Teesmouth Bird Club

Merlin on the Headland on chimney pot of house next to memorial Gardens, it was looking out to sea , I thought for migrants but it had as much luck as me

Yellow-browed Warbler from Hartlepool Headland Borough Hall area  28/09/2017

Pectoral Sandpipers at the Phil Stead hide saltholme 31/08/2017

Light-morph Arctic Skua from Seaton Snook sands on 23/07/2017

Dark-morph arctic Skua from between North Gare and Seaton Snook sands 22/7/2017

Sorry for the delay on posting these shots of the Red-backed Shrike on South Gare 02/07/2017

Cattle Egret At Saltholme yesterday

Hi Ian I had a colour ringed curlew on North Gare road this afternoon.
It was orange over yellow left tibia and white over metal left tarsis
black over yellow right tibia

Ideally it would be good to have all of the Saltholme reserve available for access all of the time. The reason that parts of the reserve are not open 24/7 is simply a reflection of the fact that we are on Teesside and that there are some valuable assets that I am eager to ensure remain intact.
I perfectly understand the frustrations, Saltholme is a great place and before RSPB arrived there was only at best unofficial access to some parts.
It is worth remembering that it is only part of the reserve that has restricted access. You can go to Dorman`s pool any time and if you are a key holder can get into the hide (TBC manage the key holder system). You can also go up to Greatham Creek and walk the length of Saltern Wetlands. The area at Haverton view point, the Allotment pool and the scrub area is also open all the time.
By special arrangement with TBC, we installed the Phil Stead hide and this is available from 8am every morning except Christmas Day (we actually get that day off). All those other Bank Holidays when most folk are out having a good time; we are here working ... and also having a good time by the way!
In the New Year we are offering an Early Birder ticket as an experiment that will allow RSPB members early access from 8am to those areas of the reserve that we close down. You can find out the details of the Early Birder tickets from the Saltholme visitor centre reception.
I hope that everyone can appreciate the reason why all of the reserve is not open access and take full advantage of those areas that are.
Thanks
Dave Braithwaite
Senior Site Manager

In case some people have missed this post on the rspb announcements page via Dave_N , This is the response from Dave Braithwaite, I also spoke to Dave yesterday who said he would like to run this to start with but would look at other options suggested after seeing how this goes.

I agree and will also ask the question and see what they say.

I do plan to speak to them but needed to glean as much info as possible from anybody who was prepared to give it before I speak to them, and I do appreciate all the info you have given, Thank you

When you say early access scheme do you mean people where coming onto sight prior to the place been opened up or what I am proposing which is to come onto sight after the gates are opened at 8am.
With regards to the scheme being abandoned, there would be nothing to abandon as everything would be running the same as it is now but we would be officially allowed in if the gates and hides are open.

Regarding security at salthholme, as quoted by LockhartH at the moment the gates and hides are opened at 8am and guides go to them at 9-9:30am which is ample time for any undesirable to do what he wants.
Today I visited haverton and then proceeded onto the reserve at 9am via haverton gate and visited Paddies and Wild life watch point and saw no one until visitors arrived after 10am, assuming the gate was open at 8am. That's 2 hours when anybody could come on site (Anybody except members) and do what they want.
 Surely it is a security benefit to allow members on sight after 8am they could report anything suspicious or of importance.

If they need to monitor visitors I am sure people could register there presence on their way out via the visitor centre

In reply to some of the responses
I would not want the reserve to be open at night, but I do go to other sights very early as this is possibly the best time to see birds, as I was quoted by a hide guide how he had excellent views of a merlin on a post near the saltholme hide at 8am recently. I was wondering if anyone  can tell me the current set up for opening of the gates and hides as I am getting conflicting info.
With regards to open access If the RSPB were to allow early access I would expect it be via the gate next to the workshop which I think would deter any undesirables as I think it has camera security, and other gates kept locked until the visitor centre opened