First #patchbirding twitch of the year for this juvenile glaucous gull at North Shields Fish Quay, which gave good views late this afternoon before heading off towards South Shields Pier. I didn't see one here last year, so it was great to see this one so early in 2026. #nebirding

And that's #patchbirding at Tynemouth up and running in 2026, with the long-staying black redstart still braving the cold weather at the base of the pier. Happy New Year! #nebirding

The best/worst of #patchbirding today... A wet lunchbreak spent staring across the river at the South Shields red-necked grebe, showing down to a few metres over there but more like 1km away from here! Easy enough to see what it was though in the scope and onto the #PWC2025 list it goes...

Five snow buntings at Whitley Bay this morning coming to within a few feet at times (video taken with my phone) #nebirding

Black redstart at Cullercoats today - a bit more accommodating than the Tynemouth birds have been over the last couple of weeks. #nebirding

Proper winter seawatching off Tynemouth pre-work this morning in strong northerlies and driving sleet! Disappointingly few birds moving though a single little auk was new for the year, plus 3 long-tailed ducks, great northern diver and 2 goldeneye. #nebirding #patchbirding

Last Saturday's black redstarts (one male and one female type) at Tynemouth Priory are, somewhat surprisingly, still here and this morning were at the base of the pier. Not the best pics, in pretty grim conditions, but much better views than last weekend. #nebirding #patchbirding

Bike twitch to Tynemouth Priory this pm for two black redstarts. Far too distant for the camera but onto the #PWC2025 list they go! The afternoon was subsequently soured a bit by missing a swift sp by about 10 mins 🫤 but hopefully it'll still be around tomorrow... #nebirding

Over five hours #patchbirding at Tynemouth this morning. 3 YBWs the best birds by far, though sadly all evaded the camera. Seven little gulls, two treecreepers (scarce here) and this drake wigeon on Spanish Battery Rocks (unusual to see on the ground/water here) were the best of the rest. #nebirding

Finally caught up with whooper swan at Tynemouth for #PWC2025 with 12 seen flying south this morning, including this flock of 7 past Spanish Battery. #nebirding

Most waders are rare at Tynemouth Boating Lake (for obvious reasons!) and this young dunlin this morning was only the second I've ever seen there. It seemed unmoved by people walking past it, often at very close range, so sadly may not have been in the best of health. #nebirding #pwc2025

Our last full day on Unst was a bit of a struggle in strong winds. The morning was virtually migrant-free but there was some evidence of a small arrival this afternoon with YBW, hen harrier and snow bunting at Skaw/Valyie. Sad to be leaving tomorrow but I'm sure I'll be back next year! #ukbirding

Unst Day 5: Another slow day, with migrants very hard to come by, was salvaged late afternoon as we finally joined the yellow-browed warbler party when we came across this beauty at Hunter's Wood. #ukbirding

Unst Day 4: Much quieter day today in a brisk southerly wind. A few new birds were evident but migrant passerines remain thin on the ground. A barred warbler at Burrafirth was probably the highlight, though it was generally very adept at avoiding the camera! #ukbirding

Unst Day 3 (2): Eastern bonelli's warbler would be a British tick for me so despite great views at Houland this afternoon, it was somewhat frustrating not to hear its diagnostic call, despite spending 4.5 hours on site. #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk

The weather was beautiful on Unst this morning, the Pallas's grasshopper warbler was still present at Clingera and I was pleased to get some better photos... #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk

Unst Day 2 (2): Up until we decided to visit Clingera this afternoon these two were vying for the accolade of bird of the day - summer plumaged great northern diver at Haroldswick and wood warbler at Halligarth... #ukbirding

Unst Day 2: a slow morning followed by a surreal afternoon during which we found a pallas's grasshopper warbler at Clingera! My photos were hopeless but thankfully @johnsoniain.bsky.social's were much better, including this one. #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk

Off patch for a week for our annual autumn trip to Unst. Our first full day today was somewhat challenging in a northerly gale and hail showers, with two common rosefinches at Leewart the best of the slim pickings on offer. #ukbirding

Also today, this pochard on Tynemouth Boating Lake. Sadly, less than annual here now. #pwc2025 #nebirding

#nebirding #PWC2025

Another great morning of vis-mig at Tynemouth with birds heading south in a light SW wind. Totals by 11.30 included: 4 marsh harriers (!) 3 buzzards 1,925 mipits 225 house martin 125 swallow 150 pink footed geese 80+ siskins 20+ redpolls 23 skylarks 7 swifts 5 grey wags 1 wheatear 1 reed bunting

Quiet-ish morning on the patch at Tynemouth, but a few local scarcities provided some interest, including this little egret right over my head in Prior's Park. Also garden warbler, jay, 3 rooks and a reasonable number of pipits and finches heading south. #nebirding #pwc2025

A proper autumn birding day on the patch at Tynemouth with a SE wind blowing all day. No less than 7 #pwc2025 year-ticks included pied fly and whinchat, while sea-watching added 2 black terns (my first here since 2017), little tern, little gull, pintail and common sandpiper. #nebirding

