I started at St. Mary’s checking the wetland which only provided Gadwall out of the ordinary, so I went up to check the standing stone field at Old Hartley and to my surprise, found a stunning drake Pintail with 8 Mallards, albeit briefly when they all flew East towards St. Mary’s, and ended up on the wetland. I got some digiscoped shots in poor light, but what a stunner.

I then went on to Killingworth Lake where I had 35 Pochard (27 drakes, 8 ducks) which is by far my highest of the winter. Also 3 Great Crested Grebes, Oystercatcher and 30+ Goldeneye, mainly drakes.

I finished at Howdon Wetlands with 250 Teal (some showing very well close to the hide), 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 10 Stock Doves around the feeders.

Jack Bucknall

This Pomarine Skua went over the  beach at Boulmer, going north. It came pretty close.

Mark Eaton

Snowy Harthope Valley, Northumberland. A bit bleak but Dipper in territory, Woodcock & Siskin brightened the day.

Tom Cadwallender

There were 75 Waxwings (68 in the photo) in trees by the coast road at the Benfield Junction this morning (Newcastle).

Jonathan Farooqi

Yellowhammers & Reed buntings starting to show on a bleak day at the Aln Estuary in Northumberland.

Tom Cadwallender

A Juv Glaucous Gull was  off Blyth on Seaton Sea Rocks until 0945 then flew out to sea.

Tom Lowe

At Killingworth Lake today there were displaying Great Crested Grebes and Goldeneye, Pochard, Goosander and Gadwall,

There was also a White Fronted Goose on the field behind the  small lake with Canada Geese and a possible Scaup.

Notso

A Kingfisher has been very showy at Wallsend Swallow Pond for the last 3 days.

Chris Knox 

Curlew  conspicuous on the Aln Estuary Northumberland @WeBS_UK today with big numbers of Wigeon and Teal.

Tom Cadwallender 

A stubble field by Swallow Ponds today had Grey Partridges, Stock Doves, Linnets and Fieldfares in good number.

Notso

The Quay continues to hold excellent numbers of white winged gulls in the best winter here for them for many years, with up to 5 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls present as the fishing boats came in on the afternoon of the 6th. Close views can be had as the birds squabble for fish offal thrown overboard.

A.S.Jack

Started the day off at Borough Woods in Morpeth in the hope of seeing Marsh Tit, and was not disappointed with a male singing as soon as I got out the car next to the bridge. Also seen throughout the woods were 3 Jay, 3 Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker amongst other woodland regulars.

I then went on to Northumberlandia in the hope of Brambling, and again was not disappointed with 20+ around the feeders by the car park. The female Scaup was also still showing well with 7 Tufted Ducks.

Jack Bucknall

From time to time, Leazes Park in the centre of Newcastle is visited by a member of the Sawbill family; a Goosander. I love Goosanders and I always make an effort to watch them, if I know they are around.

I easily find them in our County; in Hexham, Killingworth Lake and at Amble and Holy Island; especially in the winter. Last month a Goosander was also reported in Jesmond Dene and last year in Richard Dees Park in Wallsend. I also record them some winters, on the River Tyne in Riverside Country Park in Walker.

Like Grey Herons, they do not often visit Leazes Park much. I have recorded them there regularly most winters, coming for a visit. Usually I only note one, but today there were three; one male and two females.

The whole time I was there all three birds kept together and they seemed to particularly enjoy the areas to the right of the lake, beyond the wooden barrier.

Nearby Mallards were busy fighting over females and Mute Swans were chasing off other males, with their mighty displays.

Redwings were out and about in small groups, whilst Greenfinches and Chaffinches could be heard calling.  No Song Thrush today.

Over twenty Tufted Duck were on the lake with Mallards and half a dozen Coot.  Plenty Gulls around, which are always worth checking through.  Time for another Laughing or Ring-billed Gull maybe… wishful thinking…  but I have a feeling this majestic park in the city centre, will reveal another rarity over the coming years.  Fingers crossed!

Paul Buskin 

There was an Adult Iceland Gull again at Wallsend Swallow Pond, Rising Sun Country Park today.

Chris Knox

There was a 3W type Glaucous Gull at Widdrington Moor Lake.  There was also a Little Egret.

Jonathan Farooqi

A calm, sunny morning found me at Holy Island causeway as the tide began to recede. Many waders fed on the newly exposed mud, allowing the chance for some photography.

On to the island, and at Chare Ends the air was full of the sound of singing Skylarks as the settled weather encouraged some courtship activity among some 40-50 birds in the area.

The relatively mild winter has allowed larks to remain in good numbers in the county. Great to hear them again after six months of quiet.

A pair of Stonechats flitted ahead of me as I walked around to the north end of Straight Lonnen and 30 or so Linnets perched on bush tops.

A Merlin sat preening on a stone wall in the distance and 20 Roe deer grazed nearby. Back at the mudflats near Chare Ends, a large flock of Pale Bellied Brent Geese flew past, calling and perhaps 600-700 Knot rested out on the mud.

Lesser numbers of Bar Tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Curlew and Golden Plover fed here.

On down to Seahouses, where among the harbour Eiders was a female struggling with the fishing line entangled around her neck. No doubt , sadly a slow death awaits ! Finally down at East Chevington, and another chance to see the Pacific Diver on the North Pool, where several Scaup could be found too. At the burnmouth here, the obliging Twite flock remained, 65 birds today and a brief sighting of the wintering seven Shorelarks as the many dog-walkers kept them on the move.

A.S.Jack

There were two pairs of Goosander at QEII CP, Ashington this morning. There were no Whoopers in nearby fields.

Steve Holliday

I didn’t manage any birding today, as i’d promised Adriana, we would go for a relaxing cycle. A small group of birds came to me however, much to my surprise, as Four Ring-necked Parakeet’s flew past Welbeck Road Primary School, Walker this afternoon, flying towards Byker. They were all calling lots.

It is starting to feel like London nowadays with urban Parakeets passing by.  This is the 4th site i’ve noted them in the past 12 months; the other three being West End in Fenham & Cowgate area, Richardson Dees Park, Wallsend, and Walker Park/Riverside Park Walker.

I’m noticing the numbers are increasing, with the West End flock numbering over 25 birds, the small Walker group numbering up to five birds, whilst the Richardson Dees sightings have been no more than a pair.  Not heard anything from Monkseaton or group near Airport for a while.

Would be great to get a photo…. maybe next time

Paul Buskin

There was a Drake American Wigeon at Grindon Lough this afternoon.  There were also 32 Eurasian White-fronted Geese.

Paul Massey 

A Dipper was singing on the river Aln in Lesbury Northumberland this morning.

Tom Cadwallender

A Bittern was showing brilliantly from the Roy Pearce hide in Gosforth Park this afternoon.

Cain Scrimgeour

A Great Grey Shrike was  still at Prestwick Carr today – distant (very) views to east of “sentry box.”

Peter Tapsall

Great to see the Brambling at Northumberlandia, with a flock of thirty or so but sadly one found dead on the woodland floor.

Neil Cairns

There was a Rock Pipit on the Tyne at Newcastle Business Park, near the RSPB Office in Newcastle today.

Mark Eaton

There was a 1st winter Drake Scaup at Holywell Pond today.  There were also 60+ Brambling in the Dene in the morning.

Cain Scrimgeour