An adult Pomarine Skua had taken up residence at South Gare near Redcar/Middlesbrough during the previous week, a place I have not visited for quite a long while, so a trip to see it was planned. It was a full car of 5 occupants, with Chris driving that left Newhey in wet conditions at 6am. As soon as we passed over the Pennines into Yorkshire the rain stopped and the sun came out! The road down to South Gare passes some old factories and with a backdrop of chemical plants it is not quite as charming as might be expected. The news of the Skua was good upon our arrival so, after we had all armed ourselves with cameras, telescopes etc we began a short walk to the beach area. The bird performed really well sitting on the sand and allowing the admiring crowd of birders to approach it down to 20 yards. Cameras clicking merrily away as the bird had a few flights off towards the end of South Gare, having a few coming togethers with the various passing terns before landing back on the sand. As the tide went further out the bird spent a little more time at sea. What an absolutely cracking bird to watch at such close quarters. It truly was a bird that you will remember for a long time! Roseate Tern, Gannet, Guillemot and various gulls were also present with a couple of very large seals made up an impressive visit to South Gare. We also met up with the lads from Leeds, Darren W and his merry men, always good company!
News of a Red backed Shrike in the coastal park at Whitburn was our next calling spot although we had been warned about the traffic that would be attending The Great North Run, we went anyway! A couple of hold ups as we neared Whitburn held us up a little but we soon made it into the park and the place was packed with cars, but no birders. Luckily, one of the car parking stewards told us where to see the shrike and we headed down to a viewing screen and there the bird was. It was distant and never made the effort to come closer (not like the Skua) We headed away from the area as the roads were likely to become very congested after the race and headed south.
We had a call into RSPB Saltholme in search of some Curlew Sandpipers that had been seen in the morning but were unable to find them. Nice reserve with a lovely garden area to attract bees, dragonflies etc. Home beckoned after a really unusual day out.
