Whoop Whoop! Half Century at the Headland

A Sunday morning TBC trip to Hartlepool Headland started well on a sunny day with a biting cold wind. Early arrivals had joy with a Red-necked Grebe at the northern end of the Headland (missed by me!). A single GC Grebe the best I managed, further out than the Eiders and Common Scoters.

A good show for the waders around Parton Rocks with Redshank, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Turnstone all abundant. A few Curlew, 2 Sanderling and a Knot finishing things off.

The usual gulls on show: BH, Herring, LBB, GBB and a single Med Gull on the rocks inside the pier.

As one of the last to get off, I was lucky enough to get a herd of 50 Whooper Swans flying north at 1145. The same flock spotted over Saltholme, Cleveland and Terrington., N Yorks earlier I would guess. A cracking end to a good morning.

A quick stop at Newburn Bridge revealed plenty of Redshank and a few Oystercatchers in the bay; 3 Rock Pipits and two Pied Wagtails on the rock armour. The Med Gull flitting around and favouring its regular lamp post. Otherwise mainly Herring Gulls. A surprising absence of grebes and ducks on the sea.

Med Gull, Newburn Bridge

50 Whooper swans, Hartlepool Headland