The local Pinkfeet rarely use the fields around SMI, so despite the mega influx of Russian White-fronts this winter, I hadn’t seen any on the patch. So finding 12+ in the standing stone field today with c1000 Pinkfeet was fab, and only my second ever record of the species here #UKBirding #NEBirding
Amazing day of winter birding in Northumberland, some valuable yearticks in Egyptian Goose & Spotted Redshank but the highlight was chancing upon a 2W Caspian Gull at Cresswell. Also had drake Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, 8 species of goose incl. 10 Tundra Bean & 250+ White-fronts! #NEBirding #UKBirding
Reflecting on a remarkable day of winter birding around the county yesterday, starting with the unprecedented flock of 29 Common Cranes at Denwick, followed by an unsuccessful wild eagle chase at Druridge Bay. Made up for though by 50+ WF Geese, RN Grebe, Smew, SEO etc. #NEBirding
With the weather finally giving way, an afternoon at Druridge Bay was much appreciated. New birds in Cetti’s Warbler, Little Gull and Short-eared Owl resumed the yearlist, plus c20 White-fronted Geese, 4 Ruff and several Med Gull as bonuses. Best rarity of the day - sunshine! #UKBirding #NEBirding
Dave got 260 in 2020, a record not to be broken any time soon I would think! I’ll give it my best, an American wader or two at Boulmer would be most welcome 😁
Yep I sure am Mark, I’m aiming for 250 in the county this year. It’s been a canny start, but as always it will come down to whether we get a spring and autumn!
The returning drake Black Scoter off Bamburgh Castle yesterday, a cracking addition to my county yearlist and a bird that’s been very hard to pin down - well played @timsbirding.bsky.social! Hard to tell from the pic in challenging weather conditions, but it showed brilliantly! #NEBirding #UKBirding
Fab…
Hi Mike, it’s a Greylag Goose.
Fab viewing conditions at Ross Back Sands this afternoon over high tide (1pm-4pm) - Red-necked Grebe on the sea near Wide Open, at least 12 Slavonian Grebes including a group of five feeding with a flock of Common Scoter + the usual suspects. #NEBirding #UKBirding
Yesterday, I went back for second looks at the much discussed Bean Geese at Whittle Dene, and this time they were showing nicely from the road. A fab opportunity to see both species together up close, and I’m sold on the conclusion of two Taiga and one Tundra. #NEBirding #UKBirding
The Snow Bunting flock is back at Whitley Bay! Despite being regular here before Christmas, I've not seen them since, so it was great to stumble upon a tight group of 13 again this morning. As always, they showed brilliantly... #NEBirding #UKBirding
It’s handy having some quality species within ten minutes of work, and yesterday lunchtime was productive for the county yearlist. Green Sandpiper and Iceland Gull were added, plus some great views of the American Wigeon on the ice at Big Waters. #NEBirding #UKBirding
Reflecting on a full day in the field yesterday for the Northumberland winter bird race - these were the scenes at Holy Island at 8am! Despite the weather causing chaos, we managed 114 species and took back the trophy 🏆 big well done to all who battled through and completed! #NEBirding #UKBirding
And you John!
We took the scenic route home from Holy Island today, taking in a few goodies in the county on the way south. Highlights of Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, Waxwing and a party of Russian White-fronted Geese amongst others. 2026 is off to a flyer! #NEBirding #UKBirding
Sunrise on Holy Island to welcome in the New Year, and the beginning of a new project… Northumberland yearlist is underway! #NEBirding #UKBirding
And a few pics summarising some trips out of the local area this year - the Peru trip was absolutely mind blowing, the jaunt to Turkey was full of WP gold, and the occasional twitches were successful (mostly) too... all the best to everyone for 2026! #UKBirding #WorldBirding #WPBirding
So, the curtain comes down on 2025 - it won’t be remembered as being a vintage year for birding in North Tyneside, but still some real bits of quality on offer. Standouts of Ross’s Gull, Night Heron, Hume’s Warbler, Ashy-headed Wag and a patch first in Glossy Ibis… #NEBirding #UKBirding
No need, they are finding plenty of grass seed at the moment!
What a treat it is to have these beauties right on the doorstep at the moment - the flock of Snow Buntings in Whitley Bay reached a mammoth 21 birds on Saturday, the highest gathering locally for many, many years! #UKBirding #NEBirding
A party of four Waxwings battling a Mistle Thrush for berries at North Shields yesterday was entertaining as always, and a flyover GW Egret was a big surprise too, albeit a bit distant. Then this morning, 13 Snow Buntings at Whitley Bay sea front continued the wintery theme. #NEBirding #UKBirding
Hume’s Leaf Warbler still showing well on and off (albeit quite distant from the road) at Lyndhurst Road in Benton, calling very regularly. #NEBirding #UKBirding
🤣🤣
Best year ever for the Quarry?
Sure is! Nice to get it in the same shot as an adult Med Gull in the last pic too!
Interesting! Maybe worth revisiting in that case, need something to do during these endless westerlies…
This discussion reminds me of this individual in October 2020 on the mounds, which I felt showed a few signs of familiaris at the time, but the guidance at the time was that BBRC would only accept very striking birds that stand out a mile. I didn’t feel mine quite qualified for that!
WOW! A mobile Glossy Ibis at SMI Wetland this evening — first record for the site and only the second record for North Tyneside! Sadly, it was only around a matter of moments before moving south, but has been seen several times since. Well played @lurkymclurkface.bsky.social! #NEBirding
Well, I didn't expect to see one of these today - Pechora Pipit at South Shields this afternoon. A very tough bird to see, and showed mainly in flight, but it did show well on a couple of occasions... a proper mainland mega, and a lifer for me. #UKBirding #NEBirding
