Anything about at Holy Island?

[Gill Osborne]

This Tuesday (23rd) Neil and I actually have a day off together so have decided to nip up to Holy island and the surrounding area for the day. Dug out the safe Crossing Times...between 07.35am - 14.10 and then 20.00 - 02.40am.
Will be there as early as possible and back off before 2.10pm as can't hang around until 8pm LOL so was thinking about doing Holy Island in the morning then in the afternoon...2pm onwards...doing Budle Bay,Druridge Bay etc...hopefully get a few Life/Year ticks!
Is there much still around at this time of year...Peregrines/Brent Geese/winter ducks/divers etc?
Any info would be MUCH appreciated!

GILL XXX

[scampo]

Can't help with next week but we'll be there in July - first hols. in Northumberland. Can't wait!

[Gill Osborne]

I bet you can't Steve...Northumberland is a FANTASTIC place! We are so lucky to have such varied habitat right on our doorstep...weather permitting...someone at work mentioned SNOW for tomorrow (have packed Neil's gloves,thick fleece, balaclava LOL)...raring to go!!! Haven't been to Holy Island for about ten years or so...FAR too long!!!

GILL XXX

[scampo]

Have a great time - just think, the snow will add to the beauty. We passed Lindisfarne on the way back from friends in Edinburgh years ago. It was a clear night with a full moon - I can't tell you how beautiful that place looked as we stopped in some awe and looked at it. Sadly, we had no time to stay overnight and see it in daylight. We will this year, of course. You're whetting my appetite all the more!

[Gill Osborne]

What an atmospheric portrait of Holy Island by moonlight...sounds absolutely heavenly!
Just checked the weather for Bamburgh/Holy Island on BBC site....looks like we could have a few teensy snow showers..wonderful!!! Cold weather never bothers me and Neil (wimp!) should be ok as long as I make sure he has his gloves and hat....it's like having a bairn taking him out during cold weather LOL
Hopefully I should see some nice stuff tomorrow...will post a report as soon as I get back!

GILL XXX

[Gill Osborne]

:bounce:

Had quite a good day...was lovely to out in the fresh air at a new site! Normally I can only get out birding during the winter months one day per week and occasionally Sunday if Neil's busy with other things and doesn't require my presence ;) . And my normal sites are St Mary's Lighthouse,Jesmond Dene,Holywell Pond,Wallsend Swallow Pond and Gosforth Park. Getting a day up at Druridge Bay and Hauxley is a massive treat for me and I would go up myself on my day off work but for my driving lessons....once i pass my test day's off are going to be spent out in the field from dawn to dusk!!!
Set off at 8am and was there just after 9.15am. Lovely and sunny, no sign of snow,but very very windy! Had a walk around the village then headed up towards the castle/priory...loads of Curlew around,various waders on shore,Eiders out to sea and Shelduck feeding in the mud. Quite a few Fulmar flying around the castle - about 16 in the air and on the cliff face.
Spent some time with scope scanning out to sea hoping for a Diver or two and had a heart-stopping moment when I THOUGHT I had a Red-Throated in my sights...till it stretched up and flapped it's wings and I had to admit that it was actually a Cormorant ;) .
Was really pleased with the Brent Geese as they are a new year tick...as is the Bar-tailed Godwits that were present in small numbers.
Really enjoyed the day and despite the wind being almost gale-force at times and having to grip my tripod between my knees to stop it being blown over and not getting any new Life ticks I can't wait to go back! Have a week off at end of June/beginning of July so may book into a B&B and spend a couple of days on the Island to really explore!
Birds seen today...apologies for nothing spectacular ;) :

Wood Pigeon
Kestrel
Blackbird
Greenfinch
Rook
House Sparrow
Carrion Crow
Blue Tit
Coal Tit *
Pheasant *
Mute Swan*
Redshank
Shelduck
Lapwing
Jackdaw
Oystercatcher
Teal
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Brent Goose
Curlew
Common Gull
Bar-tailed Godwit
Ringed Plover
Fulmar
Eider
Cormorant
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Grey Partridge*
Mute Swan*

birds marked with a * were seen on the mainland either on way to Holy Island or on way home.
The 12 Mute Swans were seen in a field just outside Berwick and for a fraction of a second I thought 'Whoopers'! ...but,sadly,no they weren't :C .

DID have my first Red Dead-nettle and lesser Celandine in bloom though...both on Holy Island.

GILL

[cuddy]

Hi Gill, glad you enjoyed your day, if you can try for a May visit with easterlies and rain this can be very productive wander around the Snook and check all the Bushes.
The island is also very good in Autumn, checkout nearby Budle Bay, Ross Back sands and Stag Rocks as well for a full day of first class birding.

Regards Cuddy.

[alan_rymer]

Gill
Sounds like a good day, and glad you didn't get blown away. 5 lifers for me on your list!.
Well done. Good luck with the test, Remember, no birding on the test!.

[scampo]

I saw my first celandine today - a lovely spring sight indeed. That wind must have made birding difficult - there's nothing worse. But - you did all right, didn't you?

We'll be there from 10 July for a fortnight.

[Joe Ray]

What's the place like in December? I'll probably be going in a couple of weeks for a part birding day trip.

[level seven]

What's the place like in December? I'll probably be going in a couple of weeks for a part birding day trip.
As you'll probably know, Holy Island is particularly noted for its spring and autumn migrants, and I must admit I've not been there myself outside those times.

Large numbers of Brent Geese should still be around, and sea-watching could produce divers and grebes. The harbour can be good for waders and you'll be sure to see some as you cross the causeway (there are one or two stopping places).

Not much to go on, and I'm sure others will be able to help more.

Generally I'd say though that there are other places nearby on the coast itself where you'll probably see as much, if not more. I'd particularly recommend Stag Rocks, a few minutes walk from Bamburgh a few miles south on the coast, where I was yesterday with an RSPB group. We saw Long-tailed Ducks as well as quite a large flock of Purple Sandpipers. I've seen both there last winter too.

Low Newton and Seahouses, a little further south still, are also good. All these places are picturesque in their own right, even without the birds.

So, not trying to put you off Holy Island at all, but just be aware there are good alternatives nearby which are accessible at all times, not just at low tide.