Teesmouth Bird Club

Newsletter

August 2015 (No.61) Reg.Charity No.508850

CONTENTS MONTHLY SUMMARIES

Monthly Summaries 1 Chris Sharp summarises the spring period which brought a new county record. Committee News 7 MARCH 2015 Conservation Sub-committee News 7 Reports on local outings 8 Local Outings, August to December 9 Birds (and other creatures) in Poland 10 Tit-bits 12 Book worth reading 13 Programme of Evening Meetings, 2015/16 15 TBC Publications 16 Profile – Peter Garbutt 16 Wetland Bird Survey, Spring 2015 18

The TBC Newsletter is published three times a year. Compilation and layout Eric James, distribution Chris Sharp, web download Jamie Duffie. Any material for inclusion in the Newsletter is welcome. Please send contributions to [email protected] or by post to Eric James, 7 Hilderthorpe, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough TS7 0PT

Congratulations...

...to Club member Ian Boustead whose Taiga Bean Goose, Haverton Hole Mick & Sylvia Brennan photograph of the Isabelline Wheatear won first place in the digiscoping section of the British Birds ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ competition.

White-fronted Goose, Scaling Dam Renton Charman Lingering wintering birds at the beginning of the month included the Green-winged Teal at

Dorman’s Pool, Taiga Bean Goose at Haverton

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Hole, Shore Lark at Steetley and White-fronted Barn Owl on Greenabella Marsh from 2nd Goose at Scaling Dam. attracted interest. Up to 25 Snow Buntings were on Seaton Snook at this time. This is another A Glaucous Gull flew past Hartlepool on 1st. It species which has declined in numbers in was a poor month for white-winged gulls in Cleveland in recent years. Cleveland. Both the Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were still to be found on Greenabella Up to eight Velvet Scoters remained off Redcar Marsh. Nearby the wintering Whimbrel was at and these birds stayed into May, being Seal Sands. With two wintering Green Sandpipers occasionally accompanied by one or two Long- in the county also, wader enthusiasts were well tailed Ducks. Nearby, up to two Great Northern served in early spring. Divers were regularly reported from South Gare. A flock of Twite at Billingham Reach early in the A Marsh Harrier was at Dorman’s Pool on 1st. month totalled up to 60 birds. Last month’s female Eider continued to be reported amongst the Mallard and Mute Swans on The first Whooper Swans of the spring were a the river Tees at Stockton. A drake Mandarin in herd of ten off Saltburn on 8th. A single bird was Hartlepool harbour on 3rd was an unusual on Cowpen Marsh on the same date. Several location for this exotic species. more flocks were reported throughout the month with the largest being an impressive 75 past Short-eared Owls have been scarce in recent Hartlepool Headland on 22nd. winters so two birds showing well along with a An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on Seaton Tip on 10th and 12th. Two Jack Snipes were at Portrack Marsh on this latter date. A Snow Goose was a good find at RSPB Saltholme on 13th but like most records of this species its origins are always open to debate. A Lapland Bunting flew over here and the first Chiffchaff of the spring was at Hartlepool on this date. Two Wheatears were at South Gare on 14th but it would be April before any others were reported. A Long-eared Owl was at South Gare on 16th. A Marsh Harrier was at Dorman’s Pool mid-month Eider, Stockton Martyn Sidwell and two first-winter Glaucous Gulls were seen on Seaton Common. A Bittern was at RSPB Saltholme on 19th. The first Sand Martin of the year was reported from here the following day. The next week or so was fairly quiet with just the long staying scarcities to be seen, though a juvenile Pomarine Skua was off Saltburn on 22nd. A Jack Snipe was on Seaton Common on 27th. The first Little Ringed Plover was on the Calor Gas Pool on 28th. It had been a very poor winter for Waxwings so seven at Guisborough on 29th and 30th were appreciated.

Mandarin, Hartlepool Headland Renton Charman

Snow Goose, Saltholme Eric James Wheatear, North Gare Ray Scott

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APRIL 2015 present the following day. A Black Redstart was at Cowbar on 8th. Nearby three Ring Ouzels were at Warsett Hill on 9th with the first Yellow Wagtail being seen on this date at Saltholme. A Jack Snipe was at Saltholme on 10th. The 11th saw an early Common Tern at Saltholme, a Lapland Bunting over Cowbar and a White Stork over the North Tees Marshes. This latter bird was relocated at Scaling Dam later in the day and proved to be an escape from a Cumbrian safari park. Another Rough-legged Buzzard was over New Marske on 12th. The first passage Black-tailed Godwits of the spring were at RSPB Saltholme with a flock of 30. A Great Northern Diver flew past Hartlepool and the Taiga Bean Goose continued to accompany seven Pink-feet at Haverton. Ospreys were at Scaling Dam on 15th and over South Gare on 16th. This latter date also saw a Hoopoe at South Gare though it was often

Firecrest, Hartlepool Mick & Sylvia Brennan

White Stork, Scaling Dam Derick Pearson

Jack Snipe, Saltholme Derek Clayton A Willow Warbler at Dorman’s Pool on 1st was the first of the spring. A Red Kite at Scaling Dam the following day was the first in a series of spring records for this species. An Iceland Gull was on Seaton Common on this date. Black-tailed Godwit, Saltholme Brian Martin A Great White Egret was on Cowpen Marsh on 3rd. This former rarity has become annual in recent years. A “Blue” Fulmar was off Saltburn on 4th and a Black-throated Diver flew past Redcar on the same day. A Firecrest showed well at Hartlepool on 7th. The first Osprey of the spring was seen over Billingham on this date. The following day saw a Rough-legged Buzzard in Sleddale. It was still Hoopoe, South Gare Tom Horne

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elusive. The first Reed Warbler of the year was at Coatham Marsh on this date. Up to six White Wagtails were on Seaton Common along with a Water Pipit. Summer migrants were now arriving thick and fast. The 17th saw the first Sedge Warbler and Whinchat and two Garganeys were on Greatham Tank Farm. A Quail was also reported from Greatham Creek on this date. The first-winter Glaucous Gull continued its residence on Seaton Common and remarkably stayed into early June. A Jack Snipe was on Seaton Common on 20th and a Little Gull was at Saltholme the same day. This latter species was scarce on the North Tees Marshes this Wood Sandpiper, Saltholme Renton Charman spring/early summer, continuing a trend in recent years.

