The NE coast is a hotspot for asio owls crossing the North Sea and despite few records in October of birds 'in off' Northumbria Ringing Group caught a record 11 long-eared owls, 2 short-eared owls and 8 barn owls across two nights last week. LEO presumably migrating at night unseen by birders.....

Northumbria Ringing Group have been monitoring 12 sparrowhawk nests in SW Northumberland. Three broods were ringed this weekend, all good sizes. One of four, one of five and exceptionally this one of 6 well grown young!

Third sparrowhawk nest of the year in SW Northumberland, but not yet hatched. Lots of moulted feathers from the female and plucks littering the floor - woodcock, great spotted woodpecker, jay. Plus jackdaw, song thrush, wren and blackbird (not collected)

This lovely weather we are having is not all good news...

Some of our wildlife is struggling. While wader monitoring found several dead young Lapwings

A long slog checking a sparrowhawk territory. Two hours searching before finally finding some plucks (jay, blackbird and wood pigeon), a moulted secondary and finally a female sat tight on a nest

Third and fourth nests of dipper on the Derwent ringed yesterday, broods of 2 & 3. Two pairs still on eggs. Likely some broods have fledged before other pairs have even hatched.

Dipper monitoring on the Derwent is into full swing with the first broods ringed (both 5 chicks) and 11 adults caught. Occupancy appears to be down with ~25% of sites unoccupied. Impact of poor water quality perhaps, or just natural fluctuation. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social

The orchard continues to be a vital food resource this winter, even more so with frozen fields all around. 85 fieldfare and 5 blackbirds this weekend, plus 3 sparrowhawks and a kestrel that were hunting them. #NorthumbriaRingingGroup #birdringing #nebirding