Tyne Kittiwake Partnership
@tkp-kittiwake.bsky.social
Formed in 2012 to support the kittiwake population along the River Tyne. The partnership works to improve understanding of the birds and their conservation needs, offering advice and support locally: www.tynekittiwakepartnership.com
Mthly meet (11.8.26): Tyne Br. Major Mtce Works & Kittis. Photo, from L: Gareth (Esh), Jamie (WSP), Alastair (Princ. Eng.), Rachel (Ecol), Helen (TKP Chair), Heather (Struct. Eng.) and Dan (TKP, ornith.) who reptd on 2026 breed productivity. Also attending: Dave (WSP, ornith.). Discussed Works, etc.
Thursday, 23 July 2026 (Entry 2) Entangled adult in netting on Apart-Hotel at Newcastle Quayside (photo). A fire service rescue followed. Wing feathers badly damaged and bird stressed. Cared for by Blyth Wildlife Rescue but died quite soon. A young nestling also died in net on neighbouring property.
Thursday, 23 July 2026 Recorded one fledged juvenile kittiwake on Monday (20 July) - resting on the Tyne at Newcastle. Noted two fledged juveniles today at Newcastle-Gateshead. Photo: Fledged juvenile kittiwake, Baltic Art Centre, 23 July 2026.
Tue, 21 July 2026 During observations at more than 1,300 River Tyne nests in past few days, Dan has seen more than 600 live chicks. With more nests to check in the next few days he expects another hundred or more nestlings from this year’s breeding season here. (Photo: 17 July 2026, adult in flight)
Great that the River Tyne Kittiwakes feature in this lovely book.
Amanda Tuke@amandatuke.bsky.social · 4w agoI'm absolutely made up to hear that I'm on this year’s @wainwrightprize.bsky.social longlist for Wild Pavements. & many congrats to all the nominees, in particular @nicolawriting.bsky.social & @drmjwarren.bsky.social who have been wonderfully supportive.
Friday, 17 July 2026 Chick surveys are underway. Early indications are several 100s of live chicks. However breeding productivity (chicks per nest) is showing low, so we are also missing many chicks compared to other years. The surveys will progress over coming days. Photo: Baltic Art Centre, today.
Mthly meet (14 July 2026): Tyne Br, Major Mtce Works and Kitts. Photo, from L: Heather (Structures Engineer), Alastair (Principal Engineer), Prof Helen Wilson (TKP Chair) and Gareth (Esh, Snr Proj Mgr). Also attending was Rachel (Ecologist) and Dan (TKP, ornithologist) who reported on kittiwakes.
Survey this p.m. (6 June 2026) showed 171 apparently occupied nests on @balticgateshead.bsky.social i.e. 8% up on this time last year. No chicks yet seen. Spoke to group of three from Nottingham also to five going into town centre. Showed them kittiwakes through the telescope – they were impressed.
Mthly meet (11 June 2026): Tyne Br, Major Mtce. Works and Kitts. Photo, from L: Rachel Flannery (Ecologist), Heather Wales (Structures Engineer), Alastair Swan (Principal Engineer) and Gareth Dawson (Esh, Snr Proj Mgr). Also attending was Dan Turner (TKP, ornithologist) reporting on nesting figures.
Tue, 16 June 2026, No 2 With the R. Tyne apparently occupied nest (AON) surveys complete for 2026 initial results are available. Following number crunching we see more than 1,700 AON along the Tyne and an increase by 4.8% compared to this time in 2025. Figures indicate strong kittiwake population.
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 Mid-morning TKP meeting between Dr Helen Wilson (TKP Chair; see photo) and Dan Turner. We discussed some of the recent River Tyne results from Dan’s surveys, signposting to the public for any kittiwake issues at the Tyne Bridge, kittiwake encouragement at home and abroad, etc.
A crowded ledge of kittiwakes. 🐦 📹 Watch live online: durhamwt.com/kittiwake-cam
Sat, 23 May 2026 Today’s survey at Newcastle-Gateshead quaysides included a little over one thousand kittiwakes on Tyne Bridge i.e. 19% less, compared to 22 May 2025. The difference likely due to ongoing Major Maintenance Works (4-yr programme). One broken egg noted. Too early for first hatchlings.
Monday, 18 May 2026 While walking Tynemouth Longsands two small groups of adult kittiwakes flew southwards, low above the sea. They may have been returning to the Tyne after a feeding foray northwards. The photo (15 May 2026) was taken at Newcastle of a bird seeking floating matter on the river.
