Teesside International Nature Reserve

[IanF]

This link I found posted elsewhere gives a little detail on this marvellous development that is local to me.

There is an article to read and if you have Real Player an interview with slideshow with Kevin Bayes of the RSPB.

Teesside International Nature Reserve BBC report (http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/voices/rspb/index.shtml)

[hutch]

sounds good , was down there saturday great day and a wonderful veiw of teeside from top of the hill in cowpen bewley reserve

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Ian,

Methinks this is in the wrong forum ;) should be Durham! (or Cleveland if that rates a forum of its own)

Yes it'll be interesting to see how the reserve develops. I got Marsh Sandpiper on it this spring.

Michael

[IanF]

We have Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank at the moment along with a Bitten and Marsh Harriers two of the species they are trying to attract. A few of the Terns are still nesting too.

I put the thread here as the BBC will change the content shortly.

[cuddy]

Long term the prospects for this area are great, however after my last visit i am going to need a wetsuit before i venture down south again.

[christineredgate]

Ian how come the terns are still nesting?.Ours have nested ,bred,raised their chicks and have long gone.We have a large tern breeding colony here at Hodbarrow,but they all went long ago.
Christine.

[IanF]

There are just a few Common Terns left with young on the new island on Back Saltholme Pool, still being fed by parents. Those on the more established sites closer to Greatham Creek have all upped and moved off.

[StevieEvans]

Hi
Ive just recieved a reply from the RSPB regarding this 'proposed' reserve, which includes a map of the boundary of the core site - its vast!!
For any one who knows the area, it will be as large as Seal Sands & Bran Sands Combined.
Apparently, this will be combined with the Largest RSPB Visitor centre in the Country.
Good News.
Steve

[pauliev69]

Hi Steve, more details please, quite exciting, I only live 5 minutes away from the new proposed reserve

[DenBee]

Hi Ian.
I am very often down Salterholme ponds as I live just up the A19 at Murton Co. Durham and would like to visit this site. Would appreciate any directions from the above mentioned site.

Denbee

[IanF]

Hi Denbee,

You'll have to wait a while longer I'm afraid. The development is still ongoing and isn't due to be opened until 2006.

The Salthome Ponds are part a the new reserve, but I believe access to the off road locations is still restricted to Teesmouth Bird Club Members. Viewing is still possible from the main road at Salthome Ponds, Greatham Creek and Holme Fleet.

The new reserve in the main incorporates the older locations from Haverton Hole in the west to Greenabella Marsh in the north east. Earthworks have been under way at various locations extending the reed beds which has disturbed the birding there as they look more like building sites at the moment.The larger ponds like Salthome, Dormans, Reclamation and Greatham Creek are so far unaffected.

[DenBee]

Hi Ian
Thanks for repyling as fast. I also notice by one of your previous Posts that you visit Low Barnes quite frequently, I think this site will become even better after they finish creating the new Wetland area beside the old West pond, may try and visit this coming week to check on the progress.

Happy Birding

Denbee

[IanF]

Hi DenBee,

Low Barns is a great place to visit. I'm looking forward to the wetland development being completed too with the new boardwalk through the middle of it. I'm not sure as to how soon it will be open though the earthworks are supposed to be finished around Easter.

If you do go for a look then try to go on a weekend as during the week and some Saturday mornings that end of the reserve is closed to the public.

[StevieEvans]

The last 3 weeks have seen some increase in wader species & no's.
A couple of hours tonight produced:-

Little Stint 1 at Calor Gas Pool, Port Clarence for 4th day.
Green Sand 1 at Back Saltholme
Wood Sand 1 on RHS approach to Back Salt
Common Sand 1 at Calor gas
Greenshank 2 on Back Salt, 1 Dormans
Spotted Redshank 2 on Back Salt & 1 still on Dormans
Knot 1 on Back Salt, sum plum.
Snipe 13 on RHS Back Salt approach, 3 Back Salt, 4 Dormans
Turnstone 1 on Back Salt
Little Ring Plover 1 at Calor gas
Whimbrel 2 over Dormans with Curlew
Black tail godwit 3 Calor gas, 4 Back Salt
Ruff 5 Calor gas, 7+Back Salt, 3 Dormans
Dunlin 53 Calor, 9 Back Salt, 5 Dormans

Merlin Adult female attacking a Snipe briefly at Back Salt
Short eared Owl 1 towards Haverton Hole

Water Rail 2 Ads seen on Dormans with 5+ others heard there.
Sand Martin 300+ PortClarence/Back Salt/Haverton Hole
Yellow Wagtail Ad & juv Back Salt, 1 in flight Dormans.
Common Tern Many successes on islands.

