An excellent start to this year which I’m aiming to get as many new butterfly species as possible. Starting it with Green Hairstreak and Duke of Burgundy butterflies!

@teesbirds.bsky.social Glossy Ibis still at Dormans. Small copper and common blue butterfly near top car park

@teesbirds.bsky.social yellow wagtail amongst cattle from Haverton gate screen

@teesbirds.bsky.social Sedge warbler singing in reeds after the Haverton gate

@teesbirds.bsky.social Bittern seen from Wildlife Watchpoint dropped right into the reed at the back of middle tank

@teesbirds.bsky.social 2x bearded tit from watchpoint hide Saltholme

@teesbirds.bsky.social Ringed and little ringed plover in front of Saltholme pools hide (11am).

@teesbirds.bsky.social 1 Sand Martin over north gare flying into Teesmouth

Highlights from a recent trip to see some U.K. reptiles!

@teesbirds.bsky.social Lesser black backed gull back Saltholme seen from Mike Corner screen

@teesbirds.bsky.social Tundra Bean, White-fronted goose & Great Egret all still present (viewed from Macklin avenue) 9:54

@teesbirds.bsky.social single whopper swan back Saltholme

@teesbirds.bsky.social 2 little stint still on back Saltholme. Viewed from pools hide.

My attempt at the Isabelline wheatear #NEbirding @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

@teesbirds.bsky.social 1 juvenile redstart and 3 Whinchat still present. Seen from Haverton corner of the meadow moving along the electric fence.

@teesbirds.bsky.social 4 ruff still present on back Saltholme

Male summer Ruff and Sandwich tern on Dormans pool seen from hide @teesbirds.bsky.social

A couple highlights of the past couple weeks including Dotterel, American Black Tern and my 250th British lifer bird Turtle Dove! (Photo credit for the dove to Adam Jones). @teesbirds.bsky.social

1 yellow wagtail on new island in front of Saltholme pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social

2 common sandpiper in front of the Salthome pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social

Stone Curlew was on seaton common from zinc works and flew. Hooded crow still seen from north gare road @teesbirds.bsky.social

Reed warbler singing at top tank but elusive @teesbirds.bsky.social

@teesbirds.bsky.social little ringed plover and Ruff still from Saltholme pools hide although mobile

@teesbirds.bsky.social Little gull still showing on back Saltholme water

Highlights of the years first trip to look for adders! A whopping 9, a great start.

@teesbirds.bsky.social Merlin along meadow towards Haverton and LEO viewpoint (11:10)

@teesbirds.bsky.social Green sandpiper still visible from in front of Dormans hide

To prove I don’t only care about reptiles and birds, thought I’d post about a Dark Green Fritillary I found a few years ago.

@teesbirds.bsky.social Water pipit seen from Saltholme pools hide. Right hand side of the channel with the Merlin post

@teesbirds.bsky.social 5 Egyptian geese other side of road from Seal Sands car park

A collection of scope shots of todays trip to find the lifer grey-headed lapwing