Saturday 1st February 2014
Rising Sun Country Park
This weekend the weather was much better, as the rain had stopped and the sun was out. On Swallow Pond, there was a good selection of ducks with at least 8 Shoveler, 4-6 Tufted Duck, 5 Wigeon, 7 Mallard, 25-30 Teal and a single female Goldeneye. There were also four Pochards , with a third on Duke’s Pond. There was no sign of any Gadwall, Swans, Geese or Golden Plovers today.
Wallsend Dene/Burn
Two Redwings were feeding on some grass at Holy Cross Cemetery. Nearby there were over 10 Chaffinches with Blue and Great Tits. As I travelled down into Wallsend Burn I was welcomed by a magnificent flyby of a female Merlin. Only moments later, a male Pheasant hopped across the path, from some bushes on my left. This was most unexpected; as this is the first time I’ve recorded Pheasant at this site.
Sunday 2nd February 2014
Thornley Woods
Just a few miles to the south of the county (but well worth a visit), I travelled to Thornley Woods after dropping my wife off at work in town. I was pleased to see the visitor centre still open and there was food out for the birds again at the feeders. At the feeding station, there were plenty of Coal Tits, accompanied by Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches and a single Dunnock, Robin and Nuthatch. A Red Kite and Sparrowhawk could be seen at times, watching from afar. The highlight was extremely close views of a Kingfisher just to the right of the hide. There was no sign of any Jays or Woodpeckers today, however I regularly record these at this site.
Paul Buskin