Tyne Kittiwake Colonies

Every year thousands of Kittiwakes, make the long journey to the British Isles from the world’s second largest ocean; the Atlantic. Many birds are lost during the winter period from predators, storms and lack of food, especially during current times where foods sources are dwindling.

“Yep! And a pair were successful on the
lamp post again” by Lophophanes

Kittiwakes are very much coastal birds and don’t usually travel inland to breed. Breeding colonies usually appear on coastal cliffs and islands, such as » The Farne islands off the Northumberland Coast.  At the Farnes other species of sea birds such as Puffins, Arctic Terns, Guillemots and Razorbills, usually join them to breed and to help secure their future.

Meet the legendary
Tyne Kittiwakes

The Furthest Inland Breeding colonies of Kittiwakes in the World

The Black-legged Kittiwakes, have spent their winter feeding as far away as Canada. Hundreds of these soft gentle Gulls return every spring to build their nests along the River Tyne at a few specially selected sites, that they have chosen themselves to call their home during the breeding season.

 

A Tyne Kittiwake with
an egg by  Lophophanes

Unlike many of their larger cousins, such as the Herring Gull or Lesser Black-backed Gull which scavenge lots, Kittiwakes feed on a diet of fish, worms and shrimps etc. Whilst the Kittiwakes are with us they regularly travel long distances to feed; at times even as far as the Farne Islands.

 

 

An Inland Colony of Kittiwakes

Please come visit these amazing seabirds

As of  2023/24 up to 2,417 pairs of Kittiwakes were observed nesting at the following locations
along the River Tyne, including the coastal cliffs at Tynemouth.

To learn more about a site, please click on one of the links or use the interactive map below to read a summary report.

 

Kittiwakes nesting on the Baltic
by Diane Wailes 

Inland Kittiwake Colonies
along the River Tyne

Largest

• » The Tyne Bridge
  – up to 1,105 pairs – An iconic road bridge that links Newcastle to Gateshead.
• » Akzo Nobel – Felling  
  in South Tyneside – up to 262 pairs
  – best viewed from the south side of the river at Walker Riverside Park.
• » BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
  – up to 201 pairs – In Gateshead 
• » The Saltmeadows Tower – Gateshead Council – up to 132 pairs. – A man made tower on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne.
• » A Newcastle Railway Bridge, Dean Street – Up to 130 pairs – in the centre of Newcastle.

Elsewhere in Gateshead

• » Kittiwakery Tower – Saltmeadows – Opened Spring 2023 – 0 pairs, but Kittiwakes have started to visit and build nests.
• » St Mary’s Heritage Centre –  up to 6 pairs 
• » South Shore – New from 22/23 – up to 8 pairs

 

A Kittiwake on the Tyne Bridge
by Graham H

 

 

Elsewhere on Newcastle Quayside

• » The Guildhall – including a Clock Tower – Up to 47 pairs
• » Phoenix House – up to 53 pairs
• » Lombard House – up to 24 pairs
• » Bessie Surtees House – up to 24 pairs
• » Queen Street –  up to 24 pairs 
• » Exchange Buildings – 1 pair in 2019
• » Street Lamps/floodlights  – less than 10 pairs
• » Akenside Traders – 2014/15 up to 27 pairs, 2024 2 pairs returned to nest. 
• » High Level Bridge – up to 11 pairs 
• » Additional buildings – Newcastle Quayside – up to 16 pairs

Coastal Cliffs or close to the North Sea – North Tyneside

• » Ferry Mews (up to 24 pairs) & Smiths Dock (New from 2022/23 – up to 5 pairs) in North Shields  
  Up to 29 pairs nesting close to their natural habitat at the mouth of the River Tyne.
• » Tynemouth Haven
  Up to 387 pairs – Kittiwakes nest on sea cliffs, using their natural habitat on the coastline.

 

Click on a ‘Kittiwake Image Marker’ above to view additional information about each location.
You can also use the maps zoom controls to help navigate the map
to view the Kittiwake Tower in Gateshead and Akzo Nobel in Felling.

Tyne Kittiwake Population Data

Seabirds make the riverside their home

Since the early 1990s the numbers of Kittiwakes that have chosen to nest at this unique location has increased from a few to over a thousand.

To learn more about Daniel’s amazing work and view his Tyne Kittiwake Population Data, please visit the
» Natural History Society Of Northumbria (NHSN). The NHSN are members of the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership (TKP) and they are also great supporters for the Tyne Kittiwakes.

Daniel Turner also manages a » Facebook page for the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership to help raise awareness for the Kittiwakes.

View the Tyne Kittiwake Population Data from Daniel Turner

The Kittiwake – by John C Coulson

Published 2011 – T & AD Poyser

Bursting with everything you ever wanted to learn about Kittiwakes

Read about John Coulson’s amazing insights into the lives of the worlds Black-legged Kittiwakes.  John Coulson has decades of experience researching The Kittiwake.  Brilliantly written and presented.

• • An essential companion for all academics studying seabirds, colonial species and especially Kittiwakes.
  • Beautifully illustrated and features photos of our well-loved Tyne Kittiwakes

Copies are available to order in from local book shops.

Elsewhere in the UK & Europe

Later in 2024 new content will starting appearing to help share the stories of colonies of Kittiwakes and other seabirds from other parts of the UK and mainland Europe. These will include more local colonies such as in Durham, Marsden and Northumberland; as well as those more distant such as Bridlington, Dunbar, Lowestoft, Scarborough  and Swansea.

Our journey to other colonies of Kittiwakes will be
shared via a new national website dedicated to Kittiwakes

France and Norway colonies will also feature, in the near future. If you are aware of a colony of Kittiwakes you would like us to include please get in touch.