April 2013 - Teesmouth Bird Club

Teesmouth Bird Club
Newsletter
April 2013 (No. 54)
Reg. Charity 508850
CONTENTS
MONTHLY SUMMARIES
Monthly Summaries
1
TBC Annual Report
6
Conservation Sub-committee news
9
Sale of Mike Corner’s books
10
Appointment of Club Publicity Officer
10
Feeding Stations
10
Club Woodcock Survey 2013
11
N. Tynedale Hen Harriers: RSPB request
13
TBC training courses
13
TBC day trip to North Northumberland
14
Local Outings, May to September
15
TBC Outing to Tophill Low
16
Site Guide: Old Cemetery & North Sands
16
Blast from the Past
19
New York, New York
20
Profile – Gary Sharples
22
Wetland Bird Survey – Summary
24
TBC Publications
26
TBC clothing order form
27
TBC Woodcock Survey form
28
Chris Sharp reviews the main highlights of the late autumn
and winter periods of 2012-2013, which, in addition to the
more common species, produced some scarce birds for our
area.
NOVEMBER 2012
The TBC Newsletter is published three times a year.
Production : Editor Ted Parker, layout Eric James, distribution
Chris Sharp, web download Jamie Duffie
Buzzard and Carrion Crow, Greenabella
Renton Charman
A Great Grey Shrike on Greenabella Marsh
lingered until 12th and was the only scarce
passerine of note in late autumn. A Little Auk,
Great Northern Diver and two Long-tailed Ducks
flew past Skinningrove on 2nd, while next day 13
Whooper Swans passed Hartlepool, with a further
seven on 5th. The latter date also saw a good
southerly movement of Pink-footed Geese, with
over 800 at Hartlepool.
Mick & Sylvia Brennan
How many? (See page 11...)
The long-staying Common Buzzard remained on
Greenabella Marsh and stayed into 2013. One or
two Marsh Harriers were also present on the
1
Short-eared Owl, Greenabella
Cormorant, Headland
Ray Scott
Rock Pipit, Headland
Goldeneye, Saltholme
Renton Charman
Ray Scott
Ray Scott
North Tees Marshes at this time. A late Swallow
was at Cowbar on 9th and the same site held an
impressive two Richard’s Pipits the following day.
Multiple sightings of the latter species are rare in
Cleveland.
A Black-necked Grebe was on Greenabella Marsh
on 13th before relocating to Saltholme Pools,
where it remained until the month’s end. Midmonth saw several herds of Whooper Swans
passing through the area, with a maximum count
of 24 on 18th. Up to three Long-eared Owls
roosted at RSPB Saltholme and there were still 20
Little Egrets roosting by the Tidal Pool at this
time.
Starlings, Saltholme
Ian Forrest
Caspian and a second-winter Glaucous Gull late in
the month.
DECEMBER 2012
Another late Swallow was at South Gare on 21st
and 22nd, while sea-watching off Skinningrove
next day produced two Great Northern Divers and
a Puffin. A strong northerly wind off Hartlepool
on 27th produced five Pomarine Skuas, four
Bonxies and four Long-tailed Ducks.
The
following day, a Black-throated Diver, 10 Brent
Geese and a Little Auk flew past Seaton Carew.
Two Great Northern Divers flew past Huntcliff on
1st and another was found in Jackson’s Landing
on the same day, where it remained until 7th. A
Black-throated Diver appeared at Jackson’s
Landing on the latter date and began a threemonth stay, much to the appreciation of the local
photographers.
A Black Redstart was on the sea defences at
Skinningrove early in the month and nearby there
were 45 Snow Buntings at Cowbar. A redhead
Smew was at Crookfoot Reservoir early in the
The month ended with a Bittern being regularly
reported from RSPB Saltholme. Large numbers of
gulls began to gather at the local landfill sites and
the avid gull enthusiasts picked out a first-winter
2
Great Northern Diver, Marina
‘Soloman’
Black-throated Diver, Marina
Martyn Sidwell
flew past Hartlepool on 13th. A Great Northern
Diver did likewise off Saltburn on 16th. A fine
drake Smew was at RSPB Saltholme on 21st and
22nd and the same locality held a Long-tailed
Duck on 29th. Two Jack Snipes were on Portrack
Marsh on 29th. Seaton Snook was particularly
attractive to Snow Buntings at the turn of the
year, with up to 47 being recorded.
Small
numbers of Twite were also here at this time.
JANUARY 2013
Red-breasted Mergansers, Marina
Bar-tailed Godwit, Seaton Golf Course
As usual, many year lists were started early on
1st. Both Spotted Redshank and Greenshank
were wintering on Greenabella Marsh and this is
the first time for a number of years that either of
these species had done so. Nearby, a Whimbrel
was also wintering on Seal Sands, presumably
being last year’s returning bird. A Marsh Harrier
remained around the North Tees Marshes but the
colder weather from mid-month meant it didn’t
stay the whole winter. Also early on, a Little Gull
was on the beach at Saltburn, four Jack Snipes
were on Portrack Marsh and several Goosanders
were in Ward Jackson Park. The roosting flock of
Ring-necked Parakeets nearby also reached a new
peak of 38 birds.
Ian Forrest
Ray Scott
Martyn Sidwell
A drake Green-winged Teal was at Saltholme from
2nd, before finding Dormans Pool more to its
liking later in the month, where it remained into
March. A Red-necked Grebe was off Hartlepool
early in the month. Seaton Common and the
nearby Seaton Meadows Landfill attracted huge
numbers of the larger gulls and the keen gull
watchers were rewarded with several Caspian
Gulls during the first two months of the year,
together with up to three immature Glaucous
Gulls and the occasional Iceland Gull. Nearby,
Seaton Snook proved attractive to both Snow
Buntings and Twite. The food supplied by the
local ringers may have had a part to play!
month and another was in Jackson’s Landing on
15th. Three Eurasian White-fronted Geese were
at Scaling Dam on 12th and 51 Barnacle Geese
The regular Green Sandpiper again frequented
the tidal Billingham Beck near Portrack
roundabout and a wintering bird has now been
Tree Sparrow, Cowpen Bewley WP
3
present here for the past 10 winters. Two Velvet
Scoters were off Redcar on 18th but it was a poor
winter for this species with none recorded on the
north side of the estuary. A Slavonian Grebe
joined the long-staying Black-throated Diver in
Jacksons Landing from 16th and a Jack Snipe was
at Bowesfield Marsh on 23rd. A pair of Smew on
Greatham Saline Lagoon on 23rd were seen
briefly but reappeared a few days later along with
another redhead at Saltholme before finally
moving to Dormans Pool, where the stayed into
March.
Mistle Thrush, Ward Jackson Park
Spotted Redshank, Greenabella
Ian Forrest
Fieldfare, Seaton Common
Slavonian Grebe, Marina
Tim Robinson
Mick and Sylvia Brennan
Yellowhammer, Cowpen Bewley WP
Brambling, Billingham
Ray Scott
Ian Forrest
Waxwings were still putting on a good show, with
63 in Thornaby late in the month. Long-eared
Owls peaked at four in the RSPB Saltholme roost.
Ian Forrest
4
FEBRUARY 2013
Barn Owl, Long Drag
Tundra Bean Goose, Cowpen Marsh
Tim Robinson
Ray Scott
A Tundra Bean Goose was found amongst the
Greylags on Cowpen Marsh on 1st, where it
stayed for the rest of the month. It was very
much a case of “as you were“ during February
with the settled and fairly cool weather resulting
in little in the way of change amongst Cleveland’s
birds.
An adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Seaton Carew
on 4th and unusually high numbers of Redbreasted Mergansers were present on the North
Tees Marshes during the month, with up to 38
present on various waters. A male Common
Scoter was in the Greatham Creek area.
Greenshank, Greatham Creek
Ian Forrest
Scaup and Black-headed Gull, East Saltholme
Ian Forrest
Perhaps the most intriguing report of the winter
was of a “white” Gyr Falcon, which flew over
Hutton Lowcross Woods towards Sleddale on 9th.
The bird was only observed through binoculars
but apparently was not wearing jesses. The one
that got away? Up to three Slavonian Grebes
were on Seal Sands, often giving very close views.
A pair of Long-tailed Ducks was also here and a
Great Northern Diver was present on 7th.
Waxwings peaked at 115 in Norton on 11th and a
Water Pipit was over Dormans Pool on 15th. A
fine drake Scaup, now a scarce bird in Cleveland,
was on Saltholme Pools from 16th. A Dark-bellied
Brent Goose joined the Tundra Bean Goose on
Cowpen Marsh from 17th and a lone Avocet was
at Seal Sands on 19th.
A Jack Snipe was at
Portrack Marsh on 23rd.
The highlight of the winter for many was the
Bitterns at Dormans Pool, with up to four birds
reported during February and they were often to
be seen feeding out in the open. Many observers
