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Duncan Watson

@tynemouthbirds.bsky.social
236 followers 131 following 116 posts

Birder and Ecologist, mostly local patch birding at Tynemouth

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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Grey plover being blasted by the waves on Spanish Battery Rocks, Tynemouth this evening. Not a common bird here by any means, even if I was hoping for better given the easterlies and murk. Newly arrived brambling and wheatear late on provided some hope for tomorrow though... #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Amazingly, yesterday's grey partridge made another appearance at Tynemouth today! At dawn it was running around on the short grass and concrete paths at Sharpness, about 700m away from where it was yesterday, before disappearing into the long grass once again... #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Grey partridge at the base of Tynemouth Pier this morning - the first here for ~40 years! Genuine #patchgold and early contender for bird of the autumn😜 It's the first bird I've run for in a long time and just as well I did, as it was flushed by a van seconds after I got there! #nebirding #pwc2026
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Eclipse drake wigeon on Tynemouth Boating Lake this morning. A great bird for the boating lake but disappointing, given it's mid-September, that wigeon is the best bird of the day. Will this run of westerlies ever end...? #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Juvenile knot on Spanish Battery Rocks, Tynemouth this morning. It's always good to see something other than the usual oycs, redshanks, turnstones and curlews here. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This osprey livened up an otherwise uneventful seawatch at Tynemouth this morning, seriously upsetting all the other birds for miles around and last seen heading south over the piers just before 8 o'clock. #patchbirding #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Phone scoped video of the juvenile Caspian gull on the Black Middens at Tynemouth this morning. Not the greatest footage ever (it was pretty distant to be fair) but shows most of the key features well enough. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Juvenile Med gull on Spanish Battery Rocks, Tynemouth this morning. There seem to be quite a few of these around at the moment... #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The fabulous sooty tern on the wonderful Coquet Island this evening. Not what I was expecting to be watching, or where I was expecting to be after work today! #nebirding #RareBirdsUK
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Reposted by Duncan Watson
Alison Stenning @alisonstenning.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Sharing again for more reach - A spillage of approx one billion (25 tonnes) of nurdles (plastic pellets) following a collision at the Port of Tyne is washing up on beaches from Northumberland to Sunderland, with North & South Tyneside hardest hit. Huge volunteer effort underway. Press release ⬇️
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
First juvenile Caspian gull of the autumn at Tynemouth this morning - my earliest ever here by 10 days. Not the best pics, though to be fair it was a fly-by on a seawatch! #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Broad-bodied chaser at Tynemouth this morning - the first I've ever seen here.
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Temporarily out of twitching retirement for a day! Great views of the western reef heron below Caernarfon Castle this morning... #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
A rare trip up to Druridge Bay this afternoon reminded me that there are lots of good birds to see if you are willing to travel outside North Tyneside! A great white egret at East Chev South Pool was a surprise, as were nine 2cy little gulls at Hauxley. #nebirding
Great white egret, East Chevington, 5 June 2026Little gulls (x4), Hauxley, 5 June 2026
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Another lovely morning for a vis-mig watch at Tynemouth. A hobby north at 0728 was a long overdue patch tick 🎉 and a spotted flycatcher over north was the first I've ever seen on vis mig. Also singing sedge warbler and lesser whitethroat around the patch this morning. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Slower vis-mig day at Tynemouth this morning but great to get prolonged views of this marsh harrier, circling over South Shields to gain height before crossing over the river, then continuing on north. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Greenshank on Tynemouth Boating Lake this morning. A scarcely credible sighting and a timely reminder of why I keep checking the place, despite its complete lack of interesting birds 99% of the time... #patchgold #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Vis-mig at Tynemouth this am produced a common crane south (only my second ever here but far too distant for pics), a hooded crow north and landing briefly (just about visible in photo), 9 mute swans flying out to sea then returning upriver, plus a steady run of hirundines. #nebirding #patchbirding
Mute swans, Tynemouth 16 May 2026Hooded crow, Tynemouth 16 May 2026
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Female nightjar at St Mary's Island Wetland this pm. Just the best birds... #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Very smart adult med gull on Spanish Battery, Tynemouth this morning #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Today's #patchbirding mission was sedge warbler. Just about annual in Tynemouth but largely restricted to early May so it was now or never... It took a while but it was eventually mission accomplished when I found one singing from deep in the vegetation west of the Haven (sound on). #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Fieldfare in Prior's Park in the cold and drizzle at Tynemouth this afternoon #patchbirding #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
My third grey plover in two days at SMI Wetland this morning. A strange-looking first-summer bird (but definitely not an American golden plover...) #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Genuine #patchbirding gold! One of two grey plovers on Spanish Battery Rocks at Tynemouth this afternoon - I've only ever seen fly-bys here before... #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Best morning of #patchbirding of the spring so far at Tynemouth today with female whinchat in Longsands dunes, 2 greenshanks over north, dark-bellied brent goose on Spanish Battery Rocks and 5 wheatears. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Whimbrel in the sea fret at Tynemouth this morning #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Relatively quiet vis mig morning at Tynemouth enlivened by a hooded crow north over the river at 0823 (sadly too distant for photos). Flyover hooded crows are pretty much annual here in mid-April if you spend long enough looking, though of course they count for nowt in #pwc2026 now... #nebirding
