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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 49m

Beaten my garden record for Buzzards: 9 flying north east from the western edge of Hartlepool. 15:00 @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

c70 Pinkfeet south over the Snook 10:000. Still large nos of waders on the high tide. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A few sightings to relieve another very quiet vismig at the Snook this am. 65 Pinkfeet, m and f Peregrine in noisy sparring session, and incoming Shoveler (5) and a GWEgret— rare here. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

26 Pinkfeet south over the garden SWHpool 09:35.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Snook HT am 480 Dunlin/ RPlover (75/25) on the beach with a further c100 Dunlin on the slag bund. 460 Dunlin 120 Ringed Plover 3 Grey Plover 2 Barwits 120 Sandwich Tern 20 Commics 1 Roseate Tern (ringed ad) 1 Arctic Skua 89 Pinkfeet 10.79 Blackcap and 2 Chiffs in bushes. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Snook 08:00-10:00 Good nos of waders but quickly dispersing on the falling tide. Small but welcome vismig:- 65 Mipits 44 Swallow 10 HMartin 8 SMartin Plus c150 Pinkfeet (100.50) and 98 Teal incoming (15.7.40.30.6) @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

100 + distant presumed Pinkfeet south at the Snook at 09:30 @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Couple of record shots of late-summer juvenile gulls transitioning to 1stW. Caspian Gull Seaton Snook 30.07.26 Mediterranean Gull Dormans Pool 09.08.26

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Trickle of Swallows, HMartins, and Mipits south, Snook 07:30-08:30. WWarbler and 3 Chiffs inc singing bird in the bushes. 2 Wheatear, 1 foreshore. 1 Power Sta field. 2-3 Whinchat Seaton Common. Holme Fleet, Peregrine mobbed MHarrier flushing 225 Teal onto the open water . @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

No vismig at Snook am and only 2 Chifs in the bushes. The regular Merlin showed again. At Saltholme:- Bittern, Water Rail, GWEgret, Cetti’s W and Peregrine at Haverton Viewpoint. m&f Sparrowhawk chased around Allotment Pool trees. Peregrine later on kill on Back Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Bittern at Haverton Viewpoint, flew to the western corner of the main pool at 10.25. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Caspian Gull P:Y1X again today at Old Moor RSPB and good variety of waders inc Common Sand (2), Green Sand (5+), Wood Sand (1) Ruff (7), Greenshank (5) and Spotted Redshank (1). Also seen, Peregrine, Sprawk, Spoonbill, GWEgret, Water Rail (2), and small flocks of hirundine inc 7 Swift.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

1stW Caspian Gull ‘P.Y1X’ pictured at Old Moor RSPB yesterday. Looks to be well advanced towards 1stW with clean white head and pale anchor-marked scapulars. Tertials broadly tipped white with some sub-terminal patterning—unmoulted juv feathers? Ringing details to be checked.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Snook am HT count:- 1700 Dunlin/RPlover (c50/50) 210 Golden Plover 145 O’catcher 1 Curlew Sand 3 Sanderling 2 Turnstone 4 Grey Plover 200 Sandwich Tern 60 Commics 3 Roseate 2 Barwit Plus 2 Brents (Lphase-sorry my mistake), Sprawk and 7 Tree sp. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Hobby over the garden SW Fens towards Owton Grange farm. Drifted off south 13.00 @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Managed to re-find the 2 Little Stint amongst the Dunlin/ RPlover flock along with a juv Curlew Sandpiper this am at the Snook HT roost. Terns nos reduced with 3 Roseates (2ad/1juv) the highlight. A Wheatear was only the 2cnd seen here this autumn. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Cowpen Marsh/ Holme Fleet mid-am No Hobby for me but 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel, Merlin, and unexpected distant Cuckoo, plus 120 Teal on the Fleet and calling Greenshank. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

