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Teesmouth Bird Club Newsletter August 2017 (No. 67) Reg. Charity 508850

Table of Contents MONTHLY SUMMARIES 2017 ............................. 1

CHAIRMANS REPORT ........................................ 5

LOCAL OUTINGS ............................................... 5

PICOS De EUROPA MULTI TRIP ......................... 6

INDOOR MEETINGS 2017/2018 ......................... 9

BTO NEWS JULY 2017. ...................................... 9

WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH SPRING

2017 SUMMARY .............................................. 10 WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH

SPRING 2017 SUMMARY ............................... 11

MONTHLY SUMMARIES 2017

By Chris Sharp

MARCH

The long staying and popular Eastern Black Redstart was still present at Skinningrove at the beginning of the month and was last reported on 27

th. Deciding whose photo will be

used in the bird report will be an interesting exercise given the thousands to choose from!

Eastern Black Redstart Derickp Other birds present in the early March period included up to 12 Velvet Scoter off Redcar and both Lapland and Corn Buntings at the nearby Marske Coastal fields. The immature male Scaup was also still showing well at Bowesfield and the wintering Shore Lark remained at Old Cemetery. The two Snow Buntings at Redcar continued to attract a steady stream of photographers. A Red Kite was over Easington Beck and later at Scaling Dam on 1

st. A Black Redstart found in Hartlepool docks on 4

th had

possibly wintered and remained into mid-month. A Water Pipit was a good find at Lockwood Beck on 4

th.

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Water Pipit Neil Simms The long staying 1

st winter Iceland Gull remained around

Hartlepool Fish Quay and Green Sandpipers continued to be seen at Teesside Park and Portrack roundabout.

Iceland Gull Ray Scott The first returning Whooper Swans of the spring were off Newburn on 9

th where 5 birds were present. 45 were over

Seal Sands the following day and a single bird was on Seaton Golf course. A Great Northern Diver continued to be reported intermittently at Hartlepool Fish Quay and another was off Saltburn on 11

th.

The first Wheatears of the spring arrived on 11

th with singles

at Warsett Hill and Old Cemetery and four at South Gare. These birds equalled the earliest arrival date for Cleveland.17 Waxwings were in Hartlepool docks the same day with 12 over Skelton on 14

th.

Five Little Ringed Plovers were at RSPB Saltholme on 15

th. 31

Whooper Swans were over Norton on 16th

with another 28 over Wolviston the following day. South Gare saw a Lapland Bunting on17th along with a 1st winter Glaucous Gull. A Goshawk was over Saltburn on 20

th. Cleveland’s earliest

ever Swallow was on the North Tees Marshes on 21st

. The elusive drake Green-winged Teal put in another appearance at Saltholme Pools on 24

th. It was to be seen again the

following month but was often missing for days between sightings. A Firecrest at Warsett Hill on 25

th was the only one of the

spring. A Cetti’s Warbler sang at Haverton Hole from 26

th.Three Common Cranes circled over here on 27

th before

heading off north.

The highlight of the month came on 30

th when an Alpine

Swift flew past Hartlepool Headland on 30th

. It could be seen briefly circling round Crimdon Dene before continuing on its way north.

APRIL

The Iceland Gull continued to show well at Hartlepool Fish Quay. A Black-necked Grebe in full summer plumage attracted the photographers at RSPB Saltholme from 1

st. The

first Osprey of the spring was over Teesside Park on this date.

Black-necked Grebe Ian Forrest A Glaucous Gull was at RSPB Saltholme on 2

nd. A

Whitethroat singing at Skelton on this date was Cleveland’s earliest ever. Single Brent Geese were on the Tidal Pool and at Skinningrove at this time. Small flocks of Waxwing also continued to be reported with 12 still in Guisborough on 1

st

and four in Norton on 4th

. A Grasshopper Warbler at South Gare equalled last year’s earliest ever occurrence. A Tree Pipit was at Hunley the following day and a fine drake Garganey was at RSPB Saltholme. With a Yellow wagtail here the following day and an Osprey over Grangetown , spring had definitely arrived. Two Spoonbills were at RSPB Saltholme on 9

th and two

Marsh Harriers were over Dormans Pool. A Great White Egret left the Egret roost at Haverton on 10

th but could not

be relocated. A Green Sandpiper was at Scaling Dam on this date.

