Get ready for 2014

Things have been quite quiet over the Christmas holidays but it's all go from tomorrow.
A few things to try for on the 1st January are -

 Greenside - About 30 Brambling with Chaffinches in Jackie's Wood with Tree Sparrows visiting feeders in nearby gardens. Mid afternoon on 31st 50 Brambling were counted here.
Dunston Staithes - Peregrine seen several times during the Christmas period
Clara Vale LNR - Willow Tit, Yellowhammer, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, Kingfisher, Tree Sparrow, Moorhen, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Tawny Owl (heard not seen), Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Magpie & Red Kite
Shibdon Pond - 2 Tree Sparrow in a small finch flock, with up to 1,000 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin and 350 Great Black backewd Gulls roosting
Chopwell Woods - several small flocks of Crossbill
Milkwellburn Woods - Again several small flocks of Crossbill

Tree Sparrow and Willow Tit at Clara [Derek Bilton]

Garden Birds

Rowlands Gill - 8 Waxwings feeding on berries in one garden yesterday (20th)

Clara Vale - Female Blackcap in a garden in the village today

no sign of the Egret

Far Pasture - A Scandinavian race Chiffchaff,  Willow Tit, 8 Siskin, 4 Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Common Pochard, Little Grebe and a Sparrowhawk


Yesterday
Lamesley water meadows - No sign of the reported Little Egret which was apparently photographed but 177 Grey Lag, 6 Canada Geese and 6 Wigeon present,.


On Saturday
Far Pasture - Kestrel, Nuthatch, Willow Tit, Goldcrest, Siskin, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Common Pochard, Little Grebe,  Snipe, Redwing, Jay and  Sparrowhawk,

Goldcrest at Far Pasture [Derek Bilton]

Kestrel at Far Pasture [Derek Bilton]

Clara Vale - Redwing, Willow Tit, Kingfisher, Siskin,  Nuthatch and Great spotted Woodpecker

Kingfisher at Clara Vale  [Derek Bilton]

A Egret for Christmas ?

Lamesley Water Meadows - A Little Egret briefly but thought to be still in the area
Far Pasture NR - Single Little Grebe and Common Pochard

Little Grebe and Common Pochard (below) at Far Pasture [Rob Stonehouse]

Cowen Road, Blaydon - Magpie flew over carrying nesting material

The first week of December

Cowen Road, Blaydon - a female/immature Blackcap in a garden on 2nd December, with 2 there the next day but not since.

Blackcap at Cowen Road [Peter Harvey]

Shibdon Pond- nearly 1,000 Lapwing on the pond, plus 20 Teal. Also 1 Ruff, 2 Shelduck, 2 Sparrowhawk and a Dunlin with what appeared to be a transmitter on it's back.
Marley Hill - Red Kite, 5+ Greenfinch, 5+ Chaffinch, 2 Tree Sparrow, 4 Willow Tit, 3 Bullfinch 5 Goldfinch, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, Fieldfare and 50 Lapwing during the moth
LamesleyWater Meadows - A juvenile Peregrine reported on several dates during December and a single Barnacle Goose and 3 Wigeon present on 2nd/3rd.

The Barnacle Goose at Lamesley [Rob Stonehouse]

Derwenthaugh Park - Water Rail on outlet stream of Clockburn Lake on 2nd.
Watergate Park - 50+ Siskin on 3rd.
Far Pasture NR : 24 Wigeon, 38 Coot, 8 Tufted Duck.
Sled Lane Pond : 20+ Common Snipe and a Kingfisher.

It's now December

It's now December but here's the last of November's records.


Shibdon Pond - about 200 Lapwing flocking, pair of Shelduck.
River Tyne at Derwenthaugh - 200 Golden Plover
Milkwellburn Woods - Crossbills seen on a number of days during the last couple of days. Also 1 Woodcock.
Westfield Pasture- 1 Woodcock
Greenside - 10+ Brambling with Chaffinch flock in the beech wood. Tree Sparrow visiting feeders in the village