Holywell Pond

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Backworth Flash

14/04/08

19:30

Short Eared Owl

11/03/09

Beehive flash

15 Teal, 7 Wigeon, Pair Gadwall, 2 Greylag, Pair Shelduck, Pair Mallard, 2 Roe Deer, 3 Grey heron, skylark and a Short -eared Owl

03/03/09

15:40-16:30

Killingworth (opposite simonside way)

2 SEO hunting in field with small flash, 50+ Linnet, 2 Grey Partridge

30/01/09

QE11

48+ Mute Swan, Coot, Mallard, Moorhen, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, 2 Tufted

Linton

25+ Tufted, 1 Female and 3 Male Shoveler, 3 Mute Swan (1st year), Large No. Teal most displaying, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Pochard, 4 Wigeon, 30+ Coot, 20+ Mallard, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, 14 Moorhen, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon

23/01/09

Backworth Flash

1 Lesser Black Blacked Gull opposite flash

Beehive Flash

40+ Greylag, Pair of Shelduck, Mallard, 3 Roe Deer( 1 Buck 2 Does)

Crow Hall Farm flock of Pink-Footed Geese still feeding in fields

Seaton Sluice (Heron Meeting Point)

Large No. Curlew and Lapwing, 8 Grey Heron

Briar Dene car park

Black Headed Gull, Pied Wagtail and the long stayin Med Gull, take a look in my other sites Gallery for photographs

22/01/09

St Mary's North Bay in search of Water Pipit

Didn't see Water Pipit although I did see a Kingfisher hunting amongst rock pools, Curlew, Turnstone, Redshank, and Oystercatcher.

17/01/09

Cresswell Pond

Barn Owl hunting in field as we got out of the car, great views, on the water and surrounding there was, Shelduck, 2 Scaup, Golden Plover, 1 Male Red- Breasted Merganser, Tufted, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pink-Footed Goose, Greylag, Redshank, Curlew, Goldeneye, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Pochard, Carrion Crow Little Grebe. Next on to Hauxley.

Hauxley

Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, in feeding station, on the water, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Tufted, Canada, Greylag, and a Bean Goose (lifer), Little Grebe, Curlew, Redshank, Mute Swan, Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Snipe, on the way out Pheasants, and the flock of Tree Sparrows made an appearence.

11/01/09

River Blyth

Highlights

2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8+ Dunlin, 5 Snow Buntings, 1 Drake Goldeneye

06/11/08

Creswell Pond

Bittern showing well in reeds opposite hide, 2 Female Scaup, Merlin flying over dunes.

05/11/08

Peregrine Falcon at Backworth Flash

6 Goosesander at Killingworth Lake, kindly shown to me by a local birder.

15/11/08

Merlin at Stonehaugh, Wark.

02/11/08

St Mary's

Black Redstart showing well in front left corner of Whitley Bay Cementry, Also dark-bellied Brent Goose in South Bay.

23/10/08 - 26/10/08

Czech Republic, Cheb

Not really a biridng holiday but there was a fair amount of birds around, including lifers of Snow Bunting, and Little Egret.

26/09/08

15:30

St Mary's

First time Seawatch produced 2 Red Throated Divers, also about Curlew, Turnstone, BH Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant and Starling.

20/09/08

20 Grey Heron at communal meeting point (Old Hartley)

Lesser White Throat on back track.

12/09/08

My ride back from Holywell along the back track produced large numbers of Goldfinch in the hedgerows. I new there had been Ruff reported at beehive flash, and thought I would try my luck. As i exited the track to get onto beehive road, I noticed that the field to the right was flooded, and looked ideal, first glance nothing but Black Headed Gulls, second look and I saw large numbers of waders in and out of the stubble. Ruff, Curlew, Redshank, and Greenshank first came into sight, then I picked up a Curlew Sandpiper, and then a Pectoral Sandpiper! Stroke of luck I think.

Large Numbers of Linnet were also about, aswell as a male Reed Bunting.

07/09/08

Firstly biked down to Tynemouth Pier to try and see reported Icterine Warbler, no joy, although there was plenty of Migrants including, Spotted Fly, Pied Fly, Whitethroat, Wheatear, Willow Warb,Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, Goldfinch, Female Blackcap, Female Redstart and a lone Lesser Whitethroat(lifer). A male Kestrel was making good use of the oppurtunities, as it landed on the priory was a bloody beak.

Red-Backed Shrike had been reported on St Mary's Island, and a reasurance from a great birder said it was still there, in the cottage garden. Just before I left another local birder told me of a reported Wryneck at Cullercoats, Vicerage Lawn, I didn't have a clue where this was but was hoping to pass on the way to the lighthouse, if anyone know this location could they let me know please. The ride from Tynemouth to St Mary's produce large numbers of Wheatears everywhere especially the Links.

Red -Backed Shrike was in view almost instantly on arrival, on the washing line in the cottage's back garden, another lifer, and my first shrike. After a long look at the Shrike, another tip off lead me to the cementry, where eventually I saw my first Wryneck, an amazing bird, it was on the right hand side of the cementry, inbetween the first and second tree line, just potering about, a male Redstart was knocking about aswell, a great day in all.

28/07/08

Trip out with a friend up the Northumberland Coast, highlights included, 2 Sparrowhawks (1 female, 1 juv female)at Cresswell Pond, 1 Male Sparrowhawk at Linton Pond, Reeve at Cresswell and 2 at Lynemouth Flash along with a Greenshank, good day out with a Lifer of a Ruff.

09/05/08

Continued...

