Northumberland

[Michael Frankis]

Discover that no-one's posted anything at all for one of the best birding counties in Britain!! Maybe its coz' we've all gone birding rather than surfing.

So who else from Northumberland visits this forum?

Michael

[Ian Whittle]

Me! and I am new to all this, Live in Northumberland and enjoy going over to Kielder especially to keep an eye on the raptors> Learning the kids all about them, excellent views of the buzzards at the momment dont you think?
Ian

[steve_nova]

Hi Michael, I post the odd thing now and again.

[Steve J - Darlo]

Hi Micheal

Although I live in Darlington I have a mobile home at Warkworth overlooking the Coquet, so I do most of my birding on the Northumberland coast.

By the way have you been up to Hulne Park, we were there last weekend and got Woodcock, hawfinch and ring Ouzel amongst others.

I love Northumberland its great for the variety of birding environments.

I have intended putting places like Cresswell Pond, Druridge bay Lindisfarne, etc. on the site but never seem to have time. To busy birding at this time of year.

Plus my favourite bird's 'Terns' are back.

See you sometime.

Best regards

Steve J - Darlo

[Ian Whittle]

Is there no one else in Northumberland!, what about the Nightjars!, anyone else been privledged to their precence?

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Ian,

Yep, I've seen 'em every year for the last few, great birds. Not been yet this year, but there's plenty of time to see them yet, they go on churring until late July or even August.

Had actually been planning to go tonite, but (a) it is cooler and cloudier than forecast, and (b) getting up at 4am for a lift down to Anglesey . . .

Michael

[IanF]

Hi Everyone from Northumberland,

Whilst I'm in Cleveland I do like to get 'up north' when I can. Of late it's only been as far as Whitburn though - not exactly Northumberland I know.

Just to point out the purpose of this particular forum, it's actually for members to post locations details of their local / favourite birding sites so that other members residing in that region can have the opportunity to visit new areas - likewise members visiting the area whilst on holiday and lets face it plenty do ! - with the benefit of directions as to how to get there and what birds may be seen at various times of the year !

So come on, the Northumberland forum is a bit empty at the moment and even I know there are some exceptional birding locations in the region. I'm hoping to get up to the Farne Islands this year and St.Mary's Island and I would do a report but I'm sure there are far more knowledgeable members from the area who know more about them and other locations, even if it's just their local patch !

There are a couple of reports already in the Durham forum, and it would be nice for the more northern members to show the rest of the country what we have to offer.

[cuddy]

In case you have forgotten ive been singing Northumberlands praises forever, so for raptors try Kielder in March, seabirds try the Farne Islands now, for migration try Holy island Spring and Autumn, seawatching at Church Point at Newbiggin but wrap up warm, winter geese no where better than Fenham Flats waders ducks Duridge Bay (and the odd Slender Billed Curlew), winter Gulls North Shields Fish Quay. Michael stop wandering off to Wales and write a few reports as your out and about more than most of us.

[Ian Whittle]

The Nightjars around Holystone (near Rothbury,) are churring nicely at present, actually saw a few the other night, as for the raptors, well the fledglings around Kielder should be pretty visable soon, try the raptor view point and you may spot the occassional Goshawk amongst others!
Ian
Raptor protector!
(is that ok Michael!)

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Ian,

Yep, the Gos at the watchpoint are 'official' ;)

Michael

[cuddy]

Hi All Northumberland has enjoyed a golden period during the last couple of months.
The Druridge Bay area in particular has accounted for many rare species and a good supporting cast of quality birds.

Ian good to hear about the Nightjars but how about Green Woodpeckers in the Holystone area?

Kielder is great for raptors and there is always a chance of a passage Osprey.

[StevieEvans]

...Northumberland's just The bit that the Scots didn't want....

[Michael Frankis]

And Durham's the grotty bit that Northumberland didn't want to keep . . . ;)

[cuddy]

Did i hear makem in the distance :>)

[Nancy]

Hello Michael Frankis,
You seem to pop up all over the place. Do you ever stay in Nothhumbria for more than a few hours? One minute you are in Anglesea, then Isle O' Man, I saw something from Durham and now you are off to Anglesea again. Is the Black Lark still there? And is the "Shrike?????" still on the I O M. I enjoy watching the activities on the Forum even though I am not always too sure of the locations. I have been back to UK a few times but usually visiting relations so not too much time for birding. I think the nearest I have been to Northumbria is the Farne Islands and areas around Newcastle (OK, I know that these are far removed from your part of the country but that is the closest I have been).

From Byron Bay, Australia's most Easterly point on the North east coast of NSW.

