Northern Experience Wildlife Tours

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  • A day in the hills

    Birdwatching in Northumberland in mid-late October usually means praying for southeasterlies and rain, and staying on or close to the coast.

    Yesterday I did something very different…

    I met up with my guide for the day at an anonymous rendezvous location and we set off on a mystery tour. It was a mystery to me anyway, as all I knew was that we were going to visit a number of confidential sites in search of Hen Harriers, the heavily persecuted, much maligned ‘grey hawk’ of the upland areas of northern Britain. For nearly seven hours we walked across heather moorland, banks of bracken, swathes of rush, up hills and down narrow gullies. The topic of conversation rarely departed from raptors; where are the blatant ‘holes’ in Buzzard distribution in the county? where are Hobbies present during the breeding season? what really happened with the failed Hen Harrier breeding attempts in Northumberland this year?

    Undaunted by the cold wind, occasional stinging raindrops and the rough terrain that induced a strangely satisfying burning sensation in my thigh muscles, we continued combing the moorland. Raptor workers throughout Britain are doing this regularly, monitoring populations and distribution and unearthing evidence of wrongdoing. Eventually we arrived at a regular roost site. As the wind strengthened and the rain began lashing our faces, the highlights of the day happened; first a male Merlin raced up a gully next to us and then, our prime objective for the day, an adult male Hen Harrier closely hugging the heather-clad slopes below our watchpoint before plunging into the bracken on an adjacent hillside. It was a real busman’s holiday, as I regularly check a couple of roost sites myself during the winter months, but educational to spend time on someone else’s patch.

  • Sniping

    Although there are some unpleasant connotations to the word ‘snipe’ these two definitions are related directly to the bird and it’s habits;

    Snipe n. One of nearly 20 wading birds in the Genus Gallinago, Lymnocryptes or Coenocorypha

    Snipe v. To shoot at usually exposed individuals from a concealed point of vantage

    Snipe are secretive, cryptically patterned birds that, unlike most other waders, spend their time tucked in amongst reeds and rushes. Occasionally, if there’s a nice bit of exposed mud with cover close by, they may venture into the open and allow prolonged observation. In the spring their ‘drumming’ display is an extraordinary spectacle above the damp fields where they breed. A ‘sniper’ was someone skilled enough to shoot a snipe.

    Yesterday we were fortunate, on a hastily arranged mini-safari to see both Common Snipe (the breeding bird of British moorland) and that master of disguise the Jack Snipe, alongside one another. It was a real identification masterclass opportunity and we watched them for quite a while. Whenever the Jack Snipe stopped feeding, it also stopped the bizarre bobbing motion that makes it look as though it’s legs are on springs. As soon as it was still it blended in with the bankside vegetation and it was a struggle for everyone to pick out where it was resting.

    When I returned home at the end of the evening, Sarah reminded me about the last Jack Snipe that we saw together.

  • 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.

  • Visitors from the north…and from the east

    As I headed up the A1 yesterday morning, the rain and mist cloaked the landscape around me with an increasing amount of murk. Cause for optimism; mid-October, poor weather. Can there be any other other group of people who would be inspired by this more than birdwatchers are? Or anyone else who’s birthday wish is always for low cloud and drizzle?

    I met Jackie and Stephen, who had won a prize draw for a 3-night break in Northumberland, including two days birdwatching with Northern Experience and had travelled all the way from Caithness, at the Beal road end carpark. The rain stopped, making me even more confident that we would find something good. We drove over onto Holy Island, started walking from the carpark towards the village centre…and I found a Red-breasted Flycatcher. I’d predicted a good bird – and there it was. As it flipped backwards and forwards across the road, it came close enough to confirm it’s age as a 1st-winter bird; just a matter of months old and beginning to gather admirers. My mobile was playing up so I went back to the carpark and told the National Trust chap who was busy trying to encourage people to join. He’s always keen to hear what birds are on the island as he can let other birders know. Eventually my mobile decided that it could pick up a signal, and we put the news out. After a good walk around the island, enjoying lots and lots of Robins, Blackbirds and Redwings, as well as a Merlin and at least 3 Peregrine Falcons, we passed by the R-b Fly again, with an increasing crowd on the path below it as it hawked insects high in the canopy.

    Today is Jackie and Stephen’s second day out with us, we’re going to be birding southeast Northumberland…and, as I clean and prepare the Landrover for the day ahead, the trees and bushes around our house are dripping with newly-arrived Goldcrests 🙂

  • On the boardwalk

    Today was a very special day. Way back in February I gave a presentation at the Wansbeck You Decide! voting day, and the Friends of Choppington Woods were awarded £10k based on my impassioned plea to support the reserve that lies behind my office. We’ve done a lot with the money but my own personal favourite part of the project is a boardwalk and pond-dipping platform, designed with our local schools in mind (not influenced at all by the fact that I’m Chair of Governors at Choppington First School…). So, this morning we had an inaugural pond-dipping session, organised by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust SENSE project, with a group of Year 2/3 pupils from the school. Although it was cold and there wasn’t a great deal of life in the pond, the enthusiasm of the pupils was clear for all to see and they did catch a lot of pond snails and a water boatman. Another little bit of breaking down the disconnect between children and the environment, and the launch of an excellent community resource as well.

