| Leader | Darren Rees & Ailie Brown |
| Day 1 | We meet in Bamburgh or Newcastle
station. 6 nights at The Victoria Hotel,
Bamburgh |
| Days 2-6 | Exploration of the coast north
and south of Bamburgh, the forest and
moorland of Redesdale, including
time around Kielder Water. Full day
on Holy Island and possibly south to
Newcastle |
| Day 7 | We depart after breakfast |
| Weather | Hard to predict and likely to be
variable with chance of some
sunshine, but may also be cold and wet
(8°-15°C) bring waterproofs and good
boots. |
| Walking | Walks of up to two miles on mainly
level tracks though perhaps a little
more strenuous on the moorland day |
| Meals | All included from dinner on Day 1
to breakfast on Day 7 |
| Insects | Unlikely to be a problem at this time
of year |
| Accom | Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite |
| Group | 10 |
Fabulous birdwatching and stunning scenery as we explore the
coastlines, forests and moorlands of this corner of historic north-east
England, including Lindisfarne and Kielder Forest.48uep6bbph|00000E4E|Spey_BESQL3|HolidayTypes|Subheading 48uep6bbphidval|NORTHUMBERLAND
| * Flocks of winter thrushes arriving from Scandinavia
|
| * Kielder Forest for Red Squirrel, Dipper, Common Crossbill
|
| * Beautiful coastline with long sandy beaches and rocky headlands
|
| * Full day on Holy Island with chance of scarce migrants
|
| * Impressive numbers of ducks, geese and waders on estuaries
|
| * Inland to the Redesdale to hang out at Winter’s Gibbet
|
| * Largest Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock in the UK
|
| Day 1 | Meeting up at our lovely hotel in Bamburgh,
we shall hopefully have time to take a short
drive along the coast, where we can kick start
our holiday with a variety of gulls loafing on the
beach, with Eider and possibly some waders, such
as Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone and Oystercatcher
around the rocks. We shall return to the hotel in
good time to freshen up ahead of our first evening
meal together.
|
| Days 2-6 | With long sandy beaches, rocky
headlands and historic sites such as
Lindisfarne Priory, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh
Castles, the Northumberland coastline is a
wonderful area to explore - but for the birdwatcher
it is even more so! From key locations we shall
scan the sea for Red-throated Divers, Slavonian
and Red-necked Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks and
hope for a few Velvet Scoter amongst the large flocks of Common Scoter that annually winter
here. As we walk the white, windswept beaches
and saltmarsh, we shall look for Snow Buntings
or something scarcer such as Lapland Bunting or
Shorelark.
Druridge Bay is famous for a network of wetland
Reserves, with hides overlooking freshwater pools
along this long stretch of coastline - all home to
flocks of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler, along
with other wildfowl. In the shallow pools, waders
roost at high tide such as Bar-tailed and Black-tailed
Godwits, Knot, Dunlin, Common Redshank and
Grey and Ringed Plovers. Flocks of Golden Plover
and Curlew are usually found in nearby fields, along
with Greylag Geese plus Pink-footed and Whooper
Swans. All the time we shall be on the lookout for
a Greenland White-fronted or Barnacle Goose in
amongst them, arriving from the north.
We spend a day heading inland where, with luck,
we might chance upon a Merlin speeding past, or
a Hen Harrier quartering the extensive Cheviot
moorland or, with luck, a Short-eared Owl hunting
for voles.
We shall make a short detour to the edge of
Redesdale to look at the imposing Winter’s Gibbet,
keeping an eye out for Goshawk that breed in
these extensive forests. We shall also check the
fast-flowing rivers and streams for Dipper, Grey
Wagtail and Goosander, which reside here all year
round.
Around Kielder Water the vast coniferous forest
is home to Common Crossbill, Siskin, Lesser
Redpoll and many more species, along with a
special mammal – Red Squirrel. Feeding stations
have been created to attract these very beautiful
animals and we hope for good views of these
normally shy creatures.
One full day will be spent on Holy Island in the
shadow of the wonderful and iconic Lindisfarne
Priory, which is worth the visit alone. Here, huge
flocks of waders follow the rising and retreating
tide, with plovers, godwits, Redshank and Curlew
probing the newly exposed mud. Gorgeous and
diminutive Pale-bellied Brent Geese spend their
winter here, in one of the largest wintering flocks
in the UK, so finding some shouldn’t be a struggle.
