Don't forget if you have any records or photographs of natural history in Gateshead please send then to gatesheadbirder@gmail.com

Monday 28 October 2013

Doorstep Newt

 Dyke Heads - A Great Crested Newt visited one observer's doorstep
Shibdon Pond - Single Ruff and Kingfisher. 400+ Lapwing

 


Great Crested Newt  at Dyke Heads  [Christine Wisher]

Wednesday 23 October 2013

The last few days

The last few days

Clara LNR -   5 Speckled wood, 2 Red Admirals, 12 Redwing, Willow Tit.
Marley Hill - 7 Redwing and 8 Mistle Thrushes, also 1 Red Kite, Kestrel and 8 Bullfinch
Dunston - Small Tortoiseshell in the vicarage garden
Far Pasture NR - 10 Common Snipe
 Crawcrook Quarry -  Corn Spurrey in flower  

Speckled Wood[Gordon Pollinger]

Corn Spurrey [Gordon Pollinger]

Friday 18 October 2013

Mid-October flutterbyes

Cowen Road, Blaydon - 1 Small White butterfly as well as several bumblebee sp. 
Far Pasture NR - 2 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 24 Redwing. Still many Common Darters on the wing, plus a female Southern Hawker and a probable Common Hawker, a very fresh-looking Comma, a probable Small White and a very ragged Meadow Brown.
Greenside - 1 Brambling


Comma at Far Pasture [Alan Mould]

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Saturday 12 October 2013

12th October 2013

Shibdon Pond - 200+ Greater Black Backed Gulls on the pond this morning , 3 Gadwall and several Shoveler

Friday 11 October 2013

Last of the butterflies and the Redwings are here

Yesterday, 10th October
Greenside - 13 Redwing over and small numbers of Song Thrushes flying over.

1-2 Redwing were also noted at other sites in the borough today


9th October
Derwent Walk Country Park -1  House Martin over Nine Arches Viaduct

8th October
Dunston -2 Red Admiral and 2 Small Tortoiseshells. Given the weather forecast perhaps the last butterflies for the year

Small Tortoiseshell at Dunston [Rev. David Atkinson]


Shibdon Pond - 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruf, 1 Greenshank, Redshank, 13 Dunlin, 10 Golden Plover, 400+ Lapwing,  30+ Common Snipe and a Water Rail in front of hide. Still a few Migrant Hawkers on the wing

7th October
Dunston - Red Admiral in the Vicarage garden

Red Admiral at Dunston [Rev. David Atkinson]


5th October
East Bradley Fell - 6 Redwing over this morning plus light passage of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. Also Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and singing Chiffchaff.  House Martin and 2 Swallow over the village.


4th October
East Bradley Fell-  2 possible Ring Ouzel heard but elusive in thick hedgerow before flying off high out of view.
Shibdon Pond - 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 12 Dunlin, c35 Common Snipe, c60 Redshank, c100 Lapwing.


2014 will mark the 10th Anniversary of the release of the first Red Kite chick in Gateshead's Lower Derwent Valley and the 5th Anniversary of the formation of the Friends of Red Kites. There are plans to celebrate. One of which is a Photographic competition, which is open to Members, non-Members and Young Persons. Details are on our website at: http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page14.htm




Saturday 5 October 2013

Late news for the first few days of the month

3rd October
Shibdon Pond - 9 Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Lapwing, Common Snipe,  Sheldduck and Shoveler. Plus a few Migrant Hawkers on the wing 

1st Oct
Shibdon Pond - 2+ Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, 400+ Lapwings, Shoveler, Snipe and Water Rail. Plus a Speckled Wood sampling the Apple juice nectar
Speckled Wood on apple  [George Simpson]