  • The Kill

    “Thank God I’m not a Redshank” That was a comment made yesterday by a client on a visit to the Lindisfarne NNR. The reason for the comment was the sad, windblown Redshank trying to extract a meal from the mudflats in front of us, while being buffeted by the wind. This came at the end of a excellent day birdwatching on this magnificent section of the Northumberland coast; wild geese in the 1000’s, 100’s of Gannets in a spectacular feeding frenzy and rafts of Common Eider drifting on a turbulent sea…

    The Redshank worked it’s way slowly along the edge of the rising tide, picking and poking into the dark mud. With it’s feathers displaced from their usual neat arrangement by the wind that had made the whole day so atmospheric, those gleaming white secondaries were like a beacon in the gathering gloom of the late afternoon. Ours were not the only eyes to see that though…there was a sudden burst of alarm from the terrified wader as it came under attack from a Peregrine. The raptor swooped and the Redshank avoided that first assault. As the falcon rose and turned to regain it’s aerial advantage the Redshank saw an opportunity and flew. Quickly it realised the futility of that effort as the Peregrine closed the gap with breathtaking speed. A quick turn and the Redshank was back at it’s starting point, again avoiding the striking talons. Fleeing was abandoned as an option and it headed into the water. The falcon stooped repeatedly from a low height, trying to flush it’s target and make the hunt a much more one-sided effort. The Redshank crouched lower and lower, hugging the safety of the water. In a final stoop the falcon stalled at the last second before it would have hit the water and reached down a taloned claw…plucking the Redshank from it’s sanctuary.

  • Whether the weather

    is good or bad, it’s always possible to make the best of it. On Monday I had a Press Trip to Druridge Bay. The weather was excellent and the highlight of the afternoon was the Glossy Ibis at Druridge Pools. Tuesday was not such a nice day and I spent it watching our garden wildlife from the comfort of the office. As I was a little under the weather I didn’t mind spending a day indoors. I’ve never quite understood ‘familiarity breeds contempt’!

    Wednesday dawned crisp, clear and very frosty. A day out was surely what I needed to hasten my recovery from whatever was ailing me. With a focus on getting better shots of the ibis, having previously photographed it in dismal light conditions, it was disheartening to see it a long way from the hide. Not to worry, the local herons soon gave it a bit of a kicking and it was winging it’s way towards me. The image linked above was exactly what I had in mind when I left the office yesterday morning. I love it when a plan comes together.

  • The first frost of autumn

    My heart lifted as I looked out of the window this morning. I’m a cold weather person, always have been and always will be, and it was frosty. I don’t know exactly why, but I always feel a real sense of anticipation when it turns cold. So, donning several layers, I headed to Newbiggin for an early morning seawatch. Nothing much passing by, but the crisp air and a skein of Pink-footed Geese, as well as indulging my favourite birdwatching passion, all made for an enjoyable couple of hours.

    Back in the office after thawing out I could see, high overhead, a small flock of birds heading south. Perhaps more wild geese? No, remarkably, the binoculars revealed 5 Magpies. Another 4 were following close behind. Note to self – check literature for info about Magpie migration…

  • Birdwatching, Northumberland and a Gloss finish to last weekend

    After the intensity of July and August, September is a quieter time for NEWT so we’ve had time to take stock of our position, start to implement expansion plans and review our long-term strategies. Getting that all out of the way as soon as possible was important as October really is a top quality birdwatching month…like many other local birders we’re praying for howling northeasterlies and rain, followed by nice, warm sunshine that will allow the grounded migrants to feed before they continue their journey.

    We wouldn’t want to be anywhere other than Northumberland at this time of the year; I’m a native of East Yorkshire (and passionate about my roots) and Sarah was born in Nottingham and grew up in Derbyshire but Northumberland is home. When I left Arizona in 2000, my homesickness was for the Northumberland coast; cold, windy autumn days seawatching at Newbiggin, wrapping up warm against the winter cold and scanning the sea for Slavonian Grebes near Bamburgh, scouring coastal bushes for Goldcrests and other migrants when the weather deteriorates.

    September hasn’t been too shabby as month’s go; some good seawatching, three excellent pelagics, jaw-dropping views of otters and, last weekend, a mouthwatering rarity. The Glossy Ibis that toured much of southeast Northumberland, and took a bit of effort to finally catch up with, was the first in the county for 20 years and only the 3rd record up here ever.

    And yesterday, I knew for certain that I’m a Northumbrian. I was at a meeting about the re-branding of the area, and the Area Tourism Management Plan. Almost an entire day indoors, and I’m usually not too good when confined, but I managed to listen intently to everything that was said. Sarah says that she expects this to be a turning point…

  • The big thing about Northumberland…

    is all of the small things. There’s so much wildlife in Northumberland, so much culture and heritage, so much beautiful countryside, so much that remains undiscovered. At this time of the year: wild geese, cold autumn breezes, dark nights, golden foliage with the trees rustling in secluded valleys, Grey Seals, Red Squirrels, fabulous fungi, a sense of change. Every season has its own offering but I find Autumn such an inspiring time, particularly from a wildlife and landscape photography perspective.

    Today I’m going to be getting wrapped up warm and enjoying the Grey Seals of the Farne Islands on a Seal Safari, and then attending the Wansbeck Business Awards. For once, I’m glad we’ve not got any bookings for tomorrow 🙂