It was a very long way away but nonetheless delighted to see the White-tailed Eagle at Widdrington Farm this morning #NEbirding

Our first ‘big’ patch bird for the year this Glaucous Gull showed well on the banks of the Tyne opposite the Staiths Cafe this morning. First in the Borough for a good few years #NEbirding

I hadn’t seen a wintering Blackcap for a good few years but I’ve now come across two in as many weeks. This one today was backwards and forwards enjoying the sunflower seeds in the garden at Ryton #NEbirding

First trip off patch this year to Cumbria and the Ross’s Goose showed exactly where it was supposed to be as soon as the mist cleared. Took a good while for it to come anywhere near close enough for a photo though! #NEbirding

Always good to get a Chiffchaff at the beginning of January. This was one of two birds at Far Pasture NR today. Not sure what’s going on with those feet though! #NEbirding

Another good year in Gateshead with 3 new patch birds for me including 2 self found, Glossy Ibis & GN Diver (1st on our stretch of the Tyne for 140 years) The 3rd was a long overdue GW Egret. Also 2nd Grey Plover and Caspian Gull. Thanks to everyone involved & HNY! #NEbirding

In Gateshead Fieldfare favour the higher ground with Ravensworth Fell being a regular spot and this year, as usual, there’s a good flock in the area #NEbirding

A thermal imager is on the Christmas list. Thanks to @beardedgeordie.bsky.social and his,saw this Jack Snipe at a few metres range without disturbing it and leaving it in situ when we left #NEbirding

Delighted to cone across this Gateshead mega this morning, Great Northern Diver on the Tyne at Dunston - full patch tick! #NEbirding

It’s probably twenty years or more since I last saw Marsh Tit In Gateshead so I was very pleased to catch up with this one today #NEbirding

Winter visitors starting to arrive - these Whooper Swans were resting on the Tyne at Dunston this afternoon #NEbirding

Another encounter with a Caspian Gull on the Tyne off Dunston this afternoon though it was somewhat distant on the north bank and so not sure whether it was the bird from the 8th or a different individual #NEbirding

Goldeneye have been in short supply in Gateshead this year so nice to see a pair at Shibdon Pond this morning #NEbirding

The second occurrence of Common Scoter in Gateshead this year after a pair for one day in the spring this drake was on the Tyne at Dunston this morning. Never closer than c150m and in poor light but you get the idea #NEbirding

A few more of the Caspian Gull at Dunston, Gateshead yesterday #NEbirding

I’ve long hoped to find a Caspian Gull on the Gateshead and then finally this morning this first winter appeared on the tidal mud at Dunston #NEbirding

Tradition dictated it was fish for lunch at Dunston on Friday #NEbirding

Isabelline Wheatear at Whitburn showing tail pattern #NEbirding

Isabelline Wheatear showing very well at Whitburn this afternoon #NEbirding

Wader passage in Gateshead has been very slow so far this autumn but livened up this afternoon when I found this fine Spotted Redshank at Shibdon Pond. Also present 4 Black-tailed Godwits, the biggest group so far #NEbirding

The Tyne at Dunston continues to deliver with this fine juvenile Knot in with the Redshanks in the Staiths Basin this morning before moving onto the mud west of Timber Beach as the tide receded #NEbirding

It’s been at least a couple of years since I’d seen Otter in Gateshead so it was a nice surprise when this one appeared in front of me this morning #NEbirding

For reasons it’s hard to understand Great Crested Grebe remains stubbornly rare in Gateshead with records barely annual so it was good to encounter this juvenile on the Tyne at Dunston this afternoon #NEbirding

And still the Whinchats continue to move through Gateshead. There were 3 on Ravensworth Fell yesterday and still 2 this morning. Maybe the best place in the county to see them on passage #NEbirding

Juvenile Razorbill on the Tyne this morning found by @davidlocke1992 at Dunston steadily made its way up river towards the Scotswood Bridge before sadly being despatched by a GBBG! #NEbirding

It’s been an excellent year for Whinchats passing through Gateshead with a dozen or so in the spring and a handful already this month including this distant bird this morning #NEbirding

