Sightings – October 2007
30th October, 2007
(Gallery update)
Knot, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Mediterranean Gull, Blackbird and Starling images have been added.
28th October, 2007
(South Gare – Teesside)
At South Gare there was at least ten Bar–tailed Godwits were amongst Turnstone (100+), Common Redshank (10+), Ringed Plover (5) and Dunlin (3). Three Goldcrest, a Robin and a Dunnock were in the Shrike Bushes.
Back on Saltholme Pools, Little Stint (1), Golden Plover (100+), Lapwing (50+) and three Little Egrets were on the back pool. Several Black–tailed Godwit were on the east pool.
At least sixteen Brent Geese were on the field behind the power station. Two Razorbill and four Guillimot were seen in the estuary.
27th October, 2007
(Etherley Moor)
Two seperate groups of thrushes flew over Croftside this morning containing at least seventy Fieldfare and fifty Redwing. Several Blackbirds were also in the area.
At least five Tree Sparrows were visiting the feeders along with House Sparrow (15+), Dunnock (3), Robin (2), Wren (1), Starling (10+), Blue Tit (3) and Great Tit (3+).
Carrion Crow (10+), Rook (30+), Jackdaw (10+), Common Gull (10+) and Black–headed Gull were also seen.
26th October, 2007
(Low Barns)
Small groups of Fieldfare (10+) and Redwing (40+) flew over the reserve late morning, along with Golden Plover (70+) and Lapwing (7+).
Two Water Rails were heard, but not seen. Three female Goosanders, a Dipper and at least two Grey Wagtails were on the river.
The feeding station and surrounding woods held it’s usual selection of birds including Carrion Crow (1), Hooded Crow (1 hybrid), Jay (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (possibly 2), Nuthatch (2+), Blue Tit (4+), Great Tit (6+), Coal Tit (4+), Marsh Tit (3+), Willow Tit (1), Long–tailed Tit (2+), Chaffinch (3+), Dunnock (2), Robin (1), Siskin (15+) and Blackbird (2).
Little Grebe (1+), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (2+), Mute Swan (5), Greylag Goose (2), Pochard (2m and 3f), Tufted Duck (10+), Mallard (5+), Teal (10+), Moorhen (10+), Coot (5+), Herring Gull (5+), Common Gull (30+) and Black–headed Gull were on the ponds.
21st October, 2007
(Teesside)
First stop todat was Hartlepool Headland where we found Oystercatcher (20+), Knot (20+), Sanderling (3) and Turnstone (20+) feeding on the beech. At least twenty Common Eider were offshore along with a small group of Common Scoter (8+). A Mediteranean Gull was seen between the two break waters (probably last weeks individual), along with at least twenty Purple Sandpipers.
A Merlin was seen on the road to North Gare and a Little Egret was seen on the tidal pool at Greatham Creek. A single Curlew Sandpiper was seen here with several Dunlin.
A pair of female Scaup were on East Saltholme Pool. Spotted Redshank (1), Black–tailed Godwit (10+), Common Snipe (1) and two Little Egrets were also there. A second Merlin was kindly pointed out to me by one of the local birders, ‘thank you’. A Pink–footed Goose was amongst the many Greylag and Canada Geese.
The Yellow–legged Gull was at Tees Barrage.
20th October, 2007
(Upper Teesdale)
Black Grouse (10+, at seperate locations), Red Grouse (several near Kinninvie and a single near Egglestone), Grey Partridge (2 at Harwood) and large numbers of Pheasants were seen this morning.
Fieldfares were present at most locations, ‘several groups, each containing at least 100 birds’. There was only one group of Redwing, containing at least 80 birds. Raptors included Common Buzzard (3), Red Kite (1 near Kinninvie), Sparrowhawk (1 near Langdon Beck) and Kestrel (3).
Other birds worth mentioning included three Stonechats near Kinninvie and a Jay near Langdon Beck Hotel. The Barn Owl was also seen sunning itself at it’s usual location.
14th October, 2007
(Dawdon Blast & Hartlepool Headland)
Not much at Dawdon Blast with the highlight being three Redwing and a Reed Bunting.
A Mediteranean Gull was amongst Black–headed Gulls (15+), Herring Gull (20+) and Great Black–backed Gull (10+) at Hartlepool Headland. At least three Arctic Terns were fishing just to the north of the first sea break. A Rock Pipit, approximately fifteen Purple Sandpiper and thirty Knot were also there.
13th October, 2007
(South Shields Leas)
A Mediteranean Gull was amongst at least thirty Black–headed Gulls by the car park at Marsden Bay. The reported Barred Warbler proved to be a hard bird to get good views. The only decent views of the bird was several, 3 – 4 second spells when it landed after a short flight in to the hedge that runs from Marsden Grotto to the Leas.
At least two Purple Sandpipers were seen with Oystercatchers (20+) and Turnstones (10+).
7th October, 2007
(Hartlepool Headland)
At least three (possibly four) Yellow–browed Warblers were at the Headland today. Also Fieldfare (1), Chiffchaff (1), Willow Warbler (1) and Purple Sandpiper (at least three).
6th October, 2007
(Teesside)
The regular Yellow–legged Gull was at Tees Barrage.
No sign of the reported Buff–breasted Sandpiper at Saltholme Pools, but Little Egret (2), Water Rail (2), Pintail (2), Little Stint (4), Spotted Redshank (1), Greenshank (1), Barnacle Goose (16) and Pink–footed Goose (1) were the birds of note at this location.
Birds of note at seaton Snook included a single Brent Goose and an unidentified tern, possibly a juvenile Black Tern. A female Stonechat was on Zinc Road.
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