14 members attended this field trip starting at the Headland lighthouse at 9.30. It was an overcast day with a westerly breeze. On the sea we found six Red-throated Divers, two Guillemots and a group of 55 Cormorants. Great Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls were flying past or on the sea. Two Red-throated Divers flew past. The walk along the sea front towards the docks gave us five Purple Sandpipers, 15 Turnstones and a colour ringed Curlew. It is a bird I have seen before at Hartlepool, which was rung by Durham University and Tees Ringing Group on 21st July 2012 at Seal Sands. On the rocks between the Heugh and the Pilot pier there were six Eider Ducks with 18 Cormorants and numerous loafing Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. On our return from the docks we found two Shag on the rocks, then fishing on the sea. One Rock Pipit was found on the beach and a flock of House Sparrows were chattering in a garden hedge. From the Pilot Pier near the dock entrance there was a Great Northern Diver which gave us good views as it drifted past us towards the sea. Four female Red-breasted Mergansers were across the channel.
Unfortunately we could not access the fish quay today as it was very busy with boats and vehicle movements. A small fishing boat came into the quay followed by hundreds of hopeful gulls.
We returned to the cars and drove to Newburn Bridge for lunch and check the high tide roost. On the rocky shingle there were two Sanderlings, two Purple Sandpipers, 42 Ringed Plovers, 30 Oystercatchers and two Turnstone. Five Great-crested Grebes were on the sea. Various gulls were flying around but we did not see the local Mediterranean Gull.
On to the Zinc Works Road and Seaton Snook which is at the River Tees mouth. Our first target birds were the flock of Twite which reside here in the winter. A flock of 60 flew up and landed on the grass in the lee of a fence on the grass. As we approached we could see them feeding in a tight huddle on the grass, out of the wind. Another similar sized flock flew up from the Samphire growing on the beach making approximately 120 birds.
Across the water on the far bank there were 80 Shelducks and 300 Oystercatchers roosting plus 80 Grey Seals hauled out on the shore. Further along the beach at Teesmouth there were c.50 Grey Plovers, c.50 Red Knot, 80 Oystercatchers, three Sanderlings and 38 Common Gulls with a small number of Black-headed and Herring Gulls. Two Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea and two flew past.
In the Zinc Works Road field and bushes we found 10 Reed Buntings, six Goldfinches, a Tree Sparrow, 26 Curlews, a Robin, a Dunnock, two Skylarks, five Mallard and a Pheasant.
Our final stop was on the main road near Greatham Creek. A short walk from the road gave us 12 White-fronted Geese with six Greylag Geese. On the pool there were 50 Wigeon and two Shovelers.
Six Grey Herons were in the long grass.
It was a breezy day but it did keep dry for us.
A total of 47 species was recorded on the day.
Report and Photos by Mike Smithson