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Description
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 European Shag, Common Eider, Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar, Herring Gull and other seabirds. Marsden Rock has a Great Cormorant colony that is easy to watch; Razorbill also nest here, but mostly on the seaward side of the rock so not so easily seen. Purple Sandpiper, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Ruddy Turnstone are regular in winter along with many other waders. Seawatching in autumn produces Pink-footed Goose, Brent Goose, Barnacle Goose, Whooper Swan, and in winter, divers, grebes, Common Scoter, etc. Snow Bunting are regular in winter along the path and particularly at 'Jackies Beach'; also look for wintering Lapland Bunting on the wider grassy area toward the north end of the site. 'Jackies Beach' has also breeding Common Ringed Plover in summer. Peregrine Falcon and Merlin are also regular. The large coastal field at the south end of the site often holds a flock of roosting waders; mainly Eurasian Curlew and European Golden Plover, but check for rarer species like American Golden Plover and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 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).
Details
Access
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)