Birdwatching

 

 

The Northumberland coast offers all year round birdwatching opportunities. Whether visiting the spectacular breeding seabird colonies on the Farne Islands; the atmospheric over-wintering flocks of waterfowl at Lindisfarne or searching for songbirds at manyof the migration hotspots during spring and autumn, there is always something‘ornithological’ going on. Birds can be found anywhere at anytime. 

In late spring and summer the cliffs and islands are alive with frantic activity of kittiwakes, terns, puffins and many other breeding birds. In autumn and spring the coast offers a vital staging post for wading birds such as dunlin, ringed plover, grey plover and songbirds like thrushes, robins and warblers, which are on their long migrations. The winter sees internationally important numbers of birds such as light-bellied brent geese, wigeon, purple sandpiper and turnstone searching for food in estuaries, mud flats and rocky shore

The seabirds of Northumberland are perhaps its greatest bird watching asset. Many different species come to the various offshore islands throughout the summer to breed before departing for their various winter homes.

Then the puffin, guillemot, shag and kittewake winter out at sea; whilst the sandwich, common and arctic tern head for their African winter quarters.

Farne Islands

The 12 to 28 small islands, depending on the tide, are owned by the National Trust and two, Staple and Inner Farne, permit landing, daily, in April - September.

The breeding season is from 1 May - 31 July. Tel: +44 (0)1665 721099 for further information. \Breeding season  and there is a small landing fee.

The 3 main boat companies are: Billy Shiel, tel: +44 (0)1665 720308. Hanvey's, tel: +44 (0)1665 720388  and W McKay, tel: +44 (0)1665 721144

Be sure to take a hat with you on your visit to the Farnes! Some of the terns will "dive bomb" visitors to protect their young.

Holy Island

On shore coastal areas can be interesting for birds all year round. Holy Island, for example, is an internationally important area for birds on migration and as winter quarters to large numbers of shorebirds. Bar-Tailed Godwits, Knots and Redshanks can be seen on the extensive mudflats in both autumn and winter whilst fields and gardens on the island gather large numbers of Thrushes and Warblers during migration times, especially autumn.

In winter, the mudflats hold large populations of wildfowl including thousands of Wigeon and a significant proportion of the world Light-Bellied Brent Goose population.

For further information on birdwatching on the Northumberland Coast see our latest news to download a copy of 'Birdwatching Guide to the Northumberland Coast' or visit http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/site/activities/birdwatching Looking for a guide? try Northern Experience Wildlife Tours http://www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk/

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