Andy Rickeard
@andyrickeard.bsky.social
Northumbria Ringing Group, North East Swan Study, Coot study, and Gateshead Kittiwakes andyrickeard (@) hotmail.com
Whooper Swan TUU. Ringed at Herrington Country Park, Sunderland, Sept 24. Re-sighted on Outer Hebrides Sept 25 and back at Herrington this morning.
November 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Whooper Swan TUU. Ringed at Herrington Country Park, Sunderland, Sept 24. Re-sighted on Outer Hebrides Sept 25 and back at Herrington this morning.
Reposted by Andy Rickeard
I've been updating our collaborative #CootStudy database. I started the study 17 years ago & thanks to a network of bird ringers across Britain & Ireland we've now colour-marked 4,400 Coot & received over 13,000 re-sightings. Pretty cool for a bird you hardly see in flight! #Ornithology #BirdRinging
November 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I've been updating our collaborative #CootStudy database. I started the study 17 years ago & thanks to a network of bird ringers across Britain & Ireland we've now colour-marked 4,400 Coot & received over 13,000 re-sightings. Pretty cool for a bird you hardly see in flight! #Ornithology #BirdRinging
Kittiwake chicks getting bigger at Gateshead Saltmeadows Tower.
July 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Kittiwake chicks getting bigger at Gateshead Saltmeadows Tower.
Comma, out in early evening sunshine, Sutherland Park, Benton Lodge.
June 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Comma, out in early evening sunshine, Sutherland Park, Benton Lodge.
Gateshead Kittiwake with 3 chicks at the Saltmeadows tower this afternoon. Third chick just peeping over the edge of the nest cup.
June 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Gateshead Kittiwake with 3 chicks at the Saltmeadows tower this afternoon. Third chick just peeping over the edge of the nest cup.
147 apparently occupied nests at the Gateshead Saltmeadows #Kittiwake tower today
June 1, 2025 at 6:49 PM
147 apparently occupied nests at the Gateshead Saltmeadows #Kittiwake tower today
Does size matter to a #Kittiwake? This one seems to be eyeing its neighbour’s pile jealously. At Gateshead Saltmeadows today.
June 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Does size matter to a #Kittiwake? This one seems to be eyeing its neighbour’s pile jealously. At Gateshead Saltmeadows today.
Kittiwakes, defining boundaries at Gateshead Saltmeadows today. #SuperSeabirdSunday
May 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Kittiwakes, defining boundaries at Gateshead Saltmeadows today. #SuperSeabirdSunday
Max 156 Kittiwakes at Gateshead Saltmeadows tower today. Low tide, lots of birds bringing in mud and weed to build up nests. ACC ringed as adult in 2019 rearranging and patting down mud with feet before settling back down.
May 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Max 156 Kittiwakes at Gateshead Saltmeadows tower today. Low tide, lots of birds bringing in mud and weed to build up nests. ACC ringed as adult in 2019 rearranging and patting down mud with feet before settling back down.
Poplar hawk-moths at Lockhaugh this morning.
May 10, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Poplar hawk-moths at Lockhaugh this morning.
Having returned to Gateshead Saltmeadows to re-establish nest sites over the last few weeks. Evidence today of new nest material being brought in and the start of mating. “AB6” and “ACZ” both ringed at the tower as adults in 2019.
May 7, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Having returned to Gateshead Saltmeadows to re-establish nest sites over the last few weeks. Evidence today of new nest material being brought in and the start of mating. “AB6” and “ACZ” both ringed at the tower as adults in 2019.
Second calendar year Whooper at Big Waters today. Ringed as a cygnet at Brekkatjorn, Iceland.
April 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Second calendar year Whooper at Big Waters today. Ringed as a cygnet at Brekkatjorn, Iceland.
Pleased to find this “in the wild” tonight. From Wylam Brewery and @northwildlife.bsky.social
April 25, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Pleased to find this “in the wild” tonight. From Wylam Brewery and @northwildlife.bsky.social
Reading #Kittiwake numbers at the Gateshead Saltmeadows Tower today. ABB ringed as adult 2018, AAV ringed as adult 2016 and ANS ringed more recently in 2023
April 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reading #Kittiwake numbers at the Gateshead Saltmeadows Tower today. ABB ringed as adult 2018, AAV ringed as adult 2016 and ANS ringed more recently in 2023
Kittiwake ‘ACH’ returns to Gateshead ‘Kittiwakery’ www.shoneywind.com/kittiwakery-...