Nancy

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Nancy,

Check the dates of the posts!! (bottom left corner of each post) - no, the Black Lark is long gone, so I'm not going back to Anglesey. Never even went to the I.o.M., that was too expensive, so I haven't seen that shrike (though it is reported still there today on the bird news).

Newcastle (where I live!) and the Farnes are both IN Northumberland . . hope you enjoyed your visit up here!

Have to go look up Byron Bay in my atlas, somewhere north of Sydney I guess, but south of Brisbane. Never been to OZ so I don't know it too well.

Michael

[Nancy]

I thought you said you were getting up at 4am to get a lift down to Anglesea.
I realised after I had sent that previous post that you are actually in Newcastle, I did a bit of birding in the area a few years ago when visiting a friend there. Mostly we visit rellies in the south where there do not seem to be so many birds.
I used to think that Newcastle was still a mess of slagheaps and stinky mills but was challenged to visit after I had made that statement to an "Internet" friend and was absolutely amazed when I was shown the 'new' Newcastle. I had a few good days birding in the area and have heard since that there have been otters seen in the Tyne. No stinky slag heaps at all and a wonderfully artistic ( opening eye???) footbridge over the river. Iwas most impressed.

[Michael Frankis]

Originally posted by Nancy
I thought you said you were getting up at 4am to get a lift down to Anglesea.

But that post is dated 2 June! ;)

Yep, Newcastle has cleaned its act up a lot, there are still one or two slagheaps around if you know where to find them, but they've mostly been tidied up now.

The otters were further up the Tyne, just west of Newcastle, I don't think any have been seen on the river in the city centre.

Michael

[Nancy]

OK Michael, I hide my head in shame. Obviously I keep my observation skills for my birding pursuits!
Hope you have a wonderful week, month, year, life etc etc. I'm still as excited about seeing and old, favourite bird again as a new one

Nancy

[cuddy]

Otters have a holt on the Tyne not too far from the city center, sorry i cant be more specific.

[Ian Whittle]

Hi Cuddy

Bothal Woods between Ashington (old slag heep village!) and Pegswood (another old slag heep village!), have quite a few Green woodpeckers, as well as nuthatch. Next to the old church is a house where the owner feeds the birds, you get the odd nuthatch there, and in the church yard you usually hear the green wood pecker then follow its distinctive call to get a sighting.
Kingfisher sightings too along the River Wansbeck, and on the subject of Otters, theres a holt on the river too, Cant be more specific though as we are still trying to keep the village yobs away!

[cuddy]

Hi Ian yes otters are now widespread throughout Northumberland and are on just about every waterway now and im glad to here about your green woodpeckers i know the area quite well, i understand your caution often visit Bothal pond (Coney Garth) and Longhirst Flash, but my Main Area is St Marys Island Whitley Bay good seawatching can be had from here.
We seem to have a good number of Northumberland birders on the forum.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Cuddy,

The latest NWT Otter Survey found otter evidence on over 90% of the sites examined. There's even been otters on the Ouse Burn in Gosforth.

Great quote at the end there!

Next job now is to persuade the BF bosses to allow us our flag below our names . . . did you know it is probably the oldest flag in Britain? (dates back to King Oswald, 605-642)

http://fotw.vexillum.com/images/g/gb-nthum.gif

Michael

[StevieEvans]

Hey Michael !

THAT Flag....!

It looks like it should be on the BACK OF a SKIP !!!!

OR, should that be IN IT...?

S 3:-)

[cuddy]

Thought that was just the County Council Flag Michael did not realise it was raised at Heavenfield where Oswald saw off Cadwallon, Im still hearing the distant sound of wailing Makem.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Cuddy,

Here's some info about the flag:
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/vg/flag.html

And about Saint Oswald, King of Northumbria:
http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/oswald.html

Worth pointing out too, he actually existed, unlike St George . . .

Michael

[guffers]

In fact otters HAVE been sighted in the city centre. A local otter enthusiast saw a mother and two cubs directly underneath the Tyne Bridge about three years ago!Wonder if they've checked out the Millenium Bridge yet !

[keithmills61]

Hi All Northumberland has enjoyed a golden period during the last couple of months.
The Druridge Bay area in particular has accounted for many rare species and a good supporting cast of quality birds.

Ian good to hear about the Nightjars but how about Green Woodpeckers in the Holystone area?

Kielder is great for raptors and there is always a chance of a passage Osprey.

OR seeing one of the pair of northumbrian breeding golden eagles or one of thier chicks?

[Cartman]

Hi all, I work all over Northumberland but live in South Tyneside, I am really new to this so could you tell me the best places to see raptors. I see some mention the Kielder viewing point, where is that? Is it near to the Bird of Prey centre?

Thanks