Came 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

A short clip of a juv Glaucous Gull feasting on a carcass at S. Shields Yacht Club this morning. #NEbirding

At 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

A short clip of the Shore Lark, this afternoon, that briefly dropped on to S. Shields Pier before making off south. #NEbirding

This 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

Isabelline 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

A short clip of 1 of the 3 reported Pied Flycatchers from Trow Quarry, South Shields this afternoon. #NEbirding

Also on Sandhaven Beach this evening were 5 Wheatear. Probably some of the same birds that have been around for the last few days. #NEbirding

An 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

A short clip of the summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on Sandhaven Beach this morning. #NEbirding

3 ad Roseate Terns on Sandhaven Beach this afternoon. Only 2 had metal rings, both on left leg. Only stayed about 5 mins. before being flushed. A single ad Med Gull hung around a bit longer. #NEbirding #UKbirding

A short slomo clip of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on my neighbours Lavender this morning. Totally ignored my Lavender so didn't get it as a house tick! #NEbirding #UKbirding @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Came across this 'monster' this morning in N. Marine Park. Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria). The largest British species at about 2cm long. A migrant from Europe to southern Britain rarely seen this far north. #NEbirding #UKbirding