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 Sanderling at Blackhall, Marsh Harrier & Green Sand at Saltholme and a drake Mandarin at Primrose NR, Jarrow.
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 Moor - a traditional wintering location (NU) - who confirmed the continued presence of BTDiver & V.Scoter at Blackhall.
Starling image by David Fullerton.
Winter roosts are starting to build now & a pair were noted inspecting eaves & entering a roof cavity together at Roker this afternoon (SE), where a Woodcock flew West along sub-urban streets, presumably a fresh migrant.
Mr Egret image by Mr Heron
A minimum of 15 Little Egrets were seen at Saltholme (FM), as well as 70Barnacle Geese & 600Golden Plover.
Elsewhere on Teesside, Greenshank & Barn Owl were on Greenablla with 620 Golden Plover close by at Salterns.
Lamesley had a good selection today, (DG) reporting 3 unseasonal Dunlin with 1Gadwall, 6Snipe, Little Egret, female Shoveller & a Pink footed Goose.
Another 4Pinks (NU) were with 250 Greylags at Hurworth Burn, others heard at dusk at Roker (SE).
Rock Pipit image by Rev D.Atkinson
An overwintering Rock Pipit continues on the Tyne at Dunston, approx. 16km inland - one that distance inland on the Wear or Tees would be very well received.
Kingfisher image by M.Heron
Overnight rain & wet winter days result in more or less guaranteed sightings of Kingfishers on local standing waters - temporarily moving away from their clouded breeding stretches. This one photographed from the 'Freezer' at Rainton. Others here today included GCGrebe & Water Rail.
That's it for today.
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, Black tailed Godwit, Starling roost very active well before light.
Further good news from WWT where the #Curlew roost topped 500 today, the day being capped of with several Mistle Thrushes beginning to tune up