I used to live in Longbenton which is just half a mile or so away from it so virtually lived there when I was free & single and so didn't have to worry about 'neglecting' the other half! LOL
The birds can take a bit of finding as it's quite dense woodland with a large pond in the centre...funnily enough I've never really had anything of note on the water - apart from the usual mute swans, teal, mallard, pochard & tufted and a Water Rail a few winters ago.
However, it is one of the places where I could guarantee Jays....often hear them screaming and you can sneak up on them IF you are lucky *and very careful*....most of the time you just get a flash of their white rump as they disappear!
You are also guaranteed a Roe Deer sighting as they often jump up as you are walking through the woods...and if you stop moving they often run a few yards, stop. and then turn to look at you. I once had a fabulous Roebuck look back at me but as I was leaning against a tree he couldn't make me out and we stood staring at each other for a good few minutes!
Foxes are quite reliable too....Neil can smell them as they go by but I'm hopeless - no sense of smell whatsoever!
Gosforth Park is most enjoyable in the winter months I feel.....spent many an hour wrapped up and sitting under trees waiting for flocks of tits and other small birds to pass by.
Why not join the Natural History Society Valerie? They're really friendly and hold loads of indoor meetings every Friday during the winter months at the Hancock Museum in Newcastle and do quite a few outdoor field meetings too.
http://www.nhsn.ncl.ac.uk/
GILL