JD

2 Bullheads in a monitoring tray

Bullhead on the bed of the River Wear

Large Bullhead in a monitoring tray

Wildlife Wednesdays! 🌿 Meet the European Bullhead (Cottus gobio), a unique fish found in the River Wear. 🐟 With their broad heads and wide fins, they thrive in fast, stony waters, feeding on invertebrates like Mayfly larvae. At Wear Rivers Trust, we’re working to protect these vital habitats! 💧

Green Bank Protection! 🌿
On Tuesday, Wear Rivers Trust staff were accompanied by our volunteers to undertake green bank protection on a stretch of the Hummerbeck! 💧
This task was completed as part of our Hummerbeck and Lower Gaunless Bluespaces Project, funded by Northumbrian Water! 🌊

Wildlife Wednesdays! 🌿
We found otter footprints along the riverbank! 🐾 These creatures are hard to spot, so this was a special moment! 🦦
At Wear Rivers Trust, it is our mission to conserve our local waterways, ensuring they are safeguarded and thriving for the wildlife that depends on them! 💙

Got Garganey today just up the road a Druridge oddly enough!

Ellington Pond Nature Reserve. Looking North

Ellington Pond Nature Reserve. Looking South

Well can I finally call Ellington my 'Local Patch'. So here's the first list from the pond on my patch.😁 😁
Woopigeon,Chiffchaff,Jackdaw,Goldfinch,MSwan,Shoveler,Gadwall,LGrebe,Mallard,Wren,Gtit,Robin,Gfinch,H Sparrow,Rook,Chaffinch,Dunnock,Btit,Blkbird,Mhen,BHGull,Skylark,Magpie,H gull
#NEBirding

It's always a good day when I get the chance to go work in the river! Plenty more to come on Herrington Burn!

Stonefly Nymph on a rock, taken from the riverbed of the River Wear.

Stonefly adult, picture captured on the banks of the River Wear.

Wildlife Wednesdays 🌿

Today’s focus: the stonefly! 🪰 From nymph to adult, stoneflies play a crucial role in our river ecosystems.💧Sensitive to pollution, they help us to monitor water quality and assess the impact of environmental changes within the Wear Catchment! 🔍 #riverfly #invertebrate #rivers

The River Wear

The Rivers Trust 'Big River Watch' app

Our rivers are in crisis! ⚠️

It is almost time for Big River Watch, which is running from April 25th-May 1st! 💧

With the @theriverstrust.bsky.social Big River Watch app, you can help identify issues and contribute to a national data set that will help us build a picture of river health! 🤳

@wearriverstrust.bsky.social has just moved over to Bluesky. Give us a follow to see all the good work we do to improve river habitats in the Wear Catchment.

What a way to start the weekend! Glorious evening at East Chevington. Sand Martins everywhere you look, Marsh Harriers circling, a stunning Wheatear all topped by 4 close flybys from this absolute beauty!!! #NEBirding

My BTO BirdTrack summary for 2024

Managed to get out birding more in 2024, and was rewarded with some cracking birds. Hopefully 2025 delivers a few more 'lifers'.
#NEBirding #BTO
@birdtrack.bsky.social

WeBS- Northumberlandia
16th Mar. 10:45-11:05

Little grebe 3
Mallard 7m 5f
Tufted duck 6m 4f
Mute Swan 1
Pochard 4m 2f

WeBS - Ellington Pond
16th Mar. 11:40-12:00

Mallard 3m 2f
Water Rail 1
Moorhen 1
Gadwall 3m 3f
Coot 2
Little Grebe 2

#NEBirding #WeBS

Home - River Action: River Rescue Kit Take action for your river now Every passing moment sees our rivers under siege from pollution. They deserve better. Explore the resources below to find out how you can take action. Explore the river ...

Calling river-lovers everywhere: today the River Rescue Kit is released by River Action.
It's a properly brilliant resource:
* training on water testing
* legal rights
* campaigning advice
* fundraising guides
* much more
Get stuck in; turn passion into action.
Pass it on!
kit.riveractionuk.com

Huge win! Government announces plan to open up Land Registry This post is by Guy Shrubsole. Today the UK Government has announced plans to open up the Land Registry – which, if delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wale…

5/ Let's make sure this now happens.