Ruddy Duck F & 5very small young on Dormans at dusk.
Garganey single eclipse drake.
Pintail single present on Dormans.
Pochard
Shoveller both species with young

As usual allways something of interest in this bird rich area.
SE.

[IanF]

A very nice list for a couple of hours birding.

[StevieEvans]

Arrived 19:45, left Dormans 22:10.
Last couple of hours in the day, ie :-
no other birders (not even JG or JD),
no disturbance, birds settled & unwary (except for Merlin),
flat calm conditions.
Almost full moon, could still easily differenciate Spotshank from Redshanks & Ruff at 22:00.

The Merlin was star performer
One each of the Snipe on BkSalt & Dormans were juvs (had 'drummers' over back Back Salt earlier in the season) so possibly local bred.
Ruddy duck brood were only very recent, & the 1st brood i've recorded this year-anywhere.
Usually have Garganey & Water Rail with young by now.

Still No Spotted Crake though Ian, which was the target bird. ;)

Might try again tonight, want to try to age that Seo, as i found a dead Juvenile on the Billingham-SealSands earlier in the week.
Perhaps we've had a successfull lowland pair?

Stevie.

[IanF]

I've been thinking about visiting a little later myself. I'm usually leaving at the latest 19.30 which is when the birds seem like they are settling down.

I'll have to keep an eye open for the Merlin as I haven't seen one down there since last year. That was also on Back Saltholme and was there for quite a while.

Snipe do seem to be in decent numbers. I had five together in front of the hide on Dormans Friday evening along with a pair of adult Water Rail and two chicks. As I left another lot were calling from the reeds near the car park.

SEO's are still being seen over Greenabella, but the last ones I saw was three weeks ago, one over Cowpen Bewley Wildlife Park an the other hunting over the fields around the juntion to Dormans Pond road and Seaton Carew Road. It would be nice if they have bred locally as we could do with a few more around.

Spotted Crake would be even better.

I'll let you know if I come across anything 'interesting'.

[StevieEvans]

Brief visit 20:30till 21:30

Far fewer waders (falling tide)
2Little stint singles Calor gas & Bk Salt.
Wood sand & 2 Greenshanks Bk Salt with a Bar tail Godwit flyover.

Had the Merlin (Ad fem) sat on fencepost ! along the walkway from the 'triangle' to Bk Saltholme. It went off over PClarence to attack Sand Martins. 2 evenings on the trot!
Hope this one too, sticks around Ian.
In the past ive had them where they appeared to be creatures of habit, on the L.Drag i had a male which used to roost on the same concrete post throughout the winter.

Had an Seo nr to the firestation. Dont know if its same one as last night, but it was definately a youngster.

Tried to see that RNGrebe at the Headland....no luck...would be a county yr tick too.
Well done with the Rails.

Im surprised we havnt bumped into each other...or maybe we have...i'm quite prominant on weekday visits as am usually in the LWB White Transit.

Going back to the owls, it would be great to try to collect all or as many sightings as poss.
I think we'd get a shock at the number of individuals about...?

Hope to see you in the fields
Steve.

[IanF]

Hi Steve,

I was down last night too but left at around 7.30pm.

Wood Sand and Little Stint on pond to right of path to Back Saltholme along with three Snipe.

I'll keep my eye open for the Owls and the Merlin.

Due to current work hours weekdays I'm there most evenings. If I see your van I'll have a word. I'm in a dark red Peugeot 206.

[StevieEvans]

Ian, you must have been in the Dormans hide while i was there...we'll meet eventually !
2ad & 2juv Greenshank, WHDuck, 2 eclipse Garganey & a Ruff was my lot there.

4 Greenshank, 3 Egrets & a Seo huntiing from a concrete post on Greenabella.

Drake Scaup, 1Common Sand, 1Blackwit, 10+Snipe along the Drag.

Its amazing the difference a few days can make to the wader numbers/species

We're due something good soon........

(that place with the Ruddy Shelducks at Stockton looks realy good, had 3 Greenshank, 4 Ruff a Snipe & 3 Dunlin.......never heard of the place before yesterday. You know much about it?)

S

[IanF]

Hi Steve,

I was in the hide just for an hour last night.

