Nine members attended this meeting starting at the Headland Lighthouse. It was an overcast day with a strong onshore wind making it a chilly day with a very rough sea. A number of Gannets and two Shags flew past offshore plus the only two Common Scoters we saw. Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls were the most numerous gulls with a small number of Black-headed and a Common Gull. On the sea were three Red-throated Divers and groups of Guillemots. Two Razorbills flew past. On the rocks to the North were several Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Curlews and a solitary Rock Pipit. Three Red-breasted Mergansers and 12 Eider Ducks flew past to the South as we walked along the sea front. A Grey Seal was also out at sea.
As we walked to the fish quay past the Heugh breakwater where it was more sheltered we found two Rock Pipits and a Pied Wagtail on the shore, Eider Ducks on the sea and a flock of 20 Purple Sandpipers on the seaweed covered rocks with Turnstones. A single Fieldfare was on the beach and 20 Starlings flew over with gulls always flying around.
At the Fish Quay we found a Great-crested Grebe, two female Red-breasted Mergansers eight Eider Ducks, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Seven Magpies were seen on the far side of the docks and a flock of House Sparrows were in the bushes as we walked back to the cars.
On the way to Newburn Bridge we had a quick look at Jackson’s Landing and found six Red-breasted Mergansers, a Little Grebe and two Oystercatchers. We stopped at Newburn Bridge for our lunch and scan the sea. The high tide wader roost here was quiet with only 41 Oystercatchers, five Purple Sandpipers four Ringed Plovers.
As it was windy we gave the exposed Seaton Snook and Teesmouth a miss and drove to Saltholme to view the two lagoons from the roadside. A good range of ducks were seen here. There were two Pintails, Shelducks, Shovelers, a Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, Pochards, Mallard, Goldeneye and Gadwall. Plus Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and Mute Swans. A great White Egret was in the reed beds. Waders present included a large number of Lapwings, a Redshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, Curlews, an Avocet and a flock of Golden Plovers. Birds of prey in the area were two Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and a Kestrel from earlier.
On our way back home to the A19 we stopped at Haverton Hill gull roost where a juvenile Iceland Gull had been seen. Only a few gulls were present but after 20 minutes the Iceland Gull flew in to roost, finishing the day nicely.
The species total for the day was 55.
Mike Smithson
