18th October 2022
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
The weather was kind during my drive up the A19 and through the Tyne Tunnel. The 'pay online' system is good and means you don't have to worry about having the right change with you. A small number of birders and artists were on the beach by the Maritime Centre. A couple of Hartlepool birders said hello in the car park and told me the bird was showing well.
It was. Grey phalarope.
Although the bird went for a fly round the bay a couple of times it always returned to the same general area. Even a walker with two little dogs [and very bright Wellington boots] didn't disturb the phalarope.
A Mediterranean gull and common gull were also seen on the beach.
I headed back South to the Zinc Works Road bushes where a small crowd of birders were standing silently watching the base of a bush. Somewhere in the dead brash a firecrest was allegedly hiding. I saw it twice but couldn't get a lock for a photo. Across the road from the Saltholme electricity sub-station were 3 Egyptian geese. Quite a way off but I managed these shots.