2 Little Stint located amongst the 1000+ Dunlin/RPlovers on the Snook this am. Flushed by the inevitable dog-walker so counting incomplete but the following noted before disturbance:- c40 Knot 14 Golden Plover 5 Sanderling 2 Turnstone 2 Barwits with an adult Roseate also. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatchers and Mistle Thrush so far at ZWR south side bushes. 08.30 @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Pics of a Plume confirmed as Dusky Plume, the 5th VC66 record in the last 100 years caught Tilery Wood 12.07.26—also the first inland record, others being in SE Durham coastal Dene areas. The diagnostic scale brushes at the base of the spurs on the mid- leg helped with id. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Some heavily cropped shots of the imm Merlin on Seaton Common this am. Seen a couple of times hunting the wader flocks on the Snook—1000+ Dunlin/RPlover today with 13 Whimbrel (10.3) incoming. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Snook am Just single singing WillowWblr & Chiff in ZWR bushes with Cuckoo and Wheatear in the area. Still huge nos of waders on HT roost and some incoming birds of note in the form of Greenshank, Grey Plover (2), Whimbrels (heard calling 3 times unseen), and 5 Ruff-rare here. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Big nos of waders over the last couple of am spring HT on the Snook. Yesterday:- c1200 Dunlin/RPlover c400 O’catcher 24 Knot 12 Barwit 1 GreyPlover 2 Sanderling 2 Turnstone 12 Redshank +c520 SandTern Similar today+60 GoldPlover (PSta) & 26 Whimbrel (9.2.15) incoming. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Snook 07:00-09:00 No vismig upto 09:00 but 100’s of birds present on a falling HT. c700 Dunlin/RPlover 120 O’catcher 10 Knot 8 Redshank 3 Sanderling 1 Whimbrel 1 Barwit 1 Grey Plover (1st here) 41 Golden Plover Plus 15 Teal and c350 terns mainly Sandwich. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Snook 08:00-10:00 Good hirundine movement with 372 passing south—most going through 08:00- 08:30 in mixed Swallow/SMartin flocks 50 strong. Nos much reduced after 09:00. Est 185 Swallow Est 185 SMartin 2 HMartin Also incoming 59 Teal (20.7.25.7) and calling Whimbrel. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Snook yesterday HT 15:30-16:30 Pics of gull on stilts at the roost. Back view and pic only but got it down as a juv Caspian Gull. Bird alongside almost completely obscure but looked similar. Happy to be corrected. Also c150 each of Dunlin and RPlover and a Knot on the beach. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Snook 07:30-09:00 LT Still plenty phylloscs in ZWR bushes active and vocal early on, with some aggressive display from a couple of the WWarblers. Also 2 Whitethroat, GSWoodpecker, first 2 Tree Sparrow and a HBird Hawkmoth . 2dp Arctic Skuas in the bay and usual Peregrine. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Interest at the Snook this am switched to the ZWR bushes with 4-5 of the first Willow Wblrs here inc singing birds and fresh yellow juvs, and an impressive display in the Tees channel by presumed Bottle Nosed Dolphins.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Snook 06:30-09:30 No vismig, only a trickle of Swallows & Sand Martins after 08:00. Modest HT wader roost with 153 RPlover, 16 Dunlin and 2 Sanderling. At one stage all birds crouched low before flying up in a panic, flushed by a Merlin dashing through—1st here this autumn. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Snook 07:30-10:00 Light wind/no vismig. c500 SandTern on beach/Tees mouth early. Others inc c50 Common, 5 Little, 4 Roseate (2ad/2 juv), and 2 Arctics. Few waders with Golden Plover,Barwits,Turnstone and Whimbrel present. Bonus Peregrine PowSta and Migrant Hawkers in bushes. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Good passage of hirundine south through the Snook this am. 07:00-10:00 128 Swallow 171 Sand Martin 26 House Martin Numbers much reduced by mid-morning. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Snook am Yesterday’s small hirundine movement not repeated today. No terns on beach— too many dog-walkers, but 430 Sandwich Tern on Seal Sands. Couple of ringed Curlew near jetty and a notable 60 Lapwing, 25 Curlew, a Golden Plover + lots of Starling on the Power Sta. field. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Snook 07:20-09:30 No terns on the beach or the peninsula this am but fresh SW’s produced some movement of hirundine south. 52 Swallow 19 Sand Martin 1 House Martin Plus 29 Swift NW Also here 1st Yellow Wagtail S and incoming Greenshank.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Bittern flown off Haverton hole towards wildlife watchpoint 11:10 @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Snook HT mid-day c150 Sandwich Tern still on peninsula but at last some terns on the beach today,albeit at the mouth of the Tees. c80 Common, c50 Sandwich, 8 Little and at least 3 Roseates(2ad/1 juv)— FoY at this location. Adults very vocal. 6 Whimbrel (4.2) were incoming. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Snook HT am 190 Sandwich Tern sticking to the Peninsula. On the beach, 10 Common Tern+ Portlandica & 5 juv plus 5 Little Tern & 3 juv. 10 Swallow (5.3.2) moved S and 22 Golden Plover, 5 Oystercatcher, and 2 Curlew were incoming. 9 Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin at roost. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Snook HT 07:30 190 Sandwich Tern roosting on the peninsula, plus 4 Common Tern with recently fledged young on the beach. A few Swallows moving south and an early Grey Wagtail and 2 Teal perhaps forerunners of autumn migration. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Family trip to NNorthumberland yesterday. At Long Nanny lots of Arctic Terns with young on the beach with at least 5 Roseates, 4 ads and one juv.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Autumnal feel to the weather and birds today with c250 Sandwich Terns arriving at the Snook— resting on the beach mid-am at low tide. Not able to count young birds with flock disturbed by dog walkers but there appeared to be good nos present. Also here half a dozen each of Sanderling and Dunlin.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

An early juv RTD was in the channel at the Snook today , and a few Little and Sandwich Terns were in the bay. A handful of of Swallows passed through south and Mipits were present in good nos around the slag bund/ samphire bed. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Circular walk in yesterday’s mid-day sunshine at Tilery Wood produced at least 10 Silver Washed Fritillaries m&f, m Emperor Dragonfly, f Southern Hawker, and a Great Diving Beetle in one of the rapidly drying-out forest ponds. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Couple more shots of yesterday’s Beardies from Saint Aidans RSPB . Ad male and juv female.

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Alex and Liz Cruikshanks @alexcruik1.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

For little brown-job moth aficionados, pics of the first VC66 Eucosmomorpha albersana (Honeysuckle Beauty) since 1869 (!) Caught Tilery Wood 26.05.26. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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