Northern Experience Wildlife Tours

Author: martin and sarah

  • North of England Raptor Conference 2009

    Yesterday was the North of England Raptor Conference 2009. This year it was organised by the two study groups based in the Peak District, and was held at the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell. The distance from the northeast had clearly discouraged most of the Northumberland raptor workers who normally attend. For us it was less of a problem though; Sarah’s parents live in Derbyshire so we were able to combine attending the conference with visiting them. As an aspect of birdwatching raptors aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they can be a fascinating part of an overall approach to the hobby, and a number of species lend themselves well to amateur study.

    The first speaker was Bill Heinrich, talking about the work done by The Peregrine Fund with Peregrine, California Condor, Aplomado Falcon and Gyrfalcon. Some novel approaches to dealing with conservation problems caused by hunting were described, and it did raise the question of why we can’t adopt a process of engagement to deal with some of the problems we face in Britain.

    A description of a survey of Merlin numbers followed, and this is particularly pertinent to Northumberland as some detailed work on the species has been carried out in our home county.

    Next came Ian Newton. As the author of ‘The Sparrowhawk’, one of the best monographs we’ve ever read, we were both looking forward to hearing him speak again. As he was talking about the subject of that monograph, and the species of raptor that breeds closer to our office than any other, it was all the more fascinating. It’s a real gift to make scientific study interesting and understandable, but Professor Newton does that very well. Lots of ideas for studying our local Sparrowhawks occured to both of us during the talk, so some of the long dark winter nights will be taken up with planning that study.

    The morning’s proceedings were drawn to a close by the estate manager for the National Trust in the Peak District, outlining the challenges that our upland areas face.

    After lunch came a talk that we were both eagerly anticipating; Steve Roberts describing how to find, identify and study Honey Buzzards. To describe it as entertaining doesn’t really do justice to Steve’s approach to public-speaking.

    Then it was the turn of Terry Pickford, with a talk entitled ‘Ground-nesting Peregrines in the Forest of Bowland’. What we actually got was a talk that concentrated almost exclusively on Hen Harriers. We understand Terry’s passion for Hen Harriers completely, but giving an unpublicised presentation on the scheduled topic for the next speaker, we both found rather offensive and distasteful.

    The scheduled speaker from the RSPB had been unable to attend so a last-minute stand-in had the unenviable task of talking about ‘The Hen Harrier in 2009’. It was refreshing to hear a level-headed summary of the events of this year and we applaud the speaker for his openness and honesty in the face of some self-important heckling from one or two members of the audience.

    Anthony Messenger was the next speaker, describing nearly 20 years of studying Hobbies in South Derbyshire. This was another talk that stimulated many ideas, particularly as the species occurs in small numbers in Northumberland during the breeding season.

    The final speaker was Andrew Dixon, talking about Saker Falcon conservation and sustainability in Mongolia. Martin had been looking forward to this one as he taught with Andy’s wife Nicola in the early part of this decade. Like Bill Heinrich’s talk, this was another description of a ‘different’ approach to raptor conservation. Food for thought…

    The conference ended with a short Q&A session, but you could probably have an all-day Q&A on Hen Harriers alone.

    As the conference closed and delegates departed, we were fortunate to have an opportunity to chat with Steve Roberts and Andy Dixon about our own Honey Buzzard studies in Northumberland. Proven breeding remains an elusive goal…but we’ll get there.

  • Call of the wild geese

    The last two days have featured a lot of geese. On Saturday we led a ‘drop-in’ birdwatching session in Budle Bay, for the Northumberland Coast AONB. Starting at 10:30, it was cold and breezy but the air was filled with Pink-footed, Greylag and Barnacle Geese for much of the day. The people who came along had varying interests and questions; some just wanted to know what “all of those geese” were, some were keen to learn the difference between Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits…and one was interested in identifying sub-adult gulls! We were able to oblige on all counts, and really enjoyed a day of engaging the interested, the not-so-interested and the much-more-interested than they were before.