Shore Lark, South Gare Chris Small Garganey, Saltholme Derek Clayton The first Cuckoo was at Scaling on 21st with a Blue-headed Wagtail at RSPB Saltholme on this date. The 22nd saw the first Swift and Redstart, and Tree Pipit were at Newton Woods. Up to seven Ring Ouzels were at Hummersea at this time. A Turtle Dove flew through a Norton garden on 23rd. This is now a true rarity in the county. A Wood Sandpiper was at RSPB Saltholme from 24th. A few Whinchats were reported from the coast at this time. Nine Whimbrel were at Greatham Creek on 27th. Garganey numbers increased to four at RSPB Saltholme. A singing

Wood Warbler was a good find in Norton on 29th Glaucous Gull, Seaton Common Ian Forrest as was a singing Pied Flycatcher in North Cemetery, Hartlepool. This latter remained well into May. A Shore Lark was at South Gare on this date and the month ended with Black-tailed Godwits increasing in number to 70 at Saltholme. MAY 2015 The first week of the new month was fairly quiet. The Shore Lark remained at South Gare until 3rd. A handful of Ring Ouzels were also in the Hummersea area. This remains the best locality to see this species in Cleveland. A single Redstart was also at Hummersea on 3rd, one of the few

passerine migrants to be seen during the month Cuckoo, Scaling Dam Chris Small at the coast. 4 the spring period. Both Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were around Greatham Creek at this time. A Temminck’s Stint at RSPB Saltholme was well watched from 5th to 7th. Ospreys were over Long Newton on 3rd and Old Cemetery, Hartlepool on 5th. A Black Redstart was at this latter site on the same day. Two Great Northern Divers remained at South Gare with one of the birds in near full summer plumage. Up to 50 White Wagtails were on the beach here at this time, perhaps the largest number ever recorded in Cleveland. A small fall of migrants on 9th included Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler at Hartlepool and several Whinchats at other coastal stations. A Slavonian Grebe was on the sea off Hartlepool on this date. A Great White Egret was seen at Cowpen Marsh and a Wood Sandpiper was on Seaton Common. This latter bird was still present the following day but much more attention was given to the Red-throated Pipit which was found at the same site. It remained in the area for three days and showed well. It was

only the fifth county record and the first to be White Wagtail, South Gare Martyn Sidwell widely twitched since 1976. A White Stork flew towards Billingham on 10th. Again its origins were unknown. A Little Stint was on Salterns on 10th and a Temminck’s Stint on Saltholme Marsh on 11th was probably an additional bird. Up to two Little Stints were around Saltholme mid-month. A female Golden Oriole was reported from a Loftus garden on 13th.

Red-throated Pipit, Seaton Common Martyn Sidwell

Whinchats, Seaton Common Ian Forrest A Curlew Sandpiper at South Gare on 3rd proved to be the only record of this species in the period. A Ruff on Cowpen Marsh the following day was one of only a few reports of this species during Pied Flycatcher, North Cemetery Martyn Sidwell

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Black-winged Pratincole, Seaton Carew golf course Little Terns, South Gare Rob Young Four Roseate Terns lingered off Hartlepool Headland on 16th. With record numbers breeding on Coquet Island it is to be hoped this species should occur more often in the late summer in Cleveland. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose on Seaton Common from 16th was late as was a Long-tailed Duck which lingered off Parton Rocks from 19th. A few Quail were heard during this period with two at Eastfields Farm. An Osprey was over Marton on 18th and a Hobby was at Saltholme on 21st. The Pied Flycatcher was still in North Cemetery on 23rd. Up to four adult Mediterranean Gulls visited the Black- headed Gull colony at RSPB Saltholme on 25th to 26th but they didn’t stay long. Hopefully it may not be too many years before this species joins the Cleveland breeding list. Another Hobby was over Salterns on 26th. The same date saw the rarest bird of the spring. A Black-winged Pratincole was photographed on Seaton Golf Course on this date, but unfortunately the news only got out three days later. The bird was presumably last year’s returning individual and it reappeared in Northumberland on 29th much to the chagrin of the many birders who failed to connect in 2014.

A Spoonbill was on Port Clarence Flood from 28th. The Glaucous Gull remained on Seaton Common Squacco Heron, Saltholme Martyn Sidwell and Ospreys were over Greenabella on 30th and Seaton Common on 8th. A Spoonbill was on Saltholme on 31st. Saltholme Marsh from 9th to 11th.

JUNE 2015 Several male Garganeys were at RSPB Saltholme at this time, raising hopes that the females were The Long-tailed Duck remained at Parton Rocks perhaps sitting on nests. Two Little Gulls were early in the month. Up to 165 Sanderling were here on 12th. Two Brent Geese past Hartlepool also still present here, a very late date for such a on 13th were unseasonal. A Little Stint was at high number to be still present along the Saltholme on 15th. Cleveland coastline. A Red Kite showed well at A Squacco Heron at Saltholme on 18th was the Lockwood Beck on 4th. Others were over first county record for this southern European Eaglescliffe on 7th and tracked from Greatham species. It showed well all day. Although it was south over Hargreaves Quarry on the same day. not present the next day it re-appeared on 26th Two Spotted Flycatchers were late spring and again only stayed the day. Who knows migrants at Hartlepool on 5th. A Nightjar was where it had been hiding during the intervening flushed from Hargreaves Quarry on 7th. The long week. Like many of the rarer Herons and Egrets staying Glaucous Gull was last reported from this species has become more regular in Britain

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over the past decade. Perhaps Little Bittern may COMMITTEE NEWS be next to be added to the county list? A Hobby Mike McGrory summarises some of the recent discussions of flew over the Squacco on 18th. the Club Committee. Record numbers of Common Scoter passed The Club Trustees met at the end of April and the Hartlepool on 23rd with 1,877 birds recorded principal points of interest were as follows: flying north. In addition 70 Puffins, two Long- tailed Ducks and an Arctic Skua were seen. A Following the AGM, the Committee were pleased Bittern was at Haverton Hole on 26th. to welcome Barbara Crinson as a Trustee to replace John Crussell who stood down after his A fine adult White-winged Black Tern was at Back two terms on the Committee. It was hoped that Saltholme on 29th. The last few days of the the plea at the AGM for volunteers to express an month also saw a Marsh Harrier on the North interest in our three Sub-Committees would be Tees Marshes and a trickle of passage waders equally successful. including Wood Sandpiper, Green sandpiper and Greenshank. A Red Kite was over Nunthorpe on Dave Nelson continued to progress the Elevated 30th. Platform at Dorman's Pool in memory of Ted Parker. Drawings had been done and tenders were being sought with the application for planning permission being the next step. It was confirmed that no grant aid will be available for the proposed structure. The Club continued to donate £200 per year in seed to both Billingham Bottoms/Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park and Saltburn Valley Gardens. It was hoped that the ability to pay annual subscriptions by PayPal would be incorporated on to the Club's website. Members who had not signed up to Gift Aid their subscriptions were to be reminded that, where appropriate, this would White-winged Black Tern, Saltholme Ian Forrest be helpful to Club finances.

