The Last Post

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

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

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

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

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

 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

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]