little Grebe on pond. Pair of Goosander and 2 Grey Wagtail over.
Ravensworth Fell - 3 pairs of Little Owl.

Little Owl at Burdon Moor [Rob Stonehouse]

Burdon Moor - 200+ Golden Plover & 2 Red-legged Partridge.
Shibdon Pond - Ruff
Blaydon - Waxwing still showing well.

Thursday 3rd April
Blaydon - Pair of Oystercatchers nesting on roof of Churchhills factory. They mnest on teh roof of Komatsu in Birtley too. Waxwing still present and Chiffchaff singing in Cowen Road
Stargate - Short-eared Owl hunting

Sparrowhawk at a garden feeder [Ali Campbell]

No sign of yesterday's waders

2014-03-31T20:57:00.005+01:00

Blaydon - No sign of yesterday's reported Avocet
Team Valley - 1 Tawny Owl
Shibdon Pond - 1 Ruff but the Little Ringed Plover has moved on
Axwell Park, Swalwell - 100+ Sand Martin and a Swallow
Clara Vale LNR - Single Woodcock in the nature reserve at Clara vale today. First the local observer has seen here for several years.

Avocet at Blaydon

2014-03-30T23:48:00.002+01:00

Blaydon - Single Avocet on the tyne today around 5pm under the old rail bridge at Banks Court.
Shibdon Pond - The wintering Ruff still present and a passage Little Ringed Plover. Several Sand Martin both here and at Lamesley Water Meadows

Wheatears and Kittiwakes

2014-03-26T11:00:00.000+00:00

Sunday

Burdon Moor - The first 2 Wheatears of the year.

Wheatear on Burdon Moor [Steven Fryer]

Tyne Bridge - 150+ Kittiwakes on the bridge.

Kittiwake on the Tyne Bridge [Steven Fryer]

Shibdon Pond - The Ruff still present

The spring flowers are starting to appear with Lesser Celandine, Moschatel, Wood Anenome now all out

Sand Martins now in

2014-03-22T22:07:00.000+00:00

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Sand Martin, 1 Pink footed Goose, 2 Shelduck, pair of Wigeon, 2 Oystercatcher, 14+ Tree Sparrows, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 adult Lesser black-backed Gull.
Cowen Road, Blaydon - Lesser Celandine and Field Wood-rush in flower

During the week
Lots of Chiffchaffs singing around borough
Shibdon Pond - 1 Sand Martin late morning, stayed for less than a minute before fluttering off west yesterday, Friday 21st. The first of the year.
Shibdon Pond - 1 Common Toad and Caddis-fly larvae found

Common Toad and Caddisfly larva at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Clara Vale LNR - 4 Chiffchaff singing

Singing Blue Tit and Chiffchaff at Clara Vale [Michael Eccles]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Pink footed Goose, 3 Common Buzzard, 46 Teal, 12 Pied Wagtail, 14 Tree Sparrow and 1 Oystercatcher

Mid March Marsh Tit

2014-03-16T19:58:00.004+00:00

Sunday 16th
Birtley reedbed pools - Now 3 Gadwall present
Shibdon Pond - Ruff still present
Metrocentre - 1 Peregrine soaring overhead

Saturday 15th
Barlow - 1 Marsh Tit the first since possibly 2011

Clara Vale LNR - Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron, Goldcrest, Willow Tit and Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer at Clara Vale [Derek Bilton]

Friday 14th
Lamesley- 24 Pink-footed Geese.

The Pink-footed Geese at Lamesley [Paul Davidson]

Team valley - Tawny owl 1 hunting & 1 singing Chiffchaff
Winlaton Mill - At least 3 Chiffchaff singing in Winlaton Mill area of Derwenthaugh Park. 2 pairs of Goosander on river Derwent.
Shibdon Pond - No sign of the Mandarin but now a Muscovy Duck has appeared.

The Muscovy Duck at Shibdon [Carl Jewitt]

Manadrin at Shibdon

2014-03-13T12:49:00.001+00:00

Shibdon Pond - a drake Mandarin with the Shelducks this morning

Mandarin & Shelduck at Shibdon [George Simpson]

More from yesterday
Greenside - Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma butterflies seen.
Lamesley Water Meadows - pair mating Goosander, 3 Shelduck a pair of sparrowhawk, Kestrel on pylon above angels' head and 68 Curlew. 20+ Tree Sparrow and 2 Stock Dove behind Ravensworth Arms.

