Cleveland RSPB Local Group

Cleveland RSPB Local Group Charity

LOW BARNS NATURE RESERVE 26th APRIL 2026TRIP REPORT The day Was dry, with some sun, when 17 happy birders set of...
07/05/2026

LOW BARNS NATURE RESERVE 26th APRIL 2026
TRIP REPORT
The day Was dry, with some sun, when 17 happy birders set off for the first hide.
The river Wear forms the southern boundary of Low Barns, we understand this river supports salmon and trout, and is a good place to spot great crested grebe and goosander, otters have also been seen.
The Alder Wood is an area of wet woodland, the alder, a tree species that thrives in wet areas, became established. Low Barns is also special for its wide range of animals and plants.
There are 4 hides and a Butterfly garden ..
The birds were singing loudly in the woodland, as we walked from hide to hide. I found it a truly relaxing environment.
Some of us went back to the café in the visitors centre, before departure and our journey home…
Just after leaving, we spotted our first swallows, 3 were perched on a wire above the country lane, with others flying over the nearby field.
BIRD LIST
Goldcrest , Jackdaw, Swallow, Canada Goose ,Long tailed tit, Blackbird, coot
Mallard, Black cap ,Reed Bunting , Tufted Duck ,Wood pigeon ,Blue tit, Nuthatch, Greylag , Reed warbler, Mandarin Duck , Goosander , Chaffinch, Robin, Garden Warbler, Swift ,Sand martin , Magpie, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Lesser B b Gull ,Mute Swan, Wigeon, Marsh tit, and a female Woodpecker. Moorhen.

Heard.. Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff

Alder Beetle, Beriters Beetle on a Dandelion.

Rabbit,,

18/04/2026

Our next outdoor field trip is to Low Barns on Sunday 26th April. Meet in the car park at 10am. This is a Durham Wildlife reserve and, unless you are a member, there is a car parking donation of £2.50. There is a cafe. There are hides and the paths are reasonably level. There is usually a good bird list with, hopefully, warblers as well as wildfowl and hirundines.

Low Barns Nature Reserve
Witton-le-Wear
DL14 0AG

18/04/2026

Our AGM is this Monday - 20th. 7.30pm at Middlesbrough Rugby Club on Green Lane, Middlesbrough. Our photo competition is called “Signs of Spring”. 3 entries per person and the print size up to A3, may be mounted or not.

Lockwood Beck Sunday 22nd March 2026Trip ReportThe day was dry but cold, as 17 happy birders met at 10am in the car p...
03/04/2026

Lockwood Beck Sunday 22nd March 2026
Trip Report
The day was dry but cold, as 17 happy birders met at 10am in the car park at Lockwood Beck.
As the one bird hide is small, the group split into two, some went into the hide, and the remainder went walking down through the woodland, birdsong was loud, Chaffinch, wood pigeon, Blackbirds, singing loudly. Frogs and Toads were also Very busy, some on land and some in the lake, yes it was mating season, in full flow.
The hide had lots of birds too, Lots of Siskin, Blue t**s, Goldfinch, coal t**s, Greenfinch, Long tailed t**s, and Robin etc.
The walk around the lake has had an upgrade, so its now possible to walk all the way round, if you feel inclined. The decision was made that we would omit the visit to Scaling Dam, and spend more time exploring Lockwood beck in more detail, we were not disappointed.
The morning ended around 12 noon, with some making their way home, and others to the nearby pub/eatery, and a warm radiator.
BIRD LIST
Chaffinch – Wood pigeon – Blackbird – Goldfinch – Siskin – Common Gull – Robin – Mallard –Oystercatcher- Herring Gull – Greylag – Canada Goose – Moorhen – Cold tit- Mistle Thrush heard – Teal – Greenfinch – Great tit –Blue tit – Dunnock- Wren –chiffchaf – curlew –Red Grouse heard –Grey wagtail –Pheasant- Bullfinch –Lapwing –Red Kite- Song Thrush. OTHER Pale Oyster mushroom – Common Willow grass – and lots of FROGS ….

