Mon, 13 May 2024.
Tyne Bridge population has steadily returned since late February. Today held total presence at the bridge of slightly over 1,300 individuals with several hundred nests in work. Interest is shown in some ledges provided due to bridge maintenance works. Promising!

Monday, 13 May 2024.
Nests progressing at Newcastle-Gateshead quaysides … see today’s photo of freshly built nest with adult at a quayside property (with poor deterrents). TKP and City Council can help to advise regarding deterrents. More owners need to engage with this process.

Tuesday, 7 May 2024.
Nest building and refreshment well underway at the Tyne Bridge today (photo). Almost 1,000 kittiwakes present at the bridge (Newcastle-Gateshead). Also attended meeting with bridge engineers, ecologists, etc. Collected a deceased adult for HPAI testing.

Friday, 3 May 2024.
Tyne Bridge Kittiwake numbers nicely up today with many hundreds present as their cries echoed around. Slight indications of nest-building and nest refreshment as the delightful gulls took to the river to bathe. Photo: today, a pair strengthening their bond.

Wed, 24 Apr 2024.
Chilly day at Tyne Bridge (photo) where kittiwake numbers less than at the spring peak. Nesting season should begin in earnest very soon. Displaced kittiwakes have taken interest in mitigation and other ledges, but so far avoid their specially-built new ‘hotels’

Friday, 26 April 2024.
An item on BBC Radio Newcastle today regarding the Tyne Bridge Kittiwakes of Newcastle-Gateshead. Recorded on Wednesday with reporter Rebecca O’Neill. Listen out to BBC Radio Newcastle today and check BBC Look North on the telly. bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0h…

Tuesday, 16 April 2024.
Lovely to see the gulls, at and close to the Tyne Bridge! Numbers were lower: 42% of last Friday’s bridge total. Perhaps many had decided to remain at sea to feed. Talked with some bridge engineers – maintenance is underway. (Photo: preening my feathers).

One minute
a praise song to the kittiwake and the urban wild:
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…
Robert Macfarlane Simon Prosser 𝕽𝖎𝖓𝖆 𝕲𝖎𝖑𝖑 John Mitchinson

Friday, 12 April 2024.
Was great to survey around the Tyne Bridge (Newcastle-Gateshead) where repairs are underway. Kittiwake presence increasing. Nice to speak about kittiwakes to a lady from Haltwhistle and a café attendant who served me tea and a toasted scone with jam!

Tue, 2 Apr 2024.
Observed at Tyne Bridge and close proximity: over 1,100 kittiwakes present, including 898 on the bridge. Initial nest-building seen at one nest at Newcastle side of the bridge. The keen kittiwakes wish to settle at their Tyneside home! (Photo: Tyne Bridge, today)

A total joy to see such the wonderful City of Kittiwakes parade by Moving Parts Arts on Northumberland Street today!

The #TyneKittiwakes are the most inland breeding colony in the world, bringing a vibrant seabird mecca right onto the Quayside. 🧵1/2

Tuesday, 26 March 2024.
A strong presence of kittiwakes at the Tyne Bridge (Newcastle-Gateshead) with several hundred present. A large flock resting on the river and bathing – pleased with the fresh / brackish water. Their calls are all around. We have a seabird city once again!

Kittiwakes at the Gateshead Saltmeadows tower today including ringed pair AAT and ACH. AAT ringed as a chick in 2011 and ACH ringed as adult in 2019. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Kittiwake Tyne Kittiwake Partnership KittiwakesOnRTyne

We are especially proud of our latest North East Nature magazine 😀. Huge thanks to all contributing authors, Amber Tatman, this editions Guest Editor 📝 and wonderful volunteers for envelope filling and delivering. Enjoy Ambers sneek preview here !!

This photo (15 March 2024) shows how close the kittiwakes are to one of the new nesting structures placed as a temporary measure for the gulls. Two of these nesting ‘hotels’ have been built with scaffolding poles and wood to help the birds during the bridge maintenance works.

Fri, 15 March 2024.
During a survey today (11:06 to 14:56 GMT) at the Tyne Bridge a min. of 266 kittiwakes were recorded on this engineering structure. Close by, on other structures at Newcastle and on the river, a further 83 were recorded. The Geordie Kittiwakes keep on coming!

Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
On the Tyne Bridge (photo today) 122+ Kittiwakes were present, with an additional 21+ close beside. They have well and truly arrived and are starting to settle in. Marvellous to see and hear them in numbers – back for a new nesting season. Welcome home!

Friday, 8 March 2024.
A fantastic flock of 51 adult kittiwakes was observed during 4 - 4:30 p.m. at the Tyne between the Millennium Bridge and High Level Bridge. They were vocal and flighty and landed together on the river after flying around the Tyne Bridge (photo: in flight).

Friday, 8 March 2024.
Attended at Newcastle to discuss kittiwakes, ‘hotels’ and the Tyne Bridge works. There were 9 of us. A site visit followed beside the S abutment (Photo: by Dan Turner: from left: Helen (TKP), Jonathan (Esh), Heather (City Engineer), Pete (WSP Ecology).

Wed, 6 March 2024.
While checking today at the central Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides 3-4 kittiwakes became apparent. Today’s photo shows one of them at the Tyne Bridge, Newcastle side, high up, landing for less than a minute. A few continue to explore prior to settling in.