Alex and Liz Cruikshanks

Old Moor RSPB at the weekend.
2 Marsh Harrier m/f
11 Buzzard (In the air together)
Sparrowhawk (With Buzzards)
Kingfisher
Water Rail
c100 Pinkfeet (Over north)
Barnacle Goose
Plus 5 Buzzard 2 Red Kite on A1 home bound leg.

The BTDiver at Jackson’s Landing has extended its stay into March.
In an hour at Holme Fleet mid-day Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, 2 GWEgret, LEgret, 2 Avocet and 2 LGrebes with usual assortment of ducks.
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Family w’end trip started with 2 Slavs+RNGrebe at Holy Island, followed by Pinkfeet (1000’s) plus Whitefronts at Beadnell.
With WBD around on Sat. frustrating to see a large goose-sized diver N passed Beadnell secs after putting away scope.
2 Med Gulls (Beadnell) & Crossbill (Ross) also of note.

Definitely a Goose day today.
At Seaton Common 48 Whitefronts in flock with 15 Barnacles and a Pink Footed Goose. 11 Whitefronts flew over.
At Cowpen Marsh, at least 70 Whitefronts visible (out of a reported 120 here!)
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Still 48 Whitefronts, 15 Barnacles and a single Pinkfooted Goose at the north end of Seaton Common. Best viewed from the footpath alongside the Golf Course.
Another flock of Whitefronts at least 70 strong on Cowpen Marsh in large mixed flock with Canadas and Greylags. 13.30
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Good nos. of geese in WeBS at Seaton Common on Sunday.
c60 Whitefronts, 13 Barnacles, 5 Pinkfeet and 30 Greylags—- mainly in the northern part of the Common.
Also a dozen Fieldfare from the Zinc Works Rd.
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Distant and rather bedraggled Peregrine at Old Moor RSPB in horrible conditions last week.
Bonus sightings of 2 Bitterns in flight together, possibly a pair, and m&f Marsh Harriers in full display mode.

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Spoonbill just flown north over Holme Fleet heading towards Greatham Creek. 13.15

Yes but better to park on the slipway just passed the roundabout to the Royal Navy Museum, Maritime Avenue TS24 0XZ.

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RT and BT Divers, Razorbill and 32 RB Mergansers in and around H’pool Harbour/Jackson’s Landing this am.
13 Merganser in Marina and 19 on sea south of West Harbour.

RT Diver, Common Scoters and BT Diver kick-starting the year last week in H’pool Harbour and Marina.
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Some pics of the large flock of Pinkfeet which stayed distant and largely hidden at Cowpen Marsh this am.
Peregrine and Marsh Harrier here also with several interactions, and sizeable hard-weather flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings at Saltholme RSPB.
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Large flock of Pinkfeet Cowpen Marsh north side of Holme Fleet 11.25
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Thanks Geoff
Missed your three-figure total post. Good to know
Alex

Perfect day today for checking the sea.
In/around H’pool Harbour:-
1 Common Scoter
2 RTDivers
NGare
14 RTDivers
79 GCGrebes *
14 Shag
5 m Eiders
2 m/f RBMergansers
2 Razorbills
*Grebes distant north of, or close to, Seaton Outfall—85 counted last week per MAB.
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Newburn Bridge high tide this am.
3 Med Gull, 40 Lapwing and 40 Ringed Plover.

Some pics of today’s sighting of the Pinkfeet flock at Cowpen Marsh north of Holme Fleet—-flock size now estimated at 260.
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Flock of 200 plus Pinkfeet back on Cowpen Marsh north of Holme Fleet
12.99
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A cracking ad. male Merlin was the highlight of an otherwise quiet hour am at Holme Fleet.
Other birds included Buzzard, MHarrier, db Brent Goose and, unusual here, Mistle Thrush with the more usual Roe Deer on Cowpen Tip.
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DB Brent Goose just flown over Holme Fleet towards Brinefields /Long Drag 11.20
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Holme Fleet am—- before heavy rain
2 Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Cetti’s, 3 Reed Btg and 220 Pinkfeet.
Latter looked as if they had just arrived, circling several times before nervously settling. Flushed by aircraft and circled low towards the Greatham Creek area.
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220 Pinkfeet briefly at Cowpen Marsh before being flushed by RAF jet and flying north towards the Greatham Creek area. May still be in the area.
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Blackhall Rocks am
Still Chiffchaff in the car park Willow hedge—2 there a week ago. 27 Blackbirds, 5 Redwing and 1 Song Thrush upto and inc. Blue House Gill, plus a dozen Tree Sparrow and Willow Tit of note.
H’pool Harbour pm held GND, RTD and GC Grebe.
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GND at Hartlepool Harbour 14.00.
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YBW and Chiffchaff lingering at Blackhall Rocks but elusive. Initially favouring the car park end of the willow hedge.
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Hi Neil
Miscounted these passing along the cliffs at Blackhall Rocks at 09.25.
Alex

16 Whoopers just gone south along the cliffs at Blackhall Rocks 9.25
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Blackhall Rocks
YBW and Chiffchaff in willow hedge leading up to the railway line from the main car park. 12.00
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Yesterday at Holme Fleet 2 Marsh Harriers and a Merlin. Today 2 Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers, one with conspicuous white line on breast extending past the carpal and on to the mantle. Also Cetti’s, Water Rail and Stonechat.
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