Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser

Crow v Egret

Stonechat (male)

Stonechat (female)

A visit to South Gare was fruitless today with only Stonechat being the best bird. A drive over to the north of the Tees was only slightly better, the Red-backed Shrike was still at Dormans pool (will it ever move away?), at Saltholme Curlew Sandpiper was showning at distance on the 'bottom tank' (what a stupid name) along with Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe. The local Carrion Crows don't like the Little Egret's and frequently chase them. On the reserve pool the Hooded Merganser was showing quite close but in bad light. When we checked the photo's later it appears that the Merganser has a defective leg.

Nearly time to go South.

A few more images of the 'Red-backed Shrike' - before it departs

for warmer places

Med Gull

Wheatear

Out and about in the area today - Started at Hartlepool headland where good numbers of Meadow Pipit were around the Jewish Cemetery, but nothing else of note. At the Heugh pier there was a Wheatear, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Purple Sandpiper and 22 Barnacle Geese flying in off the sea. The Mediterranean Gull was sat on it's lamp post at Newburn. North Gare was dead! The Red-backed Shrike was still at Dormans pool area (9th Day so far, but don't expect it to stay much longer with the impending change of weather).

Feeding in the sun

Red Backed Shrike

Whinchat

Painted Lady

A lovely sunny and warm day today. There was a Painted Lady butterfly sunning itself when I arrived at Swainby, before 9am, and lots of Red Admiral were feeding on the Ivy at the stables later in the morning. We had excellnt views of the Red Backed Shrike feeding at Dormans Pool again and later in the evening as the sun was going down we watched a pair of Stonechat sitting along the Zinc Works Road. All in all a good day. (Apart from being stung by a wasp while riding the horse)

Buff Breasted Sandpiper

Buff Breasted Sandpiper with Ruff

Managed to see the Buff Breasted Sandpiper this morning down on the Saltholme Reserve. Difficult to get any decent photos but did manage a couple of record shots, it was hanging around with a few Ruff. The Red Backed Shrike is also still present and was up to at least late afternoon when I left.

RBS and BTG

Red-backed Shrike

Black-tailed Godwit

Visited Dormans pool again today to see the Red-backed Shrike (RBS) before it departs, it had attracted quite a crowd with at least 15 birders in attendance, luckily for me it landed close by for some quick shots before moving off. Then I moved over to Saltholme RSPB to track down the Blue-winged Teal, managed to locate it (with plenty of help) but at great distance so no pic's. Managed a couple of shots of Black-tailed Godwit (BTG) before leaving for home.

Red-backed Shrike

Red Backed Shrike

Mick's turn today to locate something of interest, he was not disappointed. Went on the trail of a Red-backed Shrike which had been seen yesterday. An early start (0630) proved fruitless, but later in the day a call from 'The Monday Club' was received to say it had been located - a flying visit to Dormans pool and there it was - several photos later and Mick was a happy man.

A visit to Blacktoft

Curlew Sandpiper
Black-tailed Godwit

Snipe

Sylvia took the oppotunity to go on a field trip to Blacktoft Sands with the Teesmouth Bird Club. The weather was good and a good variety of birds were seen, Little Sint, Curlew Sandpiper, marsh Harrier, Merlin and Hobby to name a few.

A quiet start.

Purple Sandpiper and TurnstonePurple Sandpiper

Had a run around the local area again today but not that much around. Some seabird movement along the coast and had some good views of Purple Sandpipers around the Headland at Hartlepool. (Sylvia was at work haha!)

Grey Day

Pale Bellied Brent Geese
Pale Bellied Brent Geese

Turnstone

Meadow Pipit

Lifeguards

Very overcast today, but a light North-easterly blow got me out and about. Went to South Gare to see if any migrants had been blown in, as usual I was in the wrong place as all the bird movements seemed to occur slightly further north. Anyway I did manage to see 6 Brent Geese, several Knot, Dunlin and Turnstone. The beach area held large numbers of Meadow Pipit and Pied wagtail, these were frequently disturbed by the RNLI doing some training, all in a good cause!

Wandering Waders

Redshank
Turnstone

Sanderling

Oystercatcher

Black Headed Gull

Stonechat

Hartlepool Headland

Went for a walk along the beach at Hartlepool today and managed to see a few waders. A different day to yesterday, cloudy and very blustery. Went to RSPB Saltholme and managed to get our first view of the Hooded Merganser and also the Black Necked Grebe. Still 3 Wheatear along the North Gare road and we also saw the Merlin again on Seaton Common.

Last of the Summer Days.

A beautiful September day but at the stables in Swainby today it was noticeable that the Swallows have now left and even though it was sunny and hot the only butterflies I could locate were Speckled Wood. There were conkers on the ground and the air had a feel of Autumn. Later in the day we had a trip down to North Gare and the beach and managed to find quite a few Tortoiseshells and 1 Painted Lady butterfly. There were lots of young Linnets and Goldfinches around and also a Merlin sitting on a fence post in the sunshine.

Obliging Whinchats.

Whinchats

Sparrowhawk

Wheatear

Poor Hedgie

Not had much chance to get out and about since coming back from Mull what with the weather and work but did manage to see a few birds today. Wheatear and Whinchat around North Gare and good views of a hunting Sparrowhawk around the Powerstation along with a pretty poor looking Hedge Sparrow. Managed to see the Marsh Harrier again around Dormans Pool along with a couple of Swift but not close enough for any decent photos.