It’s been an excellent year for Whinchats passing through Gateshead with a dozen or so in the spring and a handful already this month including this distant bird this morning

Despite becoming generally much commoner there have only been 3/4 previous Gateshead records of Great White Egret, all untwitchable short stayers. Today it was finally un-blocked for me with this one roosting at Shibdon Pond. Huge thanks to ⁦@gatesheadandbey⁩ for the find!

This morning on Burdon Moor good numbers of juvenile Swallows resting on the walls and fences waiting to be fed by their parents. Probably heading south before too long

2 Black-tailed Godwits at Shibdon Pond this morning represent only the second occurrence of the species in the borough this year. Thanks to George for the info

Silver-washed Fritillary is extremely rare in Gateshead so was very pleased to come across this one this morning in woodland near Chopwell. A first for me in the borough

White-letter Hairstreak is one of the less common butterflies in Gateshead. This one was enjoying brunch this morning with a Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle

Checking the tidal mud for passage waders at Stella this afternoon drew a blank but a Shoveler feeding vigorously at the water’s edge was a surprise and the first I’ve seen here

I rarely bird away from the patch so two trips away in a fortnight is unprecedented. However I could not resist the lure of the Song Sparrow at Flamborough. Not arriving until late pm there was a nervous wait of an hour before it thankfully showed well

A night in Ayr, some haggis for breakfast and a Western Sandpiper. What’s not to like!

Also what I think may be a Spider-hunting wasp?

Off patch today watching insects near the Derwent Reservoir in beautiful sunshine. Green Tiger Beetles were plentiful and showy. Two-banded Longhorn Beetles on the other hand were much less cooperative and it took several hours for one to pose nicely

With Lamesley almost dry thought I would have a look in Chopwell Woods this morning. Too many dog walkers and bikers but did have an unexpected encounter with 3 Crossbills which flew off almost immediately, just enough time for a long range record shot

Back on the patch this morning and nice views of the Whinchat on Ravensworth Fell found early doors by ⁦@gatesheadandbey⁩. There’s been a few passing through Gateshead so far this Spring

And just four more from Mallorca as it’s back to the patch now

Had a great holiday in Mallorca & thanks to top gen from @WhitleyBirder, got 4 Black Vultures at S’Albufera + a singing Moustached Wblr - tho sadly utv. Birds elsewhere included a Roller (only a scarce pm), a Turtle Dove (my 1st in years), Hoopoes (common) and Wrynecks (a few)

Arriving at Lamesley Watermeadows with ⁦@jinkyjbirding57⁩ this morning he immediately picked up this Greenshank. Just time for a couple of record shots before it was flushed by a Lapwing and flew off N

To escape the biting wind on Ravensworth Fell this morning this singing Grasshopper Warbler hunkered down into a sheltered hollow to advertise his presence

It’s day eight today for our Spring passage Knot here in Gateshead which continues to associate with the Redshank flock on the Tyne at Dunston

The wait for a Wheatear in Gateshead was finally ended this morning when a minimum of 11 birds were in the fields at the bottom of Pennyfine Road. Thanks to ⁦@paulandmaureen⁩ for the tip off

Grey Plover and Knot back on Timber Beach, Dunston on the rising tide today. The first ever opportunity to photograph the two species together in the Borough