    This weekend was also the start of the Icelandic Goose Census for this winter. Pink-footed Geese are counted at core sites in October and November, Greylags in November and December. Our site is one of few that have both species in important numbers so we get to survey in all three months – and it can be very, very cold at dawn in mid-December! We have to arrive early so that we can sneak into position before it starts to get light. The site has been heavily disturbed for the last two winters and the geese have been erratic in using it as a roost. The journey to the site yesterday morning was enlivened by the creatures that use man-made roads for hunting, feeding and as a route from A to B; rabbits, hares, frogs, rats, a hedgehog, two barn owls and a long-eared owl were all along the 15 min journey from home. There was no sound when we arrived, and it was too dark to see. Would the geese be there, or would we have to spend another winter trying to track them down? As the grey light of dawn began to cast a faint glow over the pool it was obvious that they were there. Over 3000 Pink-footed Geese, 250+ Greylags and we snuck in, counted and snuck out without the birds flushing. Back at the car we were able to watch as they began to depart for their daytime feeding areas. Big flocks of geese are one of the great spectacles of the natural world. Birdwatching is like that; so many stunning sights and sounds that you can have an excellent day out at any time of the year. Big winter flocks, whether they be of geese, starlings, corvids, finches, waders or ducks are right near the top of our list of things that can change perception of what birdwatching is all about.

  • Things that go Squeak in the Night

    A second new event launch in two days was yesterday evening’s activity. Martin went along to The Swan at Choppington mid-afternoon to set out all the cables and extension leads to enable us to run a moth trap amngst the bushes around the pub lawn. As Martin and Chris were setting it out, the heaven’s opened and they both received a good soaking.

    By 6.30 the clouds had all cleared and the evening promised good weather. Sparkling wine on arrival for our guests was followed by an explanation of moth-trapping (and a beauty parade of Thursday night’s catch – most of which were very active after warming up following day in our fridge). A short Landrover journey took us to the path we were going to walk and, after a brief history of Choppington Woods, we set off along a birdwatching route that we could probably lead blindfolded. A Jay flew across our path and a flock of 42 Swallows swirled overhead. As dusk descended, the first bat of the evening appeared; a Common Pipistrelle that everyone managed to see as it flew in and out of the trees. Back to The Swan, and a meal of the usual excellent standard was followed by a moth-trapping session. Although windy and cold, we still managed to catch a few moths, including the first Small Fan-foot for Choppington Woods. Into the pub again, and everyone was ready for dessert. Our next ‘Things that go Squeak in the Night’ is on Thursday 17th September and there are still places available. With the earlier sunset we’ll have by then, there’s always the possibility of seeing foxes and hearing owls before we retire to the warmth and comfort of The Swan.

  • A lazy Saturday morning?

    With the continuing excellent weather the Buddleia in our shrubbery is plastered with butterflies, bees and hoverflies. Ten Peacocks and four Painted Ladies are busy consuming as much nectar as they can, so we’ll be out there shortly with our cameras. Then it’s a day in the middle of the countryside for us; pre-walking routes for the Kielder Walking Festival, Northumberland National Park Walkfest and a couple of one-off trips for clients.

    The thing about wildlife is that, wherever you go, there’ll always be something to look at. Perhaps we’ll find a pond and search for Dragons and Damsels? maybe a birdwatching gem will lie along one of our routes? turning a stone or log may reveal reptiles, amphibians…or worms and beetles. Every day is a voyage of discovery.

  • As the sun goes down

    Martin had just returned from leading a mini-safari when the ‘phone rang; “can you organise an otter safari for us this evening please?” Flexibility has always been a given for NEWT; a late summer tour of Southwest Northumberland, birdwatching in the depths of the winter, photographing otters, searching for rare orchids, an impromptu whale and dolphin cruise for a top national journalist. If we can make it happen then we will…

    The field full of Greylag Geese were sitting quietly, nibbling away at the grass. Behind them, a Roe Deer was working it’s way slowly along the fence line and three Brown Hares were alternately running across the field and impersonating clods of earth. A few Starlings circled overhead and were soon joined by another small group…and another…and another. Eventually over a thousand were swirling over the reedbeds. The big loose flock suddenly condensed into a tight ball as a Sparrowhawk began pursuing them. A juvenile Marsh Harrier made a brief appearance before dropping into it’s nightime roost site and distant flocks of corvids and Wood Pigeons were sprinkled across the sky like poppy seeds.

