Back to the RSPB reserve at Saltholme. All is utterly changed from my last visit in early December, when the skies were filled with birds as the post the one that got away describes.

Now, the waters are frozen, and only a few birds have returned.

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The image of the Transporter bridge and a flock of Canadian geese are reflected off a sheet of ice that covers the waters.

On the ice, a pair of geese stand and survey the scene. They cannot break the ice on which they stand, although their reflexes makes them try.

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Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
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Other wildfowl try to cope with the change. Pintails form a group and fly to a small clearing in the ice.
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Pintail (Anas acuta)

Coots make their way across the ice on foot.
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Coot (Fulica atra)
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Teal stand on the ice, preening, before trying to feed.

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Teal (Anas crecca)

Wigeon also struggle on the ice.

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Wigeon (Anas penelope)
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Above the ice, a Cormorant flies by.
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Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
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More soon!

The first Song Thrush call of the season at 7:30 on the 19th January, even though there’s snow on the ground. Roll on Spring!

(for those who long to hear them again after such a long wait, try clicking here and selecting the audio track )

The biting cold continues, with snow covering all the ground. In response to the crisis, Cafe Twitch has upped its fare, with sunflower seeds, fat balls, dried mealworms, bread, concentrated energy bird ‘nibbles‘ and fresh fruit, especially apples. These all attract different birds. The apples prove irresistable to a passing Fieldfare, one of our more colourful winter visitors.

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The white front is clearly seen here, which distinguishes it from other thrushes. It’s also much bigger than a Song Thrush.
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From the side, you can see the grey head and rump.

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This bird has come to feed. And he does, eating up an apple quarter.

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Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

By contrast, the Song Thrush, feeding in a different part of the garden at the same time, concentrated on the dried mealworms..

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Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

Starlings take the sunflower seeds.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Woodpigeons also feed on the seeds.

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Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

As the weather worsens, heavy snowfall descends. This doesn’t stop gulls from coming down for scraps. First, a juvenile Black-headed gull.

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Then an immature Black-headed gull in its first winter, showing the distinctive black tail band and dark spot behind the head.

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Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
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Finally, another new visitor to the garden, a Jackdaw.
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Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

We’re experiencing a once per decade (or generation?) dose of negative phase of the Arctic oscillation. The net effect of this is to cover all in snow and ice as the prevailing winds have switched to north-easterly, bringing the winter wonderland with it.

At Cafe Twitch, I’ve been feeding the birds in the garden daily to help them make it through this spell, by putting down plenty of seeds, concentrated feed etc and drinking water.

A Robin flits down to take some feed.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

He’s joined by a Blackbird.

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

And in turn by Starlings.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

A Chaffinch makes directly for the seeds.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

In the tree lurks a Collared Dove. It soon takes to the air once spied.

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

A Woodpigeon also ventures into the garden.

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

A Blue Tit was in the tree

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

And a Great Tit made it onto the feeder

Great Tit (Parus major)

In the bushes I saw a Wren

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Now, a few more winter photos. An elegiac reminder of warmer days – Cow Parsley from the summer now collects snow.

Lake Wilton is completely frozen, with all birds disappeared for now.

The only hint any were there is a trail of footprints in the snow…

From Mr Blackbird and all at Cafe Twitch

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Heugh offers a fabulous museum for those interested in the Great War. For the Twitcher, it also offers delights on the rocks at the foot of the cliffs that make up the headland.

Osytercatchers are unmistakable coastal birds, with their black and white plumage and their red bills.

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

This one can just be seen displaying the white winter collar around his neck. We’ll see some more of these birds shortly.

Further over on the rocky headland were some Ringed Plover.

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

They look quite drab this time of year compared to their summer finery.

Redshanks were also very evident.

Redshank (Tringa totanus)

This one shortly flew off, showing his wing pattern and barred tail to best effect.

which in turn caused a number of Oystercatchers to fly off further north.

A few birds kept searching the rocks for morsels, including a Turnstone, in the upper right corner of the photo below, together with the much larger Oystercatcher and Redshank.

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

This is the best picture I got of a Shag flying past (others too blurry!). I think it’s a Shag, rather than a Cormorant, since it had an absence of any white on its face.

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Having seen the Oystercatchers head northwards, I drove a little further up the coast, where as luck would have it, I could see some more on the beach.

There were plenty of them hunting together.

And they like to stick together, especially when a passing dog gets too close!

After all these Oystercatchers, a quick drive down the coast road to the North Gare Sands, part of the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve. The weather is fine, sunny and I get fine views of waders, ducks and geese whilst heading on the North Gare road over the salt marshes of Seaton Common.

Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Wigeon (Anas penelope)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

At the car park, I make my way out to the North Gare Breakwater, to see the pools. The weather turns and the Haar begins to roll in from the sea. There are groups of Redshank feeding, alongside some gulls.

One Great black-blacked gull dwarfs the others.

Great Black-Blacked Gull (Larus marinus)

The Haar wins the struggle for the weather and the day surrenders to thick fog. I give up trying to see more birds, only finding a Rook on my way back, which emerged from the midsts.

