Selected highlights from around the County today John from Shields was in just the right spot to go eyeball to eyeball with this young Peregrine (300mm lens) There was another sighting of the Teesmouth Shorelarks crossing the river - 4 birds left South Gare at 09:40 (KC). Green Sandpiper reports today came from Low Butterby, New Lambton & Billingham Beck Davy Fullerton made the most of the conditions to catch this Water Rail out in the open nr Durham Not so many years ago, yo

Greyhens in Weardale image by Dave Brown Some local movements of wildfowl & waders were evident after the recent heavy rain followed by a sharp freeze. Black tailed Godwit appeared on Boldon Flats, 3Whoopers were at Bish Middleham & 4 Shoveller at Lyons Park. Blackhall produced an excellent selection, all 3 diver species & 8Goldeneye on the sea. Water Rail & Jack Snipe again on the beach pool. 2Barn Owls, 6Stonechat & a Lapland Bunting moved south. Seaton Snook Twite flock ha

Well, what a difference a full day of sunshine makes - Loads of Bird News from across the County today. First news this morning was of 4Whoopers sw over Whitburn(KDs) & a further 3 adults in-off at the now well watched Blackhall beat (RR), which continued its good run, also holding 2Black Throated & 13Red Throated Divers, a single fem Velvet Scoter & a Water Rail on the beach pool - perhaps a late migrant? Whooper Swans in-off at Blackhall - image by Rob.R The recent flooding

a day of much rain & few birds A first winter Iceland Gull was present on Boldon Flats 08:30 (MV) & its larger cousin, a juv Glaucous Gull headed south past Whitburn Obs around the same time. Large numbers of wind assisted white-winged gulls have turned up on the northern isles over the last 2 days. Hopefully we will see some more as they are not as easy to locate with any degree of certainty now that our landfill sites have gone. Other reports today detailed a dozen Sanderli

Whooper Swan image by G.Blackett A couple of fresh additions today, confirming some of our winter birds are still arriving. Low Barns held a newly arrived Whooper Swan as well as 5Goosander, 2L.Egrets & Water Rail Small no's of non breeding diving ducks appearing, with Pochard & Goldeneye at Watergate Pk, Hurworth Burn & Rainton Winter wildfowl image by Rev D.Atkinson Green Sandpiper again proved popular at Phil Stead hide on Teesmouth with another on the Browney at Langley M

male GSW takes a drink - image Tippa Laurie 2Little Auks & a GNDiver went past at Whitburn as did a skein of 70+ Pink footed Geese. Shields Snowbuntings still numbered 4, but NTees Shorelark dropped by one to 3birds. minimum of 7 Stonechat on Seaton Common, with the same number at Blackhall Rocks, which heldBTDiver & RTDiver a fem Pochard was fresh in at Watergate pk Saltholme stole the show today with :- Leo, Water Pipit, Merlin, Green Sandpiper, 2Marsh Harriers, Water Rail,

GND image by Brian Smith Great Northern Diver, Red Kite, 120Pink feet & 8Whooper Swan - Derwent Res (GT / GB / BS) A small number of Whooper Swans were also on the move today with 4 East over Middlestone St.George & a dozen were noisily heading South over Copt Hill Houghton towards dusk 16:16 (SE) Its this time of year when scarce migrants become a fading memory, that the inland local patchers reap their rewards. A great selection of local patch birds & excellent days birdwa

A fresh start to the weekend from Gateshead boroughs high ground, Steve Fryer was up on Barlow Fell early doors noting Barn & Tawny Owl, along with 20+Tree Sparrow & 50Skylark. The dedicated sea-watchers at Whitburn Obs also got off to a good early start with a juvenile Iceland Gull close inshore at 7am, other highlights from the morning watch included 5GNDivers. Comprehensive details of the Ob's daily log are listed on the Trektellen website :- http://www.trektellen.org/coun

A touch of ice had 4Water Rails out & active at Hetton Bogs (M.Heron) - one of the most reliable sites in the County to observe these often elusive & skittish birds. A further 2 seen today at both Lyons Pk & Rainton close by. Water Rail image by M.Heron. Other Coalfields sites did well with a couple of overdue winter species gracing Hetton Lyons (CW) with Short-eared Owl, 4Goosander & 2Goldeneye present. Regulars included Kingfisher, 2WRail & 4Willow Tits - another 8 of these

North Gare - 4Shorelarks remain Hartlepool - 65+Purple Sandpiper Seaton Snook - Merlin & 65Twite Shields - 3Snow Bunting Rainton - 3Pochard 2Little Egret Chilton Moor - 2Green Sand Saltholme - Green Sand, Marsh Harrier, 2GWEgret Browney Valley - 60Fieldfare, Kingfisher, 3Buzzard, Dipper, 2Jack Snipe at a spot which held dozen plus all last winter, 6Little Owl at dusk.