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ianfoster1971.bsky.social
Teesside Birder, Cleveland and Co. Durham Lister, Failing Twitcher and Record Collector.
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The long staying Iceland Gull (1st found on 18th Jan) was again present on Haverton Hill Road today! Can’t remember a longer staying Iceland Gull in Cleveland? #NEbirding

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

A quick visit to the “south side” (of Cleveland) today produced very little, but was an opportunity to take a close look at some Red Grouse Lagopus scotica. Recently split from Willow Ptarmigan. Maybe Britain’s only endemic species? #NEbirding

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Plenty of Fantastic Plastic on display in Ropner Park, Stockton today! A very bright day in more ways than one! Mandarin, Red-crested Pochard and a couple of Ring-necked Parakeet all showing well! #NEbirding #plasticfantastic

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Always a welcome sight. Classy looking Lesser Black Backed Gulls creeping back into the local area. Several birds seen since 20th Feb. This was one of three by Albert Park, Middlesbrough yesterday. #NEbirding

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

The current Pintail got me thinking of previous great birds from the understandably under watched Albert Park in Central Middlesbrough. The showy pair of Garganey from May 2018 and the superb Iceland Gull from March 2022. A reminder that this site needs checking on a more regular basis! #NEbirding

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

This superb Drake Pintail has been showing very well in Albert Park, Middlesbrough for the last couple of days. A very rare bird for the much under watched Borough of Middlesbrough, with maybe just one previous documented record from Hemlington Lake on 21st Oct 1997! #NEbirding

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

The regular wintering Common Sandpiper at Billingham Beck and the lingering Iceland Gull still showing well along Haverton Hill Rd yesterday. The most dull, murky and depressing day of the year weather wise so far! Roll on the Spring… #NEbirding

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

This leucistic Wigeon was on Greatham Creek, late afternoon today. Very likely the same bird that was seen here and on Cowpen Marsh last March. Certainly stands out from the crowd! #NEbirding

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

Driving back to work at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough at lunchtime today I could see Corvids mobbing something very high up! Well happy when it turned out to be a Red Kite! Although increasing they are still a scarce sight over Teesside. #NEbirding

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Iceland Gull still present on Haverton Hill Road, Billingham today. A 1st winter bird and not 2nd winter as I called it yesterday! #NEbirding

submitted 43 days ago • 1 comment

Yesterday’s Long-tailed Duck on the River Tees just downstream of the Transporter Bridge. This is the 3rd year in a row this species has been seen in the Borough of Middlesbrough! Prior to this there was only one record from Hemlington Lake in Nov 2013! Pics of all 3 birds on the Tees. #NEbirding

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

Spoonbill feeding actively on Cowpen Marsh just prior to dusk this evening. Brilliant bird that we sometimes don’t pay enough attention too these days. Just look at that bill! Can still remember seeing my first one on Cowpen way back in the late eighties, a lot more scarce then! #NEbirding

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

2nd winter Caspian Gull from Haverton Hill Road this afternoon. Was only seen briefly before everything flew off! The same ringed bird that was first/last seen here on 1st January! Just can’t get enough detail on the ring unfortunately… #NEbirding

submitted 44 days ago • 2 comments

Was very fortunate to be on Haverton Hill Road today when @sidwemn.bsky.social found this 2nd winter Iceland Gull. A very smart bird. Difficult to get photos through the fence though…great to see having not seen one locally for a year or two! #NEbirding

submitted 44 days ago • 1 comment

Six Grey Squirrel (or should it really be Gray Squirrel? ) and a couple of Rats at the Cowpen Bewley WP feeding station this afternoon. The birds found it difficult to find a place to feed!

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

A very showy Kingfisher seen on the North Tees this afternoon. Concentrating on finding food rather than keeping an eye on me! #NEbirding

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

For any Belle and Sebastian fans out there. Here’s a “Fox In The Snow” from Middlesbrough today. 🦊 Frost really but you get the idea…

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

Prob White Billed Diver North past Hartlepool Headland 12.30 heading strongly north and raising its head every 10 seconds or so as it went! #NEbirding

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

The BOURC 57th report is now up for viewing. Makes for an interesting read. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

Looking at Bewick's Swan records from Cleveland in the last 10 years. Jan 15 - 3 flew in at Redcar Nov 17 - 5 S off H/pool Nov 18 - 2 Saltholme Nov 21 - 1 S off H/pool Blank years 2016, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24! So the 2 birds at Saltholme were the only twitchable birds in the last decade! #NEbirding

submitted 57 days ago • 2 comments

The very Dapper looking Red-created Pochard still present in Ropner Park, Stockton this morning. Also a couple of Ring-necked Parakeets flying about adding further colour to a dull day! #NEbirding

submitted 57 days ago • 0 comments

A few pics of the five Egyptian Geese that were on the Brine Fields opposite the Greatham Creek Carpark this morning. I like the photo with the standard Teesside Birding Industrial Background! #NEbirding

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments

Decided to stay very local today and try to beat my 1st of January Middlesbrough personal best of 55. Was very, very hard going but ended the day on 56 species! Highlights inc Whooper Swan and 5 Golden Plover in a decent sized Lapwing flock. Never again… #NEbirding

submitted 61 days ago • 1 comment

One of a few birding highlights today was a flock of 13 Yellowhammer in Stainton, Middlesbrough. Yellowhammer, along with Marsh Tit and Tree Sparrow is a @teesmouthbirdclub.bsky.social Special Study Species for 2025 so all records should be submitted! #NEbirding

submitted 61 days ago • 0 comments

A few photos of Snow Buntings from South Gare this morning. Nine were on the beach. Good to end the year with a year tick! 😬 #NEbirding @nybirdnews.bsky.social

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

Three British Ticks were mopped up in 2024. Indigo Bunting in May, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler in Sept and Scarlet Tanager in November! Three ticks ain’t bad for me and best of all, they were all in the North! The PLLW was surely bird of the year in Britain? British list now stands at 528…

submitted 63 days ago • 1 comment

What a year 2024 was for Co. Durham! I managed 4 county ticks. Baikal Teal in January, Dark-eyed Junco in April, and May produced both Indigo Bunting and a Blyth’s Reed Warbler! No pick of the BRW so a pick of the bush will have to do! Let’s hope 2025 is even half as good! #NEbirding

submitted 63 days ago • 0 comments

Birding looks to be tough going for the next couple of days, so time to look back on 2024. Only one Cleveland county tick this year, but a great one at that! The superb Dark-eyed Junco at Hartlepool in April. We were so lucky to get another chance at this species in the county! #NEbirding

submitted 63 days ago • 1 comment