CONSERVATION SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT

Alistair McLee reports on the Conservation Sub-committee’s current planning concerns. The committee has not met in the period between the previous and the present newsletter, so I shall confine my remarks largely to planning issues. The ongoing thrust by the local authorities to

meet the government’s requirement to have Garden Warbler, Pinchinthorpe Neil Simms house building plans for the projected five years, continues apace. The Club has not objected to any applications, but continues to comment on the biodiversity enhancement mitigations which are a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Often mitigation measures cannot compensate for the loss of habitat of farmland birds, and we suggest that mitigation should be directed to those declining Red & Amber Category species which breed in the built environment particularly (such as Swifts, Starlings and House Sparrows). It is heartening that some ecology consultants are now inviting our input to the development via their reports. This means our mitigation measures have an added legitimacy Greenshank, Tidal Pool Ian Forrest when the planners are considering the proposal.

7 A further diversification in planning proposals REPORTS ON LOCAL OUTINGS which we see is the local appearance of solar power generation sites. At present there are four FOXGLOVE COVERT NATURE RESERVE in the offing, to be sited on arable land, with little biodiversity to be lost. Applicants claim that the 19th April 2015 Chris Brayshay intervening land between solar panels and around A male Merlin, dashing off the moorland edge and the site’s security fencing can be sown to create a flying under the very noses of excited members biodiverse sward with knock-on benefits to birds of Teesmouth Bird Club, provided the undoubted and other beasties. We have advocated, amongst highlight of our April visit to the Foxglove Covert other things, raptor nest boxes within the secured local nature reserve at Catterick Garrison. site, but not at development locations in the north of Hartlepool B.C., where further Kestrels are not Nine Teesmouth birders and one member of required near the Little Tern colony. Durham Bird Club, who came along too, received a warm welcome from members of the reserve’s The three enormous wind turbines for the Seaton management group. The visit began with a Common/Greatham area have been reduced in lesson in telling a bird’s age and sex, height but we still objected to them despite a demonstrated on a female Chaffinch by more detailed bird study having been now experienced bird ringer, retired Major Tony performed. Such studies invariably fail to Crease, whose vision Foxglove was more than highlight the one-off movements and night time twenty years ago. migration events. The application has now been called in and awaits the planning Inspectorate's Deputy reserve manager Matt Fitch then took our decision. party on an hour long guided tour of the 100 acre reserve – the first to be established on MoD land The committee continues to advertise and in the UK and the BTO’s top ringing site in Britain. encourage members to participate in BTO studies, (Our visit came the same month the reserve which involve birders employing their field skills. discovered Britain’s longest living Marsh Tit was For example, the National House Martin survey is one of it’s residents). underway at the moment. Perhaps we may, as a Club, run some local project in 2016, but for the Matt explained how some of the reserve’s sixteen study to have any significance a better response different habitats had been developed and were from members is required than has been the case maintained. recently. It is up to you really. There was no sign from the Lake Hide of a frequently seen Kingfisher, but great views of a pair of Treecreepers hunting for grubs under the bark of adjacent trees. The Merlin darted past the Wetland hide and into a stand of conifer trees. A couple of Jays were also seen from the same vantage point and a Roe What the turbines might look like as seen from footpath south female was also observed browsing in the of Seaton Carew shelter of clumps of yellow gorse. Although a Green Woodpecker was heard but not seen, its Great Spotted cousins were more obliging. Unfortunately the visit to Foxglove clashed with the local RSPB group’s visit to Spurn Head and TBC’s Wetland Bird Survey weekend, with a consequent knock-on effect on numbers turning up for the visit. But another Club outing to Foxglove is planned for next Spring.

Reports continued on next page

Location of the proposed wind turbines

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FLATTS LANE WOODLAND COUNTRY PARK later by a male nightjar swooping just above our heads. In the following hour there were more 5th May 2015 Geoff Myers sightings of both male and female birds including It was a terrible forecast and it poured with rain one perched for some time on a tree stump in the all night until about thirty minutes before we were gathering gloom. due to meet so I was surprised to see as many as Thanks to the organisation of access by Bert and nine members arrive for this walk. It seemed as John these iconic birds were seen by 42 people, if the birds had been waiting for the rain to stop many of whom would not have been able as we were rewarded with good numbers of birds, otherwise to make the evening trek up into the active and singing until late into the morning. It forest. Another very successful outing. remained overcast but didn’t rain again. Mike McGrory Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap were numerous although Willow Warbler was not heard until late in the morning. Garden Warbler was suspected but, as in previous years, was not seen LOCAL OUTINGS AUGUST 2015 TO and not positively identified from song. Highlight DECEMBER 2015 amongst the warblers was Grasshopper Warbler, heard by all and seen by most. SEA WATCHING AT HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND A few nests were visited. A Treecreeper very close to the Visitor Centre was in the classic site Saturday 22nd August 2015 behind loose bark on the trunk of an old tree. Meet at the Heugh Gun Battery from 9.00 a.m. Sadly, a few days later the tree was removed by Join Chris Sharp for this always popular outing. If the council for safety reasons. A partly-built and the weather conditions are favourable almost deserted Chiffchaff nest about two feet from one anything is possible at this time of year. Four of the main paths was subject to close species of Skua and two species of Shearwater examination. An active nest nearby was pointed are the targets. Even if it is a westerly there still out. Robin and Long-tailed Tit nests were visited should be something of interest to see such as but both had been lost to predators showing the Common Scoter and Teal. If the sea watching is vulnerability of small birds in this kind of habitat. poor there may be something to be found in the A noisy Nuthatch was seen and heard by all and nearby gardens. the muddied-up nest hole high in a tree could be Leader: Chris Sharp. (Tel: 01429 865163) seen. Jays were seen frequently during the morning. A singing Reed Bunting was seen, not the commonest of birds on the site. Willow Tit SALTERN WETLANDS was suspected but no calls meant we were not Sunday 27th September 2015 able to rule out Marsh Tit, the more common of the two birds here. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around, several Song Thrushes were singing and good views were had of Roe Deer. Altogether an excellent morning, surprisingly so considering the weather. NIGHTJARS IN GUISBOROUGH FOREST 30th June 2015 Bert Mitchell/John Money With weather conditions being so key to successful outings in search of Nightjars, the first scheduled date had to be cancelled at short notice when the weather turned more inclement than Meet at the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve the forecasters had predicted. On the rearranged car park at 1.30 p.m. The afternoon walk is date the following week, what appeared to be a timed to coincide with the incoming high tide. still and pleasant summer evening at our meet in The walk gives members a chance to experience a Guisborough car park turned out to be rather this newly created habitat immediately north of breezy and cool when the cavalcade reached the Greatham Creek. Hopefully a good selection of heights of Guisborough Forest. By 10.00pm passage waders should be present along with spirits were beginning to sag and coats were returning winter ducks such as Wigeon and Teal. donned with barely a churr heard but by 10.10 we were treated to the first fly-past followed a little Leader: Chris Sharp. (Tel: 01429 865163)

