1st; A new year and a walk at the Holywell Pond area where a low flying Peregrine put up the gulls and ducks present. This was followed by the sight of a Barn Owl hunting over the reeds opposite the hide.Then a female Sparrowhawk hedge-hopping and completing a good raptor scene, two hovering Kestrels. 5-6 Reed Buntings noted and around 120 Linnets remained from last year’s large flock, but only a single Yellowhammer could be located. A pair of Great spotted Woodpeckers were at the feeding station,along with 65 Goldfinches in the trees above and a dozen Tree Sparrows.
2nd; North Shields Quay,where after two previously unsuccessful attempts , I managed very good views of the 2nd winter Iceland Gull and the Glaucous Gull,together with a hybrid Glaucous/Herring Gull.
3rd; a run up the coast,starting at Stag Rocks,Bamburgh where up to 7 Long tailed Duck males could be seen, along with a Great northern Diver,a few Common Scoter,Shag,3 fulmars and a Kittiwake. 3 Stonechats, 2 Rock Pipits and an unseen but calling Snow Bunting all noted. Several Purple Sandpipers on the rocks. Budle Bay next,where a Little Egret fished the shallows and a female Merganser did likewise. Around 700 Lapwings was a notable count,as was 22 Grey Plover,feeding spaced out as usual. Good numbers of Curlew,Dunlin,Knot,Bar tailed Godwits and Redshank,along with many Teal and Wigeon made for good viewing in the brilliant sunshine. 220 Grey Lags fed in an adjacent field.
Fenham le Moor revealed a high tide gathering of 918 Shelduck,which took a while to count! Only a handful of Pale bellied Brent Geese though at this site. A small flock of Linnets ,then two other birders saw a pair of Twite nearby.
Heading inland now, and near Chatton a feeding flock of 60-70 Fieldfares with a few Redwings seen. Several Buzzards and feeding Common Gulls in some recently ploughed fields. A male Bullfinch and several Siskin in this area too. With dusk falling, 4 roadside Kestrels hovered in search of supper.
4th; Killingworth Lake and 5 Gooseanders, 8 Shoveler, 11 Goldeneye,some displaying males , and around 90 Tufted Duck with several Pochard crowded onto what areas of water remained unfrozen.
A.S.Jack