Parrots in the Park and other assorted year ticks

Headed north today for a bit of year ticking in Teesside, I started at Ward Jackson Park in Hartlepool where the little colony of Ring Necked Parakeets continues to do well, several birds eventually announced their presence and flew into the trees near the kiddies play area there were also some nice posing Goosanders on the Boating Lake. It was onto the Headland next, the Fish Quay proved rather quiet just Red Throated Diver and a couple of Eider being the best of it, but plenty of Common Scoter off Parton Rocks with a good selection of common Waders on them but no sign of the recent Red Necked Grebe. Heading back to Saltholme the Black Throated Diver was still showing well at Jacksons Landing, the Med Gull was on its lamppost at nearby Newburn Bridge and there was a decent flock of Snow Buntings at Seaton Snook with the bonus of a female Merlin chasing them around, well for me anyway not for them although it didn't catch one, at Saltholme RSPB I took a walk out to the Haverton end where one of the roosting Long Eared Owls was in view but the rest of the reserve was pretty quiet apart from six Red Breasted Mergansers on Paddy’s Pool, finished off at Dormans Pool where the Green Winged Teal was still present, this is probably the bird I failed to see at Nosterfield at the beginning of the year. 

the tide well out at the Headland

the Marina at Jackson's Landing