Fred Milton

Morden Carrs - 900 Pinkfeet; Castle Lake & surrounds - Stonechat, 400 Wigeon, 180 Curlew, 4 GC Grebe, 52 Oystercatcher, 16 Redshank, 4 L Grebe, 20 Pochard, 140 Teal, 4 L Egret, Willow Tit @teesbirds.bsky.social

Morning.

Decent site tick this morning - 8 Redpoll in the car park of Teesside Uni - no bins so if there was a mealy there, who knows @teesbirds.bsky.social

Bowesfield 1700 - 2 Scaup, 5 singing Cettis, 3 Goldeneye & 75 Magpie in roost. Not sure I’ve seen so many in a single flock before. Not a bad first ‘after work’ birding session of the year! @teesbirds.bsky.social

Quick drive by Back Saltholme at 8.3O on way to work - no sign of L Gulls, but Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, Barn Owl & GWE opp tip entrance @teesbirds.bsky.social

4 Tundra Bean Geese, 16 White Fronts & GW Egret still present Cowpen Bewley Rd @teesbirds.bsky.social

Skerne Wood in Sedgefld - a tiny linear strip N of Sedgefld adj to Netpark. There’s 100s of these patches across the county, all supporting countless nos of birds, many red listed. In 2025 Skerne held 161 pairs breeding of 34 species - 2025 census report www.sedgefieldweb.co.uk/THE%202025%2...

Cowpen just past roundabout - Spoonbill asleep in field. 60 Twite Seaton Snook @teesbirds.bsky.social

Jacksons Landing - BT Diver still present with 12 RB Merg. Hartlepool Breakwater - adult Med Gull @teesbirds.bsky.social

Hartlepool - Snow Bunting opp Montague Drive & next to gun. Also 25 Purps & 2 Grey Plover @teesbirds.bsky.social

Castle Lake - drake American Wigeon amongst 400 Wigeon @teesbirds.bsky.social

Castle Lake - drake American Wigeon right of hide. May be the autumn bird? @teesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Fabulous few hours on Nland coast - big skies & superb scenery. Decent birds too - 1,000s of Brent, Barnacle & Wigeon, good selection of waders inc Grey Plov & Bar Tail, Scoter, Auks, RB Merg & Perg & best of all breeding plumage GN Diver.

Decent at Crimdon Dene - 2, pos 3 Yellow B Warbler, Brambling, 30 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffs, small nos of incoming Fieldfare, Redwing & Blackbird, 12 Partridge, 6 Marsh Tit, Buzzard, Redpoll & good nos of common species. Finished with Cattle Egret & Green Sand at Seal Sands Rd @teesbirds.bsky.social

Crimdon Dene - Yellow B Warbler, Brambling, 4 Marsh Tit @teesbirds.bsky.social

Holme Fleet - Glossy Ibis flew over road 1330 into sheep grazed brinefields. Unable to relocate @teesbirds.bsky.social

Yeah not often you get time to work through - it showed so well & decent light.

Cracking photo Mike - caught the head marbling, mask & the pink breast. Thanks for your company & ID discussion too!

Castle Lake - eclipse m American Wigeon still showing in front of hide (thanks to finder Stephen) @teesbirds.bsky.social @fishburnian.bsky.social

Not sure as not at campus after dark. I’ll check in winter.

Chiffs daily in these trees - remarkable for central Boro. Had YBW in Albert Park few years back so I’d like to think so Paul.

This avenue of trees thru Teesside Uni in central Boro has held up to 4 calling Chiffs since early Aug & also Willow Warbler & Blackcap. Must be passage birds & prob dozens have passed thru over the last few months @teesbirds.bsky.social

Wildlife Watchpoint - Common Swift @teesbirds.bsky.social

Saltholme West - 25 Curlew Sand, 3 L Stint (thanks to finder) @teesbirds.bsky.social

Castle Lake - GW Egret, Peregrine, 7 Curlew Sand, 7 Ruff, 4 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 24 Blackwit, Common Sand, 300 Hirundine, 30 Siskin, 8 Yellow Wag, 30 Chiff/Willow Warb @teesbirds.bsky.social

Castle Lake - Spotted Redshank still present - opp hide far E bank (thanks Rob) 3 Curlew Sand, 5 Ruff, 1 Green Sand, Common Sand, 2 Ring Plover & Hobby over hide. Beautiful sunrise over Stoneybeck @teesbirds.bsky.social

Close-up of a blue-tit beginning to peck away at the silver foil cap on the top of a milk bottle

The doorstep milk thief, 1966
Artist: Ronald Lampitt

Did have pair of Hobby over garden Monday. Swifts were late & the usual pair nesting next door…didn’t. 10 years ago we had load of Swifts nesting Boro town centre - none now.

Very quiet here in Durham - few waders at Castle Lake, resident wildfowl, small teal influx, 50 hirundine & nice 20odd Willow/Chiffs working a hedge this morning, but depressingly dead. In garden at the mo only sound in last 5 mins - woodpig, wind, dog & resident Stihl saw.