Tag: Birdwatching Northumberland

  • A busy start to 2012

    After a quiet Christmas and New Year, Tuesday saw both of us back at work.  As well as updating a lot of the content on our website, Martin started preparing our monthly newsletter…and spent some time being quite domestic, making a pot of chili for our Bird Race planning meeting. The Northumberland Winter Bird Race…

  • Hopes for 2012

    In no particular order of priority, here a few things we’d love to see happening in 2012; 1) An increase in the English breeding population of Hen Harriers.  One of the most contentious wildlife issues we have – but perhaps 2012 will see, at least, the beginning of the abandonment of entrenched attitudes and finally…

  • Birdwatching Northumberland at the Bird Fair

    Once again the Birdwatching Northumberland stand at the Bird Fair proved very popular; particularly each afternoon, when visitors were able to sample Lindifarne Mead, Alnwick Rum and a selection of Allendale Beers.  We collected most of the alcohol from Northumbrian Gifts just before heading south, and arrived at Rutland Water in time to assist with…

  • British Birdwatching Fair 2011

    It’s that time of year again, and NEWT will be at the British Birdwatching Fair for the next 3 days as part of the Birdwatching Northumberland consortium. The consortium partners (Northumberland Tourism, Northumberland National Park Authority, Northumberland Coast AONB partnership, North Pennines AONB partnership, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, National Trust and Northern Experience Wildlife Tours) have, between…

  • An eventful evening

    Thursday was my 3rd consecutive late finish. Before setting off for a ‘Red Squirrel and Badger Safari’ I had a few admin things to get done including some more planning for the Birdwatching Northumberland stand at this year’s British Bird Fair (I’ve got 2 lecture slots at the Bird Fair this year!). After collecting our picnic from The…

  • Marching on

    As the start of the main season approaches, it’s been a busy few weeks for NEWT.  I attended the latest Netgain meeting, as this important part of the North Sea Marine Conservation Zones project nears its conclusion, plans are developing for the Birdwatching Northumberland stand at this year’s British Birdwatching Fair, Tourism fairs/leaflet distribution days gave us a…

  • The hills are alive…

    …with the sound of Meadow Pipits. Yesterday morning I decided to set out from home nice and early, so that I could spend a few hours in the North Pennines before exhibiting at the Tourism Fair in Hexham. Birdwatching in Northumberland’s southwestern reaches is (almost always) about quality rather than quantity.  Although it may seem…

  • Familiarity breeds content

    During the winter, when I’m busy with admin and business development, I do most of my birdwatching close to home.  Studying Jackdaw and Starling roosts involves a short walk, but with a constant level of activity around the feeding station (conveniently placed to be visible from the office window) I can enjoy the hobby that…

  • Net gains, or net losses?

    January is a quiet month for NEWT as far as days out with clients go, but it’s been an incredibly busy month for other reasons. The threat to tourism services in Northumberland, following public sector spending cuts and the impending closure of One Northeast, have occupied a lot of my time.  As Chair of SENTA…

  • British Birdwatching Fair 2010

    We’ve been away for a few days, as part of the Birdwatching Northumberland consortium at the British Birdwatching Fair 2010. Thursday started very early for Martin, with a North Pennines Prestige Tour for clients who were staying at Wallfoot in Carlisle.  Managing to avoid the worst of the weather, avian highlights included Merlin, Goldcrest, Nuthatch,…