Friday 30 December 2016

Eastern Black Redstart at Skinningrove - 30th December 2016

Today we went to Skinningrove in East Cleveland to see a 1st winter eastern Black Redstart. This bird has been present for 64 days and was giving birders good views whilst catching flies.





There was a juvenile Glaucous Gull on the sea and a pair of Stonechat feeding within the flood defences.




Sunset at RSPB Saltholme

Sunset photos from RSPB Saltholme cafe looking across the main lake.

The small Hawthorn trees around the lake were full of Fieldfare and Redwing, probably 200+ birds.




As we left there was a Starling murmuration over the reedbed of at least 500+ birds

Garden Birdwatch Update - Week Starting 11th December 2016

2 Dunnock
1 Robin
5 Goldfinch
3 Blue Tit
2 Great Tit
1 Coal Tit
1 Starling
6 Feral Pigeon
2 Woodpigeon
2 Blackbird
7 House Sparrow
1 Greenfinch
3 Jackdaw
1 Wren

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts and Fat Balls
Water

Garden Birdwatch Update - Week Starting 4th December 2016

3 Great Tit
3 Blue Tit
5 House Sparrow
6 Goldfinch
1 Chaffinch
2 Dunnock
1 Blackbird
1 Robin
3 Starling
2 Coal Tit
2 Feral Pigeon
2 Woodpigeon
3 Jackdaw

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts and Fat Balls.
Water

WeBS - Seaton Sands - 11th December 2016

Seaton Sands Sector (52411) Count

4 Turnstone
6 Red-breasted Merganser
7 Cormorant
12 Great-crested Grebe
1 Red-throated Diver
3 Shag
21 Herring Gull
31 Black-headed Gull


Tweet of the Day

15 Snow Bunts, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 6 Red-breasted Merg. Off North Gare during WeBS today

WeBS - North Gare Sands - 11th December 2016

North Gare Sands Sector (52413) Count

54 Bar-tailed Godwit
6 Curlew
555 Dunlin
7 Eider
111 Grey Plover
234 Knot
64 Lapwing
552 Oystercatcher
5 Red-breasted Merganser  
9 Redshank
5 Sanderling
5 Shag
1 Turnstone
1 Black-headed Gull
1 Common Gull
2 Herring Gull
1 Brent Goose (Pale-bellied)

Twite Flock


Tweets of the Day

  1. ~68 Twite, 1 PB Brent goose plus largest number of Dunlin 555 at Seaton Snook WeBS since I have been doing the counts😀

Common Jellyspot & Bird's Nest Fungi at Flask Lake, Nosterfield

Seen on 3rd December 2016.
Common Jellyspot

Bird's Nest Fungus

WeBS - Seaton Sands - 13th November 2016

Seaton Sands Sector (54111) Count

3 Cormorant
52 Black-headed Gull
10 Common Gull
27 Herring Gull


Photo taken from Seaton Carew looking down the coast with the Tees Offshore Windfarm, South Gare, Huntcliff (Saltburn) and Staithes visible in the failing light.


WeBS - North Gare Sands - 13th November 2016

North Gare Sector (51413) Count

5 Bar-tailed Godwit
6 Curlew
96 Dunlin
2 Golden Plover
57 Grey Plover
108 Knot
130 Lapwing
555 Oystercatcher
16 Redshank
1 Sanderling
18 Shelduck
2 Black-headed Gull
1 Common Gull
1 Brent Goose (pale-bellied)


Tweets of the day

  1. Twite flock at Seaton Snook now approx. 25 birds
  2. Mixed flock of Twite & Snow Bunting at end of North Gare :50. Approx 3 male SB's inc



Garden Birdwatch - October 2016

Update of our garden bird records for our BTO Garden Birdwatch.

Week Starting 2nd October 2016
11 Goldfinch
7 House Sparrow
2 Dunnock
2 Greenfinch
2 Blue Tit
2 Great Tit
1 Coal Tit
1 Blackbird
17 Starling
2 Jackdaw
1 Woodpigeon
3 Feral Pigeon
1 Robin

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls
Water


Week Starting 8th October 2016
8 Goldfinch
6 House Sparrow
2 Dunnock
4 Greenfinch
2 Blue Tit
2 Great Tit
1 Coal Tit
4 Blackbird
2 Starling
1 Wren
1 Woodpigeon
3 Feral Pigeon
1 Robin

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls
Water


Week Starting 16th October 2016
7 Goldfinch
5 House Sparrow
2 Dunnock
2 Greenfinch
3 Blue Tit
2 Great Tit
2 Coal Tit
4 Blackbird
7 Starling
1 Woodpigeon
3 Feral Pigeon
1 Robin
1 Magpie

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls
Water


Week Starting 23rd October 2016
9 Goldfinch
9 House Sparrow
2 Dunnock
1 Chaffinch
4 Blue Tit
3 Great Tit
2 Coal Tit
2 Blackbird
17 Starling
3 Jackdaw
1 Woodpigeon
3 Feral Pigeon
1 Robin

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls
Water


Week Starting 30th October 2016
7 Goldfinch
7 House Sparrow
2 Dunnock
4 Blue Tit
2 Great Tit
1 Coal Tit
3 Blackbird
24 Starling
3 Jackdaw
1 Woodpigeon
3 Feral Pigeon
1 Robin
1 Magpie

Food
Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls
Water

Thursday 29 December 2016

Martin Mere Visit - 31st October 2016

A visit to WWT Martin Mere near Preston on 31st October 2016. It has been many years since I last visited this reserve, so target birds were Whooper Swan and also Pink-footed Geese.

Pink-footed Geese



Whooper Swans




WeBS - North Gare Sands - 16th October 2016

Tees Bay from North Gare Breakwater


South Gare lighthouse from North Gare Breakwater


Sector 52413 count

662 - Oystercatcher
73 - Curlew
72 - Redshank
4 - Ringed Plover
13 - Grey Plover
246 - Knot
2 - Cormorant
16 - Bar-tailed Godwit
3 - Black-headed Gull
11 - Turnstone
1 - Guillemot
2 - Sandwich Tern
86 - Dunlin
6 - Herring Gull
3 - Eider
2 - Teal
5 - Mallard
4 - Wigeon
123 - Lapwing
1 - Great-crested Grebe
1 - Merlin

WeBS - Seaton Sands - 16th October 2016

Seaton Sands sector viewed from North Gare Breakwater towards Seaton Carew



Sector 52411 count

4 - Cormorant
165 - Herring Gull
7 - Great Blacked-backed Gull
1 - Black-headed Gull

Hartlepool Headland 15th October 2016

Fieldfare, Redwing, Brambling, Goldcrest and Red-breasted Flycatcher were all seen during a short afternoon walk around Hartlepool Headland