FIELD TRIP REPORT SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2026NORTH GARE THE ZINC ROADThirteen of us met on the Zinc Works Road...
21/02/2026

FIELD TRIP REPORT SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2026
NORTH GARE THE ZINC ROAD

Thirteen of us met on the Zinc Works Road, Seaton Carew on a cold windy morning, all wrapped up in as much warm clothing as possible.
The star attraction is the vast sandy beach, stretching from the mouth of the River Tees to the dunes of Seaton Snook, and Birds…
We Set off walking towards the dunes, the wind was strong and cold, but all eyes were on the lookout for birds.. first bird seen was a ring necked plover, followed by a grey wagtail, and the bird most wanted to see the Twite was seen to everyones delight.
After nearly two hours of enjoying the blast of cold sea fresh air, and enjoying each others company, with a good list of birds seen, we headed back to the warmth of our cars, and some heading for RSPB Saltholme cafe.
Bird List
Crow - Pheasant – Teal – Fieldfare – Linnet – Ringed necked Plover- Grey wagtail - Twite – Oystercatcher – Redshank –Guillemot –Graylag – cormorant – Lapwing – Eider – Merganser – S**g.
Rabbit – Harbour seals.

13/02/2026

This Sunday at 10am we meet at the end of the Zinc Works Road, Hartlepool, off the A178. Coming from Stockton it is the right turn just after the roundabout to the power station. Park on the road edges near the end taking care not to block the entrance to Natara Global TS25 2DT seems to be the closest postcode. There is not room for many cars so anyone wanting a longer walk can park at the North Gare car park and walk through on the path behind the dunes. It will take about 20 minutes plus time for birding. At 10am we will head towards seal sands to look for wintering birds and aiming to finish around midday.

TRIP REPORT SUNDAY 18th JANUARY 2026TILERY WOOD Field TripThe morning was Misty and quite cold, but seventeen peopl...
02/02/2026

TRIP REPORT SUNDAY 18th JANUARY 2026
TILERY WOOD Field Trip

The morning was Misty and quite cold, but seventeen people met at the car park that leads into Tilery woods.
When everyone was booted and ready, we set off into the Mist that hung around the trees,, I found it almost magical.
As we walked in, the first bird heard was a Robin, and a variety of T**s, it was also clear that this forest was home to Lichens, fungi and mosses etc ..
The mist was quite thick in places, and visibility was difficult, but luck was with us,, we had an expert with us on all things Fungi.
The going was muddy but we all survived, and made it back to the car park after one last treat, two qualified raptor handlers were in a clearing with a beautiful Barn Owl, and a Black faced Barn owl !!
Bird List :- Robin – Blackbird – Blue tit –coal tit –Redwing – wood pigeon –Bullfinch – Goldcrest –LNG tailed tit – Woodpecker –Pheasant – Tree creeper – Plus the two Barn Owls .
Fungi :- Crepidotus fungi – Sulphur tufts fungi – parmelia lichen – Birch polypore – and many more….

17/01/2026

Our next outdoor meeting is at 10am in the carpark at the north end of the Wynard Woodland park. Get to it on the A689, left after the Castle Eden walkway bridge if you are coming from the A19. It will be muddy. However, there are fields, hedges and long established woodland so who knows what we will find? We will finish about midday. Open to everyone and free. Hope to see you.

17/01/2026

Hope you’ll join us tomorrow at Tilery Woods. We meet at 10.0 am at the car park by the blue bridge over the A689. Hope to see you there. Expect mud underfoot!

Thank you to everyone who helped to make our Christmas Social evening such a happy event. Particularly helped by the peo...
16/12/2025

Thank you to everyone who helped to make our Christmas Social evening such a happy event. Particularly helped by the people who entered the mince pie competition. See below for some of the entries. One entry, in particular, was in a class of its own. Next we do it there will be a prize for the most inventive.

14/12/2025

Our last indoor meeting of 2025 is tomorrow night. 7.30pm at the Rugby Club Acklam Park on Green Lane, Middlesbrough on Monday. A short presentation of some of the photos our group has taken over the year, but mainly mince pies, raffle, quizzes and chatting. Relax before Christmas. Come and join us. £2.50 for members and £3.50 for non-members but all are welcome.

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Middlesbrough
TS57SL

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