9 BIRD RINGING AT HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND BIRDS (AND OTHER CREATURES) IN Sunday 11th October 2015 POLAND Join the Tees Ringing Group to witness a Alistair McLee describes some of the highlights of a visit to Poland in April this year. demonstration of how migrant birds are caught, processed and released. It is hoped that a variety Three of us went on a guided trip to the north of small birds will be caught. Given the date east of Poland, close to the Belarus border. almost anything is possible. Meet at the bowling Although birds were my main focus of interest, it green by Olive Street from 9.00 a.m. turned out that wildlife has a habit of not being as specific as that. We planned the last week in Leader: Chris Brown. (Tel: 01429 233474) April as the leaves would be not so fully open and views would be easier, plus the mozzies were not SOUTH GARE hatched by then. Saturday 7th November 2015 In all, we saw or heard 144 species but the tour company’s strap line is “If you only saw what you wanted, then you probably missed a lot”. Well I for one managed to see species which I had not even thought of seeing and that was not just birds. I do not intend to give a huge check list of bird species seen, but rather highlight the sightings which will stay in my memory. So here are my favourites in no particular order of preference. Penduline Tits nest building five metres away; Red-necked Grebes in breeding plumage on a fish pond; 500 Ruffs of every hue and colour combination imaginable; Cranes

displaying; hearing and seeing a Pigmy Owl overhead; eight woodpecker species and Wryneck; three species of crake calling in one afternoon; Hazel Hen tantalisingly close calling like a high-pitched dog whistle; a Sea Eagle effortlessly taking a Wigeon of the water; a male Hobby suddenly putting the hammer down and off in low horizontal sight; trying to count the primaries of Lesser Spotted Eagles overhead and Meet by the Lifeboat Station at 9.30 a.m. Join then finding one perched closer and easier to ID; Herbert Mitchell for a morning walk. Hopefully a 200 Waxwings gorging on mistletoe berries wide selection of late autumn migrants may be outside the hotel; Montagu’s Harrier, Short-eared present including Redwing, Fieldfare and Goldcrest. Twite and Snow Buntings are also possibilities. The sea should also be of interest with a variety of sea duck and divers always likely. Last year’s outing saw Grey Phalarope and Curlew Sandpiper. Leader: Herbert Mitchell. (Tel: 07870451648)

GREENABELLA MARSH AND SEAL SANDS Seven visible primaries suggests Greater Spotted Eagle Sunday 13th December 2015 Meet at 9.30 a.m. in the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve car park for a walk down Greenabella Marsh and along the sea wall at Seal Sands. Recent winters have seen Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel wintering in the area. Seal Sands should hopefully hold a selection of sea ducks, divers and grebes. Both Barn and Short-eared Owls are also possibilities. Montagu’s Harrier Leader: Julie Mason. (Tel: 01642 614583)

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Owl and Rough-legged Buzzard quartering whilst Amphibians and reptiles were common and easily we were waiting for the Aquatic Warblers to start seen. We had common and sand lizard within singing; arrival of the Thrush Nightingales singing yards of each other on a boardwalk, slow worm everywhere; three Hoopoes in a tumbling display and five species of amphibian. The most flight like huge butterflies in a chilly dawn. You spectacular was the ear splitting noise from a pool will get the picture by now, I think. of tree frogs calling in the females in the damp darkness. So much for the birds - now the other stuff. I now understand the role of beavers in creating The untouched ancient forest of Bialowieza is awe wetlands and then preventing willow scrub inspiring and you would have to have no soul not succession in them. Not only are they the to experience a feeling of reverence when architects but the maintenance crew as well. We entering this massive cathedral of trees. Nothing lamped fifteen of them in a one-mile night river has been touched. Trees germinate, grow, trip, all unfazed by the boat. They were present mature, decay and fall, each with its own time even in the park opposite our hotel in the village, scale of life. There is little undergrowth and grazing like huge water voles. Elk were a species like Blackbirds are scarce and use the roadside animal and we saw the year’s first calf huge root discs of fallen trees as nest sites. They and put it on the national website at 6 a.m.– a bit are not particularly safe there, as Honey like the UK’s first Cuckoo record in “The Times” Buzzards, sitting in the canopy watching for the many years ago. Bison were stunning and flight lines of colonial insects, also watch the approachable with care. Wild boar were scarce as Blackbirds back to their nests. The local, botanist there had been a large winter cull to prevent forest guide was a source of many such stories as disease spread between already affected domestic well as showing us the site of a White-backed pigs. We saw wolf tracks and territorial droppings Woodpeckers’ nest. and I can now discern a wolf’s pack status from the latter, but enough of that.

Roots of fallen trees provide nest sites

You get yourself to Chopin Airport, Warsaw and Old ‘Viking’ we did this from Teesside via Amsterdam. In Warsaw we were collected. The trip was based in two locations - one near the forest itself and the other in a national park with forest, wetlands and traditional farming. We were a maximum group of seven in a new minibus and our leader, Lukasz was superb and ‘scoped speedily overhead woodland species with panache as well as providing filtered coffee en route and alfresco. Days were full and started early and some involved evenings too. His English is impeccable. His anecdotes of local politics and the wars of last century were most enlightening – so it was not all wildlifing. We can recommend the experience to anyone merely wanting to increase their list of European birds, but there is much more to it than that.