    Of our main quarry there was no sign; all of the ducks and swans were paddling around calm and contented, so we moved on to site number two. Another set of panic-free wildfowl…and time for a strategic decision; do we wait and hope, or check a site where yesterday afternoon there was so much agitation, and aversion to one corner of a pool, that there had to be a big predator lurking in the reeds?

    The decision to move sites was made and we settled to watch a flock of waders. Roosting on a mudflat and seemingly unstressed…but then a wave of panic rippled through the flock. Calm restored, but only for a few seconds, before the worried calling started again. Then a flock of Canada Geese arrived for the evening roost. A few minutes of calm settled over the pool and we watched the sunset; vivid slashes of pink, then orange, cut across the sky and visibility was so good that we could see The Cheviot and Hedgehope, many miles away to the northwest. Then it happened, chaos as all of the geese tried to take off; with only a few metres to the edge of the water they didn’t really have a chance and they stumbled onto the mudflat, scattering Lapwings left, right and centre. Surely, there could only be one cause for the panic? And there it was; diving gracefully through the reflection of the sunset, making a beeline for the geese before changing course and heading away into the deepening shadows of the night. Then it was time for us to do the same.

  • A mixed weekend

    Saturday saw us making the short journey to Newbiggin, to attend the launch event for Scone Mad. Colin and Jackie, the owners of Nevins Nibbles, have an incredible range of scones and the public were voting to select the 100th variety. With the contenders including Jelly Bean, Boost and Chili & chocolate, the competition was going to be close. We’re looking forward to finding out the identity of the winner. Even this interlude had a birdwatching theme; 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were soaring over Newbiggin as we sat out in the sun, and Nevins Nibbles has played host in the past to meetings of the legendary collection of hardy, seabird-obsessed Northumberland residents that form SWAN (Sea Watchers at Newbiggin).

    Later that afternoon we headed to Redesdale to pre-walk the route for this Wednesday’s ‘Birds of Redesdale’ walk. Common Sandpipers were swee-wee-wee-wee-weeing along the river, Roe Deer were bounding through the long grass and Painted Ladies were seen in very good numbers.

    Sunday was our first stint as wardens at the Osprey Watchpoint in Kielder Water and Forest Park. Over 80 visitors were entertained and informed by the four wardens and the weather was glorious (for most of the time anyway…). After 7 hours at the watchpoint we were driving home – towards some ominous looking clouds. Sure enough, the first drops of rain began to hit the windscreen, and then the heavens opened. Thunder and lightning accompanied the deluge and we rounded a bend only to find a cyclist in the middle of the road. The chain had come off his bike so, with the thunderstorm inching closer we suggested that he put himself and the bike in the back of our car. The journey to Morpeth saw us driving through a lot of deep flooded roads so he would have struggled to get himself home without getting into real difficulty. We dropped him at Ashington and eventually we arrived home, with a 1hr journey having taken 2hrs, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate were in order as we dried out.

  • Birds of Coquetdale

    It was the walk that had nearly everything…that Northumberland’s weather could throw at us. As part of the Rothbury Walking Festival we were leading a 4.5 mile evening walk from Rothbury, along the River Coquet, through Newtown, Whitton Hillhead, Whitton and then back to Rothbury.

    With glorious sunshine as our 14 participants gathered, black clouds massing ominously as we set out, gale force winds and driving rain when we were just a few hundred yards from our starting point and a spectacular double rainbow over Rothbury, we were really only missing snow and fog.

    Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers, Song Thrushes and Chaffinches were singing along the route, Swallows were trying to feed, while all the time being pursued by their recently fledged offspring and Woodpigeons, Rooks, Carrion Crows and Jackdaws were loafing around or feeding in the grassy fields.

