I was out with my long standing walking pal Jeff last week and i suggested heading down to Saltholme. We are both struggling to do the walks we used to so the Cheviots are no longer an option, boo hoo. It's a large site at Saltholme so you can do a bit of birding and stretch your legs if you fancy it. Jeffs target is 10,000 steps (on one of those watch thingamajigs which we ended up doing easily. There was however a rather nice a very rare bird for the north east present, two were sighted at one stage, and although i never thought we would see it/ them there was an almost guaranteed Long-eared Owl as well as many other opportunities given a bit of luck. The weather was fine so on arrival we headed straight to the Wildlife Watchpoint hide where the Tit/s had been seen. They had however not been seen the previous day despite a hide full of local birders and because of this the hide was only half full. We spent ten minutes in there mainly enjoying the birds on the feeders while all other eyes were transfixed on the surrounding reed beds of which there is a considerable amount !!.
Off we set on our walk of the site when not 50 metres along the path next to a cow grate a group of 6 or 7 guys were peering into the reeds. " watching that tit are we ?" i jokingly asked. "Yep" came the reply from one guy. "It's there, just to the right of the metal fence". WOW. There it was feeding on a bulrush head. NOW COME THE EXCUSES.
The bird in question was a PENDULINE TIT as first, not surprisingly, for both of us. It showed for around two minutes. I'm a birder who likes to capture a nice image if i can so when i come across an uncommon or very rare bird my first instincts are to go for my binoculars and enjoy the experience of watching the bird and its characteristics. An absolutely stunning bird which was about 20 / 25 metres distant. The guy next to me had it in his scope and very kindly offered for me to have a look. Breathtaking. So, after what must have been 90 seconds i decided to quickly capture some images then go back to watching the bird. I fired off 3 shots in auto focus mode and realised the camera was struggling to get a fix on the subject. There was "a lot going on" as the bird blended in sooo well and there was many reed stems swaying about even in the light breeze. I switched to manual but only got two shots off before the bird drooped downwards and out of view. There was a sighting very briefly from the hide later in the afternoon i understand. I didn't expect too much from my attempts and i was right not to. The three auto shots barely captured the bird and this was the best of the two i took in manual. At least you can just about make out what it is and i can just about use that brilliant get out phrase, IT'S A RECORD SHOT.
The Long-eared Owl was present. Nice views through the scope but too far for an image. A Redhead Smew (i'm desperate to see my first male) was present along with a couple of Whoopers and the usual variety of birds. The sun was generally in the wrong direction for any more images. Three Stock Doves under the feeders were a bonus and my first of the year while i stood waiting for Jeff just before we left.
We called by Greatham Creek for 30 minutes on the way home and had a dozen Common Seals laid up on the mud but again a bit too distant.
FOOTNOTE. According to a warden at Saltholme this is only the third record of Penduline Tits in Cleveland.
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