North Pool and Back track

When I got down to the track there was Whitethroats to be seen so I decided to make a visit to the North pool, this produced, Pair of Shelduck, 4 Stock Dove, Lapwings, a Song Thrush and a lone Canada Goose. I thought next I would have a look for the Dipper so i headed back towards the Dene, quickly catching the call of a Whitethroat, I stopped to have a look and there was two males and a male Reed Bunting.

Holywell Dene

I was hoping to see the Dipper but no luck, although I did find a lifer, a water vole, just south of the back track, as the path meets the burn, it swam across the burn and under the bank. Bird life included, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Corvids, Pheasant, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Starling, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, and Lots of Rabbits. Plenty signs of deer activity. I followed the dene inland heading for Seghill Pond.

Seghill Pond

In the pond there was a adult heron standing proud, along with a Canada Goose. Plenty of Warblers, Sedge, Reed, Chiff Chaff, and Willow. A few Reed Buntings about aswell.

Riding along the pit edge heading for Earsdon there wasn't much about, until I reached the end of the pit, i saw what I thought was a Dog in the middle of the path, sitting, as I approached I went to go round and realised it was a Fox! It didn't notice me until I was within a metre or so and they made a dash down the path, I followed and it ran infront of me into a hedge row.

Backworth

On the flash there was, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Redshank. As i was going round to the Pond, i heard another Gropper calling, and got godd views, it was along the hedge line just past the kennels. On the pond there was, Grey Heron, 2 Mallard, Lapwing, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Common Tern, Moorhen, Coot, Sedge Warbler,and Reed Warbler.Last stop ...

Red House Farm

Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, and 4 Mallards. All in all a good day out.

02/04/08

Holywell Dene

3-4 Chiff Chaf whilst crossing Dene along back track

29/03/08

9:30-10:30

Sunny, but windy

Male Firecrest at St Mary's , spotted at 9:50 in willows North side of Wetaland between two viewing screens, then flew to willows east. Very Mobile.

21/03/08

15:30

Windy and Raining

2 Common Cranes ( Adult and Juvenile), follow road past QUE11 ( Woodhorn Colliery) until rise in road, gap in hedge to left into ploughed field,  cranes where on far side of field in front of blue wagon/shed.

20/03/08

Grey Wagtail and Dipper South side of tunnel under backtrack.

22/01/07

3-4 Rock Pipits and cliffs near Seaton Sluice.

26/12/07

West Allotment, Village Pond

12:30pm

Water Pipit present with good views.

04/10/07

Sunny 8:45 am Newsteads Drive (near Sainsbury's)

Large Flock of Long- Tailed Tits joined by Blue Tits, Great Tits, and a few Willow Warbler amongst.

Ardnamurchan Holiday week ending 03/06/07

59 Bird Speices in total, Loads of Red Deer, Roe Deer, and  a local Pine Marten coming for jam and bread most nights.

1. Grey Heron ( Herony across the road)
2. Greylag Geese
3. Oystercatcher
4. Curlew
5. Lesser Black Backed Gull
6. Common Gull
7. Woodpigeon
8. Cuckoo
9. Raven
10. Wheatear
11. Willow Warbler
12. Meadow Pipit
13. Rock Pipit
14. Grey Wagtail
15. Goldfinch
16. Chaffinch
17. Cormorant
18. Mallard
19. Common Buzzard
20. Common Sandpiper
21. Great Black Backed Gull
22. Herring Gull
23. Hooded Crow
24. Blue Tit
25. Wren
26. Blackbird
27. Whitethroat
28. Goldcrest
29. Dunnock
30. Pied Wagtail
31. Great Tit
32. Mistle Thrush
33. Sand Martain
34. Robin
35. Songthrush
36. Skylark
37. Yellowhammer
38. Greenshank
39. Stonechat
40. Whinchat
41. Red- Breasted Merganser
42. House Sparrow
43. Peregrine Falcon
44. Merlin
45. Collard Dove
46. Greenfinch
47. Starling
48. Woodcock
49. Great Spotted Woodpecker
50. Ringed Plover
51. Dipper
52. Rock Dove
53. Dunlin
54. Linnet
55. Eider
56. Black Guillemot

28/10/06

Whooper Swan Woodhorn Flash

03/09/06

Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Teal, Wigeon, 2 Pintail, Shoveler, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Great Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Gadwall, Shelduck, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey.

3/09/06

Great White Pelican (first view), Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mute Swan Family, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Black Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Coot, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Black Necked Grebes, Swallow.

29/08/06

Wood Sandpiper Still at flash this Morning, also a Juv Shelduck.

28/08/06

Highlights:

Kingfisher, Otter Swimming along Reeds, and a Female Wigeon plus 8 Snipe.

When we got to our holiday cottage on Islay the first thing we saw was a pair of preregrines hunting starlings, within the next 5  minutes a clocked a Male Hen Harrier. It just got better and better, me and my dad went on a guided birdwatching day, we saw Whimbrel, Osprey, Turnstone, Chough and many more birds. Worth a look. By the end of the week it became obvoius that the Hen Harriers were more common then the Buzzards!

The best site to see Chough is Ardnave Point, and the Rspb hide is worth a look to.

28/04/06

Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, Swallow.

27/04/06

2 Green Sandpiper

25/04/06

1 Pair of Shoveler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Shelduck, Canada Geese, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Greylag Geese, 1 Blue Headed Wagtail, Black Headed Gull, Pied Wagtail.

23/04/06

2 Shelduck, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Canada Geese, 4 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, 1 Little Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Skylark, Curlew.

23/04/06

Black-Tailed Godwit, Blue Winged Teal Still Present but in Hiding.

22/04/06

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Pair of Scaup.

20/04/06

2 Shelduck, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Sanderling, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Black headed Gull, 50+ Curlew, Lapwing, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Coot, Skylark, Swallow.