At the weekend - Nothing but LBBGs

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

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

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

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

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