had their best ever views of this species from the
upper car park, with the more usual fleeting flight
views being replaced by lasting views on the
ground. It remains to be seen whether any of
these birds linger into the spring and possibly add
to Cleveland’s breeding avifauna.
Glaucous Gull, Headland
5
Ray Scott
ANNUAL REPORT 2012
Regular activities
Once again our eight evening meetings have been
very well attended, with 86 at the February
meeting, even the one with a change of day and
date, which caused all sort of confusion. If we get
many more attending we will need a bigger room.
Two coach trips were made, to Amble and Coquet
Island and then to North Northumberland. The
twelve outings around the area were all well
attended, except for poor Bert Mitchell’s South
Gare trip when the weather was so bad only he
turned up. Three excellent newsletters were
produced over the period and for me they just get
better every time. Our annual Bird Report,
although a little later this year was up to its usual
very high standard.
THE CLUB COMMITTEE
Dave Nelson Chairman
Alistair Mclee Vice Chairman
Chris Sharp Hon.Secretary
Mark Askew Hon.Treasurer
John Crussell Ordinary Member appointed 2009
Sylvia Brennan Ordinary Member appointed
2009
Neil Lay Ordinary Member appointed 2010
Colin Walker Ordinary Member appointed 2011
Mike McGrory Ordinary Member appointed 2012
RECORDS SUB-COMMITTEE
Tom Francis Chairman
Chris Brown
Stewart Hinley
Graeme Joynt
Graham Megson
Mark Rowbottom
Ian Foster
Chris Sharp
Chris Bell
Richard Taylor
Projects
Sadly our plans for a sea watching observatory
next to the lighthouse were scuppered by the
Coast Guard selling the land on which we were to
put it, but we still hope something will turn up to
allow us to go ahead with this project.
We have started a feeding station and hope to
extend this idea (see article on page 10).
In August RSPB completed their purchase of
Dorman’s Pool and land adjacent to the Petro Plus
tanks and this prompted us, after talks with them,
to move our hide to a better position nearer the
car park. It is planned that this hide will be open
during RSPB working hours but we will still have
access 24/7 via our keys. RSPB hope to start
conservation work and fencing shortly.
MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE
Chris Sharp Chairman
John Fletcher
Eric James
Julie Mason
Russell McAndrew
Ted Parker
Dave Nelson
Pat Brunt
Sales
Sales of Club publications continue to go well.
With the sad demise of Michael Corner, who left
his books to the club, John Fletcher has had these
books for sale on top his usual stock.
CONSERVATION SUB-COMMITTEE
Ted Parker Chairman
Alistair McLee
Graham Megson
Vic Fairbrother
Alan Snape
Sue Antrobus
Toby Collett
Ken Smith
Thank you to Mike and his parents
This is the end of my first year as chairman and
at this point I will be losing Alistair as my vicechairman. I would just like to thank him for all the
help he has given me over the past three years,
and I hope to do as good a job as he has done.
Thanks also to all the committee members, who
do sterling work and without whom the Club
could not function.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR 2012
Here
we
are
again,
another AGM. One of the
wettest years on record,
that’s what you get for
making me chairman, the
angels have never stopped
crying.
Dave Nelson
TBC Chairman
March 2013
6
CLUB MEMBERSHIP
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total
231
254
259
270
287
317
346
421
487
521
538
548
Full
120
130
135
132
134
157
156
176
203
209
225
312
Family
67
79
77
78
95
89
119
170
190
209
214
217
Junior
1
2
2
1
For the umpteenth year in succession the total
membership of the club has continued to
increase. 2012 saw the cessation of discounted
membership for senior citizens but at £12 it still
remains excellent value. Hence the table above
does not split the number of senior citizens but it
is safe to assume the number of members in this
age group continues to increase.
S.C.
24
25
27
40
39
52
51
55
73
78
79
Life
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
13
13
13
Hon
6
6
6
6
5
5
6
6
6
5
5
5
continues to complete the club’s annual Gift Aid
applications. As can be seen from the income and
expenditure account this represents a significant
proportion of the club’s income.
Many other members contribute to the smooth
running of the club. We are always on the look
out for other members to join the various sub
committees. If you wish to get involved do not
hesitate to speak to me or another committee
member.
As a club we have managed to keep the
subscriptions at a relatively low level for a number
of years and I am certain that in these austere
times this is one of the reasons behind the club’s
success. The presence of RSPB Saltholme has no
doubt also been an influence.
Chris Sharp
Hon Secretary
TREASURER’S REPORT 2012
A relatively routine year, with no major projects
involving financial transactions, the surplus
income of £5555 arose primarily from a welcome
VAT rebate from the Phil Stead Hide project.
Subscriptions and associated gift aid remain at a
healthy level, more than covering the regular
outgoings such as postage, printing and the
annual bird report. Nevertheless, postage and
printing costs remain relatively high so we would
encourage electronic access of newsletters
wherever possible. With regard to the bird report,
all involved should be commended for continuing
to provide a great quality publication while
holding the cost for several years.
As in previous years the many hours of free time
given by certain members is also a factor. Both
Dave Nelson and John Fletcher have shown many
new members the main bird watching sites in
Cleveland and I am sure their efforts are much
appreciated. Eric James and Ted Parker continue
to do a great job with the newsletter and the
website manager Jamie Duffie has also overseen
a website that gains praise from everyone who
logs on.
The annual bird report is also a publication the
club can be rightly proud of. I know the amount
of time that is spent collating the records and
writing and checking the report runs into many
hundreds of hours. The recorder Tom Francis, the
editor Graeme Joynt and the rest of the compilers
and records sub committee must be thanked for
their efforts.
The donations this year were mostly following the
sad death of our long-time member and friend to
many, Mike Corner. We are very grateful to his
family for suggesting donations were made to the
club.
Ted Parker also continues tirelessly on the club’s
behalf. As chairman of the conservation sub
committee he spends many hours reviewing
planning applications for possible detrimental
effects to local bird populations and habitats.
Although Don Page retired as treasurer in 2000 he
The clothing sales organised and coach trips,
capably administered by Julie Mason, continue to
more than break even and thus we can continue
to provide them for members as they remain
popular.
7
In conclusion, we can safely hold subscription
rates for another year, which we believe to be
good value and hope members agree.
Mark Askew
Honorary Treasurer
TEESMOUTH BIRD CLUB
Statement of Income and Expenditure for 2012
(with 2011 for comparison)
2012
Income
Subscriptions
Gift Aid
Interest
Meetings
Lecture Fees
TBC Gen.Publications
Bird Report
Printing & Stationery
Postage
Subs to other Societies
Data Provision
Phil Stead Hide
BB Atlas sales
Insurance
Sundries
Website
Computerising records
TBC Clothing
Outings
Hartlepool New Obs
TBC Workshop
Ringing kit donation
Donations
Dorman’s Pool
Feeding Stations
Recorder’s Expenses
Bank Charges
2011
Payment
5033.00
1011.25
285.29
Income
Payment
5315.00
1017.15
152.13
444.83
30.00
323.26
108.50
683.25
931.68
1900.00
1103.49
789.10
47.00
75.00
3904.60
50.00
180.00
1900.00
782.97
744.98
46.50
191.00
20000.00
30.00
463.59
0.00
161.07
0.00
233.07
737.80
636.40
298.90
818.00
9.00
681.00
0.00
33267.29
443.90
0.00
97.79
59.99
15.99
580.00
660.00
42.00
0.00
300.00
0.00
100.00
143.42
16.00
6985.77
5554.79
12540.56
0.00
381.27
12540.56
Excess Income
12540.56
Balance B/F 2011
Excess Income
Balance 31.12.2012
50235.73
5554.79
55790.52
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account
Phil Stead Mem Fund
NSB Investment Acc
0.00
1030.95
0.02
54759.55
55790.52
8
28368.96
28368.96
Balance B/F 2010
39331.17
-10962.21
28368.96
61197.94
-10962.21
50235.73
0.00
761.45
0.02
49474.26
50235.73
CONSERVATION SUB-COMMITTEE

