Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Thanks, it seemed to be having fun as it would fly off and then come back again. 000
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Slomo clip of a juv Roseate Tern at Sandhaven Beach yesterday, that seems to be having fun, playing with a piece of debris, dropping it then picking it up again. Perhaps practising for fishing when it grows up. #NEbirding 190
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 27/07/20264 ad 2 juv Roseate Terns on Sandhaven Beach again this evening, although 1 ad was a different bird from last night. This clip shows 2 ads enjoying a bit washup while a juv plays on the beach. #NEbirding 071
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 26/07/2026Didn't mind getting absolutely drenched on Sandhaven Beach today as it meant no dogs or humans disturbing the Tern flock. Over 100 Terns settling on the rocks and sand. Mainly Common, couple Sandwich, a handful Arctic and 6 Roseate (4ad,2juv). A Little Tern had been present earlier. #NEbirding 0110
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 19/04/2026My 1st Orangetip Butterfly of the year in Co. Durham. Green-veined White was also a year tick. #NEbirding 040
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 05/03/2026My 1st butterfly of the year, a Comma in N. Marine Park, South Shields enjoying the 1st decent sunny day. #NEbirding 0120
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 21/02/2026It was at Bents Park S/S last Tue, but I have seen it previously over the last 3 winters. Beginning to look really smart now that it has almost a full black hood 020
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Short clip of the Tundra Bean Geese coming into land at Boldon Flats this afternoon. #NEbirding 0150
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 07/02/2026A short clip of 1 of 2 SE Owls initially being photobombed by 1 of 2 Barn Owls at Cowpen Bewley this evening. #NEbirding 070
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 31/01/2026A few of the 22 Tundra Bean Geese that came into roost at Boldon Flats this evening, just after sunset. #NEbirding 0151
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 24/01/2026Peregrine hunting over S. Shields Pier this morning. Very few waders around, so soon gave up and headed south. #NEbirding 060
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 08/01/2026I checked through my nocmig from last night. A large influx of Redwing with 100 recordings, mostly between 6 and 9am. However the highlight was 3 calls of Waxwing at 0423. Just to be sure I confirmed with both Birdnet and Merlin. #NEbirding 0190
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 15/12/2025Red-necked Grebe still showing well at S. Shields this morning, in the pouring rain. #NEbirding 1140
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 14/12/2025Great to get a Home patch 'lifer' when this Red Kite drifted west over the Lawe Top, S. Shields today. Over the Pier, over the Parks then over the House. #NEbirding 0180
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 13/12/2025A Red-necked Grebe at Little Haven Beach this afternoon, only stayed for a short visit. It may well have been the same bird I found at the same place exactly a week ago. #NEbirding 1140
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 06/12/2025A bit video of a Red-necked Grebe from Little Haven Beach, S. Shields this lunch time. #NEbirding 0140
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 01/12/2025I have included the recovery records of the Med Gull from yesterday. Ringed in the nest in 2017 and spending most winters in the NE before returning to Poland to breed in the summer. This was my 5th sighting off her, over 4 winters. She is now 8 1/2 years old. #NEbirding 0100
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 30/11/2025Came across an old friend this afternoon on the Dragon Playing Fields, S. Shields. A Med Gull which I last saw in Jan 2024. It is colour ringed with Red band and PETL in white. I have sent off the data to the Polish Ringing group and hope to get some feedback. #NEbirding 0150
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 26/11/2025A short clip of a juv Glaucous Gull feasting on a carcass at S. Shields Yacht Club this morning. #NEbirding 1360
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 22/11/2025At last something semi decent has turned up at S. Shields Pier. A Slavonian Grebe that cruised up and down Sandhaven Beach late afternoon, before heading out to sea. May still be in the area tomorrow. #NEbirding 0140
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/11/2025Possibly fulvescens an intergrade between abietinus and tristis as per Birds of the World 000
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/11/2025Saw this very pale and grey looking Chiffchaff as it moved inland from the Pier, through the car park and then into the bushes beside Haven Point. Thought it looked good for a "sibe". Sadly it called just like a normie. Oh well, keep looking. #NEbirding 270
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 07/11/2025Highlight of last nights nocmig in N. Marine Park was loads of Redwing, several Fieldfare, and my 1st Brambling of the autumn. In the Pier Head car park similar numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare but also had Wigeon, Common Snipe and a Woodcock. #NEbirding 060