Brambling Ian Watson

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The first of the spring Ring Ouzels were at Hummersea on 11

th. This remains the best area to catch up with this species

in Cleveland and up to five birds were present on several dates during the rest of the month. Reed Warblers were reported from 12

th and a Common Sandpiper was at

Bowesfield the following day. An Osprey was over Seal Sands and a Hooded Crow flew past Cowbar. This was the first of a series of records for this rare visitor. Two flew past Saltburn on 14

th, one was at Redcar Stray on 15

th and

another was at Cowbar on 19th

. None of the birds lingered. There were still up to 20 Twite on Seaton Snook on16th and up to 15 White Wagtails were on Cowpen Marsh. A Great White Egret was also seen briefly on Salterns on this date. A Cuckoo was at Scaling Dam on17th. Sadly this species continues to get rarer each year in Cleveland. A Red Kite was over Long Newton on 18

th.

Four Common Cranes circled over RSPB Saltholme on 20

th

and another Red Kite was over Greatham on this date. 47 Black-tailed Godwits were on Saltholme Pools. Yet another Hooded Crow flew through Warsett Hill on 23

rd. Five Ring

Ouzels were at South Gare on this date and two Common terns were at RSPB Saltholme Black-tailed Godwit numbers increased to 119 at RSPB Saltholme on 24

th and a Little Gull was also present. Three

Bonxies flew past Old Nab on 26th

and the first Swift of the year was over Saltholme Pools on 27

th.A Curlew Sandpiper

was at South Gare on 28th

and a pair of Garganey was present at RSPB Saltholme.

Peregrine Tim Robinson The long staying Iceland Gull remained at Hartlepool Fish Quay and a Great Northern Diver was also present here late in the month. A Redstart was at Dalton Piercy on 29

th. A Pied

Flycatcher was at Scaling Dam on the same day. None of the latter was recorded at coastal stations during the spring months. A Black Tern was at Scaling Dam on 30

th. This

species was a notable absentee from the North Tees Marshes this spring after last year’s impressive numbers.

MAY Several Whinchat were present early in the month with up to three at RSPB Saltholme and one at North Gare. The first day of the month saw a Wood Sandpiper at RSPB Saltholme and a Red Kite over South Gare. A Garganey was at Scaling Dam and two Arctic Skuas flew over RSPB Saltholme.

Grey Plover T. Horne An Osprey was over Huntcliff on 2

nd with a Marsh Harrier in

off at Old Cemetery. Both Great Northern Diver and Velvet Scoter were still on the sea off Redcar. Large numbers of Wheatears passed through the county at this time with up to 50 in the Seaton common/North Gare area alone. A Black Redstart was at Cowbar on 4

th. A Nightingale at

North Gare from 5th

-7th

was generally very elusive but it sang loudly at times. A Bonxie assed Hartlepool on 6

th and eight

Scaup passing the following day was a good count. An Osprey was over Riverside Park on 10

th. In what had been

a good spring for Common Cranes, another circled over Cowpen Marsh on 10

th. Four Dotterel were on Guisborough

Moor on 11th

. A Quail sang at RSPB Saltholme on 12th

.A Turtle Dove was at Coatham Stob on this date. This is now a very rare bird in Cleveland. Falls of passerines were few and far between this spring. A trickle of migrants at the coast at this time included a few Spotted Flycatchers, Garden Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats. Four Shore Larks were at Marske along with several White Wagtails. A Little Stint was at Tidal Pool on 15

th. Sadly access to this

area was closed only the following day for c18 months allowing the flood prevention work to commence. A Curlew Sandpiper was nearby the following day at Greatham Creek and a Red Kite flew over the Parkway.

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Whimbrel T. Horne A Hobby flew through Redcar on 17

th with a probable

Montagu’s Harrier at nearby Marske. Five Spotted Flycatchers were at Hummersea. Four Temminck’s Stints at RSPB Saltholme from 17

th was the largest group seen in

Cleveland for a number of years. A Spotted Redshank was present here the following day and a Quail was at Hummersea. Another was at RSPB Saltholme on20th along with a Garganey and a Wood Sandpiper. Three more Common Cranes passed over Cowpen Bewley WP on 21

st. Like the other spring records they failed to land

and be seen on the ground. Another Quail was heard calling on the Long Drag on this date. One or two Marsh Harriers continued to be reported from the North Tees Marshes at this time. Four Spoonbills were at RSPB Saltholme from 24

th. An

Osprey was over here on 26th

and a Hobby performed outside the cafe window the following day for 10 minutes. Another was seen at Dalton Piercy on the same day and a Red Kite flew over the Calor Gas Pool. Both Greenshank and Little Gull were at RSPB Saltholme on 28

th. A Little Stint was here on the final day of the month by

which time only one Spoonbill remained. A Honey Buzzard was over Coulby Newham on this date. A very quiet May compared to recent years. No rarities and scarce migrants other than the Nightingale absent.

