Teesside

Me and Mark headed up to Teesside this morning as there were a few bits to go for, started at Hartlepool Headland where a juv Black Guillemot has been for the last few days, it took some finding but we got good scope views when it was found, some Common Scoter and Red Throated Divers close in as well. Went to Saltholme next and with news the Blue Winged Teal was showing we headed straight over to the Allotment Pools and got reasonable views of what has been an extremely elusive bird, a drake now moulting out of eclipse plumage. A few Waders were showing from the main hide including Little Stint and Pectoral Sandpiper but they weren't close also a small flock of Barnacle Geese there, dont know if they are genuine or not but they do look nice, also one ot two Wheatears and Whinchats around but no sign of yesterdays Jack Snipe. Mid afternoon we headed round to South Gare but unfortunately found the road was closed today, a bit at a loss what to do we finally ended up at Fairburn Ings where we ended the day with a bit of photography.

distant Pectoral Sandpiper

this Ruff was more obliging

a dirty Black Tailed Godwit

shaking off the mud