Pair of Goosander at Lamelsey [Lee Harris]

Spring

2014-03-12T15:53:00.004+00:00

Sled Lane - 1 Goosander, 2 Mute swan, 11 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 10+ Tufted Duck
Lamesley Water Meadows - 4 Greylag, 1 Wigeon, 100 Lapwing 4 Redshank
Clara Vale LNR - 2 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) yesterday in a garden and a Comma there today
Crawcrook Quarry - Green Sandpiper on March 10th. Green woodpecker calling.
Shibdon Pond - Ruff still present though most of the Lapwing have now left for their breeding areas. Also a Kingfisher, a pair of Goosander, Oystercatcher, Sheldduck, Redshank and Common Snipe. A Common Buzzard over drifting North. On the wing today Peacock , Small tortoiseshell , Comma, hoverflies and Bumblebees

Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell all enjoying the sun at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Tree Sparrow at Pennyfine Lane [Lee Harris]

A pair of Gadwall

2014-03-09T15:52:00.005+00:00

Today, Sunday 9th

Birtley reedbed pools - a pair of Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe & a singing Chiffchaff.
Lamesley Water Meadows - - 95 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Snipe. 30+ Tree Sparrow behind the Ravensworth car park
Watergate - 2 Little Grebe, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Siskin & 1 Grey Wagtail.
Clara Vale - 1 singing Chiffchaff
Chopwell Woods - 50+ Crossbill, 50+ Siskin, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker & 4 Bullfinch.
Ravensworth Grange - 4 Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrows at Lamesley [Lee Harris]

5th

Burdon Moor - 1 Red Kite, 200+ Golden Plover, 38 Curlew, 10 Teal- and Skylarks singing.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 89 Curlew, 1 male Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 46 Teal, 3 Oystercatcher and 2 Common Buzzard
Pennyfine Road, Sunniside - 1 Tree Sparrow near Silver Hills nursery

Chiffchaff now singing

2014-03-05T12:48:00.000+00:00

Monday 3rd March

Far Pasture NR - Chiffchaff singing. Kingfisher on pond and Lesser Redpoll in car park.
Shibdon Pond - 1 Ruff.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon and 102 Curlew.
Kibblesorth brickworks Pool - 2 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker,

River near Copper wood - 2 Dipper and 1-2 Kingfisher, both giving great views. 50+ each of Canada Goose and Grey Lag in field juts over the Gateshead boundary there

Saturday 1st March

Far Pasture NR - 5 Goldcrest around the car-park area, 4 Roe Deer in adjacent meadow, 4 Red Kite, 2 interacting, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, Tawny Owl heard not seen, also Long Tail Tits, Nuthatch, Jay & Water Rail of note.

Goldcrest, Roe Deer and Red Kite - all at Far Pasture on 1st [Derek Bilton]

100 up

2014-03-02T00:45:00.002+00:00

Tuesday 25th Feb

Between Marley hill & Thornley - 2 Goosander (male and female), 1 Dipper, 2 Cormorant on river, Numerous red kites, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and lots of Wren singing and Dunnock displaying.
Cuthbert Hill pond, Sunniside - 20Curlew, 100+ Black-headed Gull, (one with full black head), l Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, Herring gull, 7 Teal, 10 Moorhen, 40 Redwing, 30 Starlings, 2 Reed Bbunting.
Far Pasture NR - Red kite, 2 Common Snipe, 8 Teal, Canada Goose, Mallard.
River Tyne at Dunston - 2 Peregrine hunting along the river

One of the Peregrines over the Tyne [Steven Fryer]

Shibdon Pond - 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lamesley - 3 Oystercatchers

Thursday 27th Feb

Watergate - 5 Waxwing flew through south. Also 1 Cormorant, 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Burdon Moor - 2 Stonechat along with 10+ Skylarks, 2 Red Kites.
Lamesley - 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Oystercatchers.
Stella - A 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull reported on 26th.

1st March

Wrekenton - 1 Ring-necked Parakeet flew over at 09:30
Chopwell Woods - Single Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker, plus Goldcrest, Siskin and Red Kite.

That makes it 100 (I think) for the year

At the weekend - Nothing but LBBGs

2014-02-24T14:50:00.001+00:00

Watergate - 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Cormorant & 1 Grey Wagtail.
Lamesley - 1 Wigeon & 2 Oystercatcher. Dipper singing under the bridge.
Timber Beach - 2 Oystercatcher & 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Shibdon Pond - 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull & 1 Ruff.

Thursday 20th February 2014

2014-02-20T22:22:00.001+00:00

Bradley Hall Lake - 2 Wigeon and 1 Shelduck.
Sled Lane Pond - 6 Goosander and 2 Goldeneye.
Far Pasture NR - 1 Kingfisher
Lamesley - 2 Oystercatcher & 100+ Curlew on the flash pool.

Another butterfly and a barbaric ending to a Gateshead Red Fox

2014-02-19T20:13:00.000+00:00

18th February

Dunston - A Peacock butterfly in the vicarage garden was the second butterfly of the year on 18th.

