A Black-throated Thrush was found at Prestwick this afternoon. Superb bird.
Lee Harris
The Great Grey Shrike is still present at Prestwick Carr. There was also a Green Woodpecker yaffling from the wood.
Peter Fletcher
There were three Velvet Scoter showing well quite close inshore of Druridge Links today.
There was also at least one Velvet Scoter offshore to the south of Chevington burn mouth. 4 Shore Larks still present also.
Jonathan Farooqi
Out to Gosforth Park this morning hoping for the Ferruginous Duck found yesterday evening by Phil Jordan. Day permits at £3.50 are being issued to any non members of NHSN. After a short wait from the main hide it appeared out of the reeds and showed well though distantly. A cracking bird, though may well prove to be the drake from Washington WWT which does not seem to be present now. Also the open wing looks very similar with a white notch showing where a covert feather seems out of place or not fully grown.
Have also included here a recent Short-eared Owl pic from Widdrington Moor Lake on 10th March. Not sure if these birds are still present though up to five seen here recently.
P.S. Had confirmation by the observer Ian Dobson that the House Martin seen on Holy Island on 11th March was definitely genuine and becomes the earliest for the county by two days beating one at Ulgham in 1989. Also another House Martin seen today at East Chevington by Dave Elliott so an unusual early passage with several already in Scotland.
Tim Dean
Five Snow Bunting were showing beautifully, along with 2 Shorelark and a single Twite at East Chevington today.
Cain Scrimgeour
A Chiffchaff was in full song at the SE corner of Arcot Pond today.
There was also a female Goosander
Lindsay McDougall
61 Whooper Swans were at Longhirst Flash.
There was a Moulty Slavonian Grebe off Chevington Burn mouth + Snow Bunting still. Twite over & Shore Larks appeared to fly inland earlier in the day.
A Chiffchaff was singing at Chevington and there were 5 Whoopers distantly to SW.
Jonathan Farooqi
Counted 9 Waxwings at the old Coulson Park School on Alexandra Road in Ashington. Seem quite settled enjoying the sunshine at approx 1pm.
Neil Cairns
The day started at a very quiet North Shields Fish Quay where only a handful of Herring Gulls were present. I decided to then head up the coast starting at Druridge Pools where I year-ticked the wintering Ruff – still present with Redshank. Widdrington Moor and Cresswell were quiet, so I again moved on to Newbiggin, where at least 5 adult and 3 juvenile Med Gulls showed particularly well in the Bay.
I finished at NSFQ, enjoying 20 Waxwing on the way at Tynemouth, all which briefly showed well for around 2 minutes then they were gone!
A final stop at the fish quay provided the regular juvenile Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. Sand Martin and Wheatear any day now…
Jack Bucknall
There were 2 “Tundra” Bean Geese at Hoppen Kiln this am; nearby a Spotted Redshank was still at Budle Bay + Pintail and Little Egret.
Chris Knox
There was a Little Egret, a Med Gull and Buzzard at Wallsend Swallow this afternoon.
Chris Knox
There were three competing singing Yellowhammers on Beacon Lane Cramlington this morning. Always a favourite.
Steve Holliday
The Great Grey Shrike was still present at Prestwick Carr east of the sentry box.
Peter Fletcher
Ad Iceland Gull again Wallsend Swallow Pond. (per AC)
Chris Knox
A single Little Egret was on Sharpley Burn this afternoon, 100m east of Great Whittington. Close to junction of minor roads from Matfen and Ryal to Gt Whittington.
Alan L Todd
A Little Egret has been seen most days at Wallsend Swallow Pond.
Chris Knox
A Grey Wagtail from Jesmond Dene this morning.
M.P.Frankis
Continued entertainment today from the one remaining juv. Glaucous Gull and stunning Iceland Gull.
A.S.Jack
An Adult Iceland Gull was again Wallsend Swallow Pond this weekend.
On the 18th a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Tynemouth/North Shields in the wood between Low Lights and Knott’s Flats, + 2 Chiffchaff (per DW )
Chris Knox
More Rock Pipit excitement outside @Natures_Voice Newcastle office today.
Mark Eaton
A handsome Great White Egret was tucked into the north east corner of Hallington Reservoir East today – near where Hallington Burn joins the reservoir.
Richard Lee
Tracked down 18 Mediterranean Gulls around Newbiggin, including one with a nice hood.
Steve Holliday
A Slavonian Grebe was at Wallsend Swallow Pond today (per MSH).
Chris Knox
I was reading the recent reports relating to three Goosanders at Leazes Park in Newcastle and it reminded me of my own sightings in Northumberland. I am lucky enough to see them quite often at either Bolam Lake, on the River in Morpeth (where there has been a very tame drake this winter) and also in the spring here on the Hart Burn near Bolam Lake.
Goosander mothers can communicate with the ducklings and can tell them either not to move a feather, or, when necessary to get well out of there. Once I watched a dozen ducklings, totally motionless, drifting round and round in an eddy in shadow of an overhanging tree, with their pale flecks blending in perfectly with natural foam bubbles on the water’s surface. The mother had seen me but hoped I hadn’t seen the family! A few days later when I saw them next she knew I had seen them and using grunts she told the youngsters to leg it. The speed they scuttled off upstream was incredible.
Several times I have seen Goosanders fishing. In Calgary, Canada, we once watched a flock of a dozen fishing together. We were on a bridge over the river above them and their co-ordination was remarkable. Every now and again one bird would be lucky. I also saw this on the river Coquet in Warkworth, but there were only four or five birds. I have only once watched our pair fishing together here in Hartburn, but when I did, what was memorable was a Heron which was keeping station just upstream of them. Each time they disturbed a trout, the Heron tried to get it. I don’t think it was successful, but it was quite enterprising and entertaining.
Incidentally, there are often two or three dabchicks (Little Grebe) on the Wansbeck in Morpeth near the Oldgate Bridge. A few weeks ago I could see by the ripples one was just alongside the bank, so I approached slowly and looked over the wall. It was within touching distance. When it saw me it dived but I had a great view of it swimming off underwater.
Other birds of interest I have recorded recently involved a flock of 30 Waxwings in the village a few weeks ago, and I had a nice view of a Kingfisher on the Hart.
Richard Cansdale
An Adult Iceland Gull was back at Wallsend Swallow Pond at 14.00 today.
Chris Knox