Rough-legged buzzards have been reported less regularly in our region in recent times. When they do appear it is usually in a moorland location where they might be hard to locate.

So many North-East birders took advantage of the chance to see one of these handsome winter visitors from the Arctic lingering on the edge of North Tyneside. It turned up a mile inland from St Mary's Island, Whitley Bay, last Friday and was still present on Tuesday.

It has been seen perched in a dead tree along the disused mineral line and over the fields beside the caravan site and golf course - an area best viewed from the B1325 Earsdon-Hartley road or the former railway embankment.

Anyone seeking it might also want to check out other tempting Northumberland prospects - at least two Bewick's swans with a larger group of whooper swans at Longhirst Flash north-east of Morpeth and a smew at Cresswell Pond, Druridge Bay. Another Bewick's swan was with 95 whoopers on Caistron reserve in Coquetdale, west of Rothbury. North of Rothbury, a hen harrier appeared over Longframlington Common west of the A697.

A hen harrier was also seen over Sleddale, North Yorkshire, on Sunday. The weekend additionally produced reports of a smew on Lockwood Beck reservoir by the A171 south-east of Guisborough, a grey phalarope off Filey Brigg and a great northern diver, three Mediterranean gulls and a glaucous gull at Scarborough.

Teesside's top attraction was the six bearded tits at Coatham Marsh near Redcar up to at least Sunday. Waxwing flocks were reported further inland, with 80-plus by the Mazda garage at Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough on Tuesday. Much bigger flocks elsewhere included 500 at Jarrow; up to 300 at Blaydon and Spennymoor; 200 at Houghall, Durham. There were also 100 at Burniston, 90 at Newcastle; and 70 at Darlington's Blackwell Grange Hotel.