Northumberland

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Could someone in Northumberland please let me have a summary of good sites to give my son. He & his partner are spending a week in Wooler shortly and are keen birdwatchers. I don't need a list of birds to be seen - just sites that have proved good in the past - and I know there are lots.

I could plough through the many posts on this subject but I'm hnoping someone will just come through with a list of places. Thanks in advance.

Sandra

[Franky70]

Harthope valley (sometimes called Happy Valley) is just up the road from Wooler and is excellent at this time of year, as is almost anywhere in the Cheviots.

Holy Island and the Farne Islands are east of Wooler on the coast.

Good Luck

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Thanks for that Franky. Will pass it on. We know some sites nearer the coast - Budle Bay, Bamburgh. And the lucky beggars will probably be able to get out to the islands won't they?

Thanks again
Sandra
:gn:

[LSB]

Thanks for that Franky. Will pass it on. We know some sites nearer the coast - Budle Bay, Bamburgh. And the lucky beggars will probably be able to get out to the islands won't they?

Thanks again
Sandra
:gn:


There's also East Chevington , Cresswell Pond, Hauxley NR, all whitin a few miles of each other on the coast..

[florall]

And the lucky beggars will probably be able to get out to the islands won't they?

Sandra, I rang the tourist office in Seahouses the other day to see if boats have to be booked in advance (we're going in late June). They said usually not, unless in school holidays, especially May half term holiday, when it's advisable to, they can get very busy. So if your son is going next week he might want to get on to them and see about booking.

[RoyH]

Could someone in Northumberland please let me have a summary of good sites to give my son. He & his partner are spending a week in Wooler shortly and are keen birdwatchers. I don't need a list of birds to be seen - just sites that have proved good in the past - and I know there are lots.

I could plough through the many posts on this subject but I'm hnoping someone will just come through with a list of places. Thanks in advance.

Sandra
Hello Sandra
We returned on Saturday from a 7 day stay in Seahouses, we went over the Wooler as my wife wanted to find Postman Pat....While in Wooler we spoke to a local gentleman walking his dog on Wooler Common, I ask if there were any Red Squirrels about. He gave me some directions to Happy Vally but we were unable to find it.
On the Tuesday 16 May, we did the full day birding trip from Seahouses. Just a paradise, your son he must not miss that day. Costly but well worth it. The only problem Billy Shiel will not give a gaurantee a landing on Staple Island they need to go look first so you pays your money and take a chance..we were lucky because they only made the landing twice in the time we were there...Wear some good boots and take lots of memory or film.

My blog with a few samples.

http://royhphotos.blogspot.com/

Our first visit to Northumberland...great place IanF....great cottage.

Regards,

Roy.

[RoyH]

There's also East Chevington , Cresswell Pond, Hauxley NR, all whitin a few miles of each other on the coast..

Sandra
I have only just seen this reply. We went to Hauxley, lovely reserve but very little to see.

Roy.

[RoyH]

Sandra, I rang the tourist office in Seahouses the other day to see if boats have to be booked in advance (we're going in late June). They said usually not, unless in school holidays, especially May half term holiday, when it's advisable to, they can get very busy. So if your son is going next week he might want to get on to them and see about booking.

From what we saw there is no need to book for the full birding day, you will not get kids paying that sort of money. It cost my wife and I a total of £70.80 which included the landing fees to the RSPB. Well worth every penny if your a member. Och if your not. Its advisible to test the weather out first, it was quite a calm day when we went..not a rough crossing but we only just got onto Staple Is. due to the swell. The female Puffin were underground sitting but they will still see hundereds of Puffins.

Regards

Roy.

[florall]

It cost my wife and I a total of £70.80 which included the landing fees to the RSPB. Well worth every penny if your a member.

I believe the Farne Islands are owned by the National Trust, so it's them you have to pay your landing fees to, not the RSPB. (In fact, I've just checked it up and it is the National Trust, so if you're a member, take your membership card and get free landing.)

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Sandra,

here's the content of a PM I sent earlier in the year to someone who asked me a similar question. This focusses more on woodland/inland sites (and three woodland species), but it might help:

"One good bet is Harthope Valley, south west of Wooler: it's a small valley in the shadow of The Cheviot, and it has a good record - pay close attention to the willows and alders along the length of the burn.

Load of other stuff too - it's a brilliant little place.
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.4828&lon=-2.0965&scale=100000&icon=x

Happy Valley is nearby and is better, I understand, for wood warbler.
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.5098&lon=-2.0174&scale=25000&icon=x

Hulne Park, Alnwick, has a decent record for all three - and just about anything else you can name!
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.4286&lon=-1.7329&scale=25000&icon=x

Wallington Hall is very good (get down to the woodland by the R Wansbeck - all your birds nest there):
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.1503&lon=-1.9608&scale=25000&icon=x

Bolam Lake is like a circus in Summer, but gets loads of birds:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.1314&lon=-1.8698&scale=25000&icon=x

Out of all of these, Harthope would be the best all-round birding day out I reckon, but Wallington's probably the safest bet if you "must" have the target species."

[RoyH]

I believe the Farne Islands are owned by the National Trust, so it's them you have to pay your landing fees to, not the RSPB. (In fact, I've just checked it up and it is the National Trust, so if you're a member, take your membership card and get free landing.)

Well done florall for putting me right which does make a difference to the RSPB members. My mistake thank you.

Roy.

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Thanks all of you - all this information will be invaluable to them, I'm sure. I remember staying in Bamburgh and going to Seahouses every morning but the boat didn't sail until the Friday - then it was a bit rough, but worth it. A brilliant day.

Sandra

to all of you :clap:

[Sandra (Taylor)]

What super photos Roy. I love the one of the eider close-up. Don't you just love the sound they make?!

Thanks for the info.

Sandra

[RoyH]

What super photos Roy. I love the one of the eider close-up. Don't you just love the sound they make?!

Thanks for the info.

Sandra

Sandra,
Thank you for your comments, yes I was taken up with those Eider duck they were a first for me. My wife was feeding them on bread the morning before we left and they were pecking at her clothing they were that tame.
Regards,

Roy.