At 10.00am, on a fine but very breezy day, five members of the bird watching group met in the car park of the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve. Located between Hartlepool and Middlesborough, surrounded by an industrial landscape, it offers a wonderful habitat for urban wildlife, including wading birds, seals and other mammals. There are 3 Hides constructed of steel in an industrial style, overlooking the river, mud flats and grasslands. The approach is via a good pathway. The inter-tidal mud flats provide abundant feeding for waders and safe areas for the seals to emerge from the river and lounge on the mud banks.
Grey Seals at Seal Sands
At the first hide we were rewarded with a great view of a group of 10 Little Egrets and many more treats followed, Redshanks, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers, Greenshank, Dunlins, Cormorant, Curlew, Herring Gulls, Black-Headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Carrion Crow, Starling, Swift, Mallard and Pidgeon (possibly Stock Dove). Also, good views of Seals, both Harbour Seals and Grey Seals, some swimming in the river, some hauling themselves out of the river and some lounging on the mud banks.
By 11.00am the tide was flowing in, river level rising quickly, so perfect timing for us to continue our day out and move onto Saltholme. It’s only a short drive onto the reserve from Seal Sands.
RSPB Saltholme Visitor Centre
Saltholme RSPB Reserve is an excellent site for wildlife and plants. It is also surrounded by a heavily industrialized landscape. However, it is a remarkable haven for birds, mammals, plant life and insects. The reserve includes very good pathways and trails, good hides and viewing screens and a welcoming visitors centre, plus an interesting walled garden. There are many different habitats to explore, reed beds, wetlands, grassland and meadows, plus several pools and the lake.
We began our group journey through the reserve strolling along the Dragonfly path towards the Saltholme Pool hide, a 2 storey structure offering good views with lots to see. Common Tern, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Greylag, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Teal, Mute Swans, Heron, Starlings, Linnets and Little Egrets again. Here we enjoyed a nice lunch break and by now we had the hide to ourselves.
Little Egret at RSPB Saltholme
After lunch we resumed our watching and more sights, Sand Martin, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Shoveller and Pochard. Then we made our way along the Lake Walk, checking out Paddy’s Pool Hide and continued on to the Wildlife Watchpoint Hide. Here we saw Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Magpie, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Blackbird.
A very enjoyable day out and an amazing 47 sightings.
Judith Goodings
