The omission of Common Tern has been rectified, I watched them last year almost to the day, hadn't realised, on the rafts on the Tees Road (Archive) but for whatever were not added to the list. I called in on them this evening and the rafts and Terns are there again. How quick that years past looking back.

It was a Blustry day in .....

Yesterdays rain had gone but it was blowing a hooligan this morning, I returned to the same stretch of coast as last weekend but turned right out of the car park instead of left and headed for a fenced off area of the beach. Its a protected nest site for Little Tern, a very attractive delicate bird, and there where plenty about, finding it very easy to fly towards the sea but almost impossible to get back. The amount of sand flying about meant the camera never ventured out the bag.
A quick scan of my list shows a few Terns missing, Probably because they all look pretty much the same, actions shall be taken to rectify this.

Sunday 15th June

There's a stretch of coast just the other side of the Headland which has a completely different landscape to the beach I usually visit, complete with high cliffs formed hundreds of millions of years ago.








Remembering to charge the batteries in the camera is always a good idea ...
The rest taken with my phone







Lots of "little brown jobs" flying around being as difficult as ever to id, but I did see plenty of Jackdaws, Gulls, Oyster catchers, a couple of Partridge, weasel and a pair of Kestrels hunting along the cliff edge. I have spotted a Peregrine being mobbed by Crows around that area a good few years ago when I was out riding one day but none today although there were a couple of Fulmar on the side of the cliffs which made my day.

Old Haunts New Faces

A walk to the Marina with the dog taking in as many parks etc en route filled a couple of hours over the Bank Holiday weekend. Plenty of familiar faces greeted us on our round but it was when we reached the Cemetery my dodgy 'id' skills were called into play.



I'm thinking this is possible one of the many newly fledged Starlings which are about this week but the size and colour threw me a bit. . .





and I'm thinking these could be a Barn Owls but its a little unusual to be showing so well during the day.

Monday 12 May

Have been out a couple of times over the weekend but didn't have any luck spotting anything new. Took the dog a walk along Seaton Common on Sunday evening but the fret off the sea, which had hung about all day while the rest of the country bathed in sunshine, prevented anything being spotted apart a couple of Lapwing. These birds seem to never stop, if there not displaying and chasing off other birds they're trying to distract predators, this time a fox.

Monday evening was a lot clearer but didn't produce much more, Kestrel, Stonechat, Magpies, Mallards and Gulls, it would have been nice to watch SEO hunting but none were visible either night.

Time Flies ....

24 April Happy Birthday Hannah

An early start on a fine morning really has its benefits, spotting Ringed Ouzels around North Gare wasn't one of them though, plenty of Wheatear around, Gulls, Oyster Catchers, Sanderlings and a dead Great Crested Grebe on the beach.
The rest of the week didn't really offer much opportunity for any birding.


3 May

Saturday early evening and a extra walk for the dog, had a Friday night out this week it was very quiet but a good night all the same, Pools ended the season mid table with a draw against the Saddlers. We walked round Summerhill (feeders empty) and up to the Park, now I wasn't sure if the next bird counted but apparently it's recognised as a British bird now. Ring neck Parakeet have been in the country for around thirty years and I knew of a flock around the park but I'd never seen any. The Park pond appears to be a bit of a retirement home for misfit or broken Ducks and Geese, Mallards of all colours and sizes, Canada Geese, a few with pretty messed up wings, a few Tufties, Moorhen and a pair of odd looking Muscovy Ducks. I've seen Shag ( que the joke . .. "Shag, funny word isn't it? To a smoker its a type of tobacco. To a Ornithologist its a bird, and to you its just a remote possibility! )on previous visits but none today.

4 May

If only birds were so keen to have there pictures taken.



Back to the beech, more like bank Holiday weather, lots of Swallows around now, Wheatear on the Pier, Linnet, Stonechat with young and Reed Bunting behind the Snook.

At last, first swallow of the summer tonight while walking the dog on the rec, just the one though.
Free morning again tomorrow so off to Seaton Common for a Ringed Ouzel or anything else I might see around North Gare before work.