Ted Parker reviews the work of this very busy sub-committee
of the Club which comments on significant Planning
Applications (particularly those affecting key bird sites),
provides bird data for Environmental Impact Assessments,
organises surveys and is involved in county-wide projects that
affect Cleveland.
Scoping option request for proposed
extension of time to Cowpen Bewley landfill
site (Impetus Waste Management Limited)

Installation of floodlighting, fencing and 2
pitch shelters to senior football pitch, Seaton
Carew – resubmitted application (Seaton
Carew Sports and Social Club)

Erection of flood wall, flood gates and
pedestrian access ramp to Town Wall,
Hartlepool (Hartlepool Borough Council)

Residential
Development
for
780
dwellings, a Retirement Village of 220
dwellings,
infrastructure
and
landscaping on land north of A689,
Wynyard Business Park – reserved
matters (except access) – Wynyard Park
Limited and Mauve Limited

Outline Application for 603 dwellings, a
Primary School, a Village Hall, 5 No.
shops and Professional Services Units on
land north of A689, Wynyard Business
Park (Wynyard Park Limited and Redco
Limited)

Application to vary Condition Nos. 2,4 and 5
from Planning Approval for materials recovery
centre, Reclamation Pond (Impetus Waste
Management Limited)

Full application for re-surfacing of an existing
access track to materials recycling facility,
Reclamation
Pond
(Impetus
Waste
Management Limited)
The Conservation Sub-Committee is routinely
consulted by Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool
Borough Councils on Planning Applications that
affect sites in and around the Tees Estuary. It
also comments on other proposed developments
at local and strategic levels, including coastal and
river flood defence, housing, commercial and
industrial developments and wind farms.
Since the last Newsletter in December, the subcommittee has commented on the following
Planning Applications:

Provision of bird data to support an EIA for a
proposed energy facility at Seal Sands
(WASTE2RESOURCE)

Provision of bird data for EIA for Bank Field
Wind Farm, Guisborough (URS Corporation
Limited)

Northern Gateway Container Terminal :
reserved matters for discharge of
Condition No.1 (Landscaping) (PD Ports
Limited)

Core Strategy (Local Plan) Examination
in public (Planning Inspectorate)

Request for a scoping opinion for the
development of a renewable energy (REF2)
facility on the Reclamation Pond, Huntsman
Drive, Seal Sands (Air Products Limited)

Hart Warren to Newburn Bridge Strategic
Environmental
Assessment
for
Coastal
Defence (Hartlepool Borough Council)
Outline application for 370 dwellings,
infrastructure,
open
space
and
landscaping – land south of Green Lane,
Yarm (Theakston Estates Limited)

Utilities Infrastructure for REF, Reclamation
Pond – revised planning application (Air
Products Limited)
Erection of 24MW energy facility, offices and
car parking, Seal Sands, Billingham (Seneca
Global Energy Limited)

Lamb’s Hill Wind Farm, Stillington –
application to remove Condition No.45
(amplitude modulation) from Planning
Approval 10/2549/EIS (Banks Group)

Draft list of local validation requirements for
planning
applications
(Stockton-on-Tees
Borough Council)