Marley Hill - A Red Fox had been killed and hung up on show for all to see at Marley Hill

At the weekend a Mediterranean Gull was present at Shibdon Pond on both 15th and 16th, as was the wintering Ruff

A Mediterranean weekend

2014-02-10T21:23:00.003+00:00

Rowlands Gill - The first butterfly of the year - a small Tortoiseshell out in the sunshine on 6th February

The Small Tortoiseshell at Rowlands Gill [Alan Mould]

Last weekend

Sled Lane Pond - Pair of Goldeneye engaged in courtship display including mating. 2nd male also present, plus 17 Wigeon (10m : 7 f)
Clara Vale LNR - Very quiet only Grey Heron, Bullfinch, 2 Long tailed Tit, Treecreeper and Nuthatch. A Tree Sparrow came onto the seed feeder briefly and a Sparrowhawk flew over.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Wigeon and 1 Shelduck.
Watergate Lake - 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and a fly over Grey Wagtail.

Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Mediterranean Gulls at Watergate [Rob Stonehouse]

Far Pasture NR - 30+ Long-tailed Tit, 6 Bullfinch, Willow, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, Lesser Redpoll, Goldcrest, Goldfinch and Chaffinch. Grey Wagtail on hide roof and a Pochard on pond.

Grey Wagtail at Far Pasture [Rob Stonehouse]

Shibdon Pond - 1 adult Mediterranean Gull and 1 Ruff were both present on 8th and 9th.

The adult Mediterranean Gull at Shibdon [Rob Stonehouse, top and Paul Davidson]

Green-winged Teal

2014-02-05T13:25:00.004+00:00

Yesterday Tuesday 4th Feb

Far Pasture NR - A Green-winged Teal found by Rob. Also a Common Pochard and a Kingfisher

The Green-winged Teal [Photos: Paul Davidson & Rob Stonehouse]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Wigeon

Cowen Road, Blaydon - Blue Tits already occupying a nest box

Saltwell Park Lake - The Common Pochard at this site this winter
Watergate - 1 Water Rail.
Burdon Moor - 2 Red Kite & 1 Skylark.

Chopwell Wood - 6 Crossbill

Sunday
Rowlands Gill - A Lesser Redpoll on a feeder was a first for one particular garden

Med Gull and Marsh Marigold

2014-01-21T09:16:00.000+00:00

Sunday 19th January

Shibdon Pond - Ruff still present and Kingfisher seen.

Yesterday 20th January

Fellside, Whickham - Mediterranean Gull on playing Field

The Mediterranean Gull at Fellside [Paul Davidson]

Far Pasture NR - 2 Chiffchaff, 1 of the Siberian race present
Clara Vale - First Marsh Marigold in flower, as usual, much earlier than any other around.

Marsh Marigold [Gordon Pollinger]

Gateshead during the last 7 days

2014-01-19T15:36:00.000+00:00

14th January

Kibblesworth brick works pools - 1 Green Woodpecker
Kibblesworth Grange - Little Owl and 3 Pink-feet with 51 Greylags
#

Little Owl at Kibblesworth [Steven Fryer]

16th January

Shibdon Pond - Nearly 1000 Lapwing and a Ruff. The three apparent 'Nordic' Jackdaw still present

Ruff at Shibdon [Gordon Pollinger]

16th January

Shibdon Pond - Nearly 1000 Lapwing and a Ruff. The three apparent 'Nordic' Jackdaw still present


'Nordic' Jackdaws at Shibdon [Steven Fryer]

The Ruff still at Shibdon [Steven Fryer]

Far Pasture NR - 1 Chiffchaff
Kibblesworth Grange - 6 Red-legged Partridge
Lamesley - 3 Pink-footed Geese remain with the Greylags.

Pink-footed Geese at Lamesley [Steven Fryer]

17th January

Shibdon Pond - a Peregrine put up all 500+ Lapwings

Lapwings flushed by a Peregrine at Shibdon [Peter Harvey]

18th January

Shibdon Pond - Still 500+ Lapwings, 6 Shelduck, Canada Goose with injured wing and several Teal
Burdon Moor - A few Fieldfare, Teal, Song Thrush, Common Snipe and Linnet.
Far Pasture NR - Common Buzzard, 10 Red Kites circling over the pasture, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Jay, Robin, Coal Tit, Pied & Grey Wagtail, pair of Water Rail, Mallard, Teal and Moorhen.

Water Rail at Far Pasture [Derek Bilton]

With Skylark, Red-legged Partridge and Little Owl, together with the 3 Pink-footed Goose being added to the year list due to observer pressure, the list stands at 93. Has anyone seen Budgerigar in the borough so far this year? :-/

Robin's Pincushion at Shibdon [Peter Harvey] - Diplolepis rosae is a gall-wasp whose larvae overwinter in the gall calldd Robin's Pincushion created by them on wild roses. They overwinter in the gall emerging as adult wasps in spring.

