Rate birdingplace Whitburn Coastal Park
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Whitburn Coastal Park is nicely sandwiched between Souter Lighthouse and Whitburn Point Local Nature Reserve. Good place to watch seabirds and migrating birds.
Whitburn Coastal Park is a migration hotspot in Spring and even more in Autumn, when countless rarities have been seen here. It is also an excellent seawatching point. A great for bird watching, and often a chance to see kormorán chocholatý, kajka mořská, racek tříprstý, buřňák lední, racek stříbřitý and other seabirds. Marsden Rock has a kormorán velký colony that is easy to watch; alka malá also nest here, but mostly on the seaward side of the rock so not so easily seen. jespák mořský, ústřičník velký and kamenáček pestrý are regular in winter along with many other waders. Seawatching in autumn produces husa krátkozobá, berneška tmavá, berneška bělolící, labuť zpěvná, and in winter, divers, grebes, turpan černý, etc. sněhule severní are regular in winter along the path and particularly at 'Jackies Beach'; also look for wintering strnad severní on the wider grassy area toward the north end of the site. 'Jackies Beach' has also breeding kulík písečný in summer. sokol stěhovavý and dřemlík tundrový are also regular. The large coastal field at the south end of the site often holds a flock of roosting waders; mainly koliha velká and kulík zlatý, but check for rarer species like kulík hnědokřídlý and jespák plavý, which have occurred here. Depending on season the coastal park will always offer a good day's birding. You can combine the birding with walking the coastal trail around the Souter Lighthouse, Whitburn Coastal Park and Lizard Point on the South Shields coast (for the 8 km route, see the map below).
The park and lighthouse are located just to the south of South Shields at the village of Marsden. You can park at the Souter Lighthouse car park off the A183 at Marsden Quarry. There is also a car park south of Whitburn on Mill lane. For the parking places see the P on the map and click on a P to go there directly)