York Potash Project – pipeline route public
consultation
(Request
by
Planning
Inspectorate)
CHP Plant, Seal Sands – request for a scoping
opinion for a Habitat Regulations Assessment
(Conoco Phillips)
Of these, the ones for which objections were
lodged are shown in bold. The Conservation SubCommittee always confines its comments to
impacts on birds and their habitats and leave
specialist issues such as visual, social, transport,
York Potash Project – pipeline route public
consultation: TBC asked by NYMNP for
opinion (Sirius Minerals)
9
APPOINTMENT OF NEW PUBLICITY
OFFICER
economic,
noise,
dust,
hydrological
and
geological, archaeological impacts to other
organisations with the necessary knowledge and
skills. We can only realistically lodge objections
when there are sound and convincing reasons or
doing so that will stand up to scrutiny under the
Planning process, e.g. :
The Club is delighted to announce the
appointment of Chris Brayshay as its new
Publicity Officer.
Chris’s long professional
background in the media and his obvious
enthusiasm make him ideal for this post. As so
much important work at strategic and local levels
goes on unnoticed ‘behind the scenes’ in the Club,
Chris’s remit is to promote this in the local media
to let people know what we are doing and to raise
our profile as a hard-working and progressive
nature conservation charity in North East England.
Damage to or loss of scarce bird habitat.
Loss of or major disturbance to Schedule 1 and/or
Red and Amber Listed bird species
Contravention with National and Local Planning
Policies relating to nature conservation and the
environment.
The Sub-Committee is opposed to the
development of large green field sites for housing
and commercial and industrial development, such
as those at Wynyard and Yarm. We also oppose
ill-sited wind farms where these may have an
adverse impact on the flight paths of birds,
particularly and will continue to make our voice
felt.
This is the first such appointment in the Club for
many years and we wish Chris every success.
Ted Parker
Chairman of Conservation Sub-Committee
Picture by courtesy of The Northern Echo
FEEDING STATIONS
For some years we have had a small feeding
station outside the Scaling Dam hide and the food
for this has been provided by Northumbrian Water
and visitors who brought bird food with them. It
was decided that we should be doing more. I put
an item on the Club Forum asking for ideas and
help which, although read by many, only led to
two offers, one at Coatham Stob and one at North
Gare Car Park.
Coatham Stob
Extent of proposed development at Green Lane, Yarm
SALE OF MIKE CORNER’S BOOKS
We are grateful to the late Mike Corner and his
parents, Denis and Irene, for donating Mike’s
excellent collection of bird books to the
Teesmouth Bird Club. Many of these have now
been sold in his memory and have raised an
impressive £145.00 for future conservation work.
Ted Parker
10
JOIN THE BIRD CLUB WOODCOCK
SURVEY IN 2013
A REQUEST FROM THE CONSERVATION
SUB-COMMITTEE
A significant part of the Club’s Constitution is to
“institute research on the birds of the former
County of Cleveland” to ensure that, as the
leading ornithological group in our region with
548 members in 2012, we keep abreast of what is
happening to our local breeding birds so that
appropriate planning and action can be taken to
try and reverse any population declines, where
possible. Without the results of bird surveys, we
will lose vital knowledge on the birds of Cleveland
forever and be unable to make population
comparisons to see which species are under
threat and which are doing well.
Coatham Stob is owned by the Forestry
Commission and permission was sought from
them to feed birds here and this was granted. In
early November, a feeding station was set up and
details posted on the Forum. This proved highly
popular with both the birds and birdwatchers.
However, in early January, Colin went to fill up
the feeders and found that they had all been
stolen. How low can some people get? This has
not put us off and new feeders have been put up.
All surveys rely completely on our dedicated
members giving up some of their time to
undertake fieldwork and recording the results of
this. TBC has already undertaken the following in
recent years: two autumn/winter water body
surveys in Cleveland (2007-08 and 2008-09), a
Rookery census (2010) and a breeding House
Martin survey (2012) and these have provided
vital information which we have used locally and
shared nationally with bodies such as the British
Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Wildfowl and
Wetlands Trust.
To find the site, leave the car park in the southeast corner, signposted ‘Coatham Wood’, go
through the hedge on your right hand side at the
first break (quite muddy here); now, with the
other side of the hedge on your right hand side,
head towards the main road. Follow the track
around the 90-degree left hand bend and just
past the second Ash tree on your right hand side,
look left and you will see a small clearing - the
feeding station is set up in the clearing. We are
grateful to Colin Walker, Mick and Sylvia Brennan
and other volunteers who help to provide seed
and keep the feeders topped up.
With the BTO Woodcock Survey planned for 2013,
the Conservation Sub-Committee thought this
would be an excellent opportunity to re-survey
the tetrads in which Woodcocks were found
during the Cleveland Breeding Birds Survey
(CBBS) undertaken during 1999-2006. As with
the 2010 Rookery census, this will allow us to
make a current, direct population comparison with
a historic set of data to see if there have been
any changes. It is so important that we continue
to use the CBBS to make population comparisons
so that our book is not merely a ‘dust-gatherer’
on a shelf but is being used to inform active
conservation work.
North Gare
North Gare car park is owned by Hartlepool
Borough Council and is part of Seaton Common
SSSI so permission to do anything needs to be
sought from Natural England; we are still awaiting
this permission.
Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park
Bird feeding has also been taking place at
Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park and Billingham
Bottoms and we have supplemented this by giving
extra seed and fat balls to the warden. Given the
success with this, we would like to add another
feeding station somewhere in East Cleveland but
cannot do this without finding a suitable site and
someone to look after and fill the feeders. If
anyone has an idea please contact me. Given that
it is now nearly Spring, this will probably be a
project for next winter.
We have found that the take-up for survey work
is often low and usually by the same people. To
ensure reasonable coverage, we find we have to
ask people directly for help, which increases our
organisational time. We fully understand that
many members lead busy lives and find
themselves unable to allocate any time, are
physically unable or feel that a survey might be
too ’technical’ for them and that they need to be
an ‘expert’. This is not the case and TBC selects
its surveys to involve an ‘across-the-board’
involvement by people of all birding abilities.
Survey work can be interesting, rewarding and
Dave Nelson
Tel: 01642 824755
[email protected]
11
exciting through exploring new or under-watched
areas or learning more about the birds of a site
known well already. Any member who feels that
they lack the skills could accompany a surveyor
‘buddy’ to give them an idea of what is required –
I’m sure they will be surprised at how simple the
process is. It will be in line with the CBBS method
sites. The full details of this are available at
www.bto.org/woodcock-survey.
Alistair McLee
and Mark Askew have volunteered to check the
BTO’s two randomly selected priority squares in
Cleveland, so the National survey is covered in
our area.
The TBC Conservation Sub-Committee has
suggested that this is a good opportunity to
update the breeding Woodcock results published
in ‘The Breeding Birds of Cleveland’ and do its
own, separate survey. Members are invited to
submit all records of Woodcock assumed to be
breeding in Cleveland during 2013. As few nests
are found, most records will involve roding birds
or those flushed from suitable breeding habitat.
In addition to reporting casual records, if you are
willing to check a square for breeding/roding
Woodcock then please contact Vic who is
coordinating the survey. His email address is :
[email protected], Tel. 01287 633744.
He will let you know what is required.
and the only information required is the
observer’s name and contact details, date and
time, location (with an OS grid reference, if
possible), name of the site (this will almost
certainly be a woodland or copse), the number of
birds involved and a few notes on how they were
recorded (e.g. roding, flushed from suitable
breeding habitat, etc).
We appeal to members to come forward and help
with this important survey. Please contact Vic
Fairbrother, as requested, and take up a square.
PLEASE DO HELP
Ted Parker
Chairman of Conservation Sub-Committee
With a singing Nightingale present in Cleveland in
2011 and 2012 and increasing numbers of
Nightjars being reported, a dusk visit to look for
roding Woodcock may produce not only some
interesting owls but other surprises as well.
Members located an estimated 95 pairs of
Woodcock in the following 42 tetrads during
fieldwork for ‘The Breeding Birds of
Cleveland’. This fieldwork was spread over the
period 1999-2006 so members are not expected
to visit all or any of their original squares again in
2013 but if anyone would like to visit one or more
of these squares then please register with Vic, as
above. For a survey sheet, see page 28.
The BTO, in cooperation with the Game and
Wildlife Conservation Trust, is organising a survey
of breeding Woodcock in 2013 based on squares
selected at random from the results of the last
national survey in 2003, together with some new
Some of these sites may no longer contain
Woodcock and offers to visit other sites known or
thought to contain breeding Woodcock are most
welcome, as are ‘roving records’, i.e. those you
come across ‘by accident’.
TBC WOODCOCK SURVEY 2013
TETRADS
51W, 61H, 71B,
32Y,
42D.
61R,
71G.
62 F, 62K,
71U,
61G,
61M, 61V,
61W.
51Q,
51R,
61B.
42E.
51M, 51N.
51U.
42P.
40P.
43T,
61P,
61S,
61N.
51G.
51S,
51T.
51X,
71C,
71H,
71M.
71T.
71D.
61I,
62Q,
51Y,
61J.
71E.
62A.
ORIGINAL SURVEYOR
Mark Askew
Brian Clasper
(Michael Corner)
Ian Edgar
Vic Fairbrother
John Fletcher
Brian & Ann Hague
Paul Hinley
Eric James
Russell McAndrew
Alistair McLee
Graham Megson
Herbert Mitchell
Ted Parker
John Sharp
Note : Tetrads with 5-7 pairs are in bold, with 3-4 pairs underlined, the remainder had 1-2 pairs
12
HEN HARRIERS IN NORTH TYNEDALE A REQUEST FROM THE RSPB
HEN HARRIERS IN THE CLEVELAND AREA
