My 1st Orangetip Butterfly of the year in Co. Durham. Green-veined White was also a year tick. #NEbirding

My 1st butterfly of the year, a Comma in N. Marine Park, South Shields enjoying the 1st decent sunny day. #NEbirding

It was at Bents Park S/S last Tue, but I have seen it previously over the last 3 winters. Beginning to look really smart now that it has almost a full black hood

Short clip of the Tundra Bean Geese coming into land at Boldon Flats this afternoon. #NEbirding

A short clip of 1 of 2 SE Owls initially being photobombed by 1 of 2 Barn Owls at Cowpen Bewley this evening. #NEbirding

A few of the 22 Tundra Bean Geese that came into roost at Boldon Flats this evening, just after sunset. #NEbirding

Peregrine hunting over S. Shields Pier this morning. Very few waders around, so soon gave up and headed south. #NEbirding

I checked through my nocmig from last night. A large influx of Redwing with 100 recordings, mostly between 6 and 9am. However the highlight was 3 calls of Waxwing at 0423. Just to be sure I confirmed with both Birdnet and Merlin. #NEbirding

A Polish ringed bird.

Red-necked Grebe still showing well at S. Shields this morning, in the pouring rain. #NEbirding

Great to get a Home patch 'lifer' when this Red Kite drifted west over the Lawe Top, S. Shields today. Over the Pier, over the Parks then over the House. #NEbirding

A Red-necked Grebe at Little Haven Beach this afternoon, only stayed for a short visit. It may well have been the same bird I found at the same place exactly a week ago. #NEbirding

A bit video of a Red-necked Grebe from Little Haven Beach, S. Shields this lunch time. #NEbirding

I have included the recovery records of the Med Gull from yesterday. Ringed in the nest in 2017 and spending most winters in the NE before returning to Poland to breed in the summer. This was my 5th sighting off her, over 4 winters. She is now 8 1/2 years old. #NEbirding

Came across an old friend this afternoon on the Dragon Playing Fields, S. Shields. A Med Gull which I last saw in Jan 2024. It is colour ringed with Red band and PETL in white. I have sent off the data to the Polish Ringing group and hope to get some feedback. #NEbirding

A short clip of a juv Glaucous Gull feasting on a carcass at S. Shields Yacht Club this morning. #NEbirding

At last something semi decent has turned up at S. Shields Pier. A Slavonian Grebe that cruised up and down Sandhaven Beach late afternoon, before heading out to sea. May still be in the area tomorrow. #NEbirding

Possibly fulvescens an intergrade between abietinus and tristis as per Birds of the World

Yes, fulvescens looks a good choice.

Saw this very pale and grey looking Chiffchaff as it moved inland from the Pier, through the car park and then into the bushes beside Haven Point. Thought it looked good for a "sibe". Sadly it called just like a normie. Oh well, keep looking. #NEbirding

Highlight of last nights nocmig in N. Marine Park was loads of Redwing, several Fieldfare, and my 1st Brambling of the autumn. In the Pier Head car park similar numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare but also had Wigeon, Common Snipe and a Woodcock. #NEbirding

A short clip of the Shore Lark, this afternoon, that briefly dropped on to S. Shields Pier before making off south. #NEbirding

Another YB Warbler from an audiomoth recording. Again from Pier Head car park S. Shields this morning at 08:51. It also only called for a few secs before going silent for the rest of the day. #NEbirding

I have just gone through the files of an audiomoth I left in the Pier Head Car Park in S. Shields yesterday. At 14:20 a Yellow-browed Warbler called 17 times. It must have moved on quickly as there are no more calls. A few Redwing were noted early this morning #NEbirding

This afternoon 5 Barnacle Geese circled S. Shields Pier before settling on the river. Only stayed 5 mins before heading off north. A Greenshank also over the Pier, not seen just heard calling. Very little else of interest. #NEbirding

That is amazing, the Healing Touch eh.

Isabelline Wheatear at Whitburn today. Really lucky to be there when it tried to scramble up the wall. Great find @birds-and-me.bsky.social #NEbirding

Another day another another Whinchat. This time by the side of S. Shields Pier. Using the wall as I blind the bird came relatively close, for a change! #NEbirding

Also at Trow Quarry today was a Whinchat, at times loosely associating with the local Stonechat family. #NEbirding

A short clip of 1 of the 3 reported Pied Flycatchers from Trow Quarry, South Shields this afternoon. #NEbirding