Thursday, 6 June 2024. Exciting news! Our first Tyne Kittiwake chick of the year has been seen. This afternoon it was so nicely popping out from behind a proud parent at its nest Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. So great to see this new little one! Showing success after bird flu in 2023.

Thur, 6 June 2024. This week we became aware of event (light show) to be held at N face of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, 9:30–11 pm 8 June. Today we have discussed with local councils and event organisers GMC. N face today: 121 Apparently Occupied Nests of Kittiwakes and one early nestling.

Sunday, 9 June 2024. It has been a busy few days for us. Has been good to see such support for the Tyne Kittiwakes and we shall continue to monitor the colony. A small nestling was seen (8 June) on the Tyne Bridge. (Photo: Tyne Bridge, 8 June 2024).

Monday, 10 June 2024. Further Tyne Kittiwake surveys were carried out today. Results are leading to an improving River Tyne picture for the 2024 nesting season. More surveys tomorrow. Hoping bird flu will have lesser impact compared to 2023. (Photo: Tyne Bridge, 28 May 2024).

Fri, 21 June 2024. I attended ‘An Evening with Hayden Thorpe and the Tyne Kittiwakes’ The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. It was great! We visited Hayden’s installation ‘The Hide’ and he performed 3 of his songs. Then we toured the Tyne Quayside to enjoy its nesting Kittiwakes with Wild Intrigue

Tuesday, 25 June 2024. Checked part of the Tyne Bridge and it showed good numbers of nestlings in evidence. There should be many more to come. Up to this stage things are looking promising. (Photo: today with young nestling).

Wed, 26 June 2024. Apparently Occupied Nest surveys were performed twice at all River Tyne nesting sites, 27 May to 11 June. Overall results show 8.3% decrease in AONs compared to 2023. This is favourable considering how hard bird flu struck last year. (Photo: 21 June 2024).

At Lancaster University listening to Dr Helen Wilson re: Tyne Kittiwake Partnership ...

Lovely article by The Chronicle about Kittiwakery by Nicole Goodwin and reporters. chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-eas… Andy Rickeard Biodiverse Consulting Ltd Tyne Kittiwake Partnership KittiwakesOnRTyne Groundwork NE & Cumbria Dan Turner Northern Experience

Want a fun way to decompress from the week?? Read some positive Shoney Wind news stories about kittiwake and be hopeful for the UK offshore wind industry. See our blog.. shoneywind.com/blog/ Andy Rickeard Tyne Kittiwake Partnership KittiwakesOnRTyne Northern Experience Wild Intrigue

Fieldwork variations: From birdcliff to urban environments: we continue our ringing and monitoring of urban Kittiwakes in Tromsø. Yesterday we ringed at Kittiwake hotels in a park and on a rooftop in Tromsø #urbankittiwake NINAnature #seabirds

Friday, 12 July 2024. Today’s chick survey revealed first indications of 2024 Tyne kittiwake breeding productivity. At a site of > 240 apparently occupied nests (AON) productivity has shown as 1.00 chicks per AON. A remarkable result considering the impact of bird flu in 2023!

Mon, 15 July 2024. Collected up another 2 fallen River Tyne kittiwake nestlings this evening – from outside Baltic Art Centre (Gateshead) and north abutment of Tyne Bridge (Newcastle, the smaller of the two shown). Hoping to hand over for care in the morning. Both quite healthy.

Monday, 15 July 2024. River Tyne chick surveys so far showing strong breeding productivity of 1.02 chicks per AON (apparently occupied nest). 29.3% of the Tyne population (overall >1,800 AON) has been checked, with more to do. It’s looking hopeful for a pretty good season.

Wed, 17 July 2024. With 74% of River Tyne colony surveyed, breeding productivity holding up at 1.02 chicks per AON (apparently occupied nest). More surveys to complete over these days for overall final productivity: expecting slight reduction by then. (Photo: Tyne Bridge, today).

Thursday, 25 July 2024. It was great that Fran (from Blyth Wildlife Rescue) came to collect kittiwake nestling from me this evening – to take for care. I gathered it up this afternoon at Gateshead side of Tyne Bridge, fallen from nest – a well-grown bird seemingly in good health. NHSN

Thurs, 1 Aug 2024. It is special to be so close to a kittiwake, but a shame when they fall from their nest and require our assistance. Collected two more (one in photo) today from the south side of Tyne Bridge (Gateshead Council ) and passed to Blyth Wildlife Rescue for care until release - Thank you!

New on the blog... ✍️ Ornithologist, Andy Rickeard, shares how NHSN’s Dickinson Memorial Fund has helped Kittiwake research in Gateshead. Read more -> ow.ly/s1Ej50SYcqO Tyne Kittiwake Partnership Dan Turner

We've been working on something new this week - an immersive audio wildlife safari for the National Parks UK conference!🎙 Delegates can't immerse themselves in our iconic #TyneKittiwake colony, so we're sharing it through storytelling inspired by our European travels... 🤍🎧

Mon, 2 Sept 2024. Toured Newcastle-Gateshead Quaysides: no live kittiwakes seen. All had departed for the sea. We wish them well with their winter journeying. (Photo: Tyne Bridge, today). 2024 River Tyne breeding productivity: healthy 1.02 chicks per AON (Dan Turner results).