Please note that Ted Parker is a volunteer with
Natural England for the National Harrier Recovery
Project.
Would members please report all
sightings of Hen Harriers in Cleveland and North
Yorkshire (north of the Esk Valley and Bilsdale
area) to him. This is particularly important in
spring of the year when birds may be prospecting
or on potential breeding sites.
The Club has received a letter from Dr Stephen
Temperley, RSPB Species Protection Coordinator
for Northumberland regarding the
Northumberland Hen Harrier Project 2013.
Dr Temperley is to concentrate his efforts on Hen
Harriers in breeding locations in North Tynedale in
a project funded through a partnership with the
RSPB and Forestry Commission, as part of a much
larger HLF funded Hen Harrier project called
Tel: 01642 275369
Email: [email protected]
‘Skydancer’.
Over the last four years, Hen Harriers have been
declining in England, with only a single successful
breeding pair in 2012. In support of the North
Tyneside project, Dr Temperley is asking for our
help by refraining from visiting the North
Tynedale site during the earlier, sensitive stages
of the harrier’s breeding cycle in order to
minimise disturbance and reduce the risk of
abandonment. For their part, the RSPB is to
instigate a programme of 24/7 monitoring after
the nest-building stage and if any member wishes
to provide volunteer support for this please
contact Dr Temperley (details below).
Once a breeding pair is well established, nonvolunteers will be welcomed as single visitors or
in small groups. Dr Temperley requests that
anyone wishing to make a visit should contact him
in advance so that RSPB is aware of all personnel
on or near the site at all times. He will be able to
suggest alternative times if the one you have
chosen is not appropriate.
Hen Harrier
Ian Forrest
TBC TRAINING COURSES
As part of the Club’s programme for helping
beginners, two identification courses have been
proposed.
As Dr Temperley states in his letter:
On Sunday 19th May, Alistair McLee is to cover
bird song by leading a walk through Flatts Lane
Woods. This site has a wide range of species,
including many of the warblers that can be a
headache for beginners. Returning to the car,
Alistair will play CD recordings of the species that
have been heard, and after that there will be a
small quiz - with prize (also small!).
The
emphasis will be on having fun. Please assemble
at the Flatts Lane Centre car park at 9 a.m., but
get in touch with Alistair in advance (tel. 01642
787305) and leave a phone number so you can be
contacted in case of cancellation because of the
weather.
“…….. this project is extremely sensitive and
extremely important in helping to assure a future
for hen harriers in England. Therefore we must
ensure that our interest in, and enthusiasm for
these magnificent birds will have no unintended
adverse consequences.”
Dr Temperley is to keep people informed of the
Hen Harrier activity on site via the RSPB
‘Skydancer’ blog but if anyone has questions then
they can contact him as follows:
Dr Stephen Temperley, Species Protection
Coordinator, Northumberland
Later in the year, Eric James will be repeating the
course introducing waders and their identification.
It will be held at the Teesmouth Field Centre and
the provisional date is Sunday 1st September.
Details will be circulated later.
Forestry Commission, Eals Burn, Bellingham,
Northumberland, NE48 2HP
Mobile: 07703 045395
Email: [email protected]
13
TEESMOUTH BIRD CLUB DAY TRIP TO
NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND
Lindisfarne Castle
We left Lindisfarne at lunchtime and got a very
close view of a Long-tailed Duck feeding close by
the crossing.
Next stop for the coach was
Harper’s Heugh for partial views of approximately
200 Barnacle Geese through a row of trees.
During our stop at Budle Bay, the horizon was
filled with hundreds of geese, both Pink-footed
and Greylag. The mudflats were covered with
Wigeon, Shelduck and Knot but as the wind
increased we could not find the wintering
Greenshank.
We moved on to Stag Rocks, near Bamburgh and
were rewarded with close views of Harbour
Porpoise and drake Long-tailed Ducks. On the
rocks, Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone were seen
feeding.
Martin Kitching
The last stop of the trip was a roadside pool near
Seahouses, where the group saw Common Snipe,
Goldeneye and Linnet (one of the few passerines
seen during the windy conditions).
Many thanks to Graham and Rosemary Bell for
sharing their local knowledge and guiding our
group throughout the day.
A total of 60 species was seen by the group.
Julie Mason
Lindisfarne
Julie Mason
On 3rd February 2013, twenty-three members
visited Lindisfarne and the surrounding area. As
we approached the Holy Island causeway we met
Graham and Rosemary Bell who guided us for the
day.
We parked in the coach park and as members got
off the coach a Barn Owl flew past hunting
around the edge of the village. First stop for the
group was the Rocket Field, which had plenty of
ducks and waders feeding within the flooded
vegetation. Prior to our visit a Cattle Egret had
been seen regularly in a field along the Crooked
Lonnen; however, despite a good search, the bird
was not seen. Whilst searching for the Cattle
Egret members were rewarded with sightings of
Barn and Short-eared Owl. As we walked around
the island heading for the Heugh a few flocks of
Brent Geese were seen and heard.
In the
harbour Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and
Bar-tailed Godwit were feeding on the exposed
mud. Offshore, members saw Red-throated Diver,
Shag, Eider, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe,
Guillemot, Kittiwake and Long-tailed Duck. At a
very windy Heugh Red-breasted Mergansers were
present and also the resident Grey Seals could be
seen resting on the mudflats.
Stag Rocks
Long-tailed Duck at Stag Rocks
Brent Geese
14
Eric James
Mark Mowbray
winter of 2010-11 a Great Grey Shrike wintered.
Meet at 8.30 am in the car park of Long Newton
Lane between Longnewton and Urlay Nook.
LOCAL OUTINGS
We are grateful for the time volunteers give up to lead local
outings for the benefit of our members. We are always looking
for new leaders, so if you have an area you particularly like
and feel inclined to show this to others, please contact Julie
Mason. Please be assured that you don’t need to be an expert
to lead an outing!
Leader: Ali McLee (Tel: 01642 787305)
SEAWATCHING AT HARTLEPOOL HEADLAND
Saturday 24th August 2013
ERRINGTON WOODS
Join Don Page, Ted Parker, Chris Sharp for a
morning’s seawatching session at Hartlepool
Headland, when it is hoped, with the right
weather conditions, a good range of seabirds will
be seen. Manx and Sooty Shearwaters, Bonxie,
Arctic and Pomarine Skuas, divers, auks and
grebes are all possible, along with more common
species, such as Gannet, Kittiwake, various auks
(including Puffin) and terns (there is always a
chance of a Roseate). Meet at 9.30 am at the
Heugh Lighthouse on Hartlepool Headland.
Friday 12th May 2013
Join Mike Tucker for a walk in this prime
woodland habitat, where it is hoped that a good
range of woodland birds will be seen, including
recently arrived summer visitors. This site is also
very good for Marsh Tit, a scarce species in
Cleveland. Meet at the picnic area at the top of
Grewgrass Lane (grid ref. NZ 618201) at 10.00
am.
Leader: Mike Tucker
COD BECK RESERVOIR
Sunday 30th June 2013
Join Mick and Sylvia Brennan for a walk around
this scenic reservoir and its surrounding woodland
and heather moor. Woodland and moorland birds
will be well in evidence and there is always a
chance of a fly-over raptor. Meet at 9.30 am in
the car park at Sheepwash.
Leaders: Mick and Sylvia Brennan
COATHAM STOB AND BURN WOOD
Roseate tern
Sunday 7th July 2013
Leaders: Don Page, Ted Parker, Chris Sharp
Tom Horne
(Tel: Ted on 01642 275369)
GREATHAM CREEK AND SEAL SANDS
Saturday 21st September 2013
Join Julie Mason for a walk along Greatham Creek
to Seal Sands, where a wide range of waders
should be seen, including migrants. At this time,
there is always the possibility of something more
unusual, as Teesmouth has a tremendous track
record in turning up rare waders, which in recent
years have included Sharp-tailed, White-rumped,
Terek, Semipalmated and Pectoral Sandpipers.
Regular waders that should be seen should
include Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Redshank,
Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed and
Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlew Sandpiper. Meet
at the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve car
park at Greatham Creek at 10.00 am.
Meadow Pipit, Coatham Stob
Meet Ali McLee for a walk around this excellent
site which, with its good range of habitats, is
developing into an extremely interesting area for
birds. Species recently recorded here include
Short-eared Owl, Green and Great Spotted
Woodpeckers, Nightjar, Tree Pipit, Lesser
Whitethroat, Siskin and Bullfinch, and during the
Leader: Julie Mason (Tel: 01642 614583)
15
CLUB DAY OUTING TO TOPHILL LOW
NATURE RESERVE
Sunday 6th October 2013
Tophill Low Reserve
Paul Sexton
Tophill Low was formally designated a Nature
Reserve in 1993 and is owned by Yorkshire
Water. There are 12 hides spread across a 330acre site that flanks the River Hull. The reserve
includes two reservoirs, lagoons, marshes, scrub
and woodland so there is potential for birds on
passage. Hopefully, members will see a good
selection of ducks, waders, birds of prey and
possibly Otter.
SITE GUIDE – OLD CEMETERY , JEWISH
CEMETERY AND NORTH SANDS,
HARTLEPOOL
Ted Parker describes this historic area on the northern edge
of Hartlepool, which has turned up a remarkable range of
migrant birds in recent years, including a good number of rare
species.
The 33-seater coach will collect members at the
following pickup points:
BACKGROUND
Hartlepool (M&S Car Park) 08:00
Hartlepool Old Cemetery, now known as ‘Spion
Kop’, was formed from a combination of sand
dunes and ship ballast. It supports a species-rich
dune grassland of such quality that it is unique in
Hartlepool and rare within the Tees Valley. The
site has many unusual plants, including pyramidal
orchid and bloody crane's bill, and because of this
has been designated a Local Nature Reserve.
Stockton High Street (ex-Swallow Hotel) 08:15
Middlesbrough (Dorman Museum) 08:35
The cost will be £14.00 plus an entrance fee of
£3.30 for adults and £1.50 for concessions (16
and under/65 and over). A packed lunch will be
required. Facilities are on site.
TO BOOK A PLACE, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN
TODD AND SEND A £5 NON-REFUNDABLE
DEPOSIT:
The cemetery dates back to 1856 and was
established to replace St. Hilda's churchyard and
has nearly 4,000 burials. It was widely used until
1869. ‘Spion Kop’ was the name given by local
