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Bran sands, Teesmouth
Bran sands is a surviving
part of what was once a much more extensive part of the Tees estuary.
Today it provides a feeding and roosting site for many species. This
is a very good place to see a selection of waders that visit the
UK. There is always the chance of finding something unusual. The best time to visit is when the tide
is rising or falling. The seasons are also important as the sands
are used as a feeding stop-over by waders during their very long
migrations, autumn, winter and spring are the best periods. Regulars
include Sanderling, Redshank, Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Bar-Tailed
Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Golden Plover,
Greenshank, Ruff, and Turnstone. More unusual birds seen on here
include, Little Stint, Baird's Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Common
Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Black-Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel Great
Knot and most recently a Short Billed Dowitcher.
| It is also a good place to look for terns
in late summer. You can find flocks of Arctic,
Sandwich, Common, Little and if you are very
lucky the odd Roseate Tern roosting on the sand.
They are often accompanied by Skuas in late summer.
Other rarities seen here have included Sabine's
Gull, Long-Tailed Skua, Lesser Crested Tern and
Great Knot (briefly). It is worth keeping a eye
on this area as it has the potential to turn
up almost anything. |
 Great
Knot Calidris tenuirostris
Photo Jimmy Pattinson |
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