Water Rail are still there, along with Snipe, Little Egret, Ruff amd Greenshank. A young Sparrowhawk was hanging around the car park plus a Yellow Wagtail. Four Kestrel about too. No Owls though.

I'm almost certain a Least Sandpiper was on Back Saltholme on the first small pond to the right of the straight track along with a Wood Sand. Not 100% on the ID though as waders aren't a strong point with me.

Bowesfield Nature Reserve is fairly new in terms of being a reserve. I thinks it's the bit they wanted to use for water sports but it became a reserve instead. I've scanned it from the bridge a few times, without much doing, but I haven't seen the Ruddy Shelduck yet - most likely tomorrow night if they're still around.


Saw the WH Duck on Saltholme east along with another Little Egret.

[plaxtonman]

Hi Stevie/Ian

Are the ecl Garganey on Dormans, by any chance? I've been puzzling over a duck I saw there last weekend and now realise what it might have been.

Paul and I had the juv RN Grebe down at Hartlepool on Saturday morning, a real stunner, close in, nice red neck and the black striping on the face. It was a county bird for both of us as well!

Cheers, Plaxtonman

[StevieEvans]

Plaxton

Yeah, Garganeys on Dormans.
Very distict head pattern, also when seen close enough the bill is completely different shape.

We Missed the RNG- need it Co Yr Tick......

Ste.

Ps. Plaxtonman, Were you the guy with Paul C. on Lindisfarne this spring when we found the Garganey pair on the Lough ?

[CJW]

I'm almost certain a Least Sandpiper was on Back Saltholme on the first small pond to the right of the straight track along with a Wood Sand. Not 100% on the ID though as waders aren't a strong point with me.

What did you get on it Ian? There's certainly plenty of waders in the UK from the colonies at the moment.

[plaxtonman]

Plaxton

Ps. Plaxtonman, Were you the guy with Paul C. on Lindisfarne this spring when we found the Garganey pair on the Lough ?

No Stevie, someone else had taken him out of his cage that day!

[IanF]

Popped down for an hour this evening. A SEO was showing very well for about half an hour in the main sat on a fence post in between hunting attempts. It was definitely a very juvenile bird with the primaries and secondaries very undeveloped not to mention the body being very fluffy looking.

Spotted Redshank also on back right of Back Saltholme from the Causeway.

I couldn't spot any Merlin though two have been seen today on Back Saltholme. Something kept putting up the Lapwing and waders but I couldn't spot what it was.

Hen Harrier was spotted on the Calor Gas pond this morning along with Green Sandpiper. Apparently up to three Little Egret are roosting in Rossmere Park, Hartlepool most nights, where one over-wintered.

[StevieEvans]

Ian
heard there were 4seo on side of tip at Cowpen Marsh (thought to poss be 2ad's & 2juv's)......I wouldnt have thought that a family party would still be intact if they'd come down off the fells ? adds strength to the locally bred thoughts......but....

The Male, female & 1 notably 'white flecked' juvenile Merlin have perhaps done that though... ?

Hope to get down tonight to try to catch up with that Hen Harrier, need it as County Yr tick.

SE

[IanF]

I may see you down there then, I was going for a closer look at the one behind the Fire Station. I 'think' I saw the Hen Harrier this morning over Cowpen Marsh between Holme Fleet and the Fire Station roundabout. By the time I'd got parked up it had soared too high and headed over towards the tip - I'm not ticking it though until I get a better look.

[IanF]

Nice meeting you Steve :t:

BTW No sign of any owls but The 'Harrier' was over the NE corner of the tip from Holme Fleet and made off towards Greatham being mobbed by gulls. Definitely a Harrier, but from that distance it could have been either.

I'll let you know if I catch up with it again.

[StevieEvans]

We only managed 1 Shortie hunting up the creek at @ 9PM, despite a good check.
Very little else of note 3 Whimbrel & 2-3 Greenshank, the LRP family (fledged)
The 3 egrets flew off Greenabella & headed exactly in the direction you said!

Hope the Harrier stays around, next planned visit is Wednesday evening.
I will re-schedule at a half a min's notice though..... ;)

Nice to have met you too Ian.
See you again.
SE.

[StevieEvans]

I thought i was soaked untill we stopped to pick up a Polish hitch-hiker on the A19.
8 hours of constant rain & he was still smiling..........

5-6 Black Terns this evening, Dor,Rec,BkSalt with 3-4 Little Gulls also.
5 Common Sand flying around Rec Pond. Wood Sand BKSalt. Ad W.Rail Dormns.