people to the general area after the Boer War
battle of the same name and is now the name of
the site as a Local Nature Reserve. For the
purpose of this feature, its old name has been
retained.
Email: [email protected]
Tel:
07810 347333
Address: 1 Henry Street, Seaham, Co Durham
Please make cheques payable to ‘Teesmouth Bird
Club’.
Old Cemetery is adjoined by a much smaller
cemetery at its eastern end, which is dedicated to
Jewish burials and is consequently known as the
Jewish Cemetery.
Apart from a couple of
elderberry bushes protected from the onshore
winds behind the perimeter wall, it has scant
Julie Mason
Aerial view of Reserve shown above
16
Aerial view of Cemetery area
Cemetery entrance
Peter Robinson
View northwest (chimney since demolished)
View of North Sands
vegetation. On the south side of Old Cemetery
Road is a long, linear belt of developing planting,
composed of young trees and shrubs, and this is
well worth exploring at peak migration times,
especially after a ‘fall’.
North Sands comprises an expansive area of
sandy foreshore and there are good views
towards the redundant Steetley pier and out over
the sea. This beach is heavily used by dog
walkers, joggers and walkers and an early
morning visit is advisable for shorebirds.
ACCESS, LOCATION AND STRATEGY
View southeast
Mick Garratt
The whole area is very easy to find and access by
car and on foot. On approaching Hartlepool
Headland from the town centre along Cleveland
Road or from the A19 via West View Road,
continue along the latter to the old Throston
Engine House on your left and take a sharp left
turn here. Then turn immediately left again and
this will bring you on to Old Cemetery Road.
Drive down this for about a kilometre to the
entrance of Old Cemetery, marked by gateposts,
and park here. You can then explore the whole
graveyard on foot, not forgetting to check the
area immediately behind the peripheral wall on
the seaward side. It is worth spending some time
checking the grass areas, where small birds can
lurk, and the gravestones and walls where birds
such as Wheatear, pipits and buntings often
perch.
North Sands is viewable from the gap in the wall
on the seaward side of Old Cemetery directly
opposite the main entrance.
Here, you get
expansive views over the beach and sea,
including the former Steetley pipeline pier – an
area that can be good for sea duck, divers,
grebes, waders and gulls. A telescope is needed
here for the best results.
Next, either walk or drive down to the end of Old
Cemetery Road to the Jewish Cemetery and check
the couple bushes in its northeast corner, which
have, surprisingly, produced some good birds
over the years.
17
Finally, ensure you have time to walk along the
planted belt on the south side of Old Cemetery
Road, as this provides vital cover and food for
newly arrived migrants and has turned up some
excellent birds in recent years, including Greenish,
Yellow-browed and Dusky Warblers and Redbacked Shrike. At peak times, it shouldn’t be
omitted from a visit to this site.
planted belt provides the most expansive cover in
the area, it is worth starting here first and, again,
an early morning visit is advised. The prime time
for autumn migrants is mid-August to early
November, with September to mid-October
probably being the most productive. Birds that
should be encountered during favourable
conditions are flocks of passage Skylarks and
Meadow Pipits, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Blackcap,
Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff,
finches, which should include Redpoll, Chaffinch,
Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Brambling and Siskin. In
October, when there are big ‘falls’ of thrushes
along the east coast, Old Cemetery can be
impressive, and covered with tired Blackbirds,
Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings. Mixed
in with these could be smaller numbers of Ring
Ouzels, hordes of exhausted Goldcrests, which lift
up at your feet, and occasional Black Redstarts
and Snow and Lapland Buntings. Woodcock,
Redstart, Wheatear, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher
and Lesser Whitethroat are also possible. Scarce
and rare birds in the recent past here include
Hobby, Long-eared Owl (two on 21st September
2009), Wryneck, Red-breasted Flycatcher (7th
September 2010), Siberian Chiffchaff (23rd
October 2009), Yellow-browed Warbler (several
on 13th October 2011), Booted Warbler, Dusky
Warbler
(10th
October
2010),
Pallas’s
Grasshopper Warbler (the first Cleveland record
on 26th September 2012), Icterine Warbler (6th
September 2008) and Rustic Bunting.
BIRDS
The best times to visit Old Cemetery are during
the spring and autumn migrations, especially after
‘fall’ conditions, whereas North Sands can be good
at all times of the year, especially in winter when
divers, grebes and sea duck are often present.
Old Cemetery, Jewish Cemetery and Planted Belt
on Old Cemetery Road
An early morning visit on a spring or autumn
morning is well worth the effort, particularly
following poor overnight visibility, rain and winds
with an easterly component.
Start at Old
Cemetery and thoroughly check the whole
graveyard for migrants (including the Jewish
Cemetery) and the linear planted area on the
south side of Old Cemetery Road for migrants.
Don’t forget the residual dunes and short
grassland on the seaward side of the cemetery
wall. The planted area is quite difficult to work
due to the density of planting and rank grass
cover but walking along the edge and
concentrating on the ‘clearings’, particularly at
footpath junctions, should produce results. The
birds you see will depend on the time of year,
with spring being noted for passage wagtails
(including White), pipits (including Tree and
sizeable flocks of Meadow Pipits), Stonechat,
Whinchat, Redstart, Black Redstart, Wheatear,
Ring Ouzel, Sylvia warblers (Whitethroat, Lesser
Whitethroat. Blackcap and Garden Warbler),
Phylloscopus warblers (Willow Warbler and
Chiffchaff), flycatchers (Pied and Spotted) and
Reed Bunting.
Among these more common
species, there is always the chance of something
more interesting and in recent years, spring
rarities have included fly-over Purple Heron, Gullbilled Tern and Alpine Swift, and Red-backed
Shrike and Bluethroat. On clear, fine days keep
your eye on the sky for a fly-through
Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Peregrine or, if you are
lucky, Hobby. Late spring, particularly June, is
peak time for arriving Honey Buzzards and
passage birds have become more regular in
recent years.
Yellow-browed Warbler
Jamie Duffie
North Sands
From the seaward side of Old Cemetery there are
elevated, panoramic views over the sea and
former Steetley pier. This length of coast is often
productive for a range of divers, grebes, sea
duck, shorebirds, gulls and terns and is
particularly productive during autumn and winter.
It is at its quietest during the summer but it is still
worth making a brief check of the beach and sea
Autumn is undoubtedly more productive, both in
terms of the variety and number of birds and
there is more chance of a ‘goodie’ turning up,
particularly during ‘fall’ conditions. Because the
You never know!
18
BLAST FROM THE PAST – TED PARKER
Birds that should be regularly encountered on the
beach during peak periods are Oystercatcher,
Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Redshank,
Ringed Plover and Curlew. In autumn and winter,
these may be supplemented with Whimbrel and
Bar-tailed Godwit. Carefully scan the sea for
Great Northern and Black-throated Divers among
the scattered Red-throateds. Great Crested, Rednecked and Slavonian Grebes are also possible,
though the former is the most likely. Eider,
Common Scoter, Goldeneye and Red-breasted
Merganser are usually present offshore and, if you
are lucky, a Long-tailed Duck or Velvet Scoter or
two. In August and September, check the many
passing gulls and terns, as these could include
Little and Roseate Terns, Sabine’s and Little Gulls,
and skuas, including Arctic, Pomarine and Great,
all of which are regular in autumn during the right
weather conditions (a good northerly blow over
several days usually pays dividends). In winter,
Glaucous and Iceland Gulls should be checked for
among the roosting Herring and Black-headed
Gulls on the beach and a late skua is sometimes
possible (a sub-adult Pomarine was present on
1st December 2010).
Ted Parker continues his reminiscences from years gone by,
remembering a twitch to a South Yorkshire reserve for a UK
‘first’ and a ‘lifer’. It was a bird for which he had a long wait!
Wednesday 27th June 1984 found me travelling
alone to South Yorkshire to try and see a ‘lifer’ at
the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s (YWT) Potteric Carr
Reserve near Doncaster. The bird in question had
been seen almost daily for at least the previous
two weeks from the Childers Hide, which
overlooks an area of the reserve known as Low
Ellers.
Potteric Carr was formed by subsidence resulting
from mining activity and over the years has
developed a diverse range of habitats, including
extensive areas of open water, reed fen,
alder/willow carr and scrub and is backed by
mature woodland. The development of the area
as a reserve began in 1968 with the tenancy of 13
hectares of marsh at Low Ellers from British Rail
and a Management Committee was established by
YWT to oversee its development. Projects have
included the development of new marshland at
Piper Marsh, excavation of drainage ditches,
wetland creation, footpaths, hide construction and
water control measures. The reserve became a
SSSI in 1977. Development still continues to the
present day and Potteric Carr is a superb example
of what can be achieved through good
organisation, a clear management plan and an
army of keen volunteers willing to keep the
momentum going.
Whilst this all sounds very exciting, don’t expect
the site to deliver on every visit and there are
occasions, even during ideal ‘fall’ conditions, when
few birds are encountered. As with all sites,
however, persistence and regular watching should
build up an impressive site list over time. I am
still waiting for my first Cleveland Surf Scoter
(preferably a drake!) or fly-past Caspian Tern!
Velvet Scoter
Red-necked Grebe
I arrived at my destination and walked out to the
Childers Hide, where I started my watch at
10.00am and waited for the bird to appear. I
naively thought that it would show quite quickly
but how wrong I was! An hour past, during
which time I was entertained by families of Great
Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck. An adult Little
Ringed Plover fed on an exposed area of mud and
was presumably breeding here and the raucous
antics of a sizeable Black-headed Gull colony
helped to pass the time. A Cuckoo flew across
the woodland canopy and Reed Warblers blurted
out their jerky songs from the phragmites.