Darviced kittiwake "ACH" returns to SSE face of Kittiwakery in 2025 » Shoney Wind
On 2 April 2025, Andy Rickeard of Northumbria Ringing Group (NRG) observed Darviced kittiwake “ACH” regularly visiting the SSE face of Kittiwakery, on the
www.shoneywind.com
April 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Kittiwake ‘ACH’ returns to Gateshead ‘Kittiwakery’ www.shoneywind.com/kittiwakery-...
Maximum of 174 #Kittiwakes at Gateshead Saltmeadows tower and Kittiwakery today. 27 colour rings read, oldest returning bird was ringed at the tower as a chick in 2016. Love that sound!
April 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Maximum of 174 #Kittiwakes at Gateshead Saltmeadows tower and Kittiwakery today. 27 colour rings read, oldest returning bird was ringed at the tower as a chick in 2016. Love that sound!
76 Kittiwakes back on the Gateshead Saltmeadows tower this lunchtime. Read 17 colour rings. All 17 birds back on the same face, shelf and area of shelf as they were in 2024. #Kittiwakes #SuperSeabirdSunday
March 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
76 Kittiwakes back on the Gateshead Saltmeadows tower this lunchtime. Read 17 colour rings. All 17 birds back on the same face, shelf and area of shelf as they were in 2024. #Kittiwakes #SuperSeabirdSunday
Gateshead Saltmeadows a Kittiwake free zone today. Two Cormorant fishing successfully in the Tyne, 10 Lesser Black Backed Gulls among the Herrings on the North side of the river. The distant chimes of an optimistic Ice cream van drift over from Byker playing Food Glorious Food.
March 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Gateshead Saltmeadows a Kittiwake free zone today. Two Cormorant fishing successfully in the Tyne, 10 Lesser Black Backed Gulls among the Herrings on the North side of the river. The distant chimes of an optimistic Ice cream van drift over from Byker playing Food Glorious Food.
Reposted by Andy Rickeard
Calling all aspirational nature writers!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
March 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Calling all aspirational nature writers!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
Sun shining at Gateshead Saltmeadows, Kittiwakes starting to return to the nesting towers with one on the upstream face yesterday and two on the downstream face today.
March 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Sun shining at Gateshead Saltmeadows, Kittiwakes starting to return to the nesting towers with one on the upstream face yesterday and two on the downstream face today.
Just biding his time.
February 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Just biding his time.
Scarlet Elfcup at Rowlands Gill this morning. Lovely views of Red Kite and Buzzard nearby as well.
February 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Scarlet Elfcup at Rowlands Gill this morning. Lovely views of Red Kite and Buzzard nearby as well.
Ringing waterfowl at Killingworth Lake this morning, mainly Coot but was fortunate to catch a drake Pochard. Given that eye, I’m disappointed their scientific name doesn’t mention Sauron.
February 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Ringing waterfowl at Killingworth Lake this morning, mainly Coot but was fortunate to catch a drake Pochard. Given that eye, I’m disappointed their scientific name doesn’t mention Sauron.
Sometimes it’s the little things. Don’t recall seeing a Teal at the Model Boat Club end of Killingworth Lake in 30 odd years of ringing waterfowl there….. but there was one there today. Cropped mobile phone shot.
February 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Sometimes it’s the little things. Don’t recall seeing a Teal at the Model Boat Club end of Killingworth Lake in 30 odd years of ringing waterfowl there….. but there was one there today. Cropped mobile phone shot.
IC3 a Coot that likes to explore North East ponds. Ringed Killingworth Lake 10/19. Subsequently recorded at Gosforth Park 03/20 Back on K/worth 08/20. Arcot 03/21 Big Waters 01/21 Arcot again 04/21. Shibdon 05/23 and 10/23 and today at Joe’s Pond Rainton Meadows. Photo @mickthebirder71.bsky.social
January 19, 2025 at 6:15 PM
IC3 a Coot that likes to explore North East ponds. Ringed Killingworth Lake 10/19. Subsequently recorded at Gosforth Park 03/20 Back on K/worth 08/20. Arcot 03/21 Big Waters 01/21 Arcot again 04/21. Shibdon 05/23 and 10/23 and today at Joe’s Pond Rainton Meadows. Photo @mickthebirder71.bsky.social