Andy Firth

Redshank

Good wader morning at Castle Lake and surrounds for the time of year, 355 Curlew, 26 Oystercatcher, 22 Redshank and 12 Black-tailed Godwit.

Short-eared Owl hunting around Haverton Gate Saltholme RSPB @teesbirds.bsky.social

Grey Plover RSPB Saltholme pools hide. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Moved to County Durham in March this year and have concentrated my after work birding at Durham Wildlife Trust Low Barns (88 species) and Castle Lake (91 species) with weekend visits to Saltholme (122 species). The odd local twitch and monthly webs count at South Gare, it’s been enjoyable.

Marsh Tit?

Looking through my I phone images and I took this back of camera shot of what I am almost certain is a Marsh Tit back in September on my garden feeder. One or two locals have concurred Marsh but both Marsh and Willow occur locally. Any thoughts welcome, bird wasn’t heard to call.

A burning question is why can everyone identify Caspian Gulls with impunity and I’m hopeless, there must be others with a similar affliction or do they just not admit it.

Not impossible you’ll get Hen Harrier on your patch, you just never know and you’ve done great so far, I never managed one in 25 years at Sandbach Flashes but others had them.

Tree Sparrow

A steady morning at RSPB Saltholme, nice to see a few Tree Sparrows around the feeders, they’ve been quite difficult to see at times this year on site, for me anyway, @teesbirds.bsky.social

Short-eared and Barn Owl over meadow from Lake Walk RSPB Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social

A quick search on Apple Podcasts and it is listed with a few others with similar titles so followed, good luck with it.

Small gatherings (100-200) DWT Low Barns recently. @durhamwildlife.bsky.social

Water Pipit and Bittern from Phil Stead hide, Saltholme RSPB 14:35. @teesbirds.bsky.social. Bittern on and off for the last 10 minutes.

A deserted South Gare.

A real geography lesson for me today, travelled to South Gare for my WEBS count to find the access road closed. No problem I’ll park in Redcar and walk both ways. Knackered, a Little Stint was with the roosting waders. Not one person (or dog) was nice. @teesbirds.bsky.social

With a British list of roughly 385 after 35 plus years birding I’m hardly “hardcore” but today’s Mourning Dove on my regular(ish) Scilly holiday was special, summed up wonderfully on the local what’s app group by an islander. Not quite as epic as the Swift but it will do.

Castle Lake NR.

Lovely mix of waders in soggy conditions at Castle Lake with black tailed godwit, ringed plover, dunlin, curlew sand, common sand, ruff and spotted redshank all present.

Curlew Sandpipers and Spotted Redshank

Ruff.

Common Redshank.

Ringed Plover.

A nice mix of waders still at Castle Lake NR with Spotted Redshank and five Curlew Sandpipers still. As usual the birds were pretty distant. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Ordered it, read it and recommended it to all who will listen, a superb read, I know already it’s one I’ll go back and read time and again.

Green Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Green and Wood Sandpipers, RSPB Saltholme earlier today. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Green, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint still RSBP Saltholme, 15:00. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Three Whimbrel over Saltholme Pools hide RSPB Saltholme, Garganey still present @teesbirds.bsky.social

Wood Sandpiper in front of Saltholme Pools hide, RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Just completed reading this book, really enjoyed it, what a garden list!

Gradually learning some of the ornithological history of the county I now call home, purchased this rather magnificent publication via the @durhambirdclub.bsky.social its a few years old but should keep me busy for many months. £10 what a bargain.

Managed to get species 99, Tree Sparrow and 100, Pintail for my RSPB Saltholme list this morning on my 17th visit since moving to the north east in late March, weekends/ bank holidays only. Not managed a Saltholme twitch yet but I’m sure that will come!

Really struggle at times with distance and light when birding from the Pool hide at RSPB Saltholme, the best I could do of this morning’s Curlew Sandpiper. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Four Turnstones RSPB Saltholme from Saltholme Pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social

Two Egyptian Geese RSPB Saltholme from Saltholme Pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social

Curlew Sandpiper with 15 Dunlin from Saltholme Pools hide, RSBP Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social

Not really doing them justice but video of the four Wood Sandpipers RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Bittern “boomed” on four occasions earlier from Haverton watchpoint, Saltholme RSPB. @teesbirds.bsky.social