Dave Locke

I checked this afternoon and sadly it had perished. It's stranded on the mud on the north side of the Tyne. I've reported it to Defra

31.10.2025 16:29 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

Birds are photographed to build a database of feathers for ageing and sexing. They're kept in the dark before release so their eyes can readjust, and followed with a thermal to ensure they fly off strongly.

30.10.2025 19:05 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The NE coast is a hotspot for asio owls crossing the North Sea and despite few records in October of birds 'in off' Northumbria Ringing Group caught a record 11 long-eared owls, 2 short-eared owls and 8 barn owls across two nights last week. LEO presumably migrating at night unseen by birders.....

30.10.2025 19:04 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Northumbria Ringing Group have been monitoring 12 sparrowhawk nests in SW Northumberland. Three broods were ringed this weekend, all good sizes. One of four, one of five and exceptionally this one of 6 well grown young!

06.07.2025 18:23 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Third sparrowhawk nest of the year in SW Northumberland, but not yet hatched. Lots of moulted feathers from the female and plucks littering the floor - woodcock, great spotted woodpecker, jay. Plus jackdaw, song thrush, wren and blackbird (not collected)

15.06.2025 19:33 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

This lovely weather we are having is not all good news...

Some of our wildlife is struggling. While wader monitoring found several dead young Lapwings

17.05.2025 05:01 — 👍 14    🔁 7    💬 3    📌 2

Female sparrowhawk on a nest, with just her tail visible

Moulted female secondary feather below the nest

A long slog checking a sparrowhawk territory. Two hours searching before finally finding some plucks (jay, blackbird and wood pigeon), a moulted secondary and finally a female sat tight on a nest

16.05.2025 05:46 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Third and fourth nests of dipper on the Derwent ringed yesterday, broods of 2 & 3. Two pairs still on eggs. Likely some broods have fledged before other pairs have even hatched.

20.04.2025 11:16 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Dipper monitoring on the Derwent is into full swing with the first broods ringed (both 5 chicks) and 11 adults caught. Occupancy appears to be down with ~25% of sites unoccupied. Impact of poor water quality perhaps, or just natural fluctuation. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social

10.04.2025 06:02 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The orchard continues to be a vital food resource this winter, even more so with frozen fields all around. 85 fieldfare and 5 blackbirds this weekend, plus 3 sparrowhawks and a kestrel that were hunting them. #NorthumbriaRingingGroup #birdringing #nebirding

14.01.2025 20:06 — 👍 18    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0