Trip reports
Fieldtrip - Craster
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Walking down to the bottom car park I noticed that the broom was in full flower displaying a mass of yellow in the morning sun. We congregated at the information office where Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit and Wood Pigeon were seen either flying or in the trees surrounding us. When we were all sorted, some members having taken advantage of a tea bar to obtain scones and tea / coffee etc, we set off along a wooded path heading out of Craster, where Chaffinch and Coal Tit were seen, before crossing an open field. At the end of the field we crossed a road and Yellowhammer could be heard singing. Several were seen in the trees but only as dark outlines due to the position of the sun. But when we tuned around to look in the opposite field we saw a Yellowhammer very clearly in all its colourful splendour displaying very well in a small hedge. Underneath was a Blackbird hopping around.
We continued up the road towards a small hamlet and as we arrived at Keepers Cottage a Buzzard circled overhead. In the centre of this small collection of buildings was a green with a tree growing. On this green Crocuses and Snowdrops added colour to the peaceful scene. Members also showed an interest in a large patch of Winter Aconite which was in full flower. A Coal Tit was up to antics in the tree in the centre of the green. House Sparrow were seen in the trees of the surrounding gardens and a lone Starling was seen perched on a tree in the distance, beyond the chimneys.
We left this peaceful setting and walked along a track with farmland on both sides. To the right was a field of stubble where the bird which has given rise to so much poetry, the Skylark, was both seen and heard. A little too early in the season for its best song but pleasant all the same. To the left was a grassed field and overhead a Kestrel flew. He turned into an almost non existent breeze, hovered with all the colour of his plumage catching the sun, then flew on. In the distance the Cheviot Hills could be seen still covered in snow, a reminder that although we were enjoying good weather, spring is still a little way off. Whilst admiring the hills a large skein of geese were seen a long way distant. Pinkfooted? Greylag? Most members went with Pinkfooted but they were an awful long way off. Then another Buzzard - no mistaking this one. On the eastern side there was a flock of Skylark seen in the field with four smaller, darker birds among them. Most members were of the opinion that the pinkish tinge suggested Linnet. Then the shout went up "Sparrowhawk" which was flying quickly north.
It was at this point that some of the members decided to turn back towards Craster as they were not doing the full walk. Those of us who continued walked over a ploughed field at the end of which was a stand of trees. In these trees we saw Greenfinch and Song Thrush. On the opposite side of the track was a Mistle Thrush sitting in a ploughed field. As we watched, this loner was joined by a second.
We walked on to Howick Hall where we stopped for lunch.
After lunch we walked to the entrance of the estate where there was a white sea of Snowdrops to be seen. On a bird table we saw Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Great Tit. We followed the road east towards the coast where we found a toad at the side of the road. Further along we saw a Pheasant fly in to land in a field and yet another two Buzzards flying over a stand of trees. As we continued we came across a large flock of Wood Pigeon feeding in a field with a single Feral Pigeon mixed in. Also feeding in this field were quite a number of Curlew. As we left the road and entered a track leading to the coast a single Black-headed Gull sat forlornly in a field all alone.
As we followed the track the coast opened up and we saw male and female Eider out at sea. A Stonechat was seen clinging to the top of a shrub which was waving in the breeze. Also out at sea we saw Cormorant fishing. The usual coastal birds were seen: Herring Gull, Common Gull, Fulmar, a lone Shag and many Oystercatcher but only a couple of Redshank. Seals were seen just south of Craster. An interesting piece of behaviour was witnessed. A seal had surfaced and a group of Herring Gull were waiting. These gulls mobbed the seal forcing it to dive again. A flock of about 20 Golden Plover were seen to fly out to sea and then turn to fly back inland and out of sight. Just south of Craster a group of members were found on the cliff tops scratching heads. What could cause such confusion? How about a lone Guillemot in the far distance mixed with Eider Ducks. That took some working out I can tell you, by better men than me!
As we approached the harbour and the village, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen on rocks just offshore, and a single Turnstone. A lone Jackdaw was perched on a chimney. A good sighting of a Red-throated Diver by some of the members along with Pied Wagtail in the harbour itself. Members who did not do the longer walk returned to the village and later walked to Dunstanburgh Castle adding Meadow Pipit, Stock Dove and Lapwing to the day's tally.
The weather was kind to us and I think a good day was had by all.
Malcolm Drummond
Red Throated Diver
Fulmar
Cormorant
Shag
Greylag Geese
Pink Footed Geese
Mallard
Eider
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Oystercatcher
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Turnstone
Redshank
Curlew
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Great Black Backed Gull
Guillemot
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Great Spotted Woodpecker (H)
Skylark
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Rook
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Yellowhammer 49 bird species
Also seen
Grey Seal
Snowdrop
Primrose
Winter Aconite
Lesser Celandine