Teesmouth Bird Club

Well said Keith, any I come across also get destroyed.

New Stockton residents confirmed. Three ring necked parakeets seen yesterday (27/7/17) in Oxbridge cemetery, in and around large horse chestnut tree by Lustrum beck. Making a right royal racket unbecoming of a cemetery !

Walking through Oxbridge cemetery yesterday (23/3/17) I heard a very unusual bird call, could not identify it by sound and could not see it.
Returned there today and immediately saw flying into the same big trees next to Lustrum beck ..
A ring necked parakeet !
Have these birds been in Stockton for long ? Seems inevitable that one day they would spread their wings from Ward Jackson Park.

This is the red eared terrapin that I saw. It's head and neck approx 2 inches long.

Three more ! Assuming the red eared critter is still around it may cause a problem given that any predator like a fox might struggle using a tin opener.

Thanks Ian, judging by the size of it's head poking out from the pond it seems to have prospered fairly well if it's been there three years !

Does anybody have any idea if the relevant authority safeguarding wildlife at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park is aware of the rather large red eared terrapin living in the small pond opposite the car park ? I viewed it recently in the pond which is being choked with another invasive plant  species. Doing a bit of Google research these terrapins can grow as large dinner plates and readily eat native fish, amphibians and birds eggs.

Lee, do you shoot gulls as well ? What about rats or mink or even stoats and weasels ?

 A PETITION !!!!!!!!!  What a shame such outrage was not displayed when the all the beautiful ruddy ducks were shot. Not just shot, but slaughtered, wiped out.

Seems ironic and sad that ducks and geese flying over an RSPB reserve can be blasted from the skies half a mile later.

On three occasions this week I've seen men with dogs shooting on Cowpen Marsh. At dawn, three or four cars parked up with men in camouflage clothing with labradors roaming the marsh seemingly with shotguns, possibly wildfowling. At dusk I also observed a single van parked up with two individuals walking onto the marsh carrying guns. I found this quite surprising  not just because of the proximity to an RSPB reserve, but I'd always thought Cowpen Marsh was English Nature land ! Is this the case ? If it is just farmland and they have the farmers permission then is still not against the law to shoot so close to a public road ? 

 The Reclamation pond has been completely drained, filled in and levelled. I'm afraid the pond is gone forever.

Well at least someone's responded !!! One of my fave birds too noel, maybe a new topic could be name a bird with THREE different names !

If we replaced the Shelduck as our clubs' symbol, what bird do you think should replace it ?
I reckon that by sheer all year round numbers, it would have to be the Redshank.
Although a popular choice might be for the Common Tern, it only graces us with it's prescence for a couple of months each year. What do you think ?

For me the male pheasant is our most colourfull bird, closly followed by the kingfisher, and then the gold finch. what do you lot think ?