No big white winged gulls, yet.

Herring Gull - (first winter, 1CY) at Tynemouth boating lake

A quick look around Tynemouth and North Shields Fish Quay drew a blank for big white winged gulls. Still a bit early but, with a cold blast from the Arctic on the way, next week could be a different matter.

One step too far?

The cries from a Herring Gull chick drew my attention this morning. The poor thing had walked off it's chimney nest site and slid down the roof. It attempted to walk back up the roof but inevitably gravity won. Thankfully it slid onto a projecting window below and not to the cats below. It does, however, remain in a very dodgy spot so I'm not too optimistic for this one.

While this was going on a Goldfinch was busy munching through some corn flowers and ignoring the niger seed that's been out for 4 months without attracting a single bird.

Shoot to kill in Tynemouth?

This is a picture of a Herring Gull hanging dead from a TV aerial in Hotspur Street in Tynemouth. It's been here since last Friday.

A victim of local residents who wish to rid the village of gulls
 or did it hang itself after tuning into the last England match?

Chimney Pot Babes

 Herring Gull chicks on my neighbour's roof - there's 3 in total

Out of harms way, for now

If you dare to nest on a roof top at the North East coast then you may be staring down the barrel of an air rifle or see your nest pushed off a roof top, chicks and all. Sadly, most people won't live with wildlife if it wakes them up in the early morning, craps on their car or dive bombs their dog. This may go part way to explain why Herring Gulls are on the Red list for species in decline in the UK.

My suggestion is to get some ear plugs, wash your car and try not to be a sissy when out with the dog. This means nothing gets killed or evicted. Live and let live.

Either my neighbours share my sentiments or they just can't reach the two pairs of nesting gulls either side of my house. Both nests now have chicks - you can hear them but seeing them is another matter.

Safe for now

Once the young fledge 'people' will doubtless aim their cars at them, run away screaming, complain to the council, write to the local rag or call the RSPCA to 'rescue' them. All of the above happened in a single day last year. Hopefully by sharing some knowledge with my neighbours they will have a warmer welcome this year and a rosier future.

Blyth Harbour/South Beach 31/01

The Iceland Gull was seen about an hour before I got to Blyth Harbour, perched on top of the Port Authority building. All I found there were around 30 Ringed Plover roosting. Elsewhere there were plenty of sights and sounds on a beautiful last day of January.

HMS Illustrious was offshore on exercise and, according to the harbour master, the billowing black smoke suggested it was having 'engine problems'.  This ship was launched from Swan Hunters in 1978.



Less polluting craft included three gents in kayaks fishing just off the harbour mouth.

There were a number of Shag in the harbour looking very dapa with crests aloft.

 

Two Eider pairs were very vocal with the males making their pleasant "ah-ooo" call and occasionally 'scrapping'.



Lastly I came across two herring gulls showing a nice contrast between a 3CY (second winter) bird on the left and a 2CY (first winter) bird on the right. You may note that the 3CY bird appears slightly smaller than the 2CY bird and has a thinner bill - possibly male and female birds or just down to size variation.