Seen a Stunner in Hartlepool

Last minute decision to head down for the reported Red-Spotted Bluethroat that had been frequenting Cliff Terrace on Hartlepool Headland last night. Picking Phil up at 06:00 we arrived at about 07:00 to the news that it was present but hadn't been seen for a good 20 minutes. Not to worry plenty of bits and pieces around, and bushes to search.


Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear, Whimbrel and a deceased ringed Blackbird, in a hedge with a cat, were all present. The Bluethroat soon joined the cast, showing on and off in the gardens of number 14, 15, and 16 of Cliff Terrace. What a stunner ! It spent the majority of its time feeding on the ground, with the occasional alight of a nearby fence, or wall. Despite the wet weather and poor light I managed to capture the above image.

In the Dene...

Had a lie in til 09:00 this morning, so arrived at Holywell a bit later, heading straight to the Dene's feeding station. More filming was on the cards, with the hope to capture some of the woodland species.


The feeding station was alive with activity on arrival, mainly Blue and Great Tits, but also Coal Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were disputing territories overhead, and a couple of Grey Wagtails made their way down the Burn.




A couple of mammals visited the feeding station whilst I was there, managed to capture a Bank Vole on film, but here's an image of the the second mammal.




The GoPro also came out, here's a clip.