Considerable movement of Pink Footed Geese south from Boulmer yesterday, at least 25 skeins from 1:00 – 4:30.

Steve McDonnell

A selection of photos from Jonathan Farooqi of recent sightings in the County.
 
 

A Franklin’s Gull from Whittle Dene Reservoirs

A Red-breasted Flycatcher from Holy Island

The Rose coloured Starling from Roseden

 
Hundreds more photos of birds recorded in the County are available to view in our Galleries section of this website.

Finally managed to see the Rose-coloured Starling after two failed attempts. It was hiding mostly in the roadside hedge on the east side of the A697 opposite the Roseden turn off. There is a public footpath opposite this side road to Roseden and you only need to walk ten metres down and view the roadside hedge looking north or alternatively the Starling gets into the middle flat topped hedge near a flat topped wall & two rubbish bins. There is also a feeding area further down with fat balls which may be being used. It keeps with the Tree Sparrow flock rather than with Starlings. Patience needed to get decent views.

Tim & Janet Dean

Juv. Rose-coloured Starling today at Roseden, just south of Wooler, Northumberland.

Tom Cadwallender

A selection of waders present this evening.  Little Stint remains (pic from last week here).  32 Ringed Plover, 76 Redshank, C 1,000+ Golden Plover, 112 Sanderling, 83 Oystercatchers, 44 Turnstone + Lapwings and Curlews( not counted) and a single Knot.

A.S.Jack

Yesterday at Widdrington Moor Lake, a body of water created when open cast mining finished here a few years ago, I witnessed a spectacle I have not seen before. Scanning across the lake, having seen around 120 Lapwings and a Greenshank, I saw a Peregrine, a juvenile bird exhibiting strange behaviour. It was circling very low over the bankside in a  slow flight action then swooping down to break off Thistle heads and other plant tops in it’s talons, this action was performed perhaps a dozen times. It appeared to be honing it’s skills in grabbing prey, then pecking at the plant material before dropping it.  A juvenile Marsh Harrier, probably from the local nesting site, had been quartering rough grassland nearby and came in very close to the Peregrine, which joined it, still at a very low height and they began slowly circling together. They then came together touching talons and repeated this several times seemingly playing together. A male Kestrel appeared and the Harrier flew off to resume hunting, only for the Peregrine to join the Kestrel in the air and begin circling with it, the two birds gliding and swooping together. An enjoyable sighting indeed of some unusual interaction between species!

Later birds seen at Druridge Pools included a Spotted Redshank, 4 Ruff and two Stonechats. Another juvenile Marsh Harrier was at East Chevington and a single Avocet and Greenshank at Cresswell Pond. Two Med. Gulls at Snab Point.

Little Stint still tonight at St Mary’s, Whitley Bay.(Sunday).

A.S Jack

Rose-coloured Starling showing, behind electricity station, Roseden junction A697, 1010hrs.

Steve Holliday

Fairly quiet looking from Beacon Point.  A stunning juv Sparrowhawk put in a great appearance.

Gary Storey

Scaup on Grindon Lough + 2 Pintail & 2 Wheatear. 669 Wigeon split between Grindon & Shield-on-the-Wall Dam.

Paul Massey 

Distant Spotted Redshank at Druridge Pools this morning.

Mark Eaton

One of five Ring necked Parakeets helping Crows to mob a Buzzard along Nuns Moor Road this afternoon.

Peter Fletcher

Adult Franklin’s Gull just flown NW over Whittle Dene southern reservoir towards fields to west of northern reservoir, 1145hrs.

Paul Massey

Early morning news of a Thrush Nightingale on Holy Island was enough to get me out of Rothbury very quickly. Superb find by Steve Rippon who followed up his Franklin’s Gull at Whittle Dene Reservoir ! Showed really well on hide tide mark of Sandham Bay near Emmanuel Head. Normally very secretive and a delight to see in open. European tick for me as only previously seen in Turkey. Well pleased though took 75 minutes for bird to show & a dash off island so no time for the Red-breasted Flycatcher & Yellow-browed Warbler at Half Moon Slack near Snook. Greenish Warbler of yesterday has departed and very few migrants on island , only 1 Wheatear & a Willow Warbler. Popped in to Newton on way home & a seawatch had one Sooty Shearwater though missed the Long-tailed Skua which moved through Tynemouth at 2:50.  Had look at Newton scrape which had single Little Stint, Ruff & Black-tailed Godwit plus female Pintail. Also 1 Curlew Sandpiper on tideline.

Tim Dean

Saturday’s Greenish Warbler hiding in the Vicar’s Garden on Holy Island.

Paul Massey

On Friday 16th September there was one Little Egret on the River Wansbeck and three at West Sleekburn, whilst on Saturday 17th September there were two Barnacle Geese with 200+ Canada’s at the QE2 CP Park, Ashington.

Neil Cairns

First Pink-footed Goose of the winter on the Aln Estuary with about 90 heading south.

Tom Cadwallender

First Pink-footed Geese of the autumn heard over Wark (North Tyne) in the dark this evening.

Paul Massey

Quiet at Newbiggin today. A pale Redstart with a white wing panel was interesting but very flighty on Ash Lagoon Bank.

Gary Storey

Holy Island – Barred Warbler 200m SW of car park, 3 Yellow Browed Warblers & 1 Red Breasted Flycatcher – Snook House

Mark Eaton

A new WeBs (Wetland Bird Survey) counter is required urgently for both Colt Crag and Hallington Reservoirs, around 10 miles north of Hexham. The commitment required is a monthly count of all the waterbirds present at the two sites during September to March each year.

An on site introduction can be arranged.

If interested, please contact Steve Holliday on 07786 213699 or email at steveholliday AT hotmail.co.uk

A Greenshank, feeding up prior to migration, on the Aln Estuary, Northumberland today.

Tom Cadwallender

A Lesser Grey Shrike was about 1/2 mile north of Newton links farm on the fence to the west of dunes today.

Tom Cadwallender

There was a lovely record of a Little Ringed Plover at Beacon Point, Newbiggin today.

Gary Storey

A single Greenshank was at the Eric’s hide Hauxley at 2pm, during the open day.

Neil Cairns

Warkworth Beach this pm – 2 Roseate Terns, 7 Arctic Skuas, 25 Bar-tailed Godwits (in-off). And a nice swim.

Mark Eaton