sand martin influx

100+ sand martins and a single swallow invaded the river derwent at axwell park this morning :) great to see so many, swallow wasn't new for the year but it was a Gateshead year tick. No sign of the reported avocet today on the tyne. The lrp has gone from shibdon but the ruff remains.

Cold grey damp foggy day

Managed to get 1 year tick and 2 Gateshead year ticks on this cold grey damp day, my year tick was sand martin x 3 at Lamesley water meadows, my Gateshead year tick was Lrp at Shibdon having had my first ones in Nepal ;) called it an early day because it was to cold :( lets hope the fog lifts for tomorrows outing! 329 species for the year, my best ever and its only march :0 should be looking at 700+ by the end of the year after my Kenya trip :0

not a lot :( and a big lot :)

Very poor day out around Gateshead today :( was expecting one year tick today! There is always tomorrow ;) after much chopping and changing on where to go on my next holiday shetland? Ethiopia? Gambia? Israel? Iv'e decided on the masai mara in Kenya :0 iv'e went and booked it aswell before i change my mind again ;) lol mid november is when im off, should get some top birds on this trip and not forgetting the mammals aswell :0 just need to buy another helm guide now! Lol :) now back to that Gateshead list and where are those sand martins?

Wheatears have arrived

2 wheatears at burdon moor this am were a nice sight, the first ones in always seem to be shy and don't let me get close to photograph, but i'm pleased with the shot i got. 150+ kittiwakes on the tyne bridge aswell today, ruff was still at shibdon pond. very cold in that northerly wind but it could heat up a bit tomorrow just like the birding as the wind swings around to southerly :) a sand martin or ring ouzel would be nice in the morning? got to view a house at 11am, so tied up for a while but should get back out in the afternoon sunshine :)

love to see these birds in spring time, burdon moor is the best place in Gateshead to see them

kittiwakes are doing well at the inland nesting site in Gateshead

old books value?

Anyone know the value of these 2 books which might be for sale soon? Birds of britain, rb sharpe 1896. Great plates.

what are they worth

Thinking of selling my 1970's bird mags "the encyclopedia of birds" and wanted to know how much they are worth? I sort of know how much i want? It's a shame as 3 copies are missing :( 88 copies in total i have. Here is a few shots of the amazing plates.

white wags are in

Had 2 white wagtails at birtley sewage works this afternoon along with 40+ pied and 1 grey wagtail. A stonechat was at burdon moor, the ruff remains at shibdon. Must be due a lifer soon? Come on rare birds hit the ne coast!

A bit "sparrowhawk" ;) action

Stonechat shOwing well at burdon moor

Happy xmas to me

Look what arrived in the post this morning, felt like xmas morning when i was opening it :)

Mandarin at Shibdon

First Mandarin in Gateshead for about 3 years i think? got a text from George saying he had found a Mandarin at shibdon :) cheers George, keep them coming! i managed to get myself out of bed and get to shibdon 3 hours later :0 at first i could't see the bird but it was soon flushed by gulls from the island, i tried to feed it bread ;) lol, for some close shots but it was having none of it! must be a wild one ;) i got a few shots taken from the far side of the pond, not bad for the distance. The long staying ruff was still here, Shibdon is looking good for Avocet :0

Gadwall pair

A pair of Gadwall were at Birtley reed beds this morning, not much else about :( scooped £600 on the irish lotto yesterday :) that's 2 weeks in a cottage on Shetland paid for this October :) also just bought a new book, birds of the African horn for my Ethiopian trip :) this birding abroad has got a grip on me ;) gossy watching tomorrow with the Dragonhunter, lets hope for some good views.

new lifer :0

New bird to go my life list, two barred greenish warbler which i had in Nepal goes on the list:) world list now 567.