Northumbrian Adventures in the Sun

The Indian summer days of mid-September have seen Sam and I visiting some well-known habitats in Northumberland.  Allen Banks is perhaps frequented more by birders in spring and early summer but we enjoyed a warm September day in clear autumnal light and felt no less rewarded for doing so despite the lack of flycatchers and warblers.  Amongst the rewards were a pair of Kingfishers showing briefly and well two or three times across the river, calling Dipper and a pair of Grey Wagtail fly catching, three species always associated with the river habitat.  Chiffchaff and Nuthatch were amongst birds calling from the trees.  Prior to our arrival we had watched garden birds, gathering Swallows preparing for southerly migration, Common Buzzard and male Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Swallows as we sat and drank coffee in my brother’s garden near Hadrian’s Wall country. Happily oblivious to forthcoming Corvid restrictions about to hit us once again.  I brought home a bag full of apples, newly fallen from one of the apple tree’s in the garden.

It wasn’t only apple tree we took an interest in today as we took notice of many of the tree species we passed, many old, broad and interesting.  The reflections on the surface of the river were mirrored sharply and stunningly and the rock outcrops of the gorge rising above the River Allen give a feeling of karst areas we had in the past become familiar with in central Europe.  A Common Buzzard was heard mewing somewhere in the clear sky above the steepest of the outcrops.  In the more shaded areas the ferns, a Hard Fern stood out as different especially, and the Great Horsetails standing tall gave a primordial feel to the place.  We sat by the river edge for a time just taking in the beauty of this area and enjoying the sun on our faces.

Great Horsetail

Another day was spent closer to home down at Brier Dene, South Bay and St Mary’s Island.  On our arrival the calm glimmering North Sea was lit by a rising sun which gave that Mediterranean feel to the place.  Today the morning began in typical autumnal style, bright and cold, although the sun soon warmed the air as the morning progressed and by the time we had finished in Brier Dene we were taking layers of clothing off.  The dene presented me with a wonderful sighting of a Kingfisher which lifted from the side of the burn as I approached, perched for a few seconds whilst my brain and eyes kicked into gear, then it flew off down the narrow burn.  Grey Wagtails were also near the burn and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard.

Cold, Calm and sunlit

The area was in places holding mass of berries and the Bullfinches, one a rather ragged looking individual were making the most of them, otherwise it was rather sparce of birds although we did see more common garden species, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat.

Autumn Ash keys

After enjoying an ice cream we walked along the golf range and beach to St Mary’s Island where we watched gathering numbers of Swallows and House Martins and the flocks of Golden Plover in flight in the clear air, a highlight of any visit at this time of year.  A nice area of Sea Asters gave some colour to the ground in front of us as we watched over the sand, rocks and sea.  There was little to no movement of birds today.  A walk around the wetland brought us a sighting of Lesser Whitethroat, but little else of note.  The Barred Warbler had vanished.  A Roe Deer appeared in the fields and was soon making towards us.  As we prepared our cameras the deer spotted us and diverted its run and soon vanished into the taller grasses.  Despite a lack of birds, it had been a good few hours in the sun.

Swallow

Sea Aster

Our next trip was to Lindisfarne on yet another sunny day, this time with some cloud cover early morning it proved a few degrees warmer than the previous day’s trip.  Common Buzzard and Kestrel were both seen on the journey north and as we crossed the causeway in fine light two Little Egrets walked away from the road edge.  Once this species would have excited any birders mind, but such is there growing numbers in the area it could be easy to take them for granted.  I confess I am still excited by the sight of these wonderfully attractive egrets.

Once on the island we made for the village area and the Vicar’s Garden.  It wasn’t long before we realised that we were not going to be treated to a host of autumn migrants but we were happy just to enjoy the island and what wildlife there was to see.  I’m damned if I could get my eye on the Garden Warbler high in the trees I’m led to believe, but I did catch sight of a Brambling among may Chaffinches and heard passing Redpolls.  Across the water in the distance a small number of Brent Geese were seen, as were Grey Seals, some appearing like mini submarines, and of course a few common waders, including a flock of Knot.  As we walked around the church grounds the crowds began to build up, so we made for the lonnen and our circular walk far from the maddening crowd.

The hedges held few birds but a Goldcrest seemed to follow us along the walk.  One of the highlights was an overhead pass by two Ravens which Sam’s keen ear had picked up long before they approached us.  Perhaps on their way to the beach to scavenge.  It was also nice to watch close up Wheatears, a species which would always appear in my top ten, and Stonecats.  A bit too soon for and calm for migrants today, but I was happy to settle for calmness and just enjoyed the walk and talk.

Also enjoyable was our first lifer of the day in the form of Grass of Parnassus, the flowers of which are described by Steve Nicholls in Flowers of the Field, as having flowers like cups of finest porcelain, and just how true it is of these white green veined beauties.  Yes, I had never knowingly seen these plants before.  Named after Mount Parnassus in Greece, and of course not a grass, but named so because of the liking for them by cows grazing in that area.

As we walked past the lough Sam commented as to the windblown reeds sounding like the waters of a slow running stream, as we stopped to listen.  The sound was almost duplicated later by the gentle soporific rush of the incoming tide along the shore of the island.  Peace indeed but not a time to sleep.

I left this favourite Northumbrian habitat with a short bird list and tired limbs, but a mind refreshed by the beauty, stillness and light already thinking of a future visit.

We drove past Budle Bay without stopping as the tide was still way out and we could see only gulls on the near sand.  It was lucky that we did pass straight through as we arrived at Boulmer at the right time to get a nice sighting of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper showing in perfect light.  It wasn’t long before it flew south along the shoreline to be followed by the pack of photographers and birders.  We saw the bird well, a lifer for us both so we decided to stay put instead of following the crowd and I think we made the right decision.  We watched the flock of nicely plumaged Dunlin and other waders flying back and forth along the incoming sun-drenched tideline at closer and closer quarters.  I’m told the Buff-breasted Sandpiper joined them but I confess that I didn’t pick it up on that occasion.  The flock of gulls which included Mediterranean Gulls also put on a fine display.  This was to bring the close of our recent adventures to a perfect close.  On deciding to leave we noticed that quickly approaching from above the North Sea were threatening clouds of grey saturnine appearance.  It did rain the following morning.

As we walked towards the car a nice group of late flowering Sea Rocket was found.  So, an excellent day ended in contentment as we dreamed of future adventures which will certainly include visits to Lindisfarne.