IanF
Wednesday 26th February 2003, 14:44
Located off the A1185 Seal Sands Road two kilometres east of the A689 Wolviston Roundabout junction on the north side of Billingham. Site facilities include a large metalled car park and several paths providing easy access for the disabled. There is a modern visitor centre, but opening times seem to vary and is geared more toward school visits and organised activities though they won't turn anyone away.
Whilst there is an area to the south of the Seal Sands Road to which public have access, that area has been heavily planted with young trees and has little established habitat as yet. The reserve is mainly to the north side of the A1185.
The site covers approx one square kilometre of mainly grassland which also covers two small hills. There are varied habitats including still water ponds, a stream, reed beds, mixed woodland and several established hedge lines.
Adjacent to the car park, access through a small chain link gate opposite the car park entrance is a well designed bird feeding station which is kept going throughout Winter and early Spring attracting a very good head of birds with regular visitors including Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Redwing, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Bull Finch, Great Spotted Woodpecker. There is a second smaller feeding station behind the visitors centre but isn't as good as the main one.
There is one large pond and several smaller ones dotted around the site attracting a good variety of water birds, both residents and migrants. There is a permanent head of Mallard, Tufted Tufted Duck, Pochard, Coot and Moorhen, with Cormorants, Little Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Heron and Goosander seen almost daily. Mute Swans and Canada Geese breed each year. Goldeneye, Red Crested Pochard, Kingfisher and Smew seem to crop up each year. The pond can be accessed from three sides, the fourth being a nature reserve. The surrounding bushes include a good selection of the smaller birds. Whilst unsightly electricity pylons cross the site, they provide perfect lookout points for numerous Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and the occasional Marsh and Hen Harriers which have been known to nest in the park.
Several of the smaller wetland areas attract a wide variety of Dragon Fly and Damsel Fly in the Summer for which the site is noted.
The stream through the site attracts water birds and Kingfisher and at it's eastern end is a Long Eared Owl roost, though they are difficult to see.
This is my local birding area and I find something to see on every visit.
Whilst there is an area to the south of the Seal Sands Road to which public have access, that area has been heavily planted with young trees and has little established habitat as yet. The reserve is mainly to the north side of the A1185.
The site covers approx one square kilometre of mainly grassland which also covers two small hills. There are varied habitats including still water ponds, a stream, reed beds, mixed woodland and several established hedge lines.
Adjacent to the car park, access through a small chain link gate opposite the car park entrance is a well designed bird feeding station which is kept going throughout Winter and early Spring attracting a very good head of birds with regular visitors including Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Redwing, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Bull Finch, Great Spotted Woodpecker. There is a second smaller feeding station behind the visitors centre but isn't as good as the main one.
There is one large pond and several smaller ones dotted around the site attracting a good variety of water birds, both residents and migrants. There is a permanent head of Mallard, Tufted Tufted Duck, Pochard, Coot and Moorhen, with Cormorants, Little Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Heron and Goosander seen almost daily. Mute Swans and Canada Geese breed each year. Goldeneye, Red Crested Pochard, Kingfisher and Smew seem to crop up each year. The pond can be accessed from three sides, the fourth being a nature reserve. The surrounding bushes include a good selection of the smaller birds. Whilst unsightly electricity pylons cross the site, they provide perfect lookout points for numerous Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and the occasional Marsh and Hen Harriers which have been known to nest in the park.
Several of the smaller wetland areas attract a wide variety of Dragon Fly and Damsel Fly in the Summer for which the site is noted.
The stream through the site attracts water birds and Kingfisher and at it's eastern end is a Long Eared Owl roost, though they are difficult to see.
This is my local birding area and I find something to see on every visit.