Spring arrivals in Teesside

With more and more summer visitors arriving I decided on a bit of year ticking up in Teesside today(Sunday), started at Dorman’s Pool where several Sedge Warblers were singing from the brambles along the path to the hide, by the hide a Grasshopper Warbler sat out and reeled for a short while, always nice when they pose, there was also a couple of Whitethroats in the area (two down), from the end of the path I joined a few others looking over the top corner of Saltholme East where a pair of Garganey had been yesterday but there was no sign of them today. Went round to Saltholme next where a Little Egret and Grey Heron posed in front of the Phil Stead Hide and as I was walking round to the Visitor Centre I had my first Swift of the year. The main reserve was fairly quiet although I had my first Reed Warblers for the year singing at the Wildlife Watchpoint, I moved on and took a look at the Greatham Creek area, a few Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Ringed Plover were on the Tidal Pools and a Common Sandpiper was feeding along the Creek itself, Seaton Common next but that was really quiet so I decide to head for home via Danby Beacon on the offchance there may be some Dotterel around, there wasn’t but a couple of Wheatears entertained, finished off at Scaling Dam where a Little Ringed Plover posed in front of the new Hide and a good few Hirundines looked good in the late afternoon sun as they hawked over the car park.

not very showy at first

thats more like it

Gropper showing well

so thats why they call it a Willow Warbler

a few Linnets around

Herons from Phil Stead Hide

and Gadwall

first Swift of the year

Grebes at the Wildlife Watchpoint

a mighty fine looking Black Tailed Godwit on the Tidal Pools

plus Common Sandpiper on the Creek

and one or two Seals

Danby Beacon

Mipit

Wheatear

Red Grouse on the run

LRP at Scaling Dam

another Willow Warbler