North Shields and Tynemouth

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain,
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain
Lyrics...Guns and Roses

Maybe the lack of birds raised my interest in pub signs.



A bit colder down here.

I have my eye on this block for a luxury riverside development. If you would like to join me in this venture please send cash deposit in large plain brown envelope to Killy Birder, C/O Box 666, Cuba. You know that you can trust me!

5^th Nov. I began my walk from North Shields in rain this morning and the rain continued until I had reached Northumberland Park. I was planning the route for a walk to take place in the spring which seems a long way into the future at present. There wasn’t too much around in the form of birds in the park, although the autumnal look of the place was rather nice even in the dampness. The Mandarin Drake appears to have left, but at least I had a sighting of Great Spotted Woodpecker, heard before seen, and a party of Long Tailed Tits.

I took a walk down Tanners Bank keeping an eye on the tree area, but found little. I did find a Carrion Crow with deformed bill and some which were partially leucistic. The smell of raw fish was not pleasant and almost put me off my lunch, but not quite! I took an interest in the pub signs. Lots of gulls, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Just before I reached Tynemouth I spotted a skein of forty-five Pink-footed Geese just off the river mouth flying south. I took a look around the tree area at the foot of Collingwood’s monument and Priory Park. A pair of Blackcap was the highlight and in amongst the party of tits, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.

The tide was high, but I still managed to find Oystercatchers, Turnstones, and Redshank to add to the Lapwings I had seen in the fields as I passed through Shiremoor earlier in the day. Eider Duck and Cormorants made up the cast. Someone told me that Twite had been reported near the priory during the morning, but I saw none.

It is always an atmospheric walk down there and today was no exception. When I returned home there were three noisy Mistle Thrushes near the berries where I had seen a Redwing in the morning.