CO DURHAM
MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME : 4 HOURS
A wildlife haven in the midst of an industrial landscape
The RSPB reserve at Saltholme is just one of many good areas in the Teesside area for birding, with the area having an impressive record of drawing in rare birds as well as breeding species.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 To enter the reserve you have to pass through the visitor centre, but take your time to view the main pool, especially in spring and summer, with its large Black-headed Gull colony and Common Terns. You will also find diving ducks like Tufted, Pochard and Goldeneye in winter, Great Crested Grebes and a mixture of hirundines in summer.
2 Walk out to view the area around the reedbeds, with a chance of Marsh Harriers hunting the area. Listen out for mixed warblers especially Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s along the paths here. Check for Bitterns and Bearded Tits. Enjoy the plumes of the Little Egret in spring, with ever-increasing records of Great White Egret. Check out the Starling roost in winter.
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3 Walk the longer trails to look for owls using the farmland, with winter views of species like Short-eared and Long-eared. Barn Owls breed in the area along with mixed waders such as Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher. Listen out for your first Cuckoo and try to spot passing Wheatear and Whinchat, while Stonechats are present all year.
4 Spring will see the arrival of Yellow and Pied Wagtails while White Wagtails will be passing through the area heading to Iceland. Peregrines hunt the area while the mixed geese flocks may have rarities like Russian White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese to look for. Shelduck display in spring, while winter sees flocks of Golden Plover using the grassland, but look for autumn rarities like Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
5 Use the hides to look for breeding Avocets
