Latest news with #NorthernEcho
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare bird of prey 'once on brink of extinction' spotted over North East skies
Birdwatchers in the North East were treated to a rare spectacle earlier this month as a marsh harrier—a bird once on the brink of extinction in Britain—was seen soaring over the region. The sighting marks a significant moment for North East conservationists and bird enthusiasts, who described the appearance as both "unexpected and thrilling." The marsh harrier is the largest of the UK's harrier species and is easily recognisable in flight by its long wings held in a distinctive V-shape. The marsh harrier (Image: STEVE RAINE/CAMERA CLUB) This most recent image, taken by Northern Echo camera club member Steve Raine shows the majestic bird in full flight. Once reduced to a single breeding female in the UK by 1971 due to habitat loss and persecution, the species has made a dramatic comeback. Thanks to decades of conservation work, the UK population now exceeds 500 breeding pairs, primarily in East Anglia, the Somerset Levels, and parts of Scotland. Despite this recovery, marsh harriers remain an amber-listed species under the Birds of Conservation Concern and are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Typically, marsh harriers breed in extensive reedbeds and feed on frogs, small mammals, and wetland birds such as moorhens and coots. Read next: Sir John Hall hails 'moment in history' after first Durham Reform council meeting Daughter still searching for answers in dad's infected blood death 49 years on Tragedy as body found in search for missing GP and Northern Echo columnist lick here to join our WhatsApp community and get breaking news updates direct to your phone. While traditionally summer visitors that migrate to Africa for the winter, a growing number are now overwintering in the UK—another indicator of the species' adaptability and increasing resilience. 'This is a fantastic example of how targeted conservation can reverse the fortunes of a species,' said one birder. 'Seeing a marsh harrier here in the North East is still uncommon, but it's happening more often—and that's a really hopeful sign for our wetlands.' With sightings increasing and habitats slowly recovering, enthusiasts are encouraged to keep an eye on reedbeds for future glimpses of this striking raptor.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tributes pour in for 'wonderful' GP following tragic update
A tragic update has been issued in the search for missing GP Dr Zakariya Waqar-Uddin. Dr Uddin was last seen in the Chorley area on Monday, May 12, launching a huge search operation for the 44-year-old. Sadly, on Wednesday, Cleveland Police confirmed a body had been found in their search for the doctor. They added the death is not being treated as suspicious. READ MORE: Huge emergency response as road is closed after 'serious crash' READ MORE: Bolton fire LIVE: Plumes of smoke seen as roads closed after huge blaze - updates Dr Waqar-Uddin wrote a weekly health column in The Northern Echo and is believed to have previously worked at Standish Medical Practice in Wigan. Paying tribute on social media, some of his friends and former patients called him a 'lovely doctor'. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE "Such a loss, he was a wonderful doctor full of compassion and enthusiasm when treating me and my partner," Liam Taylor wrote. "He truly embodied what it was to be a great GP. Rest easy Zak." "An absolutely lovely Doctor, was so sad when he left Standish Medical, he was amazing," Jasmine Louise Thomas commented. "What an awful and sad loss." "He was a fantastic doctor. RIP Dr Uddin," Gemma Pawlitta added. In a statement, the force said: "Officers searching for missing 44-year-old Zakariya Waqar-Uddin sadly found the body of a man earlier today (Wednesday 21st May). "Whilst the man has not yet been formally identified, Zakariya's family have been informed and our thoughts remain with them during this difficult time. "The death is not currently being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner." For the latest stories and breaking news visit Get the latest headlines, features and analysis that matter to you by signing up to our various Manchester Evening News newsletters here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to stay up to date with the us on X @mennewsdesk for all the latest stories and updates on breaking incidents from across the region and beyond, as well as on our Facebook page you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our newsdesk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sol Brynn interview: Injury latest, Middlesbrough 'moment he dreams of' & next aim