    A stunning male Yellowhammer perched on a fence and allowed everyone a good long look at him. As he belted out his song, one of our walkers was incredulous about the description of it as ‘little bit of bread and nooooo cheese’, and suggested the alternative of ‘take off my socks and tickle myyyyyy feet’ 🙂

    As we dropped back off the hills towards Rothbury, a family party of at least 9 Great Tits moved through the trees ahead of us, Siskins called but remained out of sight and the first drops of the next rain shower began to fall.

  • Open Farm Sunday

    After spending Saturday at the Rising Sun Country Park, where the Newcastle RSPB Member’s Group were celebrating their 40th birthday, Sunday saw us spending a long day in the field. As part of Open Farm Sunday we were helping Ian Brown at Lee Moor Farm. We started with a (not quite the) Dawn Chorus Walk followed by breakfast at the Black Olive Cafe and then guided conservation tours were on offer right through the day. As we wandered through some excellent wildflower habitat, marvelling at the amount of Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi, lots of birds were in evidence. Buzzards were seen on each walk, Willow Warblers were singing their descending scales, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat were both seen as were Siskin and Goldcrest. The recent influx of Painted Lady butterflies was mentioned by one walker, who had witnessed the huge numbers of this beautiful insect arriving in Sussex in late May…and Sarah’s sharp eyes soon picked up one as it raced by. Eventually 3 were seen as they settled on the track in front of us, and we all pondered on the fact that, although we may regard butterflies as delicate, they had travelled the distance from North Africa and the middle-East to be in Britain for the summer. As shadows lengthened, guests began to arrive for the evening barbecue and Bat & Moth walk. Just as the sun slipped below the horizon, the bat detector crackled into life and our first Pipistrelle of the evening appeared close by, hunting insects over a small pond. Everyone, young and old, was able to see this tiny mammal, which was soon joined by a 2nd, then a 3rd. A dispute between two of the bats saw a high-speed chase, before one returned to swooping and diving just feet away. As a spectacular moonrise illuminated the fields around Lee Moor, attention turned to the moth trap and it’s first ‘customers’ of the evening. After close study they were released unharmed into the vegetation, and we left Lee Moor after a long and successful day.

  • A change in the weather

    Clear frosty nights are what we’re enjoying at the moment. After several days of strong westerly winds (that have uprooted our garden fence again) we’ve got a gentle easterly breeze and clear skies. We left the house at 9:15 last night and walked along the River Wansbeck. Mute Swans were feeding serenely, Rabbits were scattering in front of us, a Herring Gull was dive-bombing a Grey Heron (and kept up the assault even once the heron got the message and flew upstream) and Dunlin were callling in display over the tidal mud. The staccato rattle of the bat detector alerted us to Common Pipistrelles, hunting the few insects that were braving the cold night air. We’ve blogged before about the transition from day to night in the autumn and winter, but it’s a special time of day at any time of the year.

  • An early start

    4am, and we’re heading out of the house and up to Lee Moor Farm near Alnwick. The reason for such an unearthly hour seeing us already on the road was next Sunday’s Dawn Chorus and Northumbrian Breakfast. ‘Prior practice prevents poor presentation’ so we were going to pre-walk the route for next week. Early mornings are Sarah’s favourite time of day for wildlife watching and as the sun’s first rays peeked over the horizon we weren’t disappointed. Yellowhammers were belting out their own top of the pops ‘little bit of bread and no cheeeeeeese’ (number one for all eternity, apparently), whilst Willow Warblers were practising their descending scales and newly arrived Whitethroats were busy marking their territories with their own rather scratchy warbling. Lee Moor Farm has been specially managed for wildlife and Tree Sparrows were evident around the farm buidings and hedgerows, Skylarks soared in song, a pair of Roe Deer watched us intently from the opposite end of the track and Brown Hares bounded across the fields. Our walk took us through a variety of habitats and, as the sun began to warm the still chilly air, Kestrels could be seen on the hunt for breakfast, then later, when the sun really came out, Buzzards could be heard and then seen, getting caught in a thermal and spiralling higher and higher until eventually they were out of sight. We were well and truly energised and looking forward to our early start next Sunday when we do it all again, and will be able to showcase the magnificent sights and sounds of the Dawn Chorus to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day. Why not call us on 01670 827465 if you’ve got any questions or you want to come along and join us?