• Home
• Meetings
• Field Trips
• Projects
• Your Sightings
• Wildlife Watch
• Membership
• Weather & Farm News
• Plants
• Butterflies & Moths
• Amphibians & Reptiles
• Birds
• Mammals
• Other Life & News
• Links

MARCH     

 

  Some Red-throated Divers may well have begun to return mostly before the month end, but others certainly remained along our shores. 2 were found immediately south of Saltpan Rocks (nr. Scremerston/11th) and 1 swam within the Tweed estuary (Berwick-upon-Tweed/14th). Another was watched flying north at Dunstanburgh (nr. Embleton/27th).

  Little Grebes frequented Howick Pond (Howick/pair/4th) and the River Tweed with a pair at Berwick (14th) and 1 beside the Union Bridge (nr. Horncliffe/18th).

   An enormous count of Slavonian Grebes was achieved when seawatching from Cresswell (9th) with 12 seen together that day. March 13th saw singles just offshore at Guile Point, Burrows Hole and Ross Back Sands near Ross, Belford.

   2 Fulmars had settled once more beneath the concrete overhangs of the Royal Tweed Bridge (Berwick/14th) and they were occupying a number of cliff ledges before the end of March. Some people divide the species into the darker Northern phase – or ‘Blue’ Fulmar – and the more familiar light Southern phase. 2 birds watched passing Hauxley on the 20th were the uncommon Blue Fulmars. Three days later (23rd) a Manx Shearwater flew past the same small headland. Another member used Newton Point (Newton-by-the-Sea/ 16th) as a viewing platform and found the first “26 Gannets flying north …. 3 separate groups: 15, 10 and a single individual.

 

11 Grey Herons congregated in one relatively small area of marsh at Howick (4th) where amphibians would almost certainly have been massing.

  Although closely monitored in the north of County Durham we are, so far, still receiving little in the way of local news concerning Red Kites. We are therefore grateful for the report that was submitted describing “March 1st: 1 Red Kite – chases by Jackdaws – at Chevington Moor (Farm) nr. Felton. The first seen in that area” Details were also forwarded (from ,west of Alnwick,/1st) of “1 Goshawk disturbed from trees. It flew immediately above us in a strong wind keeping pace at a height of about 30 feet (and) giving a great view of (its) under-markings”. Further sightings of these fierce hunters were possible “over Grindon Lough” (1/4th) on the Howick Estate (1/4th) whilst elsewhere in north Northumberland a Goshawk could be heard calling from a regular woodland nesting site at the month-end. We are well used to seeing (and reading about) Sparrowhawks which visit our gardens but not “1 – walking about on lawn”/ (The Bungalow, Branton/7th). A group of 5 Buzzards drifted above Titlington Pike (nr. Powburn) on the 3rd.

   My post sometimes contains details of the most remarkable birds of prey visiting peoples gardens but most of the records are unfortunately a case of mistaken identity. Although somewhat unusual a Kestrel did visit (and stayed) in a cottage garden at Swinhoe Farm (nr. Belford/12th) where it was possibly attracted by vermin near the poultry-pen.(???). Just one Merlin was seen – at East Thirston (nr. Felton/21st), but at least one Peregrine regularly appeared over the Belford farms of Elwick/Smeafield/Fenham-le-Moor (4th-30th), Another was admired at a site high on The Cheviot (11th). I referred to some Whooper Swans at Old Law, Ross earlier in this Newsletter and not far away was a soaring Peregrine. It eventually decided to head south and was watched flying low and directly overhead the sleeping swans. Utter panic is normally seen amongst all nearby birds but on this occasion the Whoopers kept their heads down and not a single bird flinched as the Peregrine passed immediately above!

   A huge list of Red-legged Partridge sightings was compiled but sufficient to say that there was no shortage of sightings on our farmlands in a wide band which stretched across from the Belford area – Chatton – Wooler –Harthope Valley. Some birds can be unnecessarily cruel to others of their own kind. A most vicious (and noisy!) fight was witnessed in the Middleton Burn (at Swinhoe Strip nr. Belford/12th). This consisted of a Moorhen which was holding the head of another bird underwater and, at the same time, pecking it savagely. Two more Moorhens looked on. The attack ceased when they were approached just a little too closely….(It is not unknown for them to kill their rivals!).

  Common Cranes are always scarce in Northumberland and yet the trickle of sightings does appear to be on the increase. March saw 2 visiting the Queen Elizabeth Country Park nr. Ashington on the 19th .

   4 Snipe were flushed from a marsh near the River Till (Chatton/7th) and there were more at/near Cheswick Pond (3/11th) and Yellow Rigg near Hexham (1/16th). Yet another was watched flying from near Bowden Doors (nr. Belford/31st) across to Lyham Moor. 2 Woodcock sprang out from the leaf-litter near Howick Gardens (4th). Another 2 fled from an area of rough ground in the Simonside Hills (28th) and a single bird sprang from the coarse vegetation above the Carey Burn (Cheviot Hills/31st). It would have been difficult to calculate the numbers of Curlews on Elwick (13th) as they were ‘broken’ into several flocks but certainly 1000 + feeding on the pastures.

 

  Grey Wagtails certainly made their presence known with birds seen at Howick (pair/4th) Postern Burn (Carlisle Park, Morpeth/ 1/7th), High Stanners (River Wansbeck nr Morpeth/ 2/7th), River Till (nr Fowberry Tower/ 1/7th) nr Henlaw (Chatton/ 1/7th), Cheswick Pond (1/11th), the mouth of the Whiteadder Water (1/20th), Carey Burn (pair/31st) and the Hawsen Burn (1/31st) .

  A Dipper lurked beneath Brainshaugh Bridge at Guyzance (19th) and 3 were occupying different stretches of the Carey Burn (31st). An additional 2 pairs of Dippers were noted beside the nearby Harthope Burn (31st).

 

   Ring Ouzels had returned to the valleys of the Cheviot Hills with a total of 5 seen on the 31st. Amongst these were 2 ♂ birds which persisted in fighting amongst the Heather.

 

   Yellowhammers were widely distributed and present throughout the month but two flocks were much larger than usual. 80+ fed amongst the rough, rank grass of a field at Smeafield (2nd) and 100+ lined a hedgerow of the old A1 road near Fenwick Wood (21st).

   No one could ignore the conspicuous stance and bold black head-markings of a Reed Bunting as he communicates with sounds that have often been described as “boring” or “irritating”! Reed Buntings were found at a number of locations during March and amongst these was the Football Hole (1/15th), Bowden Doors (1/15th) Holburn (1/15th), Smeafield Farm (max=6/17th +30th), old A1 nr Fenwick (3/21st) and Ford Moss (pair/29th). A lone Snow Bunting was discovered (27th) feeding along the sandy beach which is just inside the river mouth at Spittal.