Seaham, Seal Sands, Langdon Beck - 10th November 2007

Little Auks - taken by Bill Aspin, at South Gare 9/11/07
Me and My Dad at Seaham Front Kittiwake - Whitburn Harbour
Grey and Common Seals - Seal Sands, Middlesbrough

Bar Tailed Godwit - Seal Sands


Black Grouse - Langdon Beck

By Tagging along with My Parents to a 'do' in Newcastle on Friday 9th, I was able to get some birding done on the journey back. First Stop was Whitburn Harbour where 4 Kittiwake were showing quite well in the Harbour.

Next, we travelled south to Seaham and I spent c2 hours Sea Watching.

30 Little Auk >N (largest flocks 7 and 4, as rest were singles and doubles)

2 Velvet Scoter >N

1 Red Throated Diver >N

1 fem Scaup (on Sea)

1 male Red Brested Merganser >N

5 Teal (on Sea)

1 Grey Heron >S

2 Gullimot >N

1 auk sp >S

5 Kittiwake

A journey south to Teeside saw us at Seal Sands, which is an area of Mud Flats in the middle of Chemical Plants where Seals Bask, which is most unusual! Here the main species were Grey with about 15 individuals, but there were 2 Common in amongst them. Also a single adult Bar Tailed Godwit

Finally a Trip back on the way across 'the top' saw us at Langdon Beck, where we were observing 19 male Black Grouse. A Lifer and a real group of beauties!

A fabulous day, and one I will remember for a long time as It was possibly the best and most enjoyable Sea Watching Session I have ever had, as 22 of the Little Auks were at about 40 meter range with a single on the sea briefly allowing fabulous views. I was happy however to get to see the Flock of 7 and a single though further out, as this was a more likely view to get when sea watching, so to see the distant single next to a Guillimot, It was a really educational experience