Not the best photo but my first half decent passerine migrant of the autumn at Tynemouth - spotted flycatcher this morning #nebirding #pwc2025

Clear skies and a light SW wind meant a busy morning of Vis Mig at Tynemouth. Totals by 9am included: House martin 1520 Mipit 1150 Swallow 660 Siskin 25 Swift 7 Redpoll 1 Black-tailed godwit 2 True totals must have been much higher as birds were passing through on all sides. #nebirding #pwc2025

A great morning of visible migration at Tynemouth today with lots of birds heading south over the Tyne. Totals in 3 hours included: 710 house martin 525 swallow 115 meadow pipit 15 sand martin 16 siskin 8 grey wagtail 1 swift

Arctic skua at Tynemouth yesterday - a bit of a surprise as it flew in from upriver, with this photo taken as it flew over Prior's Park! #nebirding

Like many Northumberland birders I seem to have a total mental block when it comes to yellow-legged gulls! This bird at Tynemouth today seems to have YLG potential but a couple of things don't quite look right. Any opinions from those more used to seeing these things would be welcome... #nebirding

First juv Caspian gull of the year on Spanish Battery Rocks, Tynemouth this morning... #nebirding #pwc2025

'Night Heron in Marden Quarry' was not a message I was expecting to receive this evening (or ever to be honest)! But no matter, five minutes later I was watching it and once it woke up it gave some brilliant views. Great find by Martin Kerby whilst walking the dog! #nebirding #RareBirdsUK

The Med gulls keep coming... This adult on the estuary opposite the Black Middens this morning by far the most photogenic I've seen locally so far. #nebirding #PWC2025

At least 10 bottle-nosed dolphins were in the Tyne for a while this morning, coming up almost as far as the staithes at Low Lights.

Tynemouth got in on the current Med gull influx this morning... This was one of two adults over the estuary (distant, into the sun, etc, etc...) #nebirding #pwc2025

Reed warbler singing deep in the sea buckthorn at Longsands this morning. Only the third or fourth I've had in Tynemouth so very definitely #patchgold... #nebirding

I was out as soon as the rain stopped this morning to see whether the change in the weather had dropped in any migrants into Tynemouth. Sadly, the answer was a resounding 'no'. A little egret north over the river was new for #pwc2025 though. #nebirding

This time last year we were enjoying rustic bunting, red-backed shrike, etc locally. Today's Tynemouth highlight however was 14 barnacle geese (presumably naturalised Dutch birds?) heading north over the Priory. 2025 has not been a vintage spring in the northeast... #nebirding #pwc2025

Slim pickings here on the migrant wader-front at the moment but this smart whimbrel at Spanish Battery this afternoon was new for the Tynemouth patch year list... #nebirding #pwc2025

Six barnacle geese (plus a greylag) heading north were the 'highlight' of a very slow vis mig session from Spanish Battery this morning. Feral origin is clearly a possibility but onto the Tynemouth patch year list they go! #nebirding #pwc2025

Gadwall is a common bird now elsewhere but, like most things, remains decidedly uncommon on Tynemouth Boating Lake. This pair there first thing this morning were therefore boating lake gold! #pwc2025

After T-shirts and shorts in mid-week it was back to gloves and thermals this morning in a strong northerly. That meant plenty of seabirds moving off Tynemouth though, including a couple of northbound Arctic skuas and a couple of Manx shearwaters (but sadly no pink gulls)... #nebirding #pwc2025

On May 4th 2024 I stumbled into this stunning bluethroat on Spanish Battery, one of my all time highlights of #patchbirding in Tynemouth. What are the chances of a repeat on its one-year anniversary tomorrow...?* * Err, not good actually, given we're forecast strong northerlies all day...

Not quite #patchgold but sedge warbler is only just about annual in Tynemouth, with almost all records limited to the period a week either side of the start of May. I was therefore pleased to see this one (plus a brief yellow wagtail) in Prior's Park this morning. #nebirding #pwc2025

Pale-bellied brent goose on Spanish Battery Rocks, Tynemouth this morning. A bit of a surprise given we're now into May... #NEbirding #pwc2025

An otherwise quiet morning of vis-mig went a bit mad just after 7am when these two avocets flew north. A patch tick, and the first record for Tynemouth as far as I am aware, their rarity fully justifying the poor-quality photo! #nebirding #pwc2025

Goosander in Tynemouth Haven this morning. The highlight from a morning's birding of few highlights, though sand martin and Sandwich tern were new for the year and the juv Iceland gull was still present. #NEBIRDING #PWC2025

Pushing the boundaries of the record shot genre once again, this great northern diver was on the sea off Tynemouth this morning. Although they're fairly regular flying past on sea watches it's quite unusual to see them on the water here. #nebirding #PWC2025

Water rail still in Northumberland Park this morning. I must have taken hundreds of photos of this bird now, but I just find it irresistible - every time I go it seems to be even more tame and showy! #nebirding

My first flyover raptor at Tynemouth this spring - a buzzard over the garden for a few minutes this morning before drifting off north. Although common elsewhere we only get one or two here most years. A big thank you to the squawking gulls for drawing my attention to it! #NEbirding #PWC2025