IN A matter of weeks, Sol Brynn went from achieving his lifelong Middlesbrough dream to sitting alone in the Riverside dressing room on gas and air in the knowledge his season had almost certainly just been brought to a premature end. The highs and lows of football always seem even more extreme for goalkeepers. Twelve months ago, in an interview with the Northern Echo on the back of third successive impressive loan spell, Brynn told of his ambition of becoming Boro's No.1. That's always been the dream for the Teessider, now 24, who has been with his hometown club since he was just six years old. And this was the season when he looked to have achieved his dream. Brynn made his full Boro debut in the Carabao Cup first round win at Leeds back in August. "That was one of the best nights of my life," he said. Fast forward to November, on the back of signing a new long-term contract at the club, and it was time for a full league debut in the 6-2 win at Oxford. Two more starts followed before Seny Dieng returned from injury. But just a couple of games later, Brynn was preferred to Dieng for the home win over Millwall, the first of three successive starts for the keeper and, it seemed, the opportunity to nail down his starting spot. Then, disaster struck, a freak injury in the Boxing Day draw with Sheffield Wednesday and a shoulder badly dislocated. "That wasn't great, to be fair," he says in typically understated fashion. "It was more frustrating rather than anything else. I'd got my chance, I had a few games under my belt, I felt I'd played quite well then sod's law that happens. "It was the first save, I felt it pop out and it was excruciating pain. Then I looked up and saw the ball was at the fella's feet, so I thought 'oh god, I've got to try and save it!'. "I went off obviously and watched the rest of the second half with gas and air then went and got scanned and got it operated on the week after or so. "My emotions were all over at that stage. But then when you get told you're not going to play again this season, you flip your mindset to smashing the gym, trying to get fitter and better in every way. "It's about changing your mindset and not getting too frustrated." Surely that's easier said than done? "There's no point thinking about what could have been because that's just going to add to your frustration," he says. "The focus was on being positive. What I would say, the staff at Boro are really good and were great with me. They kept me focused." RECOMMENDED READING: And Brynn's focus now is on next season. "The injury is good, it's alright now and I'll be fine to go straight away in pre-season," he says. "When the lads broke up I was in for a week and a half. I'll have a couple of weeks off then go in for another week and just keep doing it like that. I'll come in a week or two early before the rest of the lads and just crack on from there. "My aim for next year is to be the established number one, play as many games as I can and do as well as I can." That's what Brynn did at Queen of the South, Swindon and Leyton Orient, stepping up in levels with each loan and taking it in his stride. And that's what led to the decision last summer that the goalkeeper wouldn't be going out on loan again. Instead, he was deemed ready to stay and challenge for the gloves at Boro. "There wasn't a big deal made of that last summer really," he says. "If I remember rightly I think it was Jamie Jones who told me he thought I'd be staying and it just kind of happened. "I was obviously buzzing. It's what I've always wanted, I've been at the club since I was six or seven and I've always said I want to play for Boro. That's always been the dream. "The Leeds game was obviously brilliant. It was a big game and the chance I'd been waiting for. I always knew if I got my chance I had to take it so I just approached it as an opportunity to show I was ready. "Then I remember before the Oxford league game, Seny had an injury and the gaffer pulled me and just said, 'you're going to be playing tomorrow'. Again, I was just absolutely buzzing." Brynn adds: "Coming into the season I felt like I'd learnt a lot from the loans. One of the big things I think is how to deal with a mistake. "Obviously you don't want to make them but if you do, put it behind you, you can't do anything about it. It's about how you react. "The loan moves were great. They stood me in good stead so coming back to Boro and getting my chance all felt quite natural. Rather than over-thinking it or worrying about whether you're ready, you've served your time and gone through the leagues so you know you are. I knew I was in a good place." You get the impression Brynn isn't the type to worry about much. "I've always been quite laid back, probably to the annoyance of my missus," he laughs. "Everyone is different but it seems to have worked OK for me. "Even when I was injured, it was frustrating obviously but I knew I'd earned my chance before and to have that confidence shown in you is all anyone wants. "It's obviously frustrating sitting in the stands when you're injured but I was just focusing on getting back and doing all I can to come back fitter and better." Brynn used to be in the stands as a kid. "I was there every week, I had a season ticket in the South Stand,' he says. "The game that stands out for me is the promotion game, Brighton, and Dimi catching the ball in the last minute. "That's the type of moment you dream of growing up, isn't it. I'd love a moment like that one day."
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Gossip: Whites close on Targett
Leeds are set to sign Newcastle left-back Matt Targett, with Junior Firpo out of contract at the end of the season. (Northern Echo), externalWhites boss Daniel Farke could get a transfer fund boost by selling Sonny Perkins to Leyton Orient and Rasmus Kristensen to Eintracht Frankfurt. (Leeds Live), externalMiddlesbrough's move for former Leeds midfielder Glen Kamara could be off, with the Finland international, who has also been linked with Sunderland and Burnley, now reportedly ready to move to Saudi side Al Shabab. (Northern Echo, external)Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column.