Despite becoming generally much commoner there have only been 3/4 previous Gateshead records of Great White Egret, all untwitchable short stayers. Today it was finally un-blocked for me with this one roosting at Shibdon Pond. Huge thanks to @gatesheadandbey for the find! #NEbirding

This morning on Burdon Moor good numbers of juvenile Swallows resting on the walls and fences waiting to be fed by their parents. Probably heading south before too long #NEbirding

2 Black-tailed Godwits at Shibdon Pond this morning represent only the second occurrence of the species in the borough this year. Thanks to George for the info #NEbirding

Silver-washed Fritillary is extremely rare in Gateshead so was very pleased to come across this one this morning in woodland near Chopwell. A first for me in the borough #NEbirding

White-letter Hairstreak is one of the less common butterflies in Gateshead. This one was enjoying brunch this morning with a Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle #NEbirding

Checking the tidal mud for passage waders at Stella this afternoon drew a blank but a Shoveler feeding vigorously at the water’s edge was a surprise and the first I’ve seen here #NEbirding

I rarely bird away from the patch so two trips away in a fortnight is unprecedented. However I could not resist the lure of the Song Sparrow at Flamborough. Not arriving until late pm there was a nervous wait of an hour before it thankfully showed well #NEbirding

@alanmould.bsky.social Great pic on Springwatch!

A night in Ayr, some haggis for breakfast and a Western Sandpiper. What’s not to like! #NEbirding

Also what I think may be a Spider-hunting wasp? #NEbirding

Off patch today watching insects near the Derwent Reservoir in beautiful sunshine. Green Tiger Beetles were plentiful and showy. Two-banded Longhorn Beetles on the other hand were much less cooperative and it took several hours for one to pose nicely #NEbirding

With Lamesley almost dry thought I would have a look in Chopwell Woods this morning. Too many dog walkers and bikers but did have an unexpected encounter with 3 Crossbills which flew off almost immediately, just enough time for a long range record shot #NEbirding

Back on the patch this morning and nice views of the Whinchat on Ravensworth Fell found early doors by @gatesheadandbey. There’s been a few passing through Gateshead so far this Spring #NEbirding

And just four more from Mallorca as it’s back to the patch now #NEbirding

Had a great holiday in Mallorca & thanks to top gen from @whitleybirder.bsky.social, got 4 Black Vultures at S’Albufera + a singing Moustached Wblr - tho sadly utv. Birds elsewhere included a Roller (only a scarce pm), a Turtle Dove (my 1st in years), Hoopoes (common) and Wrynecks (a few) #NEbirding

Arriving at Lamesley Watermeadows with @banktopbirder.bsky.social this morning he immediately picked up this Greenshank. Just time for a couple of record shots before it was flushed by a Lapwing and flew off N

To escape the biting wind on Ravensworth Fell this morning this singing Grasshopper Warbler hunkered down into a sheltered hollow to advertise his presence #NEbirding

It’s day eight today for our Spring passage Knot here in Gateshead which continues to associate with the Redshank flock on the Tyne at Dunston #NEbirding

@The wait for a Wheatear in Gateshead was finally ended this morning when a minimum of 11 birds were in the fields at the bottom of Pennyfine Road. Thanks to @paulheathcote.bsky.social for the tip off #NEbirding

Grey Plover and Knot back on Timber Beach, Dunston on the rising tide today. The first ever opportunity to photograph the two species together in the Borough #NEbirding

A red letter day in Gateshead with Grey Plover and Knot incredibly both found by @nucifraga.bsky.social on the Newcastle side of the Tyne this morning. Both later relocated to Dunston, Gateshead. The Plover is the first in the Borough since 1999! #NEbirding

This pair of Common Scoters by the Swing Bridge in Gateshead today rounded off a very productive early morning around the borough which started with a ridiculously early singing Sedge Warbler found by Mike L and also my first Blackcap of the year #NEbirding

Still no Wheatears here in Gateshead despite a lot of checking by the team but these Ringed Plovers at Dunston this morning were my first of the Spring #NEbirding

A none too impressive showing from the Northern Lights in Gateshead last night was enlivened by a photobombing from what I assume was a Starlink satellite passing over