• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Where to go in North Northumberland? (1 Viewer)

herring99

Well-known member
I've got a couple of days spare to go birding in North Northumberland this Christmas. What places would you recommend going to? I will be based in Wooler. I know the usual places, like Budle bay, Stag rocks, Holy Island and the Cresswell area, but are there any other good spots to go birding?

Herring
 
Hi Herring,

It's a bit bleak in winter, but the Harthope and Ingram Valleys are good - there's a decent chance of Hen Harrier on the moors above the valleys, and Red Grouse are easy; look for redpolls in the alder woods (fair chance of Mealies among the Lessers). Dippers on the streams of course.

Hulne Park in Alnwick usually has a few Hawfinches, though they can be elusive.

The Milfield Plain around Doddington (3 miles N of Wooler on the B6525, and the minor road out NW from Doddington to Nesbit) is good for geese, usually a thousand or two Pinkfeet and a few hundred Greylags; scan carefully for others among them, last year there was a Snow Goose among them for a week or two.

Kyloe Wood inland from Holy Island can turn up surprises; limited parking at NU 062 392, walk in. Make sure you don't get lost in there though, the forest road layout is confusing!! Very nice place, huge conifers (50m+ tall), good chance of Crossbills and lots of Siskins, usually quite a lot of wintering Woodcock too, and the odd raptor or two.

The Long Nanny 1½ miles south of Beadnell / 1 mile north of Newton Links House (car park) currently has 5 Shore Lark and about 40 Twite on the saltmarsh just down from the footbridge (NU 228 272).

Have a nice trip and don't forget to report what you see!

Michael
 
Thanks Michael, will post a "holiday" report when i get back. You were spot on with the Doddington geese, two whitefronts and a bean goose. Cheers,
Herring
 
Hi Herring,

It's a bit bleak in winter, but the Harthope and Ingram Valleys are good - there's a decent chance of Hen Harrier on the moors above the valleys, and Red Grouse are easy; look for redpolls in the alder woods (fair chance of Mealies among the Lessers). Dippers on the streams of course.

Hulne Park in Alnwick usually has a few Hawfinches, though they can be elusive.

The Milfield Plain around Doddington (3 miles N of Wooler on the B6525, and the minor road out NW from Doddington to Nesbit) is good for geese, usually a thousand or two Pinkfeet and a few hundred Greylags; scan carefully for others among them, last year there was a Snow Goose among them for a week or two.

Kyloe Wood inland from Holy Island can turn up surprises; limited parking at NU 062 392, walk in. Make sure you don't get lost in there though, the forest road layout is confusing!! Very nice place, huge conifers (50m+ tall), good chance of Crossbills and lots of Siskins, usually quite a lot of wintering Woodcock too, and the odd raptor or two.

The Long Nanny 1½ miles south of Beadnell / 1 mile north of Newton Links House (car park) currently has 5 Shore Lark and about 40 Twite on the saltmarsh just down from the footbridge (NU 228 272).

Have a nice trip and don't forget to report what you see!

Michael

kyloe woods has one of the highest density of breeding goshawks known any where in the uk ? allso good numbers of peregrines in the area with a few breeding sites.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 16 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top