quite frankly , what do you see at seal sands ? i have been there today and have spotted a egret , lots of dunlins , lots of redshank , a few shelduck. one curlew , two heron , loads of linnets , lots of oystercatchers. and obviously the seals. however i wasnt sure whether they were the grey species or common species. im not much of a seal identifer.
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seal sands. what do you see there ? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter matthall
- Start date
rokermartin
Well-known member
Most of the Seals are Common Seals ,sometimes one or two Grey Seals can be seen also.Common Seals have a round head and face,and the Grey Seal has a more pointed head and face.
Last edited:
IanF
Moderator
Yes, they're mostly common seals, and I believe the only area on the north-east coast where they breed.
As regards birds Seal Sands and the Tees Estuary is an Internationally important area for both numbers of sea birds and the number of species. Range of species vary throughout the year but with winter coming up some of the more special ones to watch out for are the Divers - Great Northern, Red-throated and Black Throated - they were here in good numbers last year and often giving very close views. Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and Black-necked Grebe are regulars over winter from the Seal Sands hide. Grey Plover, Red-breasted Merganser and Golden Plover are usually in good numbers as well. At present Bar-tailed Godwit are increasing in numbers often giving close views. Twite are starting to arrive and a few Snow Bunting have been seen - they usually attract Merlin as well - there's one around at present down there. Various Geese species the more interesting ones include Barnacle, Bean and Pink-footed. For other birds of prey there's always Kestrel around and quite often Peregrine which breed locally. Short-eared Owls are often into double figures as well.
Other regulars are Dunlin, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Knot, Curlew, Cormorant, Shag, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Turnstone, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon etc.
All in all it's one of the best areas locally to see birds any time of the year, but especially October-May.
As regards birds Seal Sands and the Tees Estuary is an Internationally important area for both numbers of sea birds and the number of species. Range of species vary throughout the year but with winter coming up some of the more special ones to watch out for are the Divers - Great Northern, Red-throated and Black Throated - they were here in good numbers last year and often giving very close views. Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and Black-necked Grebe are regulars over winter from the Seal Sands hide. Grey Plover, Red-breasted Merganser and Golden Plover are usually in good numbers as well. At present Bar-tailed Godwit are increasing in numbers often giving close views. Twite are starting to arrive and a few Snow Bunting have been seen - they usually attract Merlin as well - there's one around at present down there. Various Geese species the more interesting ones include Barnacle, Bean and Pink-footed. For other birds of prey there's always Kestrel around and quite often Peregrine which breed locally. Short-eared Owls are often into double figures as well.
Other regulars are Dunlin, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Knot, Curlew, Cormorant, Shag, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Turnstone, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon etc.
All in all it's one of the best areas locally to see birds any time of the year, but especially October-May.
IanF
Moderator
Little Egret are often on the roadside pond in the mornings or early afternoon or on Greenabella Marsh on the north side of greatham Creek. 7-8 of them usually roost in a hedge overnight further up the Creek - you can watch them flying in from the road bridge if you're down there just before dusk. Saltholme Ponds and Dormans Pool a little further south are more reliable locations to see them especially on an afternoon. This afternoon four were on Saltholme Pond east and at least another two on Dormans Pool.
