Had a pale/grey Chiffchaff on the patch recently, it brought back memories of this bird from 30th October 2021. I've only ever seen a handful of clean grey birds like this here; they seem rarer than the classic brown/white/buff tristis types. Wonder where they are from... 🤔 #NEbirding

Nothing new at Low Newton today, a brown/white Chiffchaff at the Tin Church, still refusing to call. Otherwise, a handful of Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, a few Goldcrests, Redwings and Blackbirds. Quite a few Robins still about, some with a 'continental' look to them. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Presumed Siberian Chiffchaff ringed at the Tin Church today. It didn't call on release unfortunately. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Limited time again today but I made it back to the Tin Church for an hour. The grey/white Chiffchaff from yesterday was still present but really difficult to see in thick cover. Also a very brief brown/white/buff bird + 3x olive birds. The only call heard was 'hueet'. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Struggling to get out of the house atm. Managed 45 minutes at the Tin Church today. Loads of Blackbirds, a few Goldcrests, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and a grey and white Chiffchaff, brief views and not calling, probably more 'eastern' in origin tho, possibly Siberian. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

More thrushes trickling in at Newton Pool this morning, with Redwings, Blackbirds and some grey toned Song Thrushes all in off the sea. In the bushes - 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Willow Tits and a Treecreeper. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Eider x Mallard hybrid in Newton Haven this morning, with a distant Eider flock. Presume this is the bird from Seahouses. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Only managed to get out for an hour today but there seemed to be a decent arrival of Redwings going on. Every field around the Tin Church had a scattering of them and every hawthorn bush had a few too. One field in particular had a carpet of around 200 birds. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Nice to have the scrapes back after a couple of months of being bone dry. Today there was 1 Grey Plover, 300+ Golden Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1 Ruff, 1 Sanderling, 4 Snipe, 11 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 89 Lapwing, 9 Oystercatchers and 2 Rock Pipits. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

A steady trickle of thrushes + a few Starlings in off the sea today. Many corners holding tired Redwings and Fieldfares feeding up after their North Sea crossing. Best of the bunch was a very elusive Yellow-browed Warbler, + a Brambling and 2 Chiffchaffs. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Nice paint job !

A 1st winter male SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT caught on North Ronaldsay!!! #RareBirdsUK #BirdingScotland #OrkneyBirding

Still a dribble of birds arriving off the sea at Low Newton this morning, including 2 nice grey 'continental' Song Thrush, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 4 Blackbird, 2 Woodcock & 20+ Starlings. At Newton Pool a mobile tit flock held 2 Willow Tit, 2 Chiffchaff & a Blackcap. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

138 Twite at the Long Nanny yesterday morning + 2 Merlins. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

This Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed at Low Newton Tin Church on 14th October, it had a weight of 5.7g and a fat score of 2. It was re-trapped on the 20th October and had a weight of 7.4g and fat score of 4. It was still present yesterday. #NEbirding

Still a few bits at Low Newton yesterday. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers + the most elusive Lesser Whitethroat EVER ! Crap pics taken through a thick hedge ! Much white in the tail, plain ear coverts and brown wash on the nape/crown, possible blythi. + a late Swallow south. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Some nice floscs at Low Newton today, 1 Pallas's Warbler and 2 (possibly 3) Yellow-browed Warblers at the Tin Church. + 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 17 Redpoll, plenty of Blackbirds, Robins and Goldcrests. #NEbirding

Birds definitely trickling in today. Fieldfares, Redwings, Blackbirds, Bramblings etc, all in off the sea, some thrushes were stratospheric and continued inland, others were dropping out of the sky into the Tin Church scrub. Still 3 Yellow-browed Warblers there too. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

At least 3 Yellow-browed Warblers still at Low Newton Tin Church today + 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Ring Ouzel, 5 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 2 Brambling. Plenty of Blackbirds, Siskins and Chaffinches in the area too + a Dark-bellied Brent flew north with some Shelduck. #NEbirding

I consider myself a top tier branch photographer. It's taken many years of practice and dedication to build these sorts of skills.

Yellow-browed Warbler still at Newton Pool this morning + 2 more at the Tin Church (1 colour ringed). Other than that, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap and still a few Blackbirds arriving. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Zoe's illness grounded holiday activities today, so I spent most of the day birding on foot from the cottage. 64 sp. for the day. Highlights - Yellow-browed Warbler still, though elusive - Newton Links, 30 Twite - Long Nanny, 16x Razorbill, 6x Common Scoter, 3x RT Diver #NEBirding #LowCarbonBirding

4 Yellow-browed Warblers around Low Newton this morning, 2 at the Tin Church and 2 at Newton Pool. The birds at the Tin Church were both trapped and colour ringed as part of the UK YBW CR project. Still a few Bramblings and thrushes around this morning too. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

