27 Mar 10 Teeside

Iain Clark was at my house at 6am and we were soon on our way down the M74. After a coffee refuelling stop at Washington Services we were at Saltholme Pools RSPB for 9:45 am. The weather was bright with a blustery wind coming from a north westerly direction.

The 1st Sand Martins of the year were over the pool adjacient to the visitor's centre and the feeders area held both Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

The 1st winter drake Hooded Merganser was very close in to the Saltholme Pool hide looking anything but wild:

"Plastic" on his plastic float:

Other birds of interest from the hide included at least 1 Little Egret, 6 Barnacle Geese and 4 Pintail. There were small numbers of both Wigeon and Gadwall.

We made out way round to Paddy's Pool which contained 2 Great Crested Grebe and c6 Shoveler. Other wildfowl of interest were 2 Little Grebe and several Shelduck. Small numbers of Curlew, Redshank and Lapwing were present.

The pager had reported a Great White Egret from Dormans Pool and after getting directions from reception we saw it well in flight with a Little Egret for comparison and then again partially obscured in the reeds. We moved round to the Reclamation Pond where a Black Necked Grebe had been getting reported and after a short search it showed well quite close to the car.

A Cetti's Warbler sang briefly and a Kestrel was hunting over the rough grassy areas. A Water Rail was also heard.

Later we moved round to Greatham Creek, but the only birds of note were 14 Avocet and 2 Stock Dove.

It had been another enjoyable days birding !