Larking about in the Surf

I managed to drag Mark out today although he was still suffering a bit with a cold he can't seem to shake, Teesside was deemed the best bet and we started at Hartlepool Headland where three Shore Larks were on the beach just North of Steetley Pier, nearby three Snow Buntings were on some waste ground near the de Brus tunnel, this whole area North of the cemeteries is under development though so it may be the last winter for these birds there. After enjoying some good views we moved on calling at Jackson’s Landing where there were five Red Breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe but no Divers today, a few Waders and the Med Gull were at Newburn Bridge and further down the road off the Staincliffe Hotel in Seaton Carew a raft of Common Scoters on the sea included a couple of Velvets and the immature drake Surf Scoter I missed a couple of weeks ago, nice to catch up with this bird it’s the first immature I’ve seen, a bit distant but good scope views. We moved on, Seaton Common was very quiet as was Dorman’s Pool apart from a flock of Twite flying over, at Saltholme seven Whooper Swans had dropped onto the West Pool but otherwise there was not a  lot happening there either but all in all not a bad day.

didn't have long with these, although they were quite approachable they were also flighty

RB Mergs in the Marina after being flushed by a boat

Newburn Bridge Med

Scoters off Seaton Carew

included this imm Surf , although a bit distant for the camera really