Friday, 15 May 2026 Nest building well underway. Photo: nest material collection today. Early birds - incubating eggs now. Strong kittiwake numbers recorded during today’s survey at Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides. Interested people, including a radiographer and a lecturer, asked about the gulls.
Tues, 12 May 2026 Working with Newcastle City Council, Esh Civils and ecologists to ensure best kittiwake outcome during Tyne Bridge Major Maintenance Works 2024-2028. Today’s meeting included Alastair Swan and Heather Wales (engineers from NCC; left) with Helen Wilson (right) & Dan Turner from TKP.
Wed, 22 April 2026 A busy day checking River Tyne kittiwakes with > 1,500 at Newcastle-Gateshead quays. Some rested quietly, others called together or collected nesting material. Recorded 790 on Tyne Bridge, 248 at @balticgateshead.bsky.social (photo: today). Enjoyed tea & scone at the Glasshouse.
Tue, 7 April 2026 Survey produced almost 1,000 kittiwakes at Newcastle-Gateshead quaysides. Today’s photo shows those at small group of St Mary’s Church. Quays were busy with walkers, runners, cyclists, tourists and all. Temperature rose nicely. Enjoyed refreshments and rest breaks at the quaysides.
Photo (3 Apr 2026) shows temporary mitigation ledges for the kittiwakes at Tyne Bridge. In 2025 these 6 ledges attracted 11 good nests with 4 chicks raised. Perhaps in 2026 more will nest there. These ledges are placed (Esh Construction) during the bridge works to help birds displaced by scaffolding
Fri, 3 April 2026 Another Newcastle-Gateshead survey today over 3 hours showed approx. 625 of our gulls present, including 337 on the Tyne Bridge and 65 at Baltic Art Centre. So good to hear their calls and see them quietly resting in sheltered corners. Survey and photo (taken today) by Dan Turner.
Thurs, 2 Apr 2026, entry 2 At today’s TKP sub meeting Dan brought copy of Heather Devey’s (Wild Intrigue CIC) book to sign. Great book! Features Tyne Kittiwakes in Northern England section. ‘Where to watch Wildlife in Britain by Low-Carbon Transport’ (Bloomsbury Publishing). Don’t forget your copy!
Thursday, 2 April 2026 TKP sub meeting in Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. Photo shows Heather Devey (Wild Intrigue CIC, left) and TKP Chair Prof Helen Wilson (right) hard at work as we discussed social media and other matters. Much was resolved. We can recommend the cheese scones. (photo by D Turner).
Friday, 27 March 2026 TKP meeting at Newcastle Quayside to iron out a few matters. We discussed netting, Tyne Bridge, TKP roles, Queen Street, management plan, etc. (Photo by Dan Turner: @balticgateshead.bsky.social, 14 March 2026, 24 kittiwakes present). Meeting chaired by Prof. Helen Wilson.
Sunday, 22 March 2026. Newcastle-Gateshead quayside held 600+ Kittiwakes. Many rested at ledges, singly and in pairs with others river bathing. Great to see and hear so many back safely after wintering away. Photo today at @balticgateshead.bsky.social. (Survey and photo by @dant-ne.bsky.social).
Thurs, 5 Feb 2026 Attended meeting with Tyne Bridge engineers. Some scaffolding is coming down, more is going up. In 2026 the works will displace 36% of the bridge kittiwakes. In mitigation for the displacements, more than 300 metres of temporary nesting ledges are being installed. (Photo: today).
Fri, 19 Sept 2025 We had a Partnership meeting at Newcastle Quayside. Business included TKP roles, Tyne Bridge Major Maintenance Works, an update on the 2025 Tyne nesting season, Saltmeadows Kit Tower and maintenance of deterrents. Gulls now at sea for winter season. (Photo: 16.7.2025, D M Turner).
Thur, 11 Sept 2025 Chair and Secretary from TKP met engineers from Newcastle City Council and Esh Construction. They discussed planned placement of scaffolding and temp. nesting ledges on Tyne Bridge for 2026 nesting season in mitigation for those pairs to be displaced in that year. (photo: 5.9.25)
Friday, 29 August 2025 The river and Tyne quayside properties & structures between Newcastle and Gateshead (e.g. Tyne Bridge, photo) were checked for kittiwakes as their nesting season concludes. There were 6-7 juvenile kittiwakes and one adult remaining. Almost quiet.
Tue, 5 Aug 2025 Meeting between Tyne Bridge engineers and various ecologists & academics - @dant-ne.bsky.social presented his latest monthly report on bridge and its kittiwakes. Breeding season still underway and several 100's of nestlings are in process of fledging from our special Tyneside bridge.