SE.

[StevieEvans]

Autumn is here
Dormans (Heavy Rain)
8 Black Tern & 3 Little Gull, 10 Common Sand. Peregrine nearby.

Seaton Snook (Heavy Rain)
Icterine Warbler, 10+ Pied Fly, 2 Spotted Fly, Cuckoo, 3 Whinchat, 5 Whimbrels.

Hartlepool (Heavy Rain)
Booted Warbler, Garden Warbler, 6+Pied Fly, 2Willow Warbler, 4Whinchat, 2Wheatear, juv Cuckoo, 2Whitethroat.

SE

[pauliev69]

Hi Stevie, I admire your fortitude, yes it has been heavy rain today, thats a really good list, congrats, must get out tommorrow!! ;)

[plaxtonman]

Stevie, Did we see you last night? Paul and I got the Booted and the Icterine (Booted in shrubs directly opposite the entrance to the Jewish cemetery, we thought). I was distinctive as was wearing my bush-rangers hat! Anyone else recognise us?

Plaxtonman

[StevieEvans]

Plax
4 birders oppisite entrance to J.Cem last night, one was Mr D.C.
I was probably more distinctive than you as most birders dont turn out in an all in one waterproof suit & LWB Transit pick up. ;)
The warbler which we saw 'there' was a Willow warbler.
Only found the Booted after 1.5+ hours on the far side of the embankment at the north end near the railway line, where it showed down to 4metres.
SE

[plaxtonman]

Stevie

We were leaving just as you were arriving then, we passed your van at the entrance to the cemetery. Yes, it was a difficult one, Paul and I are convinced we had it opposite the entrance but then lost it, and after 45 minutes another warbler came out which was behaving in a different way (presumably the Willow W). Could I ask, how prominent was the supercilium on the example you saw?

And who is Mr DC?!

Steve

[StevieEvans]

Steve
I'll send you a PM re above.

Ian
Thought i might have seen you at Back Saltholme this evening....?
Unfortunately i didnt manage to spot the sanpiper ;) beaten by the light.
Very frustrating when you know people on the other bankside are watching it & giving instructions via mobile phones...!
Its a full summer one, also 25 Black Terns.

Going to try again in the morning, fingers crossed.
I said on Sunday that my next planned visit was Wednesday...should have stuck to that idea & i'd have probably been on time.

S

[IanF]

Hi Steve,

I was down, but earlier in the evening and only along a very foggy Zinc Works Road. I've been lousy with cold the last couple of days so I didn't stay long. It's shifting so I may be down tonight instead.

[StevieEvans]

Tried for the Spotsand this morning, No luck. (06:00-08:00)
Some good birds about though.
Dormans
several Black Terns
Kingfisher
juvvy Water Rail
Green Sand
7 Common Sand
1 Little Stint
1 Garganey (nr hide)

Long Drag
4 Common Sand
2 Ruff
1 Whinchat
Ruddy Duck with 3 tiny young.

Back Salt
2 Common Sands & 1Little Stint

Gonna Try again later as theres still a lot of Common Sands about this afternoon.
SE

[IanF]

I just tried Back Saltholme this evening.

Several Common Sand and a Spotted Redshank in summer plumage. Quite a few Ruff and Dunlin until something scattered them and a Little Egret on the south east corner.

Short eared Owl towards rear Fire Station.

Around 7.15 pm there was another SEO on the roadside fence by brine field and the No '4' pipe marker. It flew when I stopped but landed around 120 yards away and I grabbed a couple of shots before the light totally went. Not too bad considering the 1/8th sec exposure!

[StevieEvans]

Photos are great Ian!

We need to get an adaptor sorted out!

You can Guarantee the SpotSand will be re-located 2moro...
Not b'cos its Friday the 13th, but b'cos we're away to M'chester for a wedding.

SE

[StevieEvans]

Been away a week, what have i missed then Ian ?

Couple of hours last night:-
Little stint & 4Greenshank, 30Swifts- Calor Gas
4 Common & 1 Green Sand, 7 Blackwit, 2 Snipe - Long Drag

A swift was trying to perch on an upright of a large metal electricity pylon as darkness fell (20:48) at a height of about 40'.
It made 3 attempts but didnt seem to be able to get 'comfy'.
The longest it remained perched was 3 seconds.
It was on the N.East side of the 1st pylon at the south end of the drag, which would have given it shelter from ths blustery rain showers....

SE.

