A hybrid gull

Stella - A Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid on the Tyne at Stella today

Monday 11th February 2013

Ryton - Siskin on a garden feeder

The Siskin at Ryton [Paul Davidson]

Watergate - 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull & 1 Green Woodpecker.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull at Watergate [Rob Stonehouse]

Lamesley Water Meadows - 200+ Teal, 102 Curlew, 1 Wigeon, pair of Goosander, 1 Shelduck and 35 Redwing.

Some pictures from yesterday

Yesterdays Mediterranean Gull in flight [Paul Davidson]

Yesterday at Clara Vale LNR - Good selection of the usual birds coming to the feeders ie Robin, Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Moorhen, Mallard, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Pheasant & Grey Heron.

Wren at Clara Vale [Derek Bilton]

Kingfisher at Clara Vale [Derek Bilton]

Willow Tit at Clara Vale [Derek Bilton]

A New Med

Shibdon Pond - An adult summer Mediterranean Gull on the pond this morning with a report of 7 Nordic Jackdaw, rising to 12 late afternoon. 

The Mediterranean Gull at Shibdon [Steven Fryer]

Winlaton - 7 Waxwing by  the car park yesterday.

Chiffchaff and Pink-feet

The Nordic Jackdaws, there now seems to be 3 of them are being seen off and on at Shibdon but otherwise its been quiet during the week.

A little more activity today with a Chiffchaff at Far Pasture again and 3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling about 450 birds headed west over Swalwell early afternoon

Stoata up a tree

Derwenthaugh - 100+Dunlin on the Tyne with 50+Curlew on the Derwenthaugh meadows 50+Curlew

Shibdon Pond - 1 Kestrel and a rare occurrence of  a Stoat climbing a Hawthorn bush looking for birds nests?

Nordic Jackdaw ...perhaps

A potential 'Nordic' Jackdaw at Shibdon Pond - opinions seem divided on it's credentials - what do you think?

Potential 'Nordic' Jackdaw [Steven Fryer/ Paul Davidson]

Also at Shibdon today was a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull, perhaps the bird seen last month at Lamesley.

Meanwhile if you haven't already signed the e-Petition to save the Gateshead Countryside Team then do it now. 

The link to the reasoning of sacking and closing down is now [click link]

CBS-LSC3 CIA - Cease Countryside Warden Support January 2013

Note this has changed from earlier (We can't make things easy to complain can we?) 

and also I see that against

the e-petition link is

http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Council%20and%20Democracy/consultation/current.aspx

'What impact will this proposal have on the Council’s statutory duty to address;

• Crime and disorder   - Neutral 
• ……. Mitigation … Countryside volunteers could provide valuable support in providing feedback to the council of adverse behaviour / activity. . 
• [What the xx are they serious?. They are asking away beyond what is surely expected from a volunteer, they are already having to do more as it is with the last cuts]
• 
  
• They acknowledge that 'Groups affected by Proposal = everyone in Gateshead'

Sign it now ..... please.