Nothing planned today. Hey, hang on a minute!

I had been to B&Q and was pottering round the house aimlessly. Then a pectoral sandpiper was reported from Greatham Creek near Saltholme. Off I went within minutes. Got there. Walked the wrong way to the new viewscreen. Bird was the other side of the road on a tidal pool. Anyway, here's a shot of mother and child common seal.

Grey Seals And here's the new view screen - intended I suspect more for seal watching than for birds although it will do both very well. Certainly the off-road path is a great improvement.

Eventually I saw the pecsand. Great in-scope views but a bit distant for the camera. Anyway it's not quite a cuckoo category image. Red knot in view too. Pec on left.

Pectoral Sandpiper with Knot Man said there were a lot of arctic terns over this pool. Next photos are from another nearby pool. Common tern only or is there an arctic in one of these pictures? Comic turns to me!!

Common Tern Common Tern

Common Tern

An oystercatcher screamed overhead.

Oystercatcher At Saltholme Wildlife Watchpoint a group of goldfinch might have fooled the novice birder.

Goldfinches The greenfinch was there too.

Greenfinch The female tufted duck rarely grabs centre stage. This one had 5 young.

Tufted Duck Some dunlin were across from the Phil Stead hide.

Dunlin And finally a pair of stock doves were resting on the mud.

Stock Doves

All photos 18.07.2012