Terns are back

Dipper on the Derwent [Derek Bilton]

Shibdon Pond - Common Sandpiper , Common Terns , Blackcaps and about 50 Swallows. Also a Stoat hunting which got onto the island in front of the hide

The Common Terns are back at Shibdon [George Simpson]

 
Ryton -  Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, female Blackcap and Chiffchaff all in one Ryton garden

Lesser Redpoll in a Ryton garden [Steven Fryer]

23rd February 2013

Shibdon Pond -1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Snipe & 1 Sparrowhawk.

Watergate -2 Teal, 36 Tufted Duck & 2 Goldcrest.

 Birtley Reedbeds -1 Peregrine, 3 Water Rail, 2 Snipe, 1 Shelduck, 3 Bullfinch & 1 Reed Bunting. 1 Dipper on river.

Snow, cold and singing Dippers

Watergate - 1 Dipper singing, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Fieldfare & 25 Tufted Duck.

Dipper at Watergate [Rob Stonehouse]

The snow and freezing temperatures are making our birds tamer than usual. The Blackbird and Robin were at one observer's feet at Blaydon

Doorstep Robin and Blackbird at Blaydon [Peter Harvey]

Early birds

The first birds of the day
Westfield Pasture - Tawny Owl and Woodcock.

Later in the day -
Far Pasture NR - A Chiffchaff was found yesterday on the track by the sewage works. Today two were found, a nominate race bird and a northern (Scandinavian) abietinus bird. 100+ Pink-footed Geese flew West at 11:55. Also Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit , Common Buzzard, 6 Goldcrest
Bradley Fell- 26 Golden Plover present and 4 Crossbill flew over as did a skein of 150 Pink-footed Geese heading north at 12:12.

126 Pink-feet over [Steven Fryer]

Watergate Park - 2 Dipper in outlet stream.
Shibdon Pond - Kingfisher, 6 Shelduck
Winlaton Mill - 1 Jay
Clara Vale village - 2 Waxwing
Stargate landfill -  2 adult Lesser black backed Gulls and a Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker [Steven Fryer]

Tawny Owl, Woodcock, Dipper, Crossbill and Chiffchaff all new for the year putting the total on 85.

 

A little bit of tittle-tattle from further afield.
While at Saltholme RSPB Reserve at Teesmouth this morning one of the volunteer wardens walked up to us. The usual 'Seen anything?' we asked. 'Only something I couldn't identify' he replied. 'It flew towards you, you didn't see anything?'. 'No didn't see anything unusual, What did it look like?' we asked. 'It was black and white and thrush sized, Oh and it had some red on it'. We not only could not find the bird but even hazard a guess as to what it was. When we gave up he walked off saying 'if I was abroad I would have said it was a Pied Kingfisher'. The mind boggles sometimes.