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 31/10/2025A short clip of the Shore Lark, this afternoon, that briefly dropped on to S. Shields Pier before making off south. #NEbirding 0320
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 30/09/2025Another YB Warbler from an audiomoth recording. Again from Pier Head car park S. Shields this morning at 08:51. It also only called for a few secs before going silent for the rest of the day. #NEbirding 060
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 27/09/2025I have just gone through the files of an audiomoth I left in the Pier Head Car Park in S. Shields yesterday. At 14:20 a Yellow-browed Warbler called 17 times. It must have moved on quickly as there are no more calls. A few Redwing were noted early this morning #NEbirding 0120
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 26/09/2025This afternoon 5 Barnacle Geese circled S. Shields Pier before settling on the river. Only stayed 5 mins before heading off north. A Greenshank also over the Pier, not seen just heard calling. Very little else of interest. #NEbirding 0111
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 25/09/2025Isabelline Wheatear at Whitburn today. Really lucky to be there when it tried to scramble up the wall. Great find @birds-and-me.bsky.social #NEbirding 3240
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/09/2025Another day another another Whinchat. This time by the side of S. Shields Pier. Using the wall as I blind the bird came relatively close, for a change! #NEbirding 0130
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 08/09/2025Also at Trow Quarry today was a Whinchat, at times loosely associating with the local Stonechat family. #NEbirding 0160
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 08/09/2025A short clip of 1 of the 3 reported Pied Flycatchers from Trow Quarry, South Shields this afternoon. #NEbirding 090
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 05/09/2025Also on Sandhaven Beach this evening were 5 Wheatear. Probably some of the same birds that have been around for the last few days. #NEbirding 0120
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 05/09/2025An Adult and a Juvenile Roseate Tern on Sandhaven Beach this evening. The juv has a ring on its left tarsus which shows it is a Coquet I. bird. #NEbirding 0110
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 18/08/2025Came across a family of Stonechats (2 ads and 3 juv) from the south bowl of Trow Quarry this afternoon. Adult male looking a bit ragged now that he is moulting, only has 2 tail feathers. The 3rd juv was higher up the stem, out of picture. #NEbirding 070
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 25/07/2025Thanks Tom, so the bird is at least 8 years old. Nice to know. According to AI that is the average life span for an adult, although some have lived way longer, to over 20 years of age. 110
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 24/07/2025Not surprised with all the human disturbance, that there were only 4 (2ad, 2juv) Roseate Terns on Sandhaven Beach at high tide this evening. However 14 Sanderling, some still in summer plumage, didn't seem to mind as much. @tomcadwallender.bsky.social any info on bird with 2 leg rings. #NEbirding 1140
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 23/07/2025Sat on the Sandhaven Beach for over 2 1/2 hours this pm. At 1 point 10 ad and 3 juv Roseate Terns were present together. Birds with rings inc. 3 on Left leg, 3 on Right Leg, 1 no ring and 1 on both legs. #NEbirding #UKbirding 0140
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 22/07/2025A short clip of the summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on Sandhaven Beach this morning. #NEbirding 0170
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 19/07/2025They were there when I was at school in Edinburgh in the mid 60's. We went looking for them but can't actually remember if we saw any or not, though. 010
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Thanks Paul, This is the time of the year for them. Best bet is Whitburn Obs. They have been seen there on several occasions lately 110
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Put my audio gear down by the S.S Pier overnight. Turned out to be quite interesting. 5 sp of Tern inc. Roseate and Little (1 instance each). Waders inc. Whimbrel (6), Redshank (6), Common Sand (4), Oiks (4), Curlew (4), Dunlin (1) and to top it off Wood Sand (1). #NEbirding #nocmig #bioacoustics 0110
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Cheers, always like to see them even if it's always distant 000
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Thanks Chris, had a few sightings recently. Been a good year for them. 010
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Just after seeing the White-beaked Dolphins I turned round and this Hummingbird Hawk Moth was feeding on the Valerian by the Pier side. Seems to have been a good year for these migrants. #NEbirding 1130
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025It certainly is, they never seem to come as close inshore as the Bottle-nosed do. 010
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025A small pod of White-beaked Dolphins way, way out beyond the piers at S. Shields this afternoon. I could hardly see them so it was lucky I got this heavily cropped photo, so I could positively id them. #NEbirding #UKbirding 3160
Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 15/07/2025Thanks Tom, so the unringed bird could still have been a Coquet bird. 110