Teeside sightings

On a recent trip up to Teeside we popped in to Saltholme RSPB Nature Reserve and caugt sight of the Hooded Merganser following a report of the bird on the Teesmouth Bird Club website. As I understand its most likely an escapee but nonetheless a lovely looking bird. We were lucky that it swam right by the hide & plonked itself down for a rest.

Also on the water were Goldeneye, Teal, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shelduck, Mallard, Mute Swan and Redshank on the margins.

Walking back from the hide to the visitors centre we spotted this Kestrel sat on top of a Hawthorn.

Reed Buntings, and Goldfinch busied themselves amongst the hawthorn hedgerows & Skylarks filled the air with their song.

Elsewhere on Greenabella Marsh we managed to spot 10 Avocets, too far away for a decent pic but happy enough with the sighting. Curlew galore on Seaton Common and an Egret on the Common too.

Teeside visit

Whilst enjoying the sun in Maureen's garden in Billingham we spotted a Silver Y moth Autographa gamma. Its apparently 'one of the great migrants of the insect world'. Distinguishing features are the Silver Y on forewing and the double crest on the thorax. A widespread moth it flies both at night & day although it was at rest when we saw it in on a potted ivy. It feeds on a variety of both wild & cultivated plants.

At Billingham Beck, a Comma Polygonia c-album, the underwings are a dull brown colour, with a small white 'C' marking, which gives the butterfly its name.

A Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria Likes shady areas with dappled sunlight, deciduous, coniferous & mixed woodland. This one was partially obscured by the canopy, and backlit with sun illuminating its forewings. Dragonfly, a Common Darter, thanks to Emma for help with the identification.

A Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Hogweed, not sure which variety but I was drawn to sculptural qualities of the plant especially the flat winged seedheads of the compound umbel.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)Most widespread of dragonflies and damselflies throughout much of Britain

Horsetail, Equisetum arvense

Teeside visit pt 2, Seaton Common & Cowpen Bewley

On Seaton Common, an open Salt Marsh with wetland areas, flanked by dunes to the seaward edge, Skylarks marked their territories with their melodic song. We spotted a couple as they rose high & hovered in the sky before descent. Approximately 10 Wheatear, a summer visitor & passing migrant, occasionally perched themselves atop grassy hummocks, no doubt attracted by the swarms of flies & midges around the place (yum).

Flies...and lots of em!

We noticed a few Yellow Wagtails, this one stayed close to a herd of grazing cows, picking up bits as it went. We'd seen a similar relationship ealrier in the day with a Starling closely following a herd near Saltholme. This type of relationship is known as 'Commensalism' which is a class of relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or benefited. I suppose for me a more common example would be the friendly Robin that regularly follows us closely on the allotment.

As we walked through the dunes, butterflies were in abundance, predominantly Green-veined white (Pieris napi) & Small White (Pieris rapae), although we did spot one Peacock.

On reaching the estuary we could see two pairs of Shelduck and some Grey Seals hauled out on the far bank.
One of a group of four Linnets near the entrance to Seaton Common. These small finches, feed on seeds & insects, most likely these were the birds we saw bathing on the edge of a pond at Saltholme earlier in the day.
At Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park we came across an interesting fungi growing on a deciduous hardwood stump, which I think is Black Witch’s Butter (Exidia glandulosa) but I'd greatly appreciate feedback on whether I've got it right. Olive black jelly fungus, brain like formation, the surface is covered in small spots, the largest of 3 instances was about 20cm in length 10cm across.

We came across a lovely patch of Cowslip near the lake which was occupied by Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Grebe.

Seaton Common, Hartlepool, Cowpen Bewley - Teeside

A trip to Seaton Common on Friday, Curlews, Wigeons, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing. Walked to Blue Lagoon, waterside we spotted Red Breasted Merganser & Oystercatchers. In the estuary Grey Seals hauled out on the banks & Red Breasted Mergansers battled the breeze on the middle of the river. Inland, in front of the Power Station, Shelduck, Canada Goose & Oystercatchers huddled round a puddle and Skylark provided the soundtrack to the afternoon. On the way back through the dunes spotted my first buttlerfly of the year, Small Tortoiseshell. Returned on Saturday, saw more Curlews, Wigeon, Lapwing, Teal & a Reed Bunting in its natural habitat. Skylark still rolling out the tunes. Knackered, time for a rest!

Visit Teeside Bird Club for more info on the area

Seaton Common

Shelduck, followed by a longshot of the same Shelduck accompanied by Canada Geese and Oystercatcher.
Small Tortoiseshell

Red Breasted Mergansers in the estuary

Wigeon on the Common, perform their best Hilda Ogden mural formation.

One of many Curlew

Lapwing, they maybe a relatively common bird, but I realise that I've underestimated just how colourfully varied their plumage is, what a nice surprise.

A flock of Wigeon with the Ghost Ships in the background
Three Little Egret on the Common, followed by a close up of two of the three birds (in case there's any doubt that 3 white carrier bags were masquerading as Little Egret).Reed Bunting in its natural habitat

Later we walked along Hartlepool Headland. On the way, along the Tees Road we caught a glimpse of a Merlin. At the headland by the tide edge were Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Turnstones and Sandpipers (purple we think).

Get off moy land!

A Little Egret, snapped by Maureen, near Greatham Creek

Sunday, first visit to Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park. Lazily, from the car we spotted the usual suspects Finches, Tits, Robin, Blackbirds plus a Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting. Later on, at Seaton Common 3 Little Egrets. Saltholme Pools, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Pink Footed Geese. To cap it off, on the way back to Leeds, on the Ring Road we were welcomed home by a Roe Deer.

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park
Oliver Reed Bunting (grrrrrr)