Peregrine 2, dodgy Pink-feet 3

2014-01-13T20:36:00.002+00:00

Derwenthaugh Staithes - 14 Dunlin
River Tyne at Costco - 5 Common Goldeneye
Lamesley Water Meadows - The three feral Pink-footed Geese and 114 Grey Lag still in fields west of meadows
Sled Lane - 4 Common Goldeneye 4 Goosander, Wigeon and a Water Rail
Ryton - 1000+ large gulls in roost at Ryton including a possible Viking Gull
Stargate -1000+ large gulls Stargate landfill

Good news for Gateshead gulls, Crawcrook quarry is to be turned into a landfill site according to a resident, 10 more years of gulls!

Red Kite at Far Pasture [Steven Fryer]

Yesterday Sunday 12th

Lamesley Water Meadows - The three feral Pink-footed Geese were again with 114 Grey Lag in fields west of meadows. The pink-feet have also been seen at Chester-le-street, Rainton, Lambton and Houghton this winter

Pink-footed and Grey Lags at Lamesley [Steven Fryer]

Shibdon Pond - Juvenile Peregrine over and 500 Lapwing on the pond.Also a 1st winter Lesser black-backed and an adult Scandanavian (argentatus) Herring Gull.
Paddock hill/Thornley woods - 6 Red Kite overhead and a Nuthatch on the feeders.
Greenside Folly reclaimed landfill - 3 Meadow Pipit with c60 Golden Plover over.
Saltwell Park - Plenty of Redwing and a single Goldcrest at the dog play area plus a calling Mistle Thrush. Also 51 Tufted Ducks and a drake pochard
Ryton Willows - A Peregrine over on Friday afternoon.
Birtley reedbed pools - 3 Water Rail and 3 Little Grebe were also here.
River Tyne at Timber Beach - 1 Common Seal
Far Pasture NR - Kingfisher, Willow Tit, Nuthatch, Siskin, Common Buzzard and Red Kite

With Meadow Pipit, Pochard, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Little Grebe the Gateshead list reaches 89.

Gosh, some late news

2014-01-12T00:51:00.002+00:00

Clara Vale - A female Goshawk flew west on 9th

Late news for 6th
Lamesley - A Jack Snipe and 2 Common Snipe flushed near the meadows where 109 Grey Lag but no White-fronted Geese (which had moved to Lambton then Rainton)
Kibblesworth Common - 100+ Fieldfare.
River Tyne at Costco - Common Goldeneye.
Ravensworth Fell - 100+ Linnet

The Goshawk makes 85 for Gateshead this year

A nice a little stash of nuts

2014-01-09T18:44:00.002+00:00

Shibdon - in flower today Cow Parsley, Field Forget-me-not, Oxeye Daisy, Red dead-nettle , White dead-nettle & Gorse with Beefsteak, Jews-ear and Stump Puffball fungi also noted.

Cow Parsley

Red Dead-nettle

Jews-ear fungi

plus a nice a little stash of nuts

Roundup of Gatesheads western wetlands

2014-01-07T20:40:00.006+00:00

Sled Lane - 2 Common Goldeneye, 1 Wigeon, 1 male Goosander and a Water Rail
Far Pasture NR- 2 Red Fox and single Water Rail and Common Buzzard
Clara Vale LNR - 1 Kingfisher(Male) and a Tree Sparrow.
Shibdon Pond - Still single Ruff and Dunlin present plus 12 Sheldduck Derwenthaugh Meadows - 108 Curlew

Goldeneyes at Sled Lane [Michael Eccles]

and from today

2014-01-06T21:51:00.001+00:00

Far Pasture NR - A Willow Tit with 3 Nuthatch and a fly-over Goosander.

Greenside - 10+ Brambling showing

Sled Lane - 17 Wigeon

Shibdon Pond - 22 Common Snipe and 1 Dunlin.

I might be missing some. Lesser Black-back Gull, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Little Owl, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pochard or Little Grebe anyone? Else that makes it 84 for the year so far seen in Gateshead.

More from Yesterday

2014-01-06T21:02:00.001+00:00

More from Sunday 5th

Marley Hill - 1 Woodcock reported, also Great-spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit and 2 Bullfinch

Cuthbert Hill, Sunniside - 15 Moorhens, 4 Teal, Reed Bunting and 20 curlew.

Thornley woods - Red kite, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 4 Siskin, Redwing, 2 Willow Tit, Tree-creeper, Nuthatch and a Grey Heron. 2 Cormorant and 30 Lapwing flew over.

The White-fronted Geese at Lamesley yesterday [Paul Davidson]

The Peregrine at Lamesley [Rob Stonehouse]

Lamesley is the site of the day

2014-01-05T14:20:00.002+00:00

Lamesley Water Meadows - 2 White-fronted Geese, both adults and a Peregrine this morning