JUNE As usual the number of migrating birds was much reduced in June but the month produced several scarcities. Early in the month RSPB Saltholme held two Spoonbills, Little Gull, Curlew Sandpiper and 1-2 Marsh Harriers. A

Marsh Warbler sang here from 3rd

and remained until 7th

. Another Marsh Warbler was found at Bowesfield on 4

th and

remained on territory for two weeks. This individual sang its heart out and gave excellent views during its lengthy stay.

Marsh Warbler Ian Watson An Osprey was at Lockwood Beck from 9

th-11

th. On this

latter date an adult Rose Coloured Starling was found in a Billingham garden. The local residents were happy for birders to look into their back gardens and some even invited them into their kitchens to watch the bird which remained for four days. Interestingly it was only about 100 yards away from the site of Cleveland’s 1

st record in 1973.

Rose-coloured Starling T. Horne A Roseate Tern was at South Gare on 13

th whilst an Arctic

Tern visited the Common Tern colony at RSPB Saltholme on 15

th. A Red Kite was over Acklam on 16

th and a Quail was

near Summerhill. Highlight of the month was the summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper at Scaling Dam on this date. It was only the 5

th to be recorded in Cleveland and the second

for Scaling. A Red-necked Grebe in full breeding dress was at RSPB Saltholme on 17

th. It relocated to Greatham Salterns the

following day where it allowed close approach. Two Wood Sandpipers were at RSPB Saltholme on 19

th along with 37

Black-tailed Godwits.

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Red-necked Grebe Ian Forrest A Great White Egret was at Scaling Dam on 21

st. A summer

plumaged Black Guillemot was off South Gare on 24th

. Roseate Terns were off Saltburn on 25

th and at RSPB

Saltholme on 30th

. A Black-browed Albatross which flew past Whitburn on 29

th

had without doubt flew up the Cleveland coast. Hopefully it would put in another appearance later in the year!

CHAIRMANS REPORT

Our last Trustees meeting was held in May and the principal points of interest were as follows:- The Club continues to donate monies to the Billingham Bottoms/Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park and Saltburn Valley gardens feeding stations, as well as establishing new sites at the Stillington Country Park which is being supported by the local community and St Cuthbert`s primary school , Stockton On Tees. These new sites are all about educating the public and especially the children in our local wildlife. New similar projects are in the pipeline. We are still hoping to make payment of subscription easier by an online system linked to our popular website as so many members have expressed interest in this method of payment We are also considering launching/selling our own branded merchandise clothing again and would be interested in our member’s responses which we will ask at for at our next indoor meetings. As Chairman I have represented us in various projects including the new `SembCorp `PowerStation at Wilton. The plant itself is off limits obviously, but they do own neighbouring farmland and woodland which they were interested in a proposal to provide a local educational element for the local community. Regarding the developments at RSPB Saltholme, late July the planning should have come through for the next changes in the Saltholme hide area. These include the provision of a two storey new hide providing better visibility over the proposed new landscaped west Saltholme & Back Saltholme zones. The work will have to be completed by the end of October this year.

This year`s alterations to the sea wall at Greatham have just about been completed according to plan. A period of settlement over the winter is needed before the commencement of the final work next year.With flooding to create the original saltern environ to the south of the creek. The new coastal walk is going ahead along east Saltholme and back to Port Clarence. The benefit is that the` Calor Gas` pool area will have a viewing screen linked to the path to reduce the health and safety issues raised if you attempt to view by the busy road Can I also use this opportunity to thank Brian Bushnell & Alistair McClee on all the work and time that has been carried out on the exterior of the `Jeff Young hide` at Dormans, as well as all the work carried out in the field by our other members.

