There were 9 Euro White-fronted Geese (1 first-winter) with Pink-Footed Geese NW of the Drift Cafe, Cresswell with a single Barnacle Goose today.

There were also 33 White-fronts south over Druridge Pools in several groups.

Photo below:  A couple of Eurasian White-fronted Geese over Druridge Pools on the 29th Jan…

Jonathan Farooqi

Most of the Warkworth, Northumberland, Whooper/Mute Swan herd (about 40 of each) was on the Aln Estuary for a wash and brush up this afternoon.

Tom Cadwallender

A brave Redshank at Boulmer, keeping watch while his mates dozed on the beach below.

Mark Eaton

A Wigeon at Big Waters today.

Peter Fletcher

A selection of photos from North Shields Fish Quay on the 26th January. 3 juv Glaucous Gulls present and 1 juv Iceland – all showing well.

Jack Bucknall

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull

There were Two ‘tundra’ Bean Geese and 11 ‘Russian’ White Fronts at the Pond between Cocklawburn and Cheswick, Northumberland this afternoon.

Tom Cadwallender

There were three Glaucous Gulls and an Iceland Gull at North Shields fish quay at 14.00 today.

Rob Stonehouse

A Black Scoter was off Cheswick Sands as the light faded this evening, also 90+ Long Tailed Duck.

Cain Scrimgeour

The Great Grey Shrike was showing well just north of sentry box at Prestwick Carr today at 09.45.

Rob Stonehouse

Birds in Northumbria – A full systematic list of all species recorded during 2015 is available now!

Free to club members.  If your not already a member please click here if you would like to join!

Today, while standing at the bus stop located outside the ‘earth balance’ centre on the A1147 (opposite prospect cottages NE22 7AF) I observed a flock of Waxwings in the two trees there, which flank the roadside . There were 16 birds in total. This occurred at 2.15pm in cold, yet very bright and sunny, blue sky conditions. I observed the birds bustling in the trees (some came down onto the road in front of me)…behaving much like starlings. After only about 5 minutes the birds took flight, all together, and headed south over towards Bedlington.

Darren Allison

Some of the Twite from Chevington Burn.

Chris Knox

This weekend dozens of birders gathered at the edge of Ladyburn Lake, to the east of the Druridge Bay Country Park.  They hoped to catch a glimpse of an expert fish-eater which breeds in Alaska, Northern Canada and Russia known as a Pacific Diver.

This rare vagrant to the UK, was in the past considered a sub species of Black-throated Diver of which it greatly resembles. They were split however into two species in 2007 by the British Ornithologists Union (BOU); which maintains the British List. The two forms are known to coexist without hybridising in some areas.

Birders were rewarded with amazing views, as the bird proved very friendly and seemed to love the attention. It appeared curious and at times, seemed just as interested in its admirers.

The bird was originally spending time on East Chevington and is thought to be the same bird that was reported from Blyth earlier in the week.

In some trees nearby I noted a pair of Bullfinches and over a dozen Siskin. A Kingfisher also flew past, whilst I was busy watching the Diver.

On nearby East Chevington, at least four Scaup were present with over ten Goldeneye, Little Grebes and Mute Swans. No sign of any Whooper Swan however.

Down at Chevington Burn, seven Shore Larks were still present, and were joined by a flock of over 30 Twite.

Paul Buskin

A Glaucous Gull looking hard at North Shields Fish Quay this morning. The bigger of the two present, but no sign of the Iceland Gull.

Rob Stonehouse

The pale juv Glaucous Gull was still in Blyth harbour at 15:40 today.

Tom Lowe

There were some Tundra Bean Geese  3/4ml south of Cresswell, west of Snab Point at 12:30 with 120 Pink-feet today.

Tom Lowe

8 Little Grebe counted from Stakeford bridge to Sheepwash bridge.  There were three female Goosanders upstream and a Kingfisher seen nearer the Sheepwash bridge.

In the woodlands 4 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Kestrel and Buzzard noted.  First Great Tit singing too.

Neil Cairns

I was taking a photo of the High Light when this Iceland Gull crashed the shot!

Peter Fletcher

A Grey Heron, unfazed by the incoming waves at Boulmer today.

Mark Eaton

A Juv Glaucous Gull flew in over Blyth breakwater towards the harbour at 13:20.  There was also a second juv Glaucous, which was bigger and browner, on the rocks off Blyth at 13:55 & 105 Pink footed flew north.

A Juv Glaucous remained in Blyth harbour till the evening, and Tundra Bean Goose flew north with 260 Pink-footed Goose.

Tom Lowe

There was a Dipper in Richardson Dees Park, Wallsend; not easy to see in the Borough away from south side of Holywell Dene.

Chris Knox

A Shore Lark; one of seven, on Druridge Bay, Northumberland.  This one enjoying some seedy titbit.

Tom Cadwallender

It was great to catch up with some Waxwings this Sunday. Numbers were again very high, with over 200 birds present. They were spending time between the junction of the Coast Rd/Benfield Road, not far from Crosslings.

Not far on Coach Lane there are some famous berry trees, which have attracted lots of Waxwings over the years, however usually in much lower numbers.

The Waxwings today didn’t seem hungry but were mainly resting.

Paul Buskin

Ring Necked Parakeets were showing well yesterday in the West of Newcastle.  Residents claim up to 20+ were in the area at Dusk.

Chris Knox

There was a Juvenile Glaucous Gull north past Newbiggin this Saturday.

Gary Storey