East Chevington Murmuration

At about 3 30pm the first starlings appear, just a few small flocks of ten or more, then the numbers build. Eventually about 15,000 gather, putting on quite a show as they fly very low over our heads. By 4pm they drop into the southern reed bed to roost. Next time I'll make sure my video camera batteries are charged!

Vulgar Commotion

Juvenile Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris)

A commotion drew me to the window this evening, where the sight, and sound, of at least 250 starlings devouring the insufficient fare offered by my bird feeders, was quite a sight.

The flock was a mix of doting parents, and vociferous youngsters. Well it is half-term after all.

Signs of Spring in the Garden

Blackbird nest building in the Ivy

Neighbours Cherry in blossom

Frog spawn appeared on the 23rd March this year - 2 days earlier than last year!

Swift box has Starlings nesting in the downstairs 'flat'

Bathtime at St Mary's

The song of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits filled the air at St Mary's today. A Chiffchaff was singing in Holywell Dene while at the Beehive Flash there was a pair of Shelduck and 150 Greylag Geese.

A flock of a hundred or more Starlings take a 

communal bath on the wetland at St Mary's

Meadow Pipit preparing for another aerial display

Common Toad Bufo Bufo at St Mary's Wetland

Bay Watch 04/06 - starring Black Redstart

Today I walked to Holywell Dene via the waggonway and then across to the coast and back along the beach, picking up 44 species. The highlight was a fabulous male Black Redstart by the Delaval Arms pub.

Throughout the dene the birds were busy feeding young, many of which have now fledged.

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit

Flocks of young Starlings were feeding at St Mary's

Brown Trout in the dene

Foal at Brierdene Farm

Copter over St Mary's (a birder perhaps?)

Bay Watch 23/04 - Spring Episode

15th April along the waggonway

What a difference a week makes. On the 15th of April I took a local walk round the patch and other than Chiffchaff and a single Sand Martin there were no summer visitors.

Today was a different story. Passing Monkseaton metro station I had Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat. Along the waggonway there were more warblers, mainly Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs.

At St Mary's I had my first Sedge Warbler. Swallows and Sand Martins are now around in numbers and Sandwich Terns are crying out.



All in all I feel it is now time to say it - Spring has sprung. Roll on the summer.

Today along the waggonway (warbler boulevard)

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler (too quick for me)

Sandwich Tern

Peacock Butterfly (not a Painted Lady as shown on some North Tyneside Council signs)

Starlings on the beach

Purple Sandpiper

Reed Bunting

Sand Martins checking out the cliffs on Whitley Beach

Dessicated Frog

Dessicated Lumpsucker

Don't ask. This type of thing happens when the sun comes out in Whitley.

Starlings are totally gorgeous

Starlings might just be one of most beautiful birds there are. In spring plumage they are quite stunning and, in the winter, their aerobatics are mesmerising. I captured some video of a flock coming together to roost just west of Haydon Bridge, Northumberland - click here to view.