A few migrants at Newton Pool today in a brief visit. 5 Brambling, 1 Redpoll, 1 Willow Warbler, 17 Redwing and an increase in Robins and Chiffchaffs (including a couple of cleaner/greyer toned birds). The Pectoral Sandpiper was also still present alongside 11 Ruff. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Decent start to our week away in Northumberland. Pectoral Sandpiper still - Low Newton Pool, c20 Twite - Long Nanny. Other coastal goodies inc. - RT Diver, 3x Guillemot, c300 PF Geese, c200 Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Gannet, Rock Pipit, 4x Dunlin, c20 Ring Plover, Common Scoter #NEBirding

Tens of millions of essentially factory farmed poultry are dumped into the countryside each year. They boost the population of mesopredators like foxes, reducing ground nesting bird populations. They are an obvious avian flue hazard. They eat declining reptiles. Turn out they're also a health hazard

Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to our fundraiser. Recent greatest hits from samples sent in by ringers and birders for ID include an Atlas Flycatcher in Spain, and a Ménétries's Warbler in Poland! www.justgiving.com/fundraising/...

Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese in the stubble fields between High Newton and Low Newton recently. Some lovely views from the roadside. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

The Big Lebowski is such a cool film. Go Walter !

The 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were still at Newton Pool this afternoon. Interesting to see the differences in size and plumage, one bird is smaller and paler (presumably female ?), the other is noticeably larger and warmer toned. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Distant views, directly into bright sunlight, heat haze etc... But 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at Newton Pool today ! + 1 Curlew Sandpiper still on Low Newton beach and a Merlin hunting the area. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Pectoral Sandpiper still at Newton Pool this morning + an elusive Spotted Flycatcher. 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Low Newton beach and 2 Ruddy Shelducks amongst a large flock of Pink-footed Geese at the Tin Church. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

No sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper or Curlew Sandpiper at Newton Pool this evening but a Spotted Flycatcher was there and 7 Swifts flew south with hirundines. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Curlew Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper still at the Newton Pool mudflats this morning. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

A rather spotty Ruff at Newton Pool today. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Arrived at the RVI Hospital in Newcastle at 9am today and parked on the top level of the car park. While I was getting Liv's wheelchair out of the van had at least 5 Meadow Pipits over heading south. #AlwaysBirding #CityViz

Pectoral Sandpiper still at the Newton Pool mudflats this afternoon, also 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 6 Ruff, 9 Redshank and 12 Lapwing. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

The Newton Pool mudflats still holding a few waders this evening - 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Ruff, 8 Redshank and 9 Ringed Plover. + 1 Common Swift north ! #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Every year, late March/April I religiously check likely spots on the patch for White-spotted Bluethroat. 🤞🤞🤞 A mate sent me this today from NTBC records committee. Presume a possibility of breeding so no news is perfectly understandable, still felt like a kick in the bollox tho !😦 #NEbirding

26 Pink-footed Geese south at Low Newton this morning (first I've seen this autumn) + 2 Swifts. 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 6 Ruff on the Newton Pool mudflats. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Lots of Migrant Hawkers about at the moment.

Pleased to see this getting discussed. There is a total lack of support in the UK for people with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome suffering Craniocervical Instability. We've been on this awful journey & fundraised for major neurosurgery in Spain, it saved Liv's life when NHS wouldn't help. #EDS #CCI

Dead Minke Whale on the beach at Low Newton today. 😢 #NEbirding

A very dark mantled Lesser Black-backed Gull at Low Newton this evening. Probably intermedius, but it was a fairly slim, long-winged looking thing, making me wonder about fuscus. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

18 Common Swifts south over Low Newton in 30 minutes this evening (17:40 - 18:10). #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

2 Curlew Sandpiper at Newton Pool this morning + 8 Ruff and 1 Pied Flycatcher. 1 Spotted Flycatcher at the Tin Church. Nice vis this morning, 4 swift in with hundreds of southbound hirundines, lots of Meadow Pipit, Skylark + a few Reed Bunting, Siskin, Chaffinch and 1 Grey Wagtail. #NEbirding

A few migrants at Low Newton today, but hard going in windy conditions. Newton Pool - 3 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 1 Swift (S) + quite a few Willow Warblers and Blackcaps. Tin Church - 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Garden Warbler. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

8 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers at Newton Pool today, ranging in plumage from extremely peachy to almost grey. Also 9 Ruff, 14 Dunlin and 6 Redshank. A single Swift and a Marsh Harrier flew south over Low Newton this evening. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

My new best friends doing a bit of chomping down at Newton Pool ! #NEbirding #ConservationGrazing #HighlandCattle

Had some lovely views of Curlew Sandpipers (x4) from the hide at Newton Pool this morning. #NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding