Our Coast, Our Sea - Winter birds

6 January 2010

Winter is a great time of year to visit a Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve.

The eastern chain of coastal reserves, including Hauxley, East Chevington and Druridge Pools, are full of seasonal interest.

Large groups of eider are present throughout January and visitors may also see extensive flocks of common scoter and the larger, rarer, scaup.

Druridge Pools is a regular winter haunt for short eared owls, often observed during daylight hours weaving a steady path across the shallow water meadows. Here, the reserve’s winter soundscape is interwoven with the plaintive calls of curlew, the shrill song of oystercatcher and the gregarious aerial chatter of geese.

Geese, such as Brent and the beautiful Barnacle, are the true icons of the winter migration and can be seen right across our region, but some of the best sites for watching them are our wetland reserves. Small groups of magnificent whooper swan gather in intimate groups, with regular gatherings at Hauxley and Chevington.

Grassy coastal dunes run parallel to the reserves and are wonderful vantage points for sea watching – watch out for the comical shoreline antics of impish sanderling, playing dare on the shoreline with the incoming waves.

The winter sky here is ‘a-buzz’ with avian drama, but none more spectacular than the shimmering beauty of golden plover – taking to the air in large undulating flocks above the fields of the inshore farmland.

The central reserves chain, including Harbottle Crags, Bakethin and Whitelee Moor are great visits when snow and frost cloak the open moor and high crag. This white veil may give the resident sheep temporary camouflage, but it presents the perfect canvas for viewing larger mammals – red foxes, so striking in their winter coat, boxing hares (from late January onwards), the chestnut scurry of red squirrel and the tentative field outings of the native roe deer.

The southern chain, including Briarwood Banks, East Crindledykes Quarry and Juliet’s Wood with their farmland surrounds are great places to view bands of berry raiding redwing and fieldfare. The wooded reserves provide some spectacular mass evening roosts of rooks and jackdaws and may also award with occasional dusk time glimpses of shadowy badger.

To the north, Ford Moss is ideal for red grouse, woodcock and late day sightings of ethereal barn owl. Annstead Dunes offers visitors further sea watching opportunities, and a chance to explore Northumberland’s iconic coast line in all its mid winter beauty.

Don’t just take the Trust’s word for it – go and experience the reserves in winter for yourself.