LOCAL OUTINGS

SEATON SNOOK Sunday 27th August 2017 Meet at the end of the Zinc Works Road at 9.00. Join Graeme Joynt for this outing which has been arranged to coincide with the incoming tide. Hopefully good numbers of passage waders should be present. Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Knot, Ringed Plover and Dunlin are amongst the targets but something scarcer may be present amongst the large numbers of the smaller waders which are often present here at this time of year. The Snook should also hold several species of tern at this time. Leader: Graeme Joynt ( Tel: 07968572603)

SEA WATCHING AT HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND Saturday 16

th September 2017

Meet at the Heugh Gun Battery from 9.00 a.m. Join Chris Sharp for this always popular outing. If the weather conditions are favourable almost anything is possible at this time of year. Four species of Skua and 2 species of Shearwater are the targets. Even if it is a westerly there still should be something of interest to see such as Common Scoter and Teal. If the sea watching is poor there may be something to be found in the nearby gardens. Leader: Chris Sharp. (Tel: 01429 865163)

BIRD RINGING AT HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND Sunday 8th October 2017 Join the Tees Ringing Group to witness a demonstration of how migrant birds are caught, processed and released. It is hoped that a variety of small birds will be caught. Given the date almost anything is possible. Meet at the bowling green by Olive Street from 9.00 a.m. Leader: Chris Brown. (Tel: 01429 233474)

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SOUTH GARE Saturday 4th November 2017 Meet by the Lifeboat Station at 9.30 a.m. Join Herbert Mitchell for a morning walk. Hopefully a wide selection of late autumn migrants may be 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. Grey Phalarope has also been seen in previous years. Leader: Herbert Mitchell. (Tel: 07870451648)

GREENABELLA MARSH AND SEAL SANDS Sunday 3

rd December 2017

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. Leader: Julie Mason. (Tel: 01642 614583)

Picos de Europa multi trip

By Brian Clasper

During my life I have not won many prizes, other than a Blue Peter badge, however I won second prize in an ORCA cetacean charity raffle, a voucher toward a Brittany ferries trip, which allowed me to take my car across my normal Bay of Biscay ORCA survey route.

We left home at 6.00 am on the 14th July , bacon butties at 10.00 after having seen the breeding Bee eaters in Nottingham then down to Portsmouth. The ` Cap de Finisterre` departed escorted by Med gulls out of the harbour past the Naval base.

Cory’s Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

We were on deck early to see our first Corys & Great shearwaters. During the day we were lucky to see many Fin whales, Common & Risso`s dolphins and excellent views of Cuvier`s beaked whale.

Common Dolphins

Cuviers beaked Whale

After our arrival at the port of Santander at 5.15pm local time we drove to our hotel base in the south Picos de Europa. The 2.5 hour scenic drive was productive with many Common & Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and the White stork sentries holding court over most villages.

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Honey Buzzard

We were up early. All our 4 days we met Local guides to hunt for our target animal `European Wildcat`. My only previous experience with this critter was a brief view as I disturbed one in a Romanian forest many years ago. These animals feed on the rodents exposed at harvest time. We spent 4 hours each morning and at dusk. The bonus was the seed from the hay attracted Yellowhammer, Cirl & Rock bunting, Water pipit and Rock sparrow. With most fields being guarded by Red backed shrike & Stonechats and an alpine backdrop. What a setting.

Wildcat

Our first Wildcat was watched hunting distantly late morning but our later trips proved far more productive as we got up close to seeing these Magnificent hunters pouncing on mostly Black rats. While watching, other wildlife performed around us, feeding Green woodpecker, large flocks of Mistle thrushes and the occasional Red fox, with the call of Quail in the next field.

One day was dedicated to finding another Mammal target, European Wolf.We were told what was necessary was a one hour walk after a short drive. To accomplish this goal we needed a 4x4 to access an isolated valley. We arrived at Dawn then strenuously scaled a rather large hill to view a family of 6 clubs and mother, at a distance of 1000m.,while we recovered. As we descended from our vantage point the vocal Dartford warblers were waking in the bush. Certainly the descent was easier than the ascent. In the afternoon we drove 15 minute from our hotel to an amazing Mountain pass .The view was spectacular over the Picos mountains. Red billed choughs fed on the grassed open hillside with passing Griffon vultures overhead and a pair of hovering Short toes eagles. However, a track from the car park here is a reliable site for Citril finch ( we saw 8) coming to drink at roadside puddles. This was not the high point here. The Flowers, in particular , the orchids, were stunning. As well as a marauding Golden ringed dragonfly , Butterflies were aplenty. Fritillaries, Marbled whites , Blues Skippers all in a short walk.

