Beach Buoy.
Thursday, 9 April 2026
9, APRIL 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.
Thursday morning.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog arrived at Sandy Car Park at 6-18 a.m.
Around Two Hundred Gulls were making use of the pre 9 a.m. free parking.
There they were stood in bays of a different type.
Beach Buoy had skirted around them as he arrived so as not to disturb them.
The lady who had once fallen off her bike on the Esplanade a long time ago was walking The Esplanade with her companion.
"Morning."
"Morning."
A lazy person had left a large plastic bottle on the Esplanade Wall, by the Little Tern Nest Site.
Beach Buoy took it to the rubbish bin that was no more than five steps away.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the sea.
Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones as they did so.
Low clouds had claimed the moments of sunrise.
There was a very slight breeze from the south west.
The sea looked to be flat, no ripples off the breeze.
Gulls were at the water's edge.
Again Beach Buoy skirted by them.
The birds saw Team One Black Ear approaching from the north and took flight anyway.
Some flew over to the Sea Serpent.
Team One Black Ear caught up.
They walked and talked together.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple came and went, passing twice at a fair speed.
Team One Black Ear turned back to the north.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog continued to the low level route.
As they walked the route to Stubborn Dog Stack, Beach Buoy collected and placed Two Sturdy Stones at the base of the small slope.
6-56.
"Morning Mate."
Skylarks sang as he placed the five suitable stones onto the stack.
He patted
THE
stone.
He scattered some seeds for when the Crows show up.
He stood and remembered this and that.
The x 30 zoom on his phone camera showed that Team One Black Ear were still heading north.
"See you mate."
They continued south along the dune edge.
Off to see the Sand Martins.
Once the birds have dug their burrows they will be scooting by Stubborn Dog Stack as they searched for food.
Some photographs are sitting ducks, like the tractor tyre tracks in the sand or as on this case three fishermen with three Wind Turbines as a backdrop.
Over at Sand Martin Corner, a couple with large cameras arrived.
They sat on a balcony of sand above the theatre that is Sand Martin Corner.
Beach Buoy waggled his mobile phone camera at some of the stars of the show.
A less scientific and professional approach.
No doubt the couple across the way were having better results.
They headed back.
As they passed Stubborn Dog Stack, "See you mate."
They walked the low level route.
Team Muzzled Dog walked the easy route above.
Their moment of passing was hidden
A Tees Tug headed across the bay.
A man walked his German Shepard along the water's edge.
A lady did the same with her two Border Collies.
A Sarcastic Sun came out as they headed to the access ramp.
Sunshine shadows led the way.
The Village Church Bells rang out eight times.
Not not Beach Buoy and his dogs headed south along the beach.
Up on the Esplanade One third of Team Mick Aston Jumper rested against the wall as the man on his Tricycle passed by.
BEACH BUOY.
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
8, APRIL 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached Sandy or Seaview Car Park at 6-24 a.m.
They headed down the beach access ramp.
A lady and her Border Collie were coming up the ramp, beach walk done.
"Morning."
"Morning."
It was Sunrise time but low cloud had claimed it.
A Crow policed the Gulls and Oyster Catchers that were standing on the water's edge.
The tide was well in.
It was a short walk to the water's edge.
Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones.
There was a light breeze from the south west.
A lady with a pointy hat and a quicker pace was also heading south along the water's edge.
Beach Buoy moved up to the strand-line, out of her way.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple weren't too far behind.
A Gull surfed just above the breaking waves.
Team One Black Ear caught up with Beach Buoy and Another Dog.
They walked and chatted together.
Beach Buoy made a fuss of Hugo, the dog with one black ear.
The others led the way.
They passed another driftwood seat on their way to the low level route.
Beach Buoy collected two sturdy stones.
He placed them at the base of the small slope.
7-04.
"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He scattered some seeds for the missing Crows.
"See you mate."
Beach Buoy intended to continue southwards.
He wanted to check on the Sand Martin situation.
They had only walked a short distance along the dune edge.
Another Dog went on strike.
They had a stand off .
Beach Buoy looked to the south.
Another Dog looked to the north.
In the distance, Team Muzzled Dog walked the beach.
Nearby a bird sang sweetly.
Up near the Tank Traps, a fisherman faffed.
Beach Buoy let Another Dog win.
They headed back north.
They passed Team Muzzled Dog.
They were up on the dune edge.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog we're on the low level route.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He told them that the Sand Martins had returned.
Later he passed Mr.Gunn/Lunn.
He told him about seeing them too.
They agreed that the Seaton Carew Sand Martins were indeed back.
BEACH BUOY
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
7, APRIL 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.
Beach Buoy had been up since 3-30.
He thought he may as well get to the beach before sunrise.
An early-morning Police chase and a tragic outcome at the end of the road changed things.
He and Another Dog arrived at the beach
at 6-33 a.m.
The Sunderland was already up and the air was still.
Another beach goer captured the early Sun.
They headed to the water's edge.
Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones.
Team One Black Ear were up ahead to the south.
Others headed north.
The Sun was glorious.
The Moon hung over the dunes.
They wandered along the water's edge.
The tide was well in.
The Sky was so clear.
The sea sparkled.
The sea foam so white.
The air felt so fresh.
It really did feel like someone had pressed a reset button for the world...
If only.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple overtook at pace.
Team One Black Ear headed back to the north.
They chatted.
A lady jogger went by with her two small dogs.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Morning."
She was the lady who last year had dropped something on her foot resulting in a "Cartoon Toe."
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the low level route.
He collected and added two sturdy stones.
"Morning Mate."
It was 7-13.
He added the five suitable stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He stood.
He thought.
He made notes in his beach book.
As he did do three Geese flew directly overhead.
A missed chance of a photograph.
He listened to the Skylarks as he watched the waves break into the grey rocks below.
He scattered some seeds for the missing Crows.
"See you mate."
He had decided to continue south to see if there were any signs of the Sand Martins.
A glance back to the north as the walked the dune edge.
The tide was still well in, waves broke around the tank traps.
7-27
Three Sand Martins whizzed by heading south.
Beach Buoy was so happy.
Another Dog was less enthusiastic.
Beach Buoy scrambled to a vantage point.
He wanted to see if any Sand Martins were flying around Sand Martin Corner.
They were!
He stood.
He sobbed.
Their arrival is his big marker.
More than Christmas.
More than a birthday.
He made it to see the first Sand Martin again.
He sobbed for those who have no more first ofs to enjoy.
Their stories done even if unfinished.
He wandered around looking for the best vantage points to take photographs
The little birds are so quick.
Eventually they headed back.
The fallen man.
Along the water's edge.
Back to the Village.
The Council Tractor was heading south.
More beach-scraped stones heading to the grey rocks.
Make the north end of the beach tourist-friendly.
What a fun job.
The lady with a black dog and a white dog arrived.
The white dog ran to the sea and laid in it.
The black one likes the water too.
It swam way out one day.
So far out that Beach Buoy couldn't watch.
The Tractor trundled back.
Follow the Yellow Sand Road.
There are times that Beach Buoy feels like the Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow all round it to one.
BEACH BUOY.
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