Birding Teesmouth (Day Trip)

Early Spring

The waders and wildfowl such as golden plover, lapwing, curlew, wigeon, teal, shoveler and gadwall that gather in their thousands during the winter are developing their breeding plumage and are starting to leave for their breeding grounds. This number of birds still attracts the attention of various raptors and we may see an explosion of wings as a peregrine puts panic into flocks of feeding or roosting birds. During the winter large flocks of starlings often roost in the extensive reedbeds their murmurations a captivating spectacle which can linger on into early spring before breeding dispersal.

Lapwings, resplendent in their shining green plumage, are returning to breed in the wet grasslands of the area and their wonderful ‘peewit’ call can be heard as they stoop and dive over their nesting sites.

Sand martins are early returners from Africa too and are seen swooping low over pools to catch insects and Chiff-Chaff can call from just about any clump of trees.

Common seals are a speciality here and some wonderful views can be had at Greatham Creek.

Late Spring/Summer

The pools and wet areas of Teesmouth are perfect for insects which in turn attract a host of summer migrants. Swallows, Sand and House Martins swoop over the grassland and small pools scooping up the flying insects. Parties of screaming Swifts may also be seen during their all too brief visit to the UK. Bird song is at its peak now with warblers singing from reeds, bushes and trees and, overhead, the evocative song of the Skylark.

May sees the return of Common Terns as they establish themselves on shingle islands and other safe breeding sites. As the year progresses an almost continuous conveyor belt of terns can be seen flying out to sea and then back with fish to feed their insatiable chicks.

Chicks can be evidence out on the water as well with Great Crested Grebes carrying their young on their backs and ducklings such as gadwall, pochard, tufted duck, shelduck and mallard scuttling along after their parents.

Autumn & Winter

Autumn migration, running from late summer through October, brings large numbers of wading birds passing through from the Arctic to Africa, wintering thrushes such as Redwing and Fieldfare and large numbers of ducks and geese coming down to winter and escape the cold of Iceland and northern Europe.