... the Zinc Works Road which we would walk along to gain access to The North Gare after leaving the bus on the Seaton Carew road has changed only a little ...
... the rough grassland of Seaton Common that lies just to the north of the road still holds significant flocks of wildfowl and waders and today feeding Curlews and Wigeon were scattered across the ground ... some by the small pools and wet areas and some among the winter remains of thistle beds ...
... then a small group of six Bean Geese flew in from the north and settled ... these were Taiga Bean Geese ... and as they emerged from a slight hollow in the land they gave some nice views ...
... their characteristically long necks and long slender bills stood out as clear features that made then distinct from Tundra Bean Geese that are more familiar to us in Northern England ... a real treat to see this form away from their more traditional wintering areas in Scotland and Norfolk ...
When the RSPB established its reserve at Saltholme a few decades ago there was a general feeling that we birders would have our access to areas such as Back Saltholme restricted ... we could no longer park in the little triangle along the southern road and walk in to that part of the marsh that had hosted Marsh Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and other exciting birds in recent times ...
... and yet today the new tracks that run through to Haverton Hill allow us to get to an area of wet scrub that I certainly knew nothing of in those early days ... and this is where three Long-eared Owls were roosting today - one of which showed very well in a lax privet bush while the winter sun shone through the scant foliage ...
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