Trip reports
Bernard's World Tour of Northern England
Sunday, 20 May 2007
This was the first time that I had been on a birding holiday, so it was with some trepidation that I went to the meeting point outside Sevenoaks Post Office at 6.30 am. I needn't have had any worries the group (11 others) were welcoming and the whole holiday was a fantastic experience.
We travelled first to Selby stopping at Old Moor, Barnsley and Blacktoft Sands RSPB, both RSPB reserves, on the way. These two reserves with their differing habitats provided a magnificent total of 77 species for the group to see.
The list is far too long to give but many of these were waterbirds, including Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Black-necked Grebe, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck, Shelduck and several of the RSPB's logo bird, the Avocet.
The next day we started at Bempton Cliffs, another RSPB reserve. As well as the many species of seabirds on the cliffs we also saw Lesser Whitethroat and meadow birds, including Skylark, Swallow and Meadow Pipit in the fields leading to the cliffs. One of the highlights of this part of the trip for me personally was seeing at very close range a Wren singing its heart out on a post only yards from the cliff edge.
From Bempton we went to Bubwith and Wheldrake Ings, both Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves. These provided sightings of many passerines, including Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Dunnock, and Whitethroat.
After dinner that evening, on the way to a habitat which promised Woodcock and Nightjars we saw a Little Owl sitting on a lamp post at a roundabout - yes, we did go round twice to have another look! We were also successful in seeing Woodcock, but there were no Nightjars. The habitat has apparently, in the last couple of years, become too wet for Nightjar. An example of how changing habitat can affect bird species. (see Postscript)
The next day, with a visit to Fairburn Ings RSPB reserve en route, we travelled further north to the area around Alnwick. Bernard had researched the area and discovered that a visit to Coquet Island just off Amble would almost certainly guarantee a view of Roseate Terns. We went in a small boat with a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable boatman. We were not allowed to land on the island, but were able to tie up at a jetty and view the birds from the boat. Very near to the jetty were Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns, and the main reason for the visit, Roseate Terns.
The following day we went to the Farne Islands and experienced being bombarded by Arctic Terns. I saw one bird draw blood when it stabbed a man's head with its beak. I am happy to say that this was not a member of our party. However, several hats worn that day were given the 'good luck treatment' by the birds. The trip out to the Farne Islands also provided some good close-ups of seals.
Another highlight for me on the Farne Islands, was sitting a few yards from the cliff edge and being within five yards of three birds sitting on nests. The most amazing point being that the birds sharing the nesting ledge were not the same species. I had a marvellous close up of a Shag, a Kittiwake and nearest of all, a Razorbill. All seem quite unconcerned about the people around.
The next day we met up with Sarah Hugonin, who took us to the Harthope Valley in the Cheviots where there were Ring Ouzel. This was beautiful unspoilt country.
After this we travelled across the Pennines with our next venue being Allen Banks, a National Trust property. One of my highlights here was a marvellous view of a Dipper. The first time I had seen one. Another highlight was a sighting of a Goshawk. It was the day for birds of prey, as we also saw Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel.
That night we stayed just south of Kendal in the Lake District and next morning went to the nearby Leighton Moss RSPB reserve where we managed to see Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler. We had hoped to see Bittern, but we had no sightings although we did hear one. We then travelled south to the Peak District and on to moorland where eagle-eyed Ann McGregor spotted a Little Owl in the shadow of a rock.
Our final night's stay was at Congleton and then it was homeward bound, but with a stop at Coombes Valley RSPB reserve. Here a Pied Flycatcher showed great interest in the hide where we were watching and constantly landed on the window ledge. It was an amazing close-up of a beautiful little bird. You could clearly see that it was not just black and white, but also had some chestnut colouring as well. We also saw a Spotted Flycatcher high up on a tree, but very clearly visible through the 'scopes' of Bernard, Nick and Roy.
There was also another highlight at Coombes Valley when, high in the sky above, we saw a Raven seeing off an Osprey, which had obviously strayed into the 'wrong' territory.
Even on the last leg of the journey down the M40 towards the M25 we still had one more species to see. This was, of course, the Red Kites which were introduced to the Chiltern area some years ago and are flourishing there. While driving along the M40 we were able to count a total of 15 Red Kites.
Thanks to the expert guidance of Bernard Morris and Nick Barlow and the keen eye sight of others, we saw 130 species during the tour. The whole tour was also great fun and went so quickly. Perhaps the best way of showing this is to quote one member of the party 'the problem with these holidays is that you've just started when you find you're on the way home'.
Post script
If you want to see Nightjar, then you need go no further than Mereworth Woods. Two weeks after our tour of Northern Britain, Nick Barlow led a much more local birding evening during which we heard at least two, and probably three, Nightjars, and also we had a good view of one.
Jacqueline Martin