Details of WILDPOLAND travel company can be Tree frog found at www.wildpoland.com

11 TIT-BITS This difficulty in appreciating what birds actually see has also been shown in more recent work on A collection of bits and pieces of bird birds’ visual perception. Each species sees in a related news and facts. different way and perceives what is important to it, but the most important factors influencing the A BIRD’S EYE VIEW use of sight are, perhaps surprisingly, positioning and control of the beak, detecting predators, and One reason often given for the appeal of birds is that their main being able to put food accurately into a chick’s means of communication – sight and sound – are mouth. Vision needed for flight, such as looking the same as ours. This makes them easier to ahead and below, is of less importance. relate to, as compared with animals such as So no matter what we might think, a bird’s eye mammals that communicate very largely by view probably doesn’t look much like Google smell. Probably without thinking about it, we Earth. assume what birds see is the same as what we see. But is it? BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO (FOR BOYS) Consider this observation. There is a basket of Unlike the Pectoral Sandpipers (see below), most peanuts hanging from a bird table and a Blue Tit species of birds (85%) are monogamous, though is making frequent visits, carrying off a nut each not necessarily always faithful to their partners. time and eating it in the security of a large bush. Living happily ever after, however, is not The basket is nearly empty and is removed for guaranteed as divorce occurs in 92% of these refilling. The bird returns and flies directly to species. where the basket was, hovering in mid-air in Divorce usually follows low breeding success, exactly the right place. After a few seconds it either complete failure or sometimes just because lands on the table and peers over the edge, the female laid only a small clutch. It’s difficult to clearly baffled. So what was the bird seeing? It decide whether it’s the male or the female who knew the position of the basket but cannot have breaks it off. The male might decide he could do been looking at it during its approach. better elsewhere, or the small clutch might show An even more extreme example of this sort of the female’s discontent with the male. behaviour was recorded by David Lack in his Whoever makes the break, it can be risky if classic study of Robins made in the late 1930s. another mate cannot be found. One thing that He was investigating the aggressive response of has been observed is that it is the female who is the birds to intruders by using a stuffed Robin more likely to benefit as she breeds more mounted on a pole. Early one October morning, successfully with a new mate. The unfortunate he erected the pole in the territory of an male usually does no better with his second especially fierce female Robin that then postured, choice. struck and sang at the inert specimen for forty minutes. Having been called to breakfast, Lack NESSUM DORMA then removed the pole, but as he walked away he looked back and saw the female hovering exactly Waders that breed in the Arctic have evolved where the stuffed bird had been and pecking various mating systems to make best use of the violently at the empty air. It made three more brief available time, and one of the oddest of attacks but by then it was about a foot out of these is the Pectoral Sandpiper’s. The males take position. After a bout of singing it made a last no part in looking after the off-spring and restrict attack but was by then three feet out of position. their activities to mating with as many females as It is impossible to imagine what the bird was possible. The most successful males, who actually seeing produce the most young, are those who avoid sleeping when the females are fertile. To achieve this, they can stay awake for about two weeks with very little sleep. This was discovered from a study of a group of 149 Alaskan birds that were fitted with radio tags to record their activity. The males’ activity did peak while the females were fertile, with one bird remaining active 95% of the time for 19 days. Devices that logged brain activity were fitted to 29 males to measure sleep patterns. Those that slept least did so more deeply, but not enough to So what is it seeing? compensate for the sleep they had missed.

12 Paternity tests showed they had the most off- We can’t be too smug about our position on the spring. environment since much of the political pressure for changing the Directives is said to have come As we all know, resisting sleep after a long period from our last government. Perhaps this is the awake is difficult, but these birds do it for longer ‘green crap’ that David Cameron was allegedly than any other animal that has been tested. They complaining about? are helped by the 24 hour Arctic day, and they might be helped by taking ‘micro-sleeps’. There are, of course, other species that are active for a long time, notably the Swifts which can remain airborne for two years. Unfortunately, fitting a brain activity monitor on a Swift would be a bit of a problem! TRIGGER-HAPPY MALTESE WIN The referendum in Malta to ban the spring hunting of Quails and Turtle Doves failed with the hunters getting 50.4% of the votes. The hunting A Bee-eater that didn’t make it across Malta started three days after the referendum with, unsurprisingly, various protected species also A BOOK WORTH READING being shot. More surprising was the pro-hunting Maltese government curtailing the season by Eric James has a look at a book examining the relationship between people and wildfowl. three days, perhaps prompted by an illegally shot Kestrel falling into a school playground. People and wildfowl have had a long and close association and this was celebrated in the late As well as ignoring the law when it suits them, Janet Kear’s book ‘Man and Wildfowl”, published the Maltese shooters have an impressive bare- by Poyser in 1990. The writing of the book was faced cheek. The FKNK (Federation for Hunting started in 1986, the 40th anniversary of the and Conservation – these people have a fine founding of The Severn Wildfowl Trust by Sir sense of irony as well) brought a case against Peter Scott, and was intended to honour Scott’s BirdLife Malta activists who had collected 80th birthday on 14 September 1989. It is protected birds that had been illegally shot and unfortunate he died on 29th August. published a photograph of themselves with the birds. The FKNK complained to the police that With a book 25 years old, some information is out this was illegal possession of protected birds, but of date, but there is plenty of interesting reading. the complaint was rejected. Kathleen Grima, the After the introductory chapter, the second is on FKNK’s lawyer, then organised a legal challenge domestication. Geese were the first to be to the Police Commissioner, as a result of which domesticated, starting with the eastern race of the case did reach court. Common sense the Greylag. The suggestion is made that they eventually prevailed and the case, which was were initially pets, which would not be difficult to obviously an attempt to silence BirdLife Malta, achieve since newly hatched goslings would was thrown out. This is not the first time that Ms imprint on a human. It then wouldn’t take long to Grima and FKNK have tried to use the law to foil realise they were a convenient source of meat, conservation efforts. eggs, fat, oil, feathers (for arrows) and down. Abuse also started early as shown in an Egyptian While events in Malta might not seem to have too tomb painting from 2300 BC where geese (and much effect on us, they gave some reason for Cranes) are being force fed for foie gras. alarm when a Maltese politician was made EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs Street names in London (e.g. Poultry) show the and Fisheries. One of his jobs is ‘to carry out an importance of geese to the city. Thousands were in-depth evaluation of the Birds and Habitats supplied from East Anglia and Wales, the birds Directives and assess the potential for merging walking the whole distance, often with their feet them into a more modern piece of legislation’. protected by tar ‘shoes’. The flocks, under the These directives are the basis of European control of the gozzerd, managed an average environment protection and it’s not necessary to speed of 1 mph. In 1740, two lords had a bet of be too cynical to read that statement to mean 500 guineas on whether geese with tar shoes that regulation will be weakened. That is would beat Turkeys in leather boots in a race certainly the view of the Joint Links group which from Norwich to London. The geese won by two represents a hundred UK voluntary organisations days, not because of their speed, but because the and which has presented masses of evidence Turkeys roosted in trees and the drovers lost time proving the effectiveness of the Directives. in getting them down in the mornings!

