HI -NEW TO THE FORUM AND BIRDING

[nicabar]

Hi what a cracking website .....i  am new to birdwatching after spending most of my spare time photographing old buildings etc.just started taking my children  birdwatching after buying them there first digi slr ...been looking for good places to go thats not too far from home (central m'bro)  any suggestions would be great .Been to salthome but found it a bit daunting with us only being new to birding and felt a bit out of place..so looking for somewhere in the open where we can just wander about at our own pace etc ..many thanks to this website/club for some great info..plus looking forward to becoming members ....cheers again  nick..

[IanF]

Welcome to the Club. It might be worth having a look at the site guide on the main page of the web site for a few ideas of where to go. Many of the over-wintering birds are moving on now but as they leave the summer migrants returning to breed are just beginning to appear. In another week or so there should be quite a few returning species especially in woodland and grassland areas. Any open space is worth looking around. Mostly I stay north of the river myself but when I worked in Middlesbrough I often had a wander around Albert Park and Stewart Park but any open area is worth choosing to make regular visits and see what turns up. Also the Tees Barrage can be good for birds such as Kingfisher, Wagtails, Cormorants the resident Yellow-legged Gull and various birds in the trees and bushes which visit the feeders.

Anything special gets reported on the club sightings page so you get a good idea what is around the county.

I wouldn't rule out RSPB Saltholme just yet as it's a great place to see waders and wildfowl and soon the mirgants will be back to breed in good numbers with Terns, Plovers, Yellow Wagtails, Sand Martins and Swallows etc. Apart from the ducks many birds will be back to breed on the wet grassland. The hide guides there are very helpful at pointing birds and with identification so it's a good place to be when you're starting off.

[nicabar]

thanks for the reply/advice to my post  , any help in finding good  locations is a great help...might try a trip up to scaling on sunday if the weather picks up .Hard to find good safe parking in some places ,spent a good few hours up the road on the way to seton carew last sunday  and really enjoyed it , again once i learn the best parking areas i should be more enjoyable .cheers again nick

[Ad D]

hi, u shouldnt feel daunted by saltholme, after all, it is there for everybody to use, you certainlly dont need to be an expert to vistit. there are plent of people who come to saltholme and know completelly nothing! u sholudnt worry, the staff and volunteers are always there to help you see things. and identify them.