Long-tailed Duck

I was just climbing through the hole in the fence at Stella, cursing as the tide was too high for gulls when I spotted something black and white dive mid-river. Happily hoping for a grebe I was over the moon when a cracking female Long-tailed Duck surfaced. After a couple of swoops from a Herring Gull it took off and headed low down stream. A Gateshead tick for me so it deserves a few photos.

Long-tailed Duck

At Shibdon a big influx of Lesser Black-backed Gull was apparent with 22 birds on the pond, including the following bird that has been returning for at least the last 4 years.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

I picked up a small duck circling high up that turned out to be the Long-tailed Duck. It did drop low, but obviously saw that the pond was only ankle deep and headed back towards the Tyne.

Long-tailed Duck over Shibdon

Sled Lane held 11 displaying Goosander and 10 Tufted Duck. Watergate had a drake Teal, 3 Little Grebe, Red Kite and Buzzard. 2 Redshank were back at Lamesley along with 75 Curlew and a drake Wigeon. Displaying Red Kite and Buzzard were over Far Pasture.

Red Kite

Roe Deer