3rd February to 24th February 2025
A Quiet Start
February 3rd: Swillington Ings
Very quiet but a fine day for a change. Goldeneye and great crested grebes. Couldn't locate the slavonian grebe.
February 13th: Pugney's Country Park and North Cave
Some gulls posing on the jetties and brambling at North Cave
February 19th: Ledston near Fairburn
Upto seven cattle egrets in a field.
February 24th: Albert Park, Middlesbrough, Skelton Pond, South Gare and Newburn Bridge
A busy and varied day! I began with a long walk to the far end of the lake in Albert Park - parking is difficult. A drake pintail was having a winter break in the park to the delight of the Teesside cognoscenti and the locals. The bird keeps its distance but is well within reach of birders' lenses. A blue tit was enjoying the sunshine too.
Skelton Pond was a new location for me. TS12 2FY was the postcode and I ended up in a short cul de sac of modern houses. For a moment I wondered if I hadn't reached my intended destination but a farm gate made me look again. The pond is quite large and I soon spotted the pair of mandarins.
South Gare next for snow buntings. It was quite windy and the birds were very flighty. Eventually the group settled back on the shingle and a half-term family group instead of spooking the birds made them run along until the snow buntings were in front of two motionless birders [one being myself]. Job done!
Newburn Bridge for waders and a pair of my favourite gulls.
A purple sandpiper and a turnstone braving the tide and wind.
