Monday 30 July 2012

Prestwick Carr


30th July.  I had a walk up to Prestwick Carr after having checked out the community room in Dinnington Village which is required for a presentation in November.  It’s a rather impressive community room taking up to one hundred and fifty people seated.  The place is also obviously well looked after.  We were shown around by a very helpful and friendly member of the community.

The sun was shinning, the red flags were flying on the carr and the guns could be heard.

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here.
 
There were two birds of the day.  The first being Swift, which were everywhere and the second being Willow Tit, which could be heard in many places along the ‘bumpy road’.  The latter bird eventually giving a fine sighting.  Unfortunately I only had the compact camera today so wasn’t able to do it justice.  A large number of House Martins flew in the area north of the road, with a few Swallows.

Although quite a bit of water is still about the area looked so different from winter visits.  I wonder how many of the Short Eared Owl enthusiasts have been back to see the area in summer.



Summer on the carr
 
Meadow Brown Butterflies were quite numerous along with one or two Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies and a few White speciesCommon Buzzards were seen along with one Sparrowhawk, but surprisingly no Kestrels.  A Kestrel had been seen on the approach to Dinnington.  Other birds of note were Willow WarblersCommon Whitethroat which was carrying food as if still feeding youngsters, a small flock/family of Long-tailed Tits and two male Bullfinches.  A flock of Lapwing occupied the fields west of the road to the sentry box and Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew in the area.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Willow Tit

Thunderous looking cloud gathered to the north where rain showers could be seen.  We left for home just as a shower of rain began.  The rain soon stopped and it hasn’t reached Killingworth as yet.  It had been an enjoyable three hours.

6 comments:

  1. It was nice to get good views of the Willow Tit. It's a bird I find to be quite elusive!

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  2. Aye, where are the "Shortie Snappers" now ??
    Keeping out of my way, i'm pleased to say.
    I had to walk up to the other side of Ponteland on Sunday from the airport Metro and was going to call into Prestwick but i ended up in Ponteland Park for the first time and had some nice views of inverterbrates in and around the wildflower pastures and some handsome dragonflies hawking the River Pont so i didn't get along. A nice place to visit and a pleasant change.

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  3. Mark...Prestwick Carr seems to be one of the few places in Northumberland that can practically guarantee Willow Tits.

    John...I'm always on the look out for interesting new walks so will have to suss out this one you mention. I've not been in that area for years. Very few people about at Prestwick Carr John. That's the way I like it. I meant to mention that on last couple of visits I've smelt gas at the Dinnington end of the bumpy road. Do you know where this comes from?

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  4. A gas main that was put in about fifteen years ago fractures quite frequently particularly near the road junction at the east end on the bumpy road and also at Banks Pond. I've often been concerned about starting my car when it has been parked over it for I remember about ten years ago when we had a leak some (brave/daft) wag set alight to it and there was literally a 6 inch flame burning up from the ground!!

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  5. Blimey, I'm pleased I don't smoke! Thanks for the info Peter. Cheers.

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  6. Cheers Brian. I'll make a note re: the Willow Tits there.

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