Whitburn Coastal Park

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 Corvo-marinho-de-crista, Eider-edredão, Gaivota-tridáctila, Fulmar-glacial, Gaivota-argêntea and other seabirds. Marsden Rock has a Corvo-marinho-de-faces-brancas colony that is easy to watch; Torda-mergulheira also nest here, but mostly on the seaward side of the rock so not so easily seen. Pilrito-escuro, Ostraceiro and Rola-do-mar are regular in winter along with many other waders. Seawatching in autumn produces Ganso-de-bico-curto, Ganso-de-faces-negras, Ganso-de-faces-brancas, Cisne-bravo, and in winter, divers, grebes, Pato-preto, etc. Escrevedeira-das-neves are regular in winter along the path and particularly at 'Jackies Beach'; also look for wintering Escrevedeira da Lapónia on the wider grassy area toward the north end of the site. 'Jackies Beach' has also breeding Borrelho-grande-de-coleira in summer. falcão-peregrino and Esmerilhão are also regular. The large coastal field at the south end of the site often holds a flock of roosting waders; mainly Maçarico-real and Tarambola-dourada, but check for rarer species like Tarambola-dourada-pequena and Pilrito-canela, 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).