13 The other domesticated species is the Swan wildfowling as we know it. While the past should Goose, the ancestor of the Chinese Goose. not be judged by present day standards, one Because its natural distribution is to the south of aspect that still seems brutal was punt-gunning. the Greylag’s, it is the preferred species for This used a very large bore gun fixed to a punt warmer areas. which was manoeuvred close to a flock of birds so Ducks were domesticated much later than geese, the gun could be fired at them. with the Romans and Malays domesticating the Since then, legal restrictions and changes in Mallard, principally for meat and eggs. The book public attitudes have limited shooting (though not describes some of the many breeds that have as much as some would like). Peter Scott himself since been developed. These vary from the gave up shooting altogether after a distressing Rouen, which weighs a massive 11 lb, to the event which he described in his autobiography. Khaki Campbell, which is effectively an egg He was with half a dozen friends when a goose machine on legs. One Campbell laid an egg per flew over them. They all shot at it, but the bird day for 291 days, and 333 eggs in 336 days. managed to fly some distance before crash Duck eggs went out of fashion after WW II, partly landing on inaccessible quicksand. It was still because of the mass production of hen’s eggs and there the next morning, alive but unable to move. partly because of worries about salmonella. The Scott wrote, “What right have we....to impose this ducks had the last laugh when salmonella turned kind of suffering? I should not want this for a up in hen’s eggs. sworn enemy, and that goose was not my enemy The other domesticated duck is the South when I shot at him – although I was his”. American Muscovy. This might have started as a In a contrast with all this exploitation, chapter five pet, with the useful ability to consume insects and covers conservation, research and education (of other creepy-crawlies. They have been used in the public, not the birds!). The early history of pig farms to control invertebrates. this now seems like another world, such as Decoys are the subject of the third chapter. They national wildfowl counters sending in their results are, if nothing else, a tribute to the human on postcards. There were worries at the time ingenuity for trapping birds. The Dutch devised about the accuracy of these counts, which led to the original decoys which consisted of a small the setting up of an experiment. Three groups of pool with radiating ditches covered in netting. A people were assembled – those who counted dog moving along the side of a ditch attracted the birds, birdwatchers who did not count, and non- ducks to follow it, as a form of mobbing, and birdwatchers. They were all given a photographs could be trapped. The system would work with of flocks of Pink-footed Geese to look at for half a almost any mammal , a stuffed fox on a pole minute, and asked to estimate the number of being found to be effective at Slimbridge where birds. The good news was that the first two an old decoy was used to catch birds for ringing. groups were equally good and even the third A mad experiment using an organ-grinder’s group was reasonably accurate, apart from some monkey was working until the monkey turned who managed to be spectacularly wrong. round and its too human face scared the ducks The creation of wildfowl refuges had its critics away! who claimed the birds would become dependent The original decoys were the model ducks used and they would be eating ‘unnatural food’. It was by North American Indians to attract wild birds. pointed out that wintering Pink-footed Geese fed This approach is still used in America, though mainly on agricultural land and were already carving wooden models has also become an end eating an artificial diet of humanly manipulated in itself. Although the decorative models are not plants. used as decoys, they are still expected to float upright and level. Aviculture, the subject of chapter six, also has a long history. By the fourteenth century the The theme of catching birds for food continues in monks at Abbotsbury had managed to tame Mute chapter five, which covers wildfowling. The Swans sufficiently for them to breed colonially. ancient Egyptians used ‘throwing sticks’, and the When exotic wild fowl became available, there South Americans used bolas (that device with was competition among the landed gentry to three balls connected by lengths of cord). In a assemble large collections and to try to get them more sophisticated method used in China and to breed. This last aspect proved useful later on India, the hunter swam towards potential prey when captive bred birds were used in re- with his head and shoulders hidden under the introduction schemes for endangered species. It large hard shell of a calabash fruit. When close was a surprise to read that the Wood Duck had enough, he could grab the bird by the legs. been in this situation. In 1918, there were more The development of guns and the breeding of of them in captivity than in the wild. A ban on dogs for retrieving (that includes poodles) led to hunting was introduced, and in 1922 an English

14 gamekeeper was brought over to Connecticut to Interestingly, the exploitation of potatoes by look after a small flock of Wood Ducks from wildfowl started with Mallards in the mid Belgium. By 1939, 2579 of their off-spring had nineteenth century. There had been a succession been released into the wild and they had reached of cold winters and then the arrival of potato fifteen states as well as Canada. blight. The rotting potatoes were left in the ground and proved to be attractive to the When the book was written, there had been desperate ducks. attempts to help White-headed Ducks by the release of captive bred birds. The eggs were Conflicts work in both directions and wildfowl supplied by the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, so have suffered from habitat loss, oiling, injuries it’s ironic that it’s their escaped Ruddy Ducks that from anglers’ hooks, collisions with cables, lead have added to the White-headed’s problems. poisoning, pollution, pesticides and vandalism. It is said that almost 80% of the loss of swans’ eggs Captive breeding for rescuing the Nene (or can be blamed on vandalism. Hawaiian Goose) from extinction is a classic conservation success. The WWT initially did have The chapter concludes a discussion on extinction, one problem when they imported a breeding pair the ultimate conflict. into Slimbridge – both birds laid eggs! WWT staff Chapter nine is about language, legend and art, have since learnt how to sex birds at hatching. and shows how deeply wildfowl are embedded in Chapter seven covers aliens, particularly wildfowl human culture. It’s wide-ranging and covers that are feral in Britain. The expansion of the everything from creation myths to the DA hair Canada Goose provides an example of how naïve style (with a cartoon illustration by Robert people have been. The first national census in Gillmor). 1953 found many of the birds round Holkham Hall In spite of the book’s age, it gives an impressively in Norfolk, where farmers were complaining about wide survey of our relationship with wildfowl and the damage to their crops. The solution was to can be recommended as an interesting read. round up flightless moulting birds and to distribute them in small flocks in other areas where there were no geese. What could possibly PROGRAMME OF EVENING MEETINGS go wrong with that! 2014 TO 2015 When the book was written, the Ruddy Duck 7th September 2015 population was expanding. Peter Scott had felt Merlins and Moorland by Dick Temple guilty at first for allowing the birds to escape from 5th October 2015 Slimbridge, but became less concerned when it Uganda by Ian Hillery appeared they would have no effect on the native species. He even persuaded the brewery that 2nd November 2015 owned the Black Bull in Peakirk to rename it the Foxglove Covert LNR by Matt Fitch Ruddy Duck. But even then, there were worries about the effect on the White-headed Duck. As 7th December 2015 it says on page 185, ‘There may be further Our disappearing Swifts by Tanya and Edmund dangers ahead’. Hoare The chapter discuses aliens that are predators on 4th January 2016 wildfowl, as well as some that are beneficial. Around the Horn by Chris Bielby What would Shelducks do, for example, without 1st February 2016 rabbits to provide them with burrows for nesting? Giving my Right Arm by Tristan Reid Tufted Ducks first bred in the wild in Britain in the late 1840s, but their subsequent expansion was 7th March 2016 helped when zebra-mussels and Jenkins’ spire Spoons, Forks & Chopsticks by Dr. Colin Bradshaw shell became naturalised. 4th April 2016 Conflicts between people and wildfowl is the AGM subject of chapter eight. Farmers’ complaints Talk to be announced about damage to their crops is nothing new. A Julie Mason has again put together an excellent 3000 year old Egyptian text compares an idle series of evening meetings for the forthcoming student to an Egyptian Goose that ‘destroys session and we would like to thank her for this crops....and does no work’, and some Anglo- often difficult task but one around which the Saxon saints were credited with protecting crops social element of our Club depends. from geese.