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)

The RSPB reserve at Saltholme enjoyed clear skies and still winds. The skies are filled with Golden Plover and Lawings, taking to the sky whenever threats appear.

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On the ground and close by in the air, the Lapwings prominent green shades and crests show up in the sunlight.

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Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

The Golden Plover also looked splendid.

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Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)

But what of these threats? At a distance, I can’t see them, but the birds can. It’s a hunting Pererine Falcon, as the following shows.

At first the birds rise to the sky as before.
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A flicker in the sky reveals the hunt, with a Peregrine on the tail of a Golden Plover…
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…which twists and turns to escape…
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The turn gives the Plover more space. Each bird is now highlighted by the red circles.
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The Peregrine now can be seen more clearly.
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Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
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But the Peregrine soon closes the gap…
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..the Peregrine panics the gulls, which dart out of the way in alarm…
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This last turn allows the Golden Plover to escape, the one that got away.

This last long range shot shows the Peregrine to have no kill in its talons. It must try again later for a meal.
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Geese are too big to be threatened by falcons. They fly imperiously into the reserve.

Greylag Goose (A

Mute swans also swept over the waters.




Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Canadian geese were also on the reserve.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

There were many different types of duck on the waters.

A female Shelduck flew over.

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Teal were at the waters edge.
were at the waters edge.




Teal (Anas crecca)

as were Wigeon.

Wigeon (Anas penelope)

and Shoveler Ducks.

Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

And also an immature Goldeneye.

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

I saw only one Little Egret.




Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

And in the far distance, a cormorant.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Finally, some waders. First, a Black-tailed godwit.








Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa)

Then a Curlew.





Curlew (Numenius arquata)

As dusk falls, a herd of Curlews rush out of the sky to settle on the ground.

At Lake Wilton, we have our normal winter residents, Canadian Geese.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

and some new residents, Goosanders. First, a male, with his white body and green head.

Then a female, with her grey body and reddish- brown head.

We have four males and up to three females currently on the Lake.

Goosander (Mergus merganser)

Back at Cafe Twitch, almost monsoon like weather in November have kept birds away, so a welcome break in the rain (and some bread) brings the birds down into view. First, a black headed gull in winter plumage.

Black headed gull (Larus ridibundus)

Then, a woodpigeon.

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

And a Collared Dove.

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

A nippy House Sparrow, darts down, amongst all these big birds to swipe a piece of bread.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

A male Blackbird is enticed onto the lawn by ‘fruity nibbles‘ bird feed.

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

This weekend offered two contrasting days; Saturdays halcyon calm and Sundays raging storm.

Thankfully I went to the RSPB reserve at Saltholme on Saturday and enjoyed clear skies, still winds; no hint of the wrath to come the next day with that deep low pressure crossing Scotland.

Leaving the centre to go to the hides, I saw some Greenfinches, taking advantage of the feeders.

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

And flitting in the long grass, a Wren.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Ensconced in various hides throughout the day, there were plenty of birds on view. First, one of many Coots on the waters.

Coot (Fulica atra)

And some fine views of Mute Swans, on the water and taking off into the air.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

In the air and and framed by the industrial backdrop of electricity pylons, I saw a Curlew glide silently by.

Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Later, I saw one settle on the water’s edge.

Something now to test all budding augurs. A flight of Greylag Geese came across the sky…

with a few passing close enough to offer fine views; beating wings, orange bills, sunlight glinting in their eyes, a passing moment before they settled on the water.

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

The skies were also filled with a desert of Lapwings and a congregation of Golden Plover, mixed together in a cloud of birds which filled the sky as they escaped a passing (but unseen by me) predator.

The rounded wings of the Lapwings contrast well with the pointed wings of the Plover. They flew around before settling nervously on the ground. Something else triggered their self preservation instinct, and both species took to the air again, eventually filling the sky.

Finally, they settle on the ground.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)

A Snipe, up to his knees in the mudflats could be seen from Saltholme hide.

Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Black-tailed Godwits were seen from every hide. Here’s the best photographs of them, showing off their elegence.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

This next sequence shows a Godwit preening itself.

A Moorhen passed behind the Godwit.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

There were plenty of Shoveller Ducks on the waters.

Shoveler Duck (Anas clypeata)

And a fine display from a Male Pintail.

Pintail (Anas acuta)

There were also plenty of Wigeon in their winter plumage, yellow forehead prominently displayed.

Wigeon (Anas penelope)

Ever present in the UK waterways are Mallards, with the males distinctive green head and both sexes purple-blue speculum, along the wing.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

In the setting sun, Teal showed their wonderful green head band and yellow stripes off.

And their bottoms…

Back to their heads.

Teal (Anas crecca)

Sulking in the long grass were a pair of Little Egrets, one of which played peek a boo enough to be photographed.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Across a kilometre of open water, in the shadow of the Transporter Bridge, a Cormorant rested on a post.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Finally, in the distant skies with a setting sun (red sky at night) a Kestrel patrolled.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Surely red skies at sunset don’t signal storms? Apparently they can do, sometimes…

Lake Wilton has a new resident – a Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

He’s busy, catching as many fish as he can. Good hunting!