Teesmouth Bird Club

Five turned up on 8th May and remained.

One is colour ringed. Three of the rings are badly discoloured though a green flag shows it to be ringed in Germany. Confirmed by the ringing scheme. Full details to follow.

Unfortunately they mostly remain very distant. Often at the south end off Back Saltholme or on Port Clarence Flood. Occasionally they come a little closer to the hide or on the roadside pool.

On 11th May they were asleep close to Saltholme Hide before the reserve opened to the public. Unfortunately something spooked them just before the reserve opened early to allow access to see the Great Reed Warbler. Phtoos taken from the lay-by.

Nikon P900

On 11th May they flew from the hide down to Port Clarence Flood.

On 13th May they spent most of the morning on the roadside pool.

On 15th May I thought they must be about ready to leave when early morning they were relocated on Seaton Common.

Mid-morning they took flight.

I watched then circling as they moved between thermals over they power station and tip. I watched for 40 minutes before moving on. A half hour later they returned to RSPB Saltholme and have remained there.

Video clip from 13th May - https://youtu.be/hX1RLFc5t7M

Just heard back from the ringers -

A 2cy bird ringed as a pullus 01/06/2015 Schleswig-Holstein, Sudfall, Germany.

Quote
Kleurcode: GfGY/aPN
Ringplaats: Schleswig-Holstein, Sudfall, Germany
Ringdatum: 01-06-2015
Leeftijd: pullus
Soort: Lepelaar
Geslacht:onbekend

20-7-2015 Schleswig-Holstein, Adolfskoog Olaf Ekel?f 54,43N  8,93E Germany 14 km  
06-8-2015 Schleswig-Holstein, Beltringerharder Koo Olaf Ekel?f 54,33N  8,90E Germany 19 km  
12-8-2015 Schleswig-Holstein, Beltringerharder Koo Daniel Honold 54,33N  8,90E Germany 19 km  
30-8-2015 Schleswig-Holstein, Beltringerharder Koo Olaf Ekel?f 54,33N  8,90E Germany 19 km  
12-5-2016 Cleveland, Saltholme Ian Forrest 54,60N  -1,22E United Kingdom 642 km

One still present yesterday. The rest moved on mid-May.

Taken 2nd June when it was feeding on the roadside pool.

Video edited to remove passing traffic.

Nikon P900

Video - https://youtu.be/oWEYM_bvHuE

Several times it picked up this branch.

Canon 7D+Canon 400mm f5,6

The long staying bird was close to the hide yesterday morning. Conditions were pretty poor though.

Nikon P900

Photos taken 23/08/2016. It was on the causeway on Saltholme west pond.

I've not seen it since 25/08/2016.