[IanF]

Hi Steve,

I just PM'd you actually.

You picked a good week to be away as things have quietened down again and the water levels risen.

The Spotted Redshanks are still around along with Greenshank on Back Saltholme. I forgot to metion the Little Stints. The Calor Gas pool does seem to be performing about the best at present with a little more mud visible.

I hadn't seen the Green Sand. this week, but at least two SEO's are still around the Fire Station area and over towards the tip. No sign of the Harriers this week by me but one is reportedly about.

[StevieEvans]

8 -10 Short Eared Owls - between BkSalt & Tioxide.
6 Little Egrets - Greatham / G'bella


Dormans
Water Rail pair with 2 small downy chicks at southern end & others calling.
1 CommSand, 1 Ruff, 178 Teal.
1 Reed Warbler still singing. 40 Linnet on side of tip.

Rec Pond
20 GCGrebe, 20+ Little Grebe, 1 CommSand,

Calor Gas Pool
3 Greenshank, 5 Dunlin,

Back Saltholme
1 Greenshank, Ad LRPlover, 3 Ruff, 3 Dunlin

Creek Bridge
Ad summer Grey Plover. Kingfisher at bridge & later down creek. 7 CommSand, Peregrine (Tank Fm pylon), 5 Little Egret, 3 Greenshank, 2+Whimbrel heard going SW at dusk.

Greenabella
1 Temmincks Stint, 2 Spotshank (1juv & 1ad winter)1 Little Egret, only 1 SEO, 7+Greenshank, 3 Blackwits, 1 Ruff, 9 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 25 Curlew, 163 Stock Dove pre-roost on wires.

Seal Sands (hi-tide)
Drake Scaup & 500+BHGull.

[IanF]

A very good selection there Steve. Afraid I wasn't out last night. I'll be down tonight having a look for the Grey Plover though :)

[StevieEvans]

Ian
#approx 1500 mixed terns at Seaton Snook on the rising tide 20:30

Greenabella
Seo, 11 Greenshank, 9 Blackwit
2 large Grey Seals in the creek, fighting &/or playing?

SE

[IanF]

Tonight I popped down to the Teesmouth Hide on Greatham Creek 7.00 pm - 8.00pm.

30+ Grey Plover on the mudflats as the tide came in along with several Black Tailed Godwit, 4 Bar Tailed Godwit, loads of Curlew and Oystercatcher, Dunlin and just one Knot. Several Common Sandpiper about too. Couldn't spot any Green Sand. though Little Stint on Calor Gas pool again at Port Clarence.

7 Little Egret flew off the Creek into the bushes half way between the bridge and Gretham Church at 8.15 pm to roost for the night along with one Grey Heron - just as the rain started again.

Three SEO's were on the same hedge line to the left below the tip.

[StevieEvans]

fem/juv type Marsh Harrier still over Dormans/Hargreaves
Little Stint still on Calor gas pool
6+ Ruff with 100's of Lapwing & Starling on flooded stubbles adjacent to A1185

[IanF]

I got the Little Stint, Dunlin, Greenshank and a Green Sand. on the Calor Gas pool this afternoon.

There were two Marsh Harriers over Doorman's around 3.00 pm. One was a female and the second a very pale juvenile also a female which stayed at the north end before heading off over to the Long Drag.

Was this the one you saw ? - not a great photo I'm afraid with the gales we were having at the time.

The Peregrine was taken from the conveyor belt/crusher at you know where ;)

[StevieEvans]

Great 4-toes Ian!

The M.harrier we saw was a darker bird than that one.
I think thats the exact same Per that we observed though! (fem?)

Both Temmincks & Little Stint reported on Calor Gas today!
& a fly through Honey Buzzard......!

S

[StevieEvans]

Ian
Managed to sort out images of the roadkill Seo.

The upperside pic shows the incompletely developed primaries

On the underside, the white quills can be seen

(Ps. Any advice on picture size & downloading etc apreciated- only 2nd time i've managed to sucede- most times i give up)

Steve

[IanF]

Thanks for posting these Steve. They don't too well developed to me either. Certainly the young one I saw flying around the following week must have been at the saem stage if even that well developed as there was a lot of quill in view.

Thursday there were six of the about around 7.00 pm over Holme Fleet circling about me down to 20 yards. Just the two of them last night. A Merlin is still about on Greenabella / Downstream side Greatham Creek and a pair of Sparrowhawks about Dorman's Pond. The waders seem to have gone quiet again.