Ray Scott
A second hour past, then a third and I was now
starting to get a little restless to say the least and
with no new birds to look at I found myself
counting the local Coot population! I also spent
some time watching a family group of Kestrels
hovering and ‘playing’ over the adjacent rough
grassland. Hour four came and went and I was
now seriously concerned that my ‘twitch’ would
be in vain. I knew that, being as secretive as this
bird is, I would probably only get one chance to
see it, so I couldn’t avert my eyes from the view
Ian Forrest
19
into the reed bed and did not reappear, despite a
further 45-minute wait. This whole event lasted
no more that 20 seconds but the wait was worth
it. Not only was this a ‘lifer’ for me but I had also
witnessed a historic event: in the following July, a
female Little Bittern was seen regularly with
young birds and this constituted the first proven
breeding record for Britain.
This episode taught me a salutary lesson: when
birding: patience is a virtue and is (usually)
rewarded.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Map of part of Potteric Carr showing Low Ellers
Male Little Bittern (not Ted’s!)
Keith Robson takes a light-hearted look at a visit he made to
Central Park while on a visit to New York.
For one brought up in the 50’s, the only source of
popular music was the BBC Light Programme. The
highlight of that waveband was ‘Two-Way Family
Favourites’, and one grew to know that there
were repetitive themes of which the songs were
subject – places, love and … birds. Vera Lynn
sang of blue birds over the White Cliffs of Dover;
Al Jolson sang of red, red robin bobbin’ along
(American Robin presumably); Fats Domino
hurried to his blue heaven when wipperwills (I
know, that is not how you spell it) call; Debbie
Reynolds also invokes wipperwills in “Tammy”;
and Tom Lehrer delighted in poisoning pigeons in
the park. You will see the point of this peroration
later.
Jeff Hazel
out of the hide for more than a few seconds and,
consequently, my constant level of concentration
induced a dull headache!
17th September 2012 was the fourth day of my
holiday in New York. My son had visited four
years previously and witnessed the Autumn
migration passing through Central Park. He
advised me to visit the park. I was reluctant. My
wife is not a birder and I was afraid that I would
not be able to identify (m)any birds. However,
when my wife felt compelled to visit Macy’s and
Bloomingdale’s, Central Park won me over.
Eventually, well into hour four, my heart raced as
a bird appeared out of the reeds to my right and
flew low over the water from the south east
corner of Low Ellers towards the central north
bank, which is fringed with tall Phragmites. It
was only 100m away but was quickly identified as
my target bird – a stunning male Little Bittern.
Its small size, distinctive shape and buff and black
plumage rendered it unmistakeable.
The
diagnostic buffish-white upper wing coverts
contrasted markedly with the otherwise black
wings. The rest of the plumage was creamy buff,
except for the crown, back and tail, which were
black. The pale, yellow-green feet extended a
little way beyond the tail and the rather long,
dagger-shaped bill was pale yellow in colour.
Flight was low, direct and with quite rapid, deep
wing beats. The wings were quite long and broad
and had rounded tips.
The neck was fully
retracted in flight but there was no obvious
'pouching' as in the larger heron and egret
species. The Little Bittern flew low over the
water, rose up and then dropped straight down
Travelling around New York I had seen sparrows,
starlings, feral pigeons and American Robins.
Entering the park from 7th Avenue, I immediately
saw a large pale-bellied bird with a long rufous
tail. Consulting my guide (National Geographic’s
‘Birds of North America’) I ascertained Brown
Thrasher. The next two birds I recognised from
previous trips to USA: Northern Cardinal and Blue
Jay, both very common but both very exotic
looking to English eyes. The sightings were all
within 50 yards of the road bordering the park,
one of the busiest thoroughfares in the world.
Identifying these species gave me heart. But the
next two birds, little yellow jobs reinstated my
doubt. Also, I was feeling very conspicuous with
my binoculars, peering into trees and bushes,
20
among the joggers, yoga practitioners, football
throwers, etc, etc. A park worker was able to
direct me to the Boathouse Café where he
thought there was a board or log of some kind
recording sightings and he was also sure that I
would see other birders in the Rambles, a wooded
area, north of the café. He was right. Outside the
café was an elderly lady with binoculars. She
showed me where the sightings record book was
kept, inside the café. Yesterday’s sightings were
immaculately listed in one hand. So presumably
someone, in this case a D. Allen, adopts the role
of Recorder. The previous day had been
exceptional with many migrants seen, including
Ruby-throated Humming Bird and Cedar
Waxwing. The lady confirmed that 6.00 a.m. was
the best time to catch the best birds and already,
earlier that morning another Ruby-throated
Humming Bird had passed by. I set off along the
maze of footpaths winding through the conserved
woodland of the Rambles. There were plenty of
birders, with a preponderance of females of the
species. One such was photographing birds in a
fruit tree. There were two, as I thought, Song
Thrushes; but no, she explained they were most
likely Swainson’s Thrush, with the remote
possibility that they were one of two other much
rarer species. She had in fact been trying to
photograph a warbler which I had missed. I told
her about the two yellow birds I had seen earlier
and between her suggestions and my guide I
found that I had seen Magnolia Warbler and
probably Yellow-Rumped Warbler.
activity and there was certainly a steady passage
of birders through this space.
Some bare
branches protruded from the top of a very tall
tree. “Is that a flycatcher up there?” I asked the
nearest birder. “No, it’s a Phoebe or a Pewee: you
can only tell the difference if you hear the call”,
was the reply. “Is this another real
Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler situation (or Swainson’s
Thrush situation), or is this guy (like me) not very
good?” I thought. A Northern Flicker joined
American Robins eating seeds or berries or ants
from the ground before flying up on to the
nearest tree adopting its wood-pecking pose. The
lady I had first seen at the café reappeared and
asked how I had been doing and had I seen the
Whip-poor-will (correct spelling). No, but I had
seen a flycatcher. She looked up and said “No,
that is a phoebe or a pewee”. So that guy was
good. Suddenly she said “Keep looking there,
there’s a chat in those bushes”. How I envy
birders who recognise bird-call. After lots of
skulking movement, a Yellow Breasted Chat
emerged: a “cracking” bird. It had a completely
yellow undercarriage with a thick beak and white
spectacles.
Among the many fruit and berry trees and
bushes, Catbirds, Mourning Doves and Grackles
gave false hope of something rarer. A Downy
Woodpecker put in an appearance. By now I was
in conversation with a man and two younger
women who had been trying to find the chat,
which they duly did. “We’re off now” he said.
“Are you expecting to see birds elsewhere in the
park?” I asked, hoping to tag along. “No, we’re
going back to work”, he answered. They offered
I returned to a clearing where the surrounding
woods and shrubberies seemed to contain bird
21
PROFILE – GARY SHARPLES
Ted Parker talked to Gary Sharples about his birding life and
what drove him to take such a leading interest in Portrack
Marsh on which he has built up such a unique and intimate
knowledge.
Gary was born in Glasgow in 1965. He is married
to Liz and has three sons, the youngest of whom
is 10. He spent 15 years in Nottingham before
moving as a family to Yarm in the summer of
2001 where he found “the north-east is a great
place to live!” He is a lecturer at Durham
University where he teaches medical microbiology
and study mechanisms of bacterial virus gene
rearrangements that contribute to pathogen
evolution.
Whip-poor-will
to point me in the direction of the Whip-poor-will,
an offer which I gladly accepted. We were
walking along through the maze, chatting, when
he suddenly said: “There it is”, pointing up the
slender trunk of a sapling. And there, about
fifteen feet up on a thin branch was the Whippoor-will, apparently dead to the world. Now this
is a much easier way to see a member of the
Nightjar family than tramping across heather
moor, or through conifer plantations, at dusk,
being bitten to death by midges; BUT it denies
one the magic of the bird’s eerie call as it twists
and turns catching moths or other insects, as you
marvel at the ability of your binoculars to pick
out the object from the gloom.
Gary has been interested in birds since being a
child but didn’t take it up seriously until 1987,
when a friend took him on a day trip to Norfolk
and he’s been hooked ever since. “Give or take a
few debatable wildfowl”, he has seen 287 species
in Cleveland, which he considers “not bad for 12
years endeavour”. He didn’t quite make it to 200
in Nottinghamshire. As many will already know
from the Club’s Website, Gary’s favourite local
patch is Portrack Marsh because it was handy for
lunchtime visits when he worked at Durham
University’s Queen’s Campus: “It is a little oasis
So the Whip-poor-will was the star of that day’s
migration through Central Park; and it suddenly
dawned on me that I do not think that, before
that day, I knew that Whip-poor-will was a bird.
As you will have gathered I did not know how to
spell it.
I knew the name from the
aforementioned songs but probably thought it
was a will-of-the-wisp sort of natural marsh gas
phenomenon. Nor does the name allude to the
abuse of some poor Southern slave. The bird is
named after its call, like the Cuckoo or Chiffchaff.
surrounded retail parks, railway sidings and a
sewage works”. Unfortunately, most of Gary’s
work has now moved to Durham and so he
doesn’t visit the marsh as much as he used to.
Whilst he acknowledges that the site doesn’t turn
up much in the way of scarce birds, it is always
enjoyable
watching
the
habitat
evolve,
anticipating summer arrival dates and finding
something you’ve not seen there before. His
favourite alternative birding site is South Gare
after a fall of migrants. “Blue water and beautiful
I will not go into whether Tom Lehrer used to
frequent Central Park but as another song says
“New York, New York……..”. You surely know the
rest.
white sands, with a backdrop of steelworks, oil
22
thousands. Last time I went, I managed to see
Coyote too, along with the more easily observed
Greater Roadrunner”.
Gary finds it hard to pick out a best birding day in
