Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club

Javier Caletrio delivering a talk on Low Carbon Birding to NTBC

An engaging start to our Indoor Meeting Programme last week! Our guest speaker Javier Caletrio (@birdingclimate.sky.social) delivered a detailed talk on Low Carbon Birding and what it means for us as individual birders. There was some lively post-talk discussion.
#lowcarbonbirding

A profile of our monthly bulletin editor in one of his paid roles.

Visited #Northumberland last week to view some of the fantastic birdlife on offer @ntbirdclub.bsky.social

It’s almost certainly Polish in origin. You can find email contacts and receive more details at cr-birding.org

Introducing the newly digitised Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumbria!

Today we proudly unveil the digitised Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumbria, starting with all 19th-century volumes from 1831 to 1899.

Find out more at: www.nhsn.org.uk/transactions...

Support Sian Berry’s #GoPesticideFree bill, scheduled for debate 25th April, which would ban local councils in England from using pesticides in public spaces. No more poison in our streets and parks! Contact your MP using the link below:
pan-uk.eaction.org.uk/edm-urban-pe... @sianberry.bsky.social

We're a staging post for Icelandic Whoopers heading home. Migration is constantly mind-blowing!

15 mins after we posted and the first Northumberland Northern Wheatear has been reported from a site near Cramlington!

Female Northern Wheatear

Spring is here, look out for Northern Wheatears and Sand Martins and listen for singing Chiffchaffs in parks and woodland anywhere. All three are March migrants and are arriving now!

First page of Northumberland & Tyneside January Ebulletin featuring an adult Starling.

Our January ebulletin is out to members this evening. We always welcome records (email ntbc.records@googlemail.com) and images for inclusion in the ebulletin (email ntbcbulletin2012@gmail.com)

One of our committee is talking on his favourite subject Common Swifts tomorrow evening, all welcome.

Taking Wing: 1 Year as Ornithology Co-ordinator at the NHSN From evening talks to adventurous walks, Anna Temple looks back on her first year as NHSN's Ornithology Co-ordinator As I reflect on my inaugural year as Ornithology Coordinator for the Natural Histor...

Anna Temple is NHSN's fabulous Ornithology Co-ordinator, running bird-related activities across the North East. In this blog she reflects on her first year in the role. Thanks Anna! www.nhsn.org.uk/taking-wing-...

Celebrating The Furthest Inland Breeding Colonies in the World,
Supporting efforts to help safeguard the breeding population of Tyne Kittiwakes and their environment,
Contributing towards efforts to help conserve
and enhance wildlife habitats along the river Tyne.

It’s not quite spring, but it’s on the way. Which means it’s time to start recording rare breeding birds to help the work of the RBBP. Stay tuned through the spring & summer for videos and blogs with guidance on how you can add extra value to your birding #ornithology #ukbirding #birds

Cover of Birds in Northumbria 2023 featuring a Grey-headed Lapwing

Our 2023 county bird report is out to club members now. It will be available to purchase by non-members soon (details will follow). If you saw the Grey-headed Lapwing at Low Newton on its first day you may even be on our cover! #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

A couple of colour ringed Rock Pipits on the beach at Low Newton today, green CK and green CP, both part of the Low Newton Rock Pipit Project. These are returning birds that winter here, both were ringed as littoralis in spring 2023. Last 2 pics are of green CP taken on 24th March 2023.

#NEBirding

Looking back 50 years ago today Northumberland had a roost of over 100 Corn Buntings at Bamburgh. Sadly lost as a breeding species around the turn of the millennium records of the 'fat bird of the barley' are extremely rare in our county today. #ukbirding

Medieval birds of prey thrived on human waste, study finds Birds of prey in medieval Britain relied far more heavily on scavenging human waste than previously thought, according to research that analyzed more than 30 ancient bird skeletons.

“Birds of prey in medieval Britain relied far more heavily on scavenging human waste than previously thought, according to research that analysed more than 30 ancient bird skeletons.”

#Ornithology

phys.org/news/2025-01...

Looking for a #bird related volunteer opportunity to kick off 2025? Help us count our #fulmar survey photos to update our population estimates! Email me if you're interested.
#seabirds
#conservation
#arctic

This individual is resident for reasons unknown. Been around for many a year.

Photo of the Week: 6-12 January 2025 A comedic capture of the Northumberland White-billed Diver wins the first Photo of the Week award of 2025 for Steven Fryer.

A comedic capture of the Northumberland White-billed Diver wins the first Photo of the Week award of 2025:

We left a pair of Swarovski NL 10x42 on top of the car at East Chevington, Northumberland yesterday and then stupidly walked away, 5 minutes later we realised then returned but they were gone, I know it's a long shot but nobody on here picked them up and are trying to return them?

RSPB stops selling flat bird feeders owing to deadly finch disease Feeding birds from flat surfaces such as tables could be contributing to spread of finch trichomonosis, says charity

Important advice on garden bird feeding.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Our county recorder Tim Dean has been working hard to update the County List over recent weeks and it's been published this morning.
433 species have now been recorded and accepted in Northumberland @1 January 2025 with a further seven pending acceptance by BBRC! #UKBirding

Thanks Graham, surprising that @btobirds.bsky.social have left the figures we originally quoted on their website which based on this appear to be misleading.

Happy new year everyone! ✨🎉

Our training grant applications are now open!

The deadline for applications is the 28th of February.

To apply for our training grants, click the following link or use the website as stated below: www.seabirdgroup.org.uk/grants

Interesting decline when viewed against a 1% increase in UK Winter population and 27% increase in occupied 10km Squares.

Some nice colour reflection on water there Paul 👍

Fantastic bit of opportunistic feeding behaviour captured here!