Grey heron north over Tynemouth 19-04-26Woodpigeons north over Tynemouth 19-04-26
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
'Just' a moorhen, but this one is Boating Lake gold! Moorhen on Tynemouth Boating Lake today, my first there for over six years... #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Quiet migration morning at Tynemouth today. Highlights of 12 whooper swans north and 3 sand martins south but very few passerines moving. A singing reed bunting on the Spanish Battery was unusual for here. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
It's a very, very long time since I've seen any taiga bean geese, so it was well worth a trip off patch to see the flock of 11 at Hoppen Kiln Flash this afternoon. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Other white-billed diver photos are very definitely available, but I was pleased to get this one when it popped up right in front of us in the sunshine at Blyth South Harbour this afternoon. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Polish colour-ringed Mediterranean gull 'PETL' with the black-heads at Tynemouth this morning #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Remains of one of two dead woodcocks found along the tide line at Longsands this pm. Presumably birds from the continent that didn't quite make it... #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Shockingly poor phone video (I didn't have my camera with me) but this knot with the turnstones on Tynemouth Boating Lake today is a true Boating Lake Mega! Along with little gull and 2 Med gulls in the surf off Longsands it made for a pretty decent lunchtime walk 😀 #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
First #patchbirding twitch of the year for this juvenile glaucous gull at North Shields Fish Quay, which gave good views late this afternoon before heading off towards South Shields Pier. I didn't see one here last year, so it was great to see this one so early in 2026. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
And that's #patchbirding at Tynemouth up and running in 2026, with the long-staying black redstart still braving the cold weather at the base of the pier. Happy New Year! #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
The best/worst of #patchbirding today... A wet lunchbreak spent staring across the river at the South Shields red-necked grebe, showing down to a few metres over there but more like 1km away from here! Easy enough to see what it was though in the scope and onto the #PWC2025 list it goes...
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Five snow buntings at Whitley Bay this morning coming to within a few feet at times (video taken with my phone) #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Black redstart at Cullercoats today - a bit more accommodating than the Tynemouth birds have been over the last couple of weeks. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Proper winter seawatching off Tynemouth pre-work this morning in strong northerlies and driving sleet! Disappointingly few birds moving though a single little auk was new for the year, plus 3 long-tailed ducks, great northern diver and 2 goldeneye. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Last Saturday's black redstarts (one male and one female type) at Tynemouth Priory are, somewhat surprisingly, still here and this morning were at the base of the pier. Not the best pics, in pretty grim conditions, but much better views than last weekend. #nebirding #patchbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Bike twitch to Tynemouth Priory this pm for two black redstarts. Far too distant for the camera but onto the #PWC2025 list they go! The afternoon was subsequently soured a bit by missing a swift sp by about 10 mins 🫤 but hopefully it'll still be around tomorrow... #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Over five hours #patchbirding at Tynemouth this morning. 3 YBWs the best birds by far, though sadly all evaded the camera. Seven little gulls, two treecreepers (scarce here) and this drake wigeon on Spanish Battery Rocks (unusual to see on the ground/water here) were the best of the rest. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Finally caught up with whooper swan at Tynemouth for #PWC2025 with 12 seen flying south this morning, including this flock of 7 past Spanish Battery. #nebirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Most waders are rare at Tynemouth Boating Lake (for obvious reasons!) and this young dunlin this morning was only the second I've ever seen there. It seemed unmoved by people walking past it, often at very close range, so sadly may not have been in the best of health. #nebirding #pwc2025
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Our last full day on Unst was a bit of a struggle in strong winds. The morning was virtually migrant-free but there was some evidence of a small arrival this afternoon with YBW, hen harrier and snow bunting at Skaw/Valyie. Sad to be leaving tomorrow but I'm sure I'll be back next year! #ukbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Unst Day 5: Another slow day, with migrants very hard to come by, was salvaged late afternoon as we finally joined the yellow-browed warbler party when we came across this beauty at Hunter's Wood. #ukbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Unst Day 4: Much quieter day today in a brisk southerly wind. A few new birds were evident but migrant passerines remain thin on the ground. A barred warbler at Burrafirth was probably the highlight, though it was generally very adept at avoiding the camera! #ukbirding
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Unst Day 3 (2): Eastern bonelli's warbler would be a British tick for me so despite great views at Houland this afternoon, it was somewhat frustrating not to hear its diagnostic call, despite spending 4.5 hours on site. #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk
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Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
The weather was beautiful on Unst this morning, the Pallas's grasshopper warbler was still present at Clingera and I was pleased to get some better photos... #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk
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