Cleveland because “there have been many as the
County is akin to birding paradise, although
usually have to be quick off the mark!” He
remembers well his first Radde’s Warbler at South
Gare and Wilson’s Phalarope at the nearby
Coatham Marsh. Regarding his best personal
find, Gary is still awaiting his first BB rarity: “The
Portrack Marsh
best I could hope to claim second-hand was a
Long-eared Owl at Portrack Marsh that
encouraged others to visit the site and discover
the two Penduline Tits – so near yet so far!” His
biggest birding disappointment is missing the
Sandhill Crane in 2011: “It crossed Hartlepool Bay
while I was waiting for it at Dormans Pool.
However, it was the only blemish in a superb
year”. The most memorable bird Gary has seen is
Bosque del Apache
a Cedar Waxwing in Nottingham.
four times, he finally caught up
minutes’ walk from his house.
them in summer in Canada and
After missing it
with it just five
He’s also seen
feels that “they
possess a subtle, understated beauty”. When
asked about his ambition bird, Gary stated that
there are many but Wallcreeper is high on his list
“as long as I don’t have to climb too high”.
Gary has had a few embarrassing moments in his
over-enthusiastic youth. He confused a Dunlin for
a Pectoral Sandpiper, a melanistic House Sparrow
for a Black Wheatear and a juvenile Moorhen for
a Spotted Crake. “Fortunately, none of these
Wallcreeper
refineries and power stations – the genuine
Teesside birding experience”.
Gary’s optics are Opticron 10 x 40 binoculars and
HR60 ED telescope: “I can’t afford or justify to my
went any further than myself – oh no, it’s all out
in the open now!”
wife the expense of certain other manufacturers”.
When asked about what changes he would like to
see concerning birds or bird watching in the UK
Gary stated that this would be more protection for
key sites and habitats both here and abroad but
he is realistic: “Unfortunately, I don’t foresee
He doesn’t indulge in photography during his
birding but thinks he might do one day. He
cannot cite his favourite bird book but in terms of
identification he particularly likes the format of
the old ‘Macmillan Field Guide to Bird
Identification’ by Harris, Tucker and Vinicombe
allowing comparison of tricky similar species.
Gary acknowledges, however, “of course, this is
much change since human concerns and jobs will
always take priority over nature”. Gary thinks the
Teesmouth Bird Club is “a fantastic club” and he
largely superseded by the ‘Collins Bird Guide’”. I
would also include the Sibley North American Bird
Guide for its simplicity and clarity. In terms of
non-ID books, I would go for Kenn Kaufman’s
‘Kingbird Highway’ as a fantastic adventure story,
which captures well the excitement of our hobby”.
joined mainly for information on the best birds
and where to find them, “as well as the excellent
Newsletters and annual report.” He has always
found people helpful in sharing information on
seeing birds in the area and he thinks the club
“maintains an excellent balance of friendliness
and expertise”. Changes Gary would like to see in
the local environment largely concern “preserving
what we have, perhaps by preventing planning
authorities giving priority to commerce over the
welfare of precious wildlife habitats”.
The most impressive birding site Gary has visited
is the Bosque del Apache in New Mexico, which
he’s visited several times through conferences
with work. As Gary describes: “It has extensive
wetland and desert habitat and teams with birds
in winter. I’ve seen Whooping Crane there a long
time ago. It is wonderful to see a lake turn white
as Snow and Ross’s Geese come in to land in
Gary’s aspirations for the future are to take his
Cleveland List over 300 and to finally see a
Caspian Gull.
23
WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH WINTER 2012/2013 SUMMARY
choose to feed in inter-tidal habitats during the
winter months.
Following this winter’s series of counts, and
measuring our five-year means of annual winter
peaks against the criteria for international and
national importance, the Tees and Hartlepool Bay
WeBS site remains of national importance for
sanderling.
Coverage was virtually complete with all but one
of the scheduled 135 sector counts undertaken
over the five months.
For great crested grebe (19, February) this was
the worst winter showing for a decade.
Disappointing wildfowl maxima included shoveler
(61, December) and goldeneye (54, March).
Shelduck (325, February) improved on last
winter’s peak by the slenderest of margins, but
this is still our second worst winter on record for
the species. As for coot (751, December), while
numbers are still barely half of what they were
prior to the loss of most of Reclamation Pond,
they do at least appear to be heading in the right
direction.
Mike Leakey
WeBS Local Organizer
March 2013
Wigeon returned the second highest WeBS total
ever recorded on the Tees (2501, March) and the
best for eighteen years. A wigeon maximum in
March is very unusual, and was no doubt a
reflection of the extended wintry weather
conditions. Tufted duck (268, November) scored
well in early winter, this being equal to the
2009/2010 seasonal record. The 60 eider counted
in January constitute our best winter figure for
over a decade, though it must be remembered
that most of our eider occur just outside the Tees
core count area, off Redcar and Hartlepool
Headland.
Among the waders, the knot (419, February) and
turnstone (130, January) maxima were our worst
ever, while that of golden plover (647, November)
was the lowest since 2002/2003. It was also a
poor winter for both dunlin (149, January) and
sanderling (187, January), though purple
sandpiper (74, December) showed some
improvement. Both godwit peaks were something
of a disappointment, that of black-tailed (13,
November) being the worst for a decade, and that
of bar-tailed (56, January) not a great deal better.
Black-tailed godwits were apparently absent from
the estuary in midwinter, while no bar-tails at all
were counted in March, which is often a good
month for them.
Curlew at all-time record numbers
On the positive side, oystercatcher (1654,
January) provided its best winter total for six
years. Redshank (838, November) saw a slight
increase following an abysmal autumn showing,
though we have not achieved a four-figure winter
total for this species since March 2010. While the
January curlew count was excellent, that of
February (1689) was truly spectacular, and
constitutes a new all-time Tees record.
Interestingly, only around 10-15% of these curlew
Wigeon – reluctant to leave in the cold conditions
Table on next page
24
WETLAND BIRD SURVEY TEESMOUTH - WINTER 2012/2013 SUMMARY
Species
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Shoveler
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Eider
Goldeneye
Red-br. Merganser
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Turnstone
*
**
November
11
December
9
January
13
February
10
March
10
33
3
122
58
169
129
1399
153*
507
153
30
41
90
268
9
24
51*
641
1390
64
647
109
3227*
173
84*
59
86
1
29
13
22
557
838*
117
12
0
111
52
221
201
1764
136*
865
226
22
61
93
207
21
45
55*
751
618
0
49
89
2282
96
123*
74*
48
0
6
2
47
1077*
648*
105
26
3
160
48
211
248
2018
106
801
324
22
39
88
162
60
31
41
578
1654*
0
22
95
2381
79
187**
68*
149
0
12
0
56
1271*
795*
130
15
19
28
44
274
325*
2342*
82
732
214
23
49
45
152
4
41
61*
432
842
18
280
110
2462
419
10
24
104
2
7
1
50
1689**
598
45
10
13
46
29
152
298
2501*
137*
355
146
25
52
63
172
34
54
61*
266
490
7
0
69
558
120
28
62
21
0
13
4
0
829*
628*
40
Indicates a count of >50% of national importance
Indicates a count of national importance
N.B. ‘Teesmouth’ includes Hartlepool Bay.
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
25
TEESMOUTH BIRD CLUB – PUBLICATIONS
The current prices of all TBC publications are provided here by our Sales and Archives Officer, John Fletcher.
‘Birdwatchers of Teesmouth 1600 to 1960’
£2.50 (plus £1.00 p & p)
‘Teesmouth Bird Reports 1958-1973’ on CD
£5.00 (plus £1.00 p & p)
‘Birds of Tees-side 1962-67’ by Phil Stead
£5.00 (plus £1.00 p & p)
‘Birds of Tees-side 1968-1973’ by Martin Blick
£5.00 (plus £1.00 p & p)
‘Cleveland Bird Reports’ prices as follows:
1974 to 2004:
£3.00 each where available (plus £1.00 p & p per copy)
(1974, 1976, 1978 to 1987 are out of print but are on a CD)
2005: Special Offer
£1.00 each (plus £1.00 p & p)
2006 to 2010:
£5.00 each (plus £1.00 p & p per copy)
2011:
£7.50 each (plus £1.00 p & p per copy)
‘Barn Owl at RSPB Saltholme’ A3-sized Limited Edition Print: £2 each
Please note that the Club has no copies left of ‘The Breeding Birds of Cleveland – A Tetrad Atlas 1999-
2006’.
Please pass on unwanted copies of Club publications to John, particularly those that are out of print, so
that they can be resold to other members.
There is a BIG DISCOUNT on orders over £20.00
Cheques should be made payable to “Teesmouth Bird Club” with orders and sent to:
John Fletcher, 43 Glaisdale Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS5 7PF.
John Fletcher
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01642 818825
26
TBC EMBROIDERED CLOTHING FORM
Item Description
Size
Quantity
Unit
Price
S, M, L, XL, XXL,
XXXL
KII Crew Neck Sweatshirt Navy
Blue
KII Crew Neck Sweatshirt Bottle
Green
KII Crew Neck Sweatshirt Black
£22.50
£22.50
£22.50
S, M, L, XL, XXL
Trojan Men’s Polo Shirt Navy Blue
Trojan Men’s Polo Shirt Bottle
Green
Trojan Men’s Polo Shirt Black
£18.00
£18.00
£18.00
Sizes 8 to 26
Trojan Ladies’ Polo Shirt Navy
Blue
Trojan Ladies’ Polo Shirt Bottle
Green
Trojan Ladies’ Polo Shirt Black
£18.00
£18.00
£18.00
S, M, L, XL, XXL,
XXXL
EII Glacier Fleece Unisex Navy
Blue
EII Glacier Fleece Unisex Bottle
Green
EII Glacier Fleece Unisex Black
£45.00
£45.00
£45.00
One Size Fits All
Acrylic Watch Cap Navy Blue
Acrylic Watch Cap Black
£7.70
£7.70
One Size Fits All
Baseball Cap Navy Blue
Baseball Cap Black
Baseball Cap Green
SIZING GUIDE
Size
Chest
S
34-36"
M
38-40"
L
42-44"
XL
46-48"
XXL
50-52"
XXXL
54-56"
£9.50
£9.50
£9.50
Member’s name .......................................................................
Contact telephone ....................................................................
Delivery address .......................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Post Code .................................
Return to Julie Mason, 11 Redmire Road, Grangefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 4JR
27
TEESMOUTH BIRD CLUB: WOODCOCK SURVEY 2013
OBSERVER NAME & ADDRESS
DATE
NUMBER
LOCATION
GRID
REFERENCE
EMAIL OR TELEPHONE
NUMBER
NOTES: E.G. RODING,
FLUSHED FROM SUITABLE
HABITAT, NEST ETC.
Number of visits/approximate
time spent:
Dates, times and details of any nil returns are also useful.
Please return form by 31st July to [email protected]
J.V.Fairbrother, 8 Whitby Avenue, Guisborough, TS14 7AP.
28