Griffon Vulture

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Short toed Eagle

Rock Bunting

Our final excursion on our Spanish visit was an easier climb to the high alpine plateau of Fuente De. This peak is a must, reached by a five minute cable car ride passing soaring Egyptian and griffon vultures. We soon lost the crowds to be mobbed by a few alpine choughs. Also greeting us were Alpine accentors and Snow finches as we made our way across the rugged landscape to a well known Wallcreeper site. There was a good healthy population of birds here with Rock thrush, Crag martin and Northern wheatear.

Alpine Accentor

Rock Thrush

Alpine Chough

From here we left for our ferry on an amazing two hour drive through spectacular gorges to Santander. However, on arriving the sailing was delayed for 3 hours giving us the opportunity to wander around this vibrant city as the terminal quay is in the City centre. The return day was sparse of cetaceans but the shearwaters kept us entertained as well as the occasional Sunfish.

We stayed overnight in Newton Abbott to achieve an embarrassing goal. I must admit, for my sins, I used to be a twitcher and the one bird I had not seen in the UK was Cirl bunting. The best place to see them we were told is Labrador bay. Unfortunately we decided to arrive in an Atlantic storm, gale force winds and torrential rain. Frustratingly, for 30 minutes we could hear them in the hedge but not see them. Eventually a brave sole popped out to pose on the carpark sign. We could now join the holiday traffic to come back to the sunny North East.

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INDOOR MEETINGS 2017/2018

4th

September 2017 Birds & Conservation of Flamborough Headland By Richard Baines 2

nd October 2017

Lower Derwent Valley by Craig Ralston 6

th November 2017

Birds of Poland By Marek Borkowski 4

th December 2017

Isle of May – by David Steel 8

th January 2018

Chasing a daughter around Australia has its birding benefits! By Brian Clasper 5

th February 2018

Filey International - arrivals and departures of North Yorkshire's Bird Observatory By Mark Pearson 5

th March 2018

Bird Ringing at Cape Wrath By Major (Retd) AJ Crease 9

th April 2018

AGM

BTO NEWS JULY 2017.

Breeding Bird Survey & Waterways Breeding Bird Survey. Survey forms were distributed to volunteers for 25 squares in 2017. Following my newsletter appeal I was delighted to receive offers to cover the four vacant squares at Ketton Hall, Tilery Farm, Cow Close Lane and Buck Rush Farm. It is encouraging for everyone who contributes items to the Newsletter to know that it can produce a response like this. The following Cleveland squares are still available to allocate for 2018. Only two visits during the breeding season are required so please consider surveying one of these squares.

NZ3114 Lingfield, Darlington area. NZ3717 Larberry Pastures. NZ4438 Hesleden area.

NZ5013 Larchfield. NZ5411 Greenhow Hill, Great Ayton.

NZ6914 Moorsholm area. All BBS squares are valuable to the survey and it would be great to have full coverage. Full details of both surveys are on the BTO website www.bto.org where you can register or you can contact Vic Fairbrother directly who will be happy to provide additional information. (01287 633744) vic.fairbrother@ntlworld.com

Additional visits to BBS squares to count butterflies for the Wider Countryside Survey are welcome. Contact: Sarah Harris for forms and allocation. (sarah.harris@bto.org)

European Breeding Bird Atlas

This spring and summer BTO were undertaking ‘gap-filling’ for the second European Breeding Bird Atlas project (known as EBBA2). There is a map online on the BTO website which shows 50x50 km squares that require most effort in terms of increasing the species list and upgrading breeding evidence to a higher level. The usual atlas codes will allow a species to be recorded as possible, probable or confirmed breeding. Until now, the BTO has been providing the EBBA2 organisers data based on BirdTrack, ringing and nest record data. Volunteers are now invited to enter their records, together with the appropriate breeding evidence code, to BirdTrack (www.birdtrack.net). Contact: Dawn Balmer (dawn.balmer@bto.org) and David Noble (david.noble@bto.org)

Woodcock Survey

Since the 2013 Woodcock Survey, volunteers have continued monitoring on around 50-150 sites where Woodcock were recorded as present. In light of the continued decline of Woodcock, BTO has been seeking to increase the number of sites counted annually by volunteers. For further details see (www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey) It is important to note this is not a full survey as in 2013, but an attempt to improve annual monitoring using robust methodology. Contact: Greg Conway (greg.conway@bto.org)