Purple Sandpiper and Rock Pipits feed actively on
the seaweed strewn, rocky shore at high tide, but
it’s the chance of something unusual which is the
attraction.
In recent years, rarities such as Red-flanked
Bluetail, Brown Shrike and Pallas’s and Dusky
Warblers have been found, along with Siberian
and Yellow-browed Warblers. If conditions are
favourable we could experience large numbers of
winter thrushes passing overhead and a sea-watch
may produce a passing skua or scarce diver.
The holy relics of St Cuthbert were buried in the
Priory and pilgrims still come to pay homage to
his memory. It is because of him that laws protect
the local Eiders for their down, resulting in the
name St Cuthbert’s Ducks or Cuddy Ducks, as
many Northumbrians still know them today. We
shall find a few offshore, plus Long-tailed Ducks
and Common Scoter.
Depending on what is around, we may venture
south back to Newcastle, where we shall visit
the resident Red Kites at Rowlands Gill and then
a couple of wetland sites near the airport for
primarily Willow Tit, along with the commoner
wildfowl and waterbirds.
|
| Day 7 | Our final morning will be relaxed and
after our final hearty breakfast we say
our fond farewells to this beautiful corner of
Northumberland.
|
Just some of what we hope to see..
| Red-throated Diver | Hen Harrier | Short-eared Owl |
| Slavonian Grebe | Red Kite | Dipper |
| Whooper Swan | Merlin | Grey Wagtail |
| Pale-bellied Brent Goose | Peregrine | Rock Pipit |
| Pink-footed Goose | Water Rail | Siberian Chiffchaff |
| Barnacle Goose | Purple Sandpiper | Willow Tit |
| Pintail | Turnstone | Common Crossbill |
| Eider | Bar-tailed Godwit | Siskin |
| Long-tailed Duck | Black-tailed Godwit | Lesser Redpoll |
| Velvet Scoter | Dunlin | Snow Bunting |
| Common Scoter | Common Redshank | Lapland Bunting |
| Goosander | Ringed Plover | Red Squirrel |
| Little Egret | Golden Plover | Grey Squirrel |
"Seeing Short-eared Owls at close quarters (5 in total), one interacting with a Kestrel. A
murmuration of Golden Plovers, a host of Brambling, geese a-plenty, wonderful Northumbrian
scenery, especially Holy Island and a friendly group made for a memorable holiday"
Margaret Mowbray
|
"Short-eared Owl sightings. The early morning pops and Hare sightings. An important feature of
the holiday for us was all the communication Mike had with you before we booked about
health issues - and you contacting the hotel for me. Julian handled that very well too,
ensuring that he and all the others knew what the situation was and were comfortable with it"
Helen O'Donnell & Mike Dixon
|
"Short-eared Owls galore, majestic Whooper Swans, Golden Plover murmurations - the best
few days of birdwatching I've had for a long time!"
Joan Hunter
|
"Watching an Otter swim the whole length of a large expanse of water. I "asked" him to turn round and swim back when he rerached the shore and he kindly obliged. Later that day a Short-eared Owl performed the most wonderful fly past. Watching the mist clear over the priory on Holy Island while many water birds came in to view. A very wet day in Kielder Forest saw us watching a whole flock of crossbills feasting on the conifer pines. Lots more!"
Jane Nickerson
|
"Having been with other birding companies, this was definitely the best in every way. The quality of the two guides tuition was faultless and the group of 9 of us bonded all round"
Wendy Bell
|
"It was a new area for us to explore and we have decided that we will return to that area in the future. We had some amazing views of some new species of birds, such as Scoters on the surf, as well as a fantastic view of a Short-eared Owl quartering a field, Just amazing"
Franky and David Perry
|
"Difficult to choose - the big flocks of Golden Plover in various places, the large number of Purple Sandpipers, the Willow Tits at Big Water and the incredible sunset on our first day"
Ann Farrer
|
"Another wonderful holiday with Speyside. A really good mix of guests, which made for a very entertaining time. Visited some excellent sites, a few new to me and our guides excelled in finding us those special species wherever they turned up. Little Auk, Willow Tit and Isabelline Wheatear were the highlights for me. All in all a fantastic holiday"
Margaret Mowbray
|
"Trip to Holy Island, at this time of year, very quiet and excellent birding. Seeing an Otter on an inland water pond. Spotting a rare Siberian Chiffchaff. Excellent water fowl and waders on the coast."
