News from the past few days

Today

Paddock Hill woods - 1 male Pied Flycatcher along the river this morning

Greenside - 1 Common Whitethroat  and a few Lesser Redpoll. Some Swallows already on breeding territories.
Dunston - Single Small Tortoiseshell and the first Small White in the vicarage garden today,

Small White in the vicarage garden at Dunston [Revd David Atkinson]

Kibblesworth Grange - 3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Oystercatcher.
Lamesley Water Meadows - 2m & 1f Gadwall, 5 White Wagtail & 2 Oystercatcher.

The three  Gadwall [Rob Stonehouse]

Crawcrook Quarry - 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey heron, 1 Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, pair of Grey partridge, Sand martin, Swallow,
a pair of Mute swan, a pair of Greylag, 1 Small tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, common toad and a Smooth Newt

A fascinating insight to a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull seen on 10th March this year at Shibdon which had been ringed in Norway and was back there 3 weeks later!

Yesterday 18th April

Lamesley - 2 Ring Ouzels along Pennyfine road. 

Lamesley Water Meadows - 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 White Wagtail, 2m &1f Gadwall and 2 Oystercatcher.

Birtley reedbeds/sewage works- 1 Yellow Wagtail and 6 White Wagtails. Kibblesworth Grange - 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Oystercatcher.

Greenside - 3 Blackcap, several Chiffchaff and a Woodcock

Shibdon Pond - Common Sandpiper and the first Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat of the year. 

One of the White Wagtails [Steven Fryer]

Wednesday 17th April

Dyke Heads - Both male and female Wheatear in cropped field SW of houses this evening. Male also present yesterday.
East Bradley Fell -  One Woodcock. Also a very ragged - looking Red Kite; many feathers missing but flying strongly in the wind. Pipistrelles over gardens the last few evenings.