Stephen M.'s photos with the keyword: tyne_and_wear

Adult Jackdaw at Boldon Flats nature reserve.

Looking across the Boldon Flats nature reserve towards Cleadon, with a towering Cumolonimbus cloud in the background. The 160 year old Cleadon water tower can be seen in the background.

Pied Wheatear breeds from Romania east across central Asia, wintering in central Africa. The species is a rare visitor to Britain, with 1-2 sightings every year. This bird, a first-winter male, was present around Whitley Bay from 1-12 November and was typically tame. It would use a variety of perched, including the many memorial benches along the Promenade.

This unassuming brown bird was discovered by Marsden Quarry in late October, remaining there for a number of days. Identification was a little uncertain at first, with the bird showing features consistent with Siberian Stonechat and reported as such at first. However, with more images available, there were some inconsistencies in plumage characters in comparison to that species and the consensus settled on this bird being a hybrid between Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) and Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra). There have only been a small number of cases of such hybridisation reported, making this a very rare sighting.

The Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle. Built in 1884, the museum hosts a variety of natural history and archaeological exhibits and is free to visit. The exterior of the building has very recently undergone major restoration work. The name commemorates the Victorian-era naturalist brothers John and Albany Hancock. Some of their works can still be seen in the museum, including John Hancock's most famous work, 'The Struggle with the Quarry'.