Bothal

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Andrew Lamb
A general view of Bothal Pond, February 2012

England, Northumberland

Overview

Bothal is a small village in south east Northumberland, lying on the River Wansbeck approximately 4km east of Morpeth and 3km west of Ashington. The village and surrounding area offers a mixture of habitats, including woodland, farmland, river and wetland.

Birds

Notable Species

Resident species

The largest area of water is Bothal Pond, at Coney Garth, where many species of wildfowl and waders can be seen, including Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Common Coot, Common Moorhen and Little Grebe. Waders present throughout the year include Common Snipe, Northern Lapwing and Common Redshank together with varying populations of Grey Heron and Canada Goose.

The smaller ponds to the south hold similar species, but are also a good place to see hedgerow species such as Yellowhammer and Common Linnet together with various thrush, finch and tit species and Reed Bunting. Water Rail are often heard calling but rarely seen, and Common Buzzard are often seen in the area.

The woodland around Bothal village holds woodland species typical for the area, including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Nuthatch, and Goldcrest, while the stepping stones over the River Wansbeck are a good place to see Grey Wagtail and very occasionally Common Kingfisher and White-throated Dipper.

Winter Visitors

Andrew Lamb
Great Northern Diver, Bothal Pond, December 2012

The main pond is a valuable site for a number of overwintering birds, rarely freezing entirely. Common winter visitors include Eurasian Wigeon, Goldeneye and Whooper Swan, while the numbers of Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Eurasian Teal and Northern Lapwing increase signficantly. Pink-footed Goose, Bean Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose may occasionally be seen among the goose flocks. There are occasional sightings of Kingfisher on the pond during the winter months.

The surrounding farmland can be a good place to spot visiting Fieldfare and Redwing, especially the fields south of Bothal village.

Rarities

"To do"

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bean Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Linnet Eurasian Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer

Other Wildlife

To do

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

Other than the sites in Bothal itself, there are a number of other local hotspots for birds.

Very close by, to the east of Bothal pond, the fields along Sheepwash Road (A1068) are frequently flooded with some of the roudside flashes almost permanent. Although these pools often hold very little water, and often no birdlife either other than large numbers of corvids, they are worth checking for migrant waders, gulls and ducks, and when water levels are high can sometimes hold Mute Swan or even occasionally Whooper Swan.

Further afield, on the River Wansbeck close to Ashington is Castle Island, which is good for a wide variety of gulls (especially good for Great Black-backed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull), ducks and waders. In Spring and Autumn, the island, mudlfats and river banks are worth checking for migrants, with local rarities including Eurasian Spoonbill.

Approximately 5 km north of Bothal pond, is Linton Nature Reserve, and further north east lie several coastal reserves between Cresswell and Amble, including Druridge Pools, East Chevington and Hauxley.

Access and Facilities

Bothal Pond Map can be viewed from the main A197 between Pegswood and Ashington (there is a layby just to the west of the pond), or more conveniently from the minor road past Bothal Barns from Ashington to Bothal village itself.

The smaller ponds Map can be accessed on foot along public rights of way from two directions. The first route is to take the stile at the hair-pin bend half way up Bothal Bank (heading east), ascend through the small section of woodland through a gate at the top of the bank, and cross the field (either diagonally to the right or around the field boundary to the right) to the stile in its south east corner. Turn right over the stile following the cinder track for just 5 metres, and turn left to follow the path by the hedgerow along the north side of the field. The northeast of this field holds the largest of the three ponds and a smaller pond with a connecting marshy area of reeds and gasses. A third small pond is found approximately 200m to the south, lying across the field boundary. This area is also accessible from the A1068, either by taking the public footpath from the bend in the road to the west of Sheepwash Bridge (heading north west over the hill and following the treeline through 3 fields) or by heading west along the footpath opposite Wellhead Dene Road, through a small copse and across a field (the path crossing the field from the copse is sometimes quite unclear so head slightly to the right of the largest tree and two pylons).

The riverside and stepping stones Map can be accessed from the centre of Bothal village, along a track passing by Bothal church and Bothal castle, or from the narrow road bridge over the river to the west of the village.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

• Bothal on Streetmap