Margaret Mowbray
|
"Watching the wader flocks circling around the Coquet River area, and visiting Holy Island."
Pauline Pothecary
|
"Seeing two Short-eared Owls in daylight within a minute of stopping at a a new location."
David & Andrea King
|
"Close up of Short-eared Owl sitting on post.
Red Squirrel in Kielder Forest.
Starling murmeration."
Angela Woodrow
|
"The Murmurationon the way back from Saltholme."
Heather Welcome
|
"Sighting a Barn Owl in the evening, a surprising Dipper on the edge or Kielder Reservoir and hearing a fight between a Goshawk and a Jay in Keilder Forest followed by seeing a Goshawk flying over the forest. Saltholme RSPB reserve surrounded by industrial Teeside."
Ray Burgess
|
"Seeing AND hearing my first Goshawk. The view from the Bird Hide at Bakethin on Kielder Water. The wonderful autumn colours and scenery."
Helena Jefferson
|
"The visit to Saltholme reserve on Tees-side provided a magical contrast between the quiet marshes full of birds and the surrounding industry, especially as dusk came and the sites lit up all around us, reflected in the marsh pools."
Morag & Norman Rea
|
"Being on Holy Island and taking part in the Rememeberance Service with Lindisfarne in the background and Bamburgh Castle to our right and seals playing on the sand banks as we all sang the hymns and said the prayers in sunlight. Group photo time round the caterpillar man saying Speyside Caters for all needs."
Pat & Graham Hewett
|
"Seeing the murmeration of Starlings on Holy Island, and being so close to it, was marvellous. The owls at Greatham Creek, Teeside, were spectacular, the food at the Sun Hotel was out of this world, Chrissie was her usual fabulous self, smiling, informative, caring, and good company throughout."
Carole & Robin Mcdermott
|
"Holy Island late afternoon. The Starlings were fantastic as they swooped into the reeds right in front of us. The views of a family of five Barn Owls were wonderful."
Dot Jones
|
"Northumberland was fantastic. Not just the fact that my birder companions managed to see 106 species including 4 rarities [and Morag had 6 lifers Chrissie had 4 lifers] but the whole scene was so good - a great trip to Holy Island and then to Keilder Lake and Forest after which I told Chrissie she was going to have a job to stop everything else becoming an anti-climax. Not a bit, as the trip to industrial Teeside was a revelation and so enjoyable and then followed up by a day when we didn't move more than ten miles from Warkworth and yet had superb sites to visit. Why was it all so good? The location was brilliant and varied; the group size was just right and gelled immediately and Alan and Sue, Shaun, Peter and Mary proved to be such excellent companions; one minibus meant that we could take instant decisions to move elsewhere without long consultations; and most of all it was a success because we had Chrissie at her most passionate enthusiastic best on home territory infecting every one with such spirit. Chrissie Nicholson is a treasure and a joy. I look forward to coming with Morag on the next holiday to Dumfries and Galloway.
Very many thanks and warmest good wishes."
Norman Rea
|
"In Northumberland, I saw six "lifers" in four days. Chrissie took the trouble to check online to see if there were rarities about at the places we planned to visit and we managed to see them all. It is hard to pick out highlights as each day was pretty special. We visited Holy Island, Kielder, Tyneside and the reserves strung along the coast below Amble. Each one was different and special. Some examples - on Holy Island we saw an Eastern Black Redstart surrounded by numerous twitchers - we left the lovely wee bird in peace once we had seen it. In Kielder we met Crossbills almost everywhere and had close views of Brambling and Nuthatch, plus a brief view of a Goshawk, all in glorious sunshine. On Tyneside we saw a Grey Phalarope from a few feet away and it then flew minutes after we had arrived - brilliant timing! There was also a Mediterranean Gull perched on a handy lamppost and a marvellous collection of mixed waders resting on the beach below the esplanade - easy to study and see the differences between them. Finally the reserves below Amble gave us easy walking and sight of a Greater Yellowlegs bustling about at an incredible speed (again with twitchers all around) among numerous sedate Lapwings and Golden Plover."
Morag Rea
|
|