I haven't seen the Marsh Harriers since Thurs. though mornings and afternoons seem to be better times rather than evenings which is all I can manage mid week.

Your photos look great to me. As regards dimensions I usually stick to standard sizes of 800x600, 640x480 etc. but the dimensions you used here work well with the subject. Files sizes can be uploaded up to 200 kb which is sometimes useful for max detail, but more often under 100 kb is better for shorter upload/download times. Looks like you have cracked the file size reduction okay. Sometimes when attaching a photo it can take a while for it to upload if the Net is slow. Any probs then let me know.

[StevieEvans]

Hello Ian
Whats the latest down there, then ?
SE

[IanF]

Hi Steve,

I have been down the last couple of weeks through being on holiday and then working late afterwards.

Hopefully I will get down there this weekend. Plenty of migrants though at Hartlepool and South Gare being reported.

[Karvel]

Hello,

I found this thread on a Google search so apologies for the intrusion: but does anyone know any actual directions to where the seals are in seal sands? (or at least to the area)

[SteveClifton]

[QUOTE][I found this thread on a Google search so apologies for the intrusion: but does anyone know any actual directions to where the seals are in seal sands? (or at least to the area)/QUOTE]

I think the best place to see them is from the A178 (hump back road bridge) where it crosses Greatham Creek, about half way between Port Clarence and Seaton Carew. You can walk east from there about 1/4 mile along the southern side of Greatham Creek to a hide that overlooks Seal Sands, though the bridge itself is usually the easiest place to see the seals. There are often at least 10 loafing on the mud just west of the road. You can see them with the naked eye, but binoculars would be helpful.

Also, be careful where you leave your car! Parking on the bridge is not recommended, but ensure you can see it if possible as the area has a reputation for car crime.

Steve

[IanF]

Yep! They're right beside the A178 Tees Road at Greatham Creek (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=451500&y=525500&z=3&sv=451500,525500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=450930&ay=525485). Park in the car park or on the roadside and look upstream from the bridge. They can be anything from 30m-100m away.

As the tide drops they head down the Creek onto Seal Sands where there are a few Grey Seals as well as the Common Seals.

[Karvel]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Seal+Sands,+Middlesbrough,+United+Kingdom&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,54.611379,-1.194286&ll=54.621745,-1.212369&spn=0.001755,0.005686&t=h&z=18

Would that be the bridge you were talking about? (sorry about the zoom-in)

[IanF]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Seal+Sands,+Middlesbrough,+United+Kingdom&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,54.611379,-1.194286&ll=54.621745,-1.212369&spn=0.001755,0.005686&t=h&z=18

Would that be the bridge you were talking about? (sorry about the zoom-in)

Yep! That's the bridge. There's a car park just off the bottom of the photo.

[Karvel]

Yep! That's the bridge. There's a car park just off the bottom of the photo.
This one? http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Seal+Sands,+Middlesbrough,+United+Kingdom&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,54.611379,-1.194286&t=h&ll=54.618297,-1.214418&spn=0.000877,0.002843&z=19&iwloc=addr

[IanF]

Yep! :t:

[Karvel]

Cheers for this!! Though when I'd thought of "Seal Sands" I didn't think there'd be a chance the car could get nicked! haha anyway :t:

[Karvel]

So where do you see them if it's low-tide? (I assume from your description you see them there when it's high-tide?) It's low tide at 5:40 today, probably setting off there soon

[IanF]

Most states of tide you can see them above the road bridge - if they're not there then it's worth walking down alongside Greatham Creek to the hide overlooking Seal Sands. If anything high tide can be the least productive time to see them above the bridge as they go out to sea/Seaton Channel to feed. Low tide there are often several still hauled out on the mudbanks above the bridge.

[Johnny Allan]

Hi there,

I'm trying to find out which Counties still use the Watsonian Vice County system to record birds in and which go by whatever the political boundary may change to (and why).

The Watsonian Vice County system was set to accurately record and compare historical and modern data and it seems that there can be/is confusion when some counties no longer use this system whilst others do. Does anyone in your county have a view on this ? Discussion here if anyone has a comment:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=142074

ps this is not about getting more or less county ticks, more a question about uniformity in recording.

Johnny Allan

[rokermartin]

Have to say the new reserve is certainly doing well for scarce birds and rarities so far this year with sightings of Glaucous winged Gull,Whiskered Terns,Black Terns,Spoonbill,GW Egret,Pectoral Sandpiper.I wonder what else is going to be found this year.