Yeah amazing wasn’t it! I saw three + a SEO, I presume all that overnight rain stopped them hunting so they all came out once it cleared…

The highlight of Saturday morning around Druridge Bay was seeing the Owls coming out to hunt when the rain finally stopped. Especially this Barn Owl which was hunting right beside the road, often coming within 6ft of the car - such a majestic species to watch in action. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Fab day across the county today, starting at Druridge Bay with a stunning male Marsh Harrier giving amazing views, along with three Barn Owls and a Short-eared Owl plus an arrival of warblers. Finished at Hawsen Burn with an impressive group of ten recently arrived Ring Ouzels. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Cracking evening at Grindon Lough, getting superb scope views of this Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage, my first in the county for years. Credit to John Jackson for an excellent find of a top bird! @johnjackson87.bsky.social #NEBirding #UKBirding

Seems a good match for this bird photographed at SMI in September last year… bsky.app/profile/yell...

The wintering Spotted Redshank at Bothal Pond was showing very nicely at the south end yesterday afternoon, and starting to show signs of summer plumage. My first LRP of the year was the best of the rest. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Productive couple of hours up at Druridge Bay over lunch yesterday twitching the tricky peep at Cresswell, subsequently concluded as Little Stint. Topped off nicely by finally catching up with the juv Glaucous Gull at Newbiggin that I had dipped several times this year already! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Yeah I surprised they weren’t seen more places, was beginning to think they’d dropped down somewhere!

Thanks Duncan, I’m holding out hope of making the front cover of BiN 26! 😂 I’m surprised they’ve not been seen again mind, unless they’ve pitched down somewhere…

Incredible moment this afternoon whilst having a cuppa with my mum in her garden in Whitley Bay - this group of four Common Crane drifted straight overhead circling briefly, before moving slowly north! Completely caught my off guard, so iPhone record shot only! #NEBirding #UKBirding

The local Pinkfeet rarely use the fields around SMI, so despite the mega influx of Russian White-fronts this winter, I hadn’t seen any on the patch. So finding 12+ in the standing stone field today with c1000 Pinkfeet was fab, and only my second ever record of the species here #UKBirding #NEBirding

Amazing day of winter birding in Northumberland, some valuable yearticks in Egyptian Goose & Spotted Redshank but the highlight was chancing upon a 2W Caspian Gull at Cresswell. Also had drake Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, 8 species of goose incl. 10 Tundra Bean & 250+ White-fronts! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Reflecting on a remarkable day of winter birding around the county yesterday, starting with the unprecedented flock of 29 Common Cranes at Denwick, followed by an unsuccessful wild eagle chase at Druridge Bay. Made up for though by 50+ WF Geese, RN Grebe, Smew, SEO etc. #NEBirding

With the weather finally giving way, an afternoon at Druridge Bay was much appreciated. New birds in Cetti’s Warbler, Little Gull and Short-eared Owl resumed the yearlist, plus c20 White-fronted Geese, 4 Ruff and several Med Gull as bonuses. Best rarity of the day - sunshine! #UKBirding #NEBirding

Dave got 260 in 2020, a record not to be broken any time soon I would think! I’ll give it my best, an American wader or two at Boulmer would be most welcome 😁

Yep I sure am Mark, I’m aiming for 250 in the county this year. It’s been a canny start, but as always it will come down to whether we get a spring and autumn!

The returning drake Black Scoter off Bamburgh Castle yesterday, a cracking addition to my county yearlist and a bird that’s been very hard to pin down - well played @timsbirding.bsky.social! Hard to tell from the pic in challenging weather conditions, but it showed brilliantly! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Fab…

Hi Mike, it’s a Greylag Goose.

Fab viewing conditions at Ross Back Sands this afternoon over high tide (1pm-4pm) - Red-necked Grebe on the sea near Wide Open, at least 12 Slavonian Grebes including a group of five feeding with a flock of Common Scoter + the usual suspects. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Yesterday, I went back for second looks at the much discussed Bean Geese at Whittle Dene, and this time they were showing nicely from the road. A fab opportunity to see both species together up close, and I’m sold on the conclusion of two Taiga and one Tundra. #NEBirding #UKBirding

The Snow Bunting flock is back at Whitley Bay! Despite being regular here before Christmas, I've not seen them since, so it was great to stumble upon a tight group of 13 again this morning. As always, they showed brilliantly... #NEBirding #UKBirding

It’s handy having some quality species within ten minutes of work, and yesterday lunchtime was productive for the county yearlist. Green Sandpiper and Iceland Gull were added, plus some great views of the American Wigeon on the ice at Big Waters. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Reflecting on a full day in the field yesterday for the Northumberland winter bird race - these were the scenes at Holy Island at 8am! Despite the weather causing chaos, we managed 114 species and took back the trophy 🏆 big well done to all who battled through and completed! #NEBirding #UKBirding

And you John!

We took the scenic route home from Holy Island today, taking in a few goodies in the county on the way south. Highlights of Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, Waxwing and a party of Russian White-fronted Geese amongst others. 2026 is off to a flyer! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Sunrise on Holy Island to welcome in the New Year, and the beginning of a new project… Northumberland yearlist is underway! #NEBirding #UKBirding

And a few pics summarising some trips out of the local area this year - the Peru trip was absolutely mind blowing, the jaunt to Turkey was full of WP gold, and the occasional twitches were successful (mostly) too... all the best to everyone for 2026! #UKBirding #WorldBirding #WPBirding

So, the curtain comes down on 2025 - it won’t be remembered as being a vintage year for birding in North Tyneside, but still some real bits of quality on offer. Standouts of Ross’s Gull, Night Heron, Hume’s Warbler, Ashy-headed Wag and a patch first in Glossy Ibis… #NEBirding #UKBirding

No need, they are finding plenty of grass seed at the moment!