15 TBC PUBLICATIONS PROFILE – PETER GARBUTT

The following publications are still available : Chris Brayshay interviews another of our long standing Club members. Birdwatchers of Teesmouth 1600 to 1960 £2, plus £1 p.& p. Teesmouth Bird Reports 1958-1973 on a CD £5.00 Birds of Tees-side 1962-67 by Phil Stead £5.00 Birds of Tees-side 1968-1973 by Martin Blick £5.00 Birds of Tees-side (1964) by Phil Stead £2.50 (published in NHS Transactions).

Cleveland Bird Reports:- 1974 to 2010 £3.00 each where available, plus £1.00 for p.& p. per copy. (Out of print 1974, 1976, 1978 to 1988 on a CD) 2005 Special Offer £1.00 each, plus £1.00 for p & p 2011 £5.00 each Plus £1.50 for p.&p. per copy. 2012 £5.00 each Plus £1.50 for p.&p. per copy. 2013 £7.50 each Plus £1.50 for p.&p. per copy Skilled bird-call mimic Peter Garbutt really does Barn Owl at RSPB Saltholme Print @ £2 each charm the birds off the trees. A 59-year-old divorced father of two daughters, Cheques should be made payable to Peter was working as a voluntary warden on the “Teesmouth Bird Club” with orders, and sent Castle Eden Walkway – since renamed Wynyard to: Woodland Park – when he tried calling to a Turtle John Fletcher, Dove. It worked. 43 Glaisdale Avenue, “What happened was this Turtle Dove flew Middlesbrough, TS5 7PF. towards me and perched in a bush. It was so close I did not need binoculars. Another time I Please pass on unwanted copies of Club had been standing so still and for so long I had a publications to John, particularly those that are Goldcrest momentarily land on my shoulder! It out of print, so that they can be resold to other just came out of cover and eyeballed me”. members. Other triumphs have included tempting both a BIG DISCOUNT on orders over £20 Cetti’s Warbler and a Nightingale out of cover at Minsmere. Contact details for John Fletcher: “I was at Minsmere and Nightingales had just come in. One of the guys there said he had Email [email protected] heard Nightingales, but never seen one, so I called and a Nightingale came out!’’. Tel 01642 818825 There followed repeat performances with a Nightingale at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Billingham, much to the delight of a crestfallen couple who had heard the bird but never seen one. 16 “It has worked too with mammals,’’ adds Peter, “Over the years I have seen the decline of Turtle who once imitated the squeal of a wounded Doves and Corn Buntings, while birds which were rabbit , bringing a stoat running towards him. ”It once rare, like the Little Egret and Great White does not always work.’’ Egret extend their range north. I remember speeding on the back road to Teesmouth in the Peter says: “I used to go twitching far and wide, late 1970s to early ‘80s to see a Little Egret which but with working shifts I had to become more are now two a penny.’’ selective. Up to now my British list is 442 species. I would be happy with another eight to make it It was during his years as a voluntary warden on 450 and anything else would be a bonus.’’ the Castle Eden Walkway that Peter was lucky enough to spot a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker A veteran member of Teesmouth Bird Club, Peter flying among a flock of Tits. feels equally passionate about protecting the habitat of the birds and wildlife he delights to see. For Peter home certainly is where the heart is and that applies to his birding. “Over the years I’ve As a child he was upset when local habitats travelled and enjoyed birding abroad but my main disappear under new housing estates and a golf area for birding is around Saltholme – where I am course at Billingham. a volunteer – and Teesmouth.’’ “I was devastated to see the loss of habitat, the Peter signed up as one of the first hide guides at destruction of places where I watched Corn the newly opened RSPB Saltholme reserve in Buntings and a lone old tree used by Little Owls.’’ 2009, a job which gives him enormous pleasure. As a plucky 12-year-old he told two women he He explains, “If we are in a hide with people who saw playing golf on the then new course at look like relative beginners, we like to get them Billingham he was “disgusted’’ at the destruction interested in what they are seeing and part of the he had seen. whole experience. What I like about hide guiding “If I have something to say I can be quite is seeing the smile on people’s faces when you outspoken”, says Peter, who in the 1970s joined a put them onto something good. protest march against the loss of Seal Sands to “The pleasure I get from birding is sharing what industry. And the continuing disappearance of birds I see with the public and other birders. And habitat continues to upset him; the loss of the we should all share sightings of birds”. He adds, Reclamation Pond being a prime example. “It would be nice to see more youngsters take up “I have seen Pacific Golden Plover, Gull-billed an interest in wildlife.’’ Tern, Wilson’s Phalaropes and White-winged To this end, Peter wants to see young people Black Tern on the Reclamation Pond,’’ recalls joining Teesmouth Bird Club. “I would like to see Peter, whose interest in birds can be traced back more people become interested in the Club and to being taken, as an open-mouthed four-year- families hooked and bringing youngsters along. I old, by his parents to Middlesbrough’s Dorman would love to see an increase in membership and Museum “where I was fascinated by all the more young people joining. I think it is very creatures I saw on display”. important we attract young people. Many of us “My birding at an early age took me miles on foot are getting older, while young people are our searching for birds at Wynyard, along Billingham future. I would like to see an increase in Beck and at Teesmouth. One of the first membership and more local outings for people. magazines I bought was ‘Birds of the World’, and “The future for birding looks good with new free with it was a book called ‘Where to Watch reserves being created and more people taking an Birds’ by John Gooders, which contained a site interest. Birding information is readily available guide to Teesmouth”. on pagers and mobile phones”. “In September 1969 I joined Teesmouth Bird Club “There is less secrecy about what is about and and met many people, including the late Angela that makes it better for everyone”. Says Peter: Cooper who took me around the estuary in her “There are some good photographers in the area Range Rover.’’ who post what they see on the Teesmouth Bird Peter adds: “Some of the birds back then included Club website and share their passion with such delights as a Caspian Tern at Bran Sands in everyone. Bird ringers play an important part in August 1972, Wilson’s Phalaropes and White- recording what they catch and the whereabouts winged Black Terns which showed up on the of the bird. And the bird club has a good Reclamation Pond in the 1970s and Bonaparte’s committee which is going from strength to Gull which stayed for months”. strength.’’