House Martin Nest Study

The Nest Study continued in 2017. Volunteers who took part last year were encouraged to cover the same sites and nests in 2017 and new volunteers were sought in order to improve geographical coverage and increase the number of nests monitored throughout the season. Some minor updates and enhancements to the online system can be seen at https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/house-martin-survey/house-martin-nest-study-2016 Contact: Ian Woodward (ian.woodward@bto.org)

Heronries Census

Local volunteers submitted data for this the longest running annual BTO survey again in 2017. BTO is keen to improve the coverage of Heronries across the UK in the build up to the 90

th anniversary of the scheme in 2018. New instructions

for volunteers have been provided (https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/guidance_for_completing_a_heronries_census_visit_2017-01-25.pdf) and guidance on entering records online (https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/guidance_for_completing_a_heronries_census_visit_2017-01-25.pdf). Please report any report any indications of active Heronries to me, or to Martin Blick or Alistair McLee who monitor current

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sites. BTO contact is: Ian Woodward (ian.woodward@bto.org)

BTO Regional Representative Cleveland. I have been the local BTO RR since 2005, following in the footsteps of Denis Summers-Smith and Russell McAndrew. I have thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of contributing to the work of the BTO in this role and have been enormously grateful to bird club members and other volunteers for their vital and much appreciated support in ensuring a strong local input to national BTO surveys. I have now decided that the time has come for me to pass on my responsibilities so the BTO will now be seeking to appoint a new Regional Representative for Cleveland. This could be one person again or the work could be shared with a Regional Organiser (RO), responsible for organising and coordinating local input to BTO surveys and/or a Regional Ambassador (RA), responsible for communicating with members and volunteers and for general promotional work. I will be pleased to supply further details to anyone who might be interested in what is a very interesting and rewarding experience. I hope to continue to take part in surveys and will be available to offer advice and support as needed. Vic Fairbrother. 01287 633744. vic.fairbrother@ntlworld.com

WETLAND BIRD SURVEY

TEESMOUTH SPRING 2017 SUMMARY

Spring coverage was near perfect, with only a single sector count not undertaken during this period. Gadwall (431, June) set a new WeBS seasonal record, with figures that were also nationally significant to boot. In contrast it was a poor spring for shelduck with a high of 239 constituting a record seasonal low (data going back to 1988). Mute Swan (46, June) recorded their lowest spring high since 2002, meanwhile eider (51, June) yielded its best seasonal total since 2000. Spring figures for common tern (584, June) were much improved, returning to levels recorded during the late “00’s”. The decline in little tern observations continued with no individuals recorded during this period. Scarcities which livened up counts for a few lucky recorders included a single spoonbill (April), jack snipe (May) and red-necked grebe (June). Following this series of counts the Tees Estuary is nationally important for gadwall, avocet and sanderling in spring. Adam Jones Local Organizer Tees Estuary Wetland Bird Survey June 2017

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WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH SPRING 2017 SUMMARY

April 9 May 7 June 18

Little Grebe 17 5 18

Great Crested Grebe 24 14 25

Cormorant 29 45 70

Mute Swan 24 36 46

Shelduck 239 183 137

Gadwall 277** 128* 431**

Teal 314 22 14

Mallard 133 119 170

Shoveler 66 16 14

Pochard 81 48 39

Tufted Duck 194 118 114

Eider 13 15 51

Coot 211 193 266

Oystercatcher 479 437 270

Avocet 62* 114** 65*

Little Ringed Plover 11 6 5

Ringed Plover 37 178 6

Golden Plover 0 0 0

Grey Plover 23 5 4

Lapwing 92 106 238

Knot 3 2 0

Sanderling 200** 41 0

Purple Sandpiper 10 0 0

Dunlin 22 58 11

Ruff 4* 0 0

Snipe 5 3 0

Black-tailed Godwit 27 5 4

Bar-tailed Godwit 0 3 0

Curlew 380 42 231

Redshank 225 22 10

Turnstone 79 10 0

Sandwich Tern 0 4 124

Common Tern 0 29 584

Little Tern 0 0 0

Underlined counts indicate Spring 2017 maxima. * Denotes count of >50% of national significance for that species ** Denotes count of national importance for that species 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