Was a beautiful early Autumn evening at Whittle Dene last night. 1st Green Sand + my 1st Greenshank. 2nd brood of Spot Flys on site. 2nd Hobby of the year through. 1 Quail singing. 2nd juv Barn Owl noted. Star of the show, only my 3rd ever Short Eared Owl on site. Magic 👍 #NEBirding

I estimate was there was at least 8 birds in the area as at different times there would be 3 or 4 visibly active juveniles and calls coming from different trees from multiple different birds.

Another breeding success at Whittle Dene as I noted my first ever fledged Barn Owl actually on the site last night. Was heard begging last week and last night it was sitting behind the same tree where it had been heard and where we saw an adult in Spring. #NEBirding

For the first time in 20 years of working my Whittle Dene patch Spotted Flycatchers have bred. At least four fledglings active with parents late this evening. Difficult to photograph as the young birds confined themselves to cover with only brief views. Really pleased with this record 👍 #NEBirding

Lovely evening at Whittle Dene with this remarkably tame juvenile Kestrel. I sat maybe 15ft away and it wasn't bothered. Even flew down and caught something on the ground right in front of me then flew back up to the same post. The showy Spotted flycatcher was still present too. #NEBirding

Great evening up the reservoirs tonight. One of the Spotted Flycatchers remained and was very active. 2 Male & 6 juv Redstarts. 6 juv Grey Partridge, Quail singing and best of all a Hobby through around 9.30pm 👍 #NEBirding

There was a couple of very showy Spotted Flycatchers at Whittle Dene last night. Unfortunately it was 21.30 when I found them so I didn't have long to photograph them as the light was fading fast. Hopefully they'll still be there this evening. #NEBirding

Some good news, the Little Owls have fledged 2 young at Whittle Dene. Came as a surprise as I've seen one adult around the farm. #NEBirding

Hi Tom, thanks for the feedback. You're right the bird had a damaged leg & an injury on its head. To my eyes it looked too dark for LBBG with no contrast in the wing colour... I don't know how variable that is.

Would welcome some help with this gull seen at Whittle Dene this evening. At first I thought GBBG but on further inspection was too small (slightly smaller than Herring), yellow/orange legs, more delicate bill and noticeably long wings in flight. #NEBirding

Was gutted I couldn't go for the Reef Heron today but this evening more than made up for it. Found a Turtle Dove at Whittle Dene. A self-found patch tick and county tick to boot. 12 years since my last UK TD! 👍🥇🎉 #Patchgold #NEBirding

The Little Owl has been a regular feature around the farm lately. I've still only seen the one so I don't think they're breeding here. So pleased to have at least one back on the patch after they disappeared for a year. #NEBirding

Been a while since I got a year tick at Whittle Dene so I was delighted to flush this cuckoo this evening. Annoyed I didn't spot it before it flushed but it did at least land in the trees to the South for a minute so i was able to get a couple of ropey record shots 👍👍 #NEBirding

Nice views of the Little Owl around the farm tonight in different lights. #NEbirding

It's such a buzz getting Marsh Harrier on the patch for the past 4 or 5 yrs. They usually turn up Aug/Sep. This young one has been around a couple of weeks & until now I'd only had brief glimpses. Tonight we got some lovely views. You can even see its full crop. Greedy pig! 👍 #NEbirding

The Little Owl showed really nicely at the farm at Whittle Dene this evening. Second sighting this week. Found the Tawny Owl day roosting again but it was buried in a bush so no photos sadly. #NEbirding

A fine evening up the reservoirs. With the help of a noisy mob of blackbirds I managed to relocate the Tawny Owl in the same copse as last week. Otherwise fairly quiet, in no small part down to Northumbrian Water's annual habitat destruction. Fuck those ground-nesting birds eh? #NEbirding

Always a very special moment when I get my first Osprey of the Spring at Whittle Dene. This one showed very well, catching a couple of Roach over an hour or so and even perching in a nearby tree to eat the 2nd fish. Was chased off South by Jackdaws from the farm. 👍👍 #NEbirding

Another glorious sunny evening up the reservoirs tonight yielded my first Common Swifts of the year with up to 13 on the Southern Res. Relocated the pair of Grey Partridge seen last week. This Song Thrush was making some lovely noises... #NEbirding

Gorgeous Spring evening up the reservoirs tonight. Highlights were 2 Grey Partridge (very scarce here now), 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Quail singing (my earliest ever here) and a fabulous sun-bathing Tawny Owl... my first for 4 years 👍 #NEbirding

Gropper is almost an annual record at Whittle Dene these days but I didn't get one last year so I was to delighted to have this little fella belting it out at dusk this evening! Also my earliest record at WD 👍 + Barn Owl, Willow Tit, first Common Whitethroats & Sedge Warblers #NEbirding

Glorious sunshine up at the reservoirs tonight but very chilly. 100s of Sand & House Martins and Swallows, 2 Redshank still hanging around, drake Shoveler which has been present over a week now and lots of displaying Common Sands. Still very few Yellow Wagtails sadly. #NEBirding

I found this notebook at Whittle Dene on 22nd April. It has field notes from a trip to Africa. If anybody knows any local birders who've recently been to Africa and may have lost it, please let them know I have it & to get in touch. Feel free to share on local WhatsApp & Facebook groups. #NEBirding

Female Garganey at Whittle Dene this evening! My first ever on the patch. Fantastic find by S Rippon #NEbirding #Patchgold🏅🍾

Great to get my first Yellow Wagtails at Whittle Dene this afternoon. Always my favourite Spring arrival. Also Lesser Whitethroat heard by S. Rippon. #NEbirding

Quality Spring afternoon at Whittle Dene today with the first Common Tern, Common Sandpipers, Blackcaps. Stars of the show were one late staying male Brambling with the finch flock and 2 fresh-in Little-ringed Plovers #NEBirding

Can't remember the last time I had a Ring Ouzel at Edmundbuyers, must be over 10 years, so I was delighted when I heard this one calling tonight. #NEBirding

A real treat to have a Slavonian Grebe just 15 minutes from home today. It wasn't showing when I arrived but soon appeared, drifting into the middle of the reservoir, spooked by dog walkers who weren't supposed to be in there 😡 it stayed distant but gave very nice scope views. #NEBirding

Impressive count of 62 Whooper Swans at Whittle Dene today and unusually they were on the smallest (Western) reservoir affording an opportunity for some decent pictures. First Chiffchaffs calling and Dippers displaying on Whittle Burn made for a fine Spring afternoon. #NEBirding

The Red-necked grebe at Bolam stayed in the middle of the lake so was always quite distant but still gave nice scope views. Also disappeared into the reeds for long spells. #NEBirding