This wasn’t strictly, speaking a birding walk but the Monday Walkers, a group of short distance, lazy, ramblers, walked for 10km in a circular route starting from Seaton Sluice on Monday 8th November. Along the coast to St. Mary’s, west and then along the wagon-ways to finish via Holywell Dene at Seaton Sluice. It was a lovely, bright but cold day and we counted 40 species without trying too hard. There is a traditional sweep amongst the walkers for the number of bird species seen with big money (£1 a head) at stake so only ‘double sightings’ are allowed with rigorous verification procedures. 40 species is at the higher end of total species seen in our walks and was surprisingly high since the habitat was not particularly varied. I had forgotten how attractive these commonly visited places are. St Mary’s and Holywell Dene in particular looked splendid in the early Winter sunshine. The industrial heritage aspect of the walk is interesting too! The high spot for me was five Long-tailed Ducks flying fast N and a lone Little Egret fishing in the Dene marsh. A lone Guillemot was close in on St. Mary’s bay. 40 Teal, some Gadwall and a single Mute Swan were on St. Mary’s wetland. The non birding majority were, however, more interested in the Bullfinches, Long-tailed Tits and a cute Grey Wagtail. They were also impressed with the mixed flock of 300 Grey Geese just west of the Whitley Bay Cemetery. Interestingly there was a scarcity of sea birds, no Collared Doves, and no House Sparrows or Pheasants were seen. The resident Dippers weren’t on the Dene. The walk finished at The Astley Arms with the Carvery with bottomless ice cream to finish. Nothing startling but a canny day. SRB