You can write to Minister Pennycook saying you strongly support these plans - and urge the Govt and Land Registry to act on them swiftly.

Ministerial email + template letter in my blog (scroll down):

whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h...

d) all of the above

Just the Pope in a good mood

There's a lot going on in the world right now to keep me up at night, but I'll certainly sleep easier after breaking news letting me know the pope is in a good mood 😂

First African spring migrant of the year with a male Northern Wheatear at Northwick, Avon. With strong southerly winds later this week will the first Sand or House Martin arrive too or possibly a Swallow or two? @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

View across Northumberlandia ponds

View across Ellington Pond.

WeBS- Northumberlandia
16th Feb. 10:10-10:45

Little grebe 1
Mallard 4m 3f
Tufted duck 7m 3f
Mute Swan 2
Pochard 2m 1f

WeBS - Ellington Pond
16th Feb. 12:30-13:00

Coot 2
Teal 2m 2f
Moorhen 1

Small sites, small numbers but lovely non the less. #NEBirding

2 Whooper Swans on Cresswell Pond

Think this year I'm going to try my hand at digiscoping to better record my sightings. First attempt today, terrible visibility up the coast. Best I could manage were these 2 very noisy Whooper on Cresswell Pond #NEBirding

Map

Can our BirdTrack community help with the UK-wide survey of Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and Nightjar this year? Lots of squares to cover! Please check out the map and sign up
www.bto.org/our-science/...
#UKBirding #Citizenscience #Ornithology
@btobirds.bsky.social

Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social questioned in Birdwatch @birdguides.bsky.social whether Birdfair was going in the right direction. This prompted a response by Stephen Moss @stephenmossauthor.bsky.social

In this article I argue why Mark Avery is right.

lowcarbonbirding.net/2025/02/05/b...

Any patch watchers noticed a reduction in Linnet numbers this winter, yesterdays count at #BudleBay of 30 was lowest for many a year #NEBIRDING #UKBIRDING

We attended an online forum with other bird clubs around the country tonight to discuss Youth Membership. Key question - what do young people want from a bird club? (Answers in replies please!)
#ukbirding

Sheep Eat Oystercatchers, Curlew & Lapwings!

Extraordinary new case study out in BTO's magazine showing that out of 20 predated nests observed by nest cameras, **30% of predation took place by sheep eating the eggs!**

And we still see sheep as benign...

www.bto.org/sites/defaul... (pages 4-5)

Sustainable land use is key for both our environment & economy.

Today’s conversation is a step forward, but we need action. We're ready to help shape a Land Use Framework that benefits nature, communities, & the economy.

Read our full statement 👇

theriverstrust.org/press-releas...

Agreed! 5am and I'm lost in the details of this great tool!

2025 in Northumberland has been very kind to us so far!

Australia's waterbird numbers down 50% in 2024 An annual waterbird survey in Australia has revealed a 50% drop in overall numbers in 2024 compared to 2023. The 2024 survey, led by University of New South Wales (UNSW) and conducted by researchers and government collaborators, observed fewer waterbirds breeding and nearly half as many birds than i...

An annual waterbird survey in Australia has revealed a 50% drop in overall numbers in 2024 compared to 2023:

Image of a Black-headed Gull in the snow alongside the wording: Winter Gull Survey (WinGS). We need your help to monitor gulls on January 19th. To learn more visit www.bto.org/wings. BTO Logo and WinGS logo top left of image.

❄️ The final count period of the Winter Gull Survey is next weekend on January 19th! Go to the WinGS Vacant Site Map and sign up to count gull roosts in your area. 🗺️➡️ app.bto.org/wings/pu...
#Ornithology #UKBirding

A rather frozen view across Killingworth Lake

A nosey Mute Swan wondering what I'm up to at Killingworth Lake

Walking in a winter wonderland. #NEBirding