17 For the purists Peter’s optical equipment includes for a number of clubs as a winger and centre the new Leica 10x42 Ultravid HD binoculars, Leica forward for more than 40 years. Televid 82 with 20x50 zoom and 1.8 extender, Peter has a footballing pedigree which includes Leica compact camera and an adaptor for his dad who played in goal for Grimsby Town, in digiscoping. the old First/Second Division and an uncle who Sedgefield born Peter used to carry out farm was goalie for Newcastle! While he inherited his surveys around Sockburn Hall, near Darlington. love of football from his dad, he was inspired by “We put up nest boxes for Tree Sparrow We the example of his mum to take up hiking. Peter used to walk miles recording Tree Sparrows, has also taken part in the Great North Run five Lapwings, Skylarks and Grey Partridges. There times, his best finishing time being one hour and was a good population of Lapwings.“ thirty minutes. He loves everything about bird watching. “It is He also loves music and is a fan of Spandau Ballet everything about it. I like being in the wild and and various rock bands. “There is more to life the many experiences you have while out bird than wildlife, but wildlife is a big part of my life,’’ watching – including the unexpected such as he says. coming across a Chiffchaff and ‘following’ it, only to come eyeball to eyeball with a Goshawk!’’ WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH Peter is unable to switch off even while at work as SPRING 2015 SUMMARY a production technician with chemical firm Lucite, Coverage was perfect, with all 84 potential sector his job for the past 37 years. He has seen counts undertaken. Peregrine Falcon flying over the Cassel Works, Billingham, where he is employed and witnessed Once again the stand-out performance came from a flock of Pink-Footed Geese flying overhead. – gadwall, with the 370 present in June “When you relate the sound to the sight it is representing yet another spring record. Of these, sheer happiness.’’ no fewer than 283 were counted on the residual portion of Reclamation Pond. That same month Besides his impressive list of bird species put shelduck achieved a total of 346 – the best together over the years, Peter has seen 59 seasonal figure since 2010 – with 207 of them at species of butterfly and 43 species of dragonfly, Reclamation Pond. Our spring shoveler peak (93, all the native amphibians and reptiles and nine of June) was the best since 2002. the 17 or so species of bat to be seen across the UK. He saw his first Camberwell Beauty on the June also yielded healthy seasonal maxima for Castle Eden Walkway in the late 1980s. oystercatcher (522) and avocet (47), with breeding success for the latter species being rather better than in recent years. May traditionally brings a pronounced passage of smaller waders, but the month’s peaks of 79 ringed plover, 171 sanderling and 90 dunlin were all below average. Other waders to disappoint were bar-tailed godwit (2, May) which returned a record seasonal low, and curlew (155 April) for which this was the worst spring since 2002. Gulls rarely feature in these summaries, but the June herring gull total of 3307 (which included 1450 at Bran Sands South) was particularly noteworthy. Peter stalking a grayling Sandwich terns were also prominent in the June Peter began his working life as an apprentice count, with the 176 birds present constituting our fitter, based at the long-gone Haverton Hill highest spring total since 2005. All were adults, shipyard. One of his early wildlife highlights was and perhaps many were likely to have been failed seeing a Black Rat at the shipyard, in 1972. “I breeding birds from the Northumberland colonies. think it must have travelled on a ship from abroad,’’ he suggests. Following this series of counts, sanderling retains its nationally important status in spring. His love of the great outdoors includes taking an active part in sports. Football is a big interest in Mike Leakey his life. He was named Player of the Year and Top Goal Scorer in the Sunderland and District Local Organizer Over 40s League in 2009. He has played football Tees Wetland Bird Survey

18 WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH SPRING 2015 SUMMARY

Species April 19 May 17 June 14

Little Grebe 15 14 13 Great Crested Grebe 25 18 20 Cormorant 36 36 63 Mute Swan 33 44 64 Shelduck 336* 313* 346* Gadwall 129 168 370* Teal 227 1 29 Mallard 108 139 177 Shoveler 35 15 93* Pochard 90 41 25 Tufted Duck 173 174 137 Eider 10 5 0 Coot 241 242 323 Oystercatcher 291 315 522 Avocet 35 47* 42* Ringed Plover 48 79 16 Golden Plover 0 1 0 Grey Plover 1 2 0 Lapwing 100 100 173 Knot 60 0 0 Sanderling 168* 171* 6 Purple Sandpiper 14 0 0 Dunlin 18 90 0 Ruff 0 0 0 Snipe 4 0 0 Black-tailed Godwit 16 4 4 Bar-tailed Godwit 0 2 1 Curlew 155 67 111 Redshank 271 7 44 Turnstone 52 53 0 Sandwich Tern 0 19 176 Common Tern 0 93 317 Little Tern 0 0 6

Underlined counts indicate Spring 2015 maxima.

* Denotes count of >50% of national significance for that species

NB ‘Teesmouth’ includes Hartlepool Bay and the RSPB Saltholme Reserve

All WeBS data are collected on behalf of the WeBS Partnership, which retains exclusive rights to the sale or supply of these data for commercial purposes

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