2nd January 2023: Ten of us had a great time surveying Bolam and Hartburn churchyards, and doing a circular walk in Middleton, looking for flowering plants. It was bright and sunny but very cold and it was no surprise that it was harder to find plants than in January 2022. We got the commonest 4: Daisy, Dandelion, Groundsel and Annual Meadow grass.
Also: Ivy, Alder, Hazel, Creeping Buttercup, Red campion, Bittercress, Chickweed, Ivy leaved Toadflax, White deadnettle, Stinking Hellebore, and, of course, Snowdrops. So 15 species in total reported to BSBI, then soup, bread and cheese!
Also: Ivy, Alder, Hazel, Creeping Buttercup, Red campion, Bittercress, Chickweed, Ivy leaved Toadflax, White deadnettle, Stinking Hellebore, and, of course, Snowdrops. So 15 species in total reported to BSBI, then soup, bread and cheese!
Hazel and Margaret spent the afternoon at The Plant Heritage North East Plant and Country Fair at Cambo Village at the end of August. There were various skulls to compare and owl pellets to look at. Hazel's very large map was a crowd pleaser!
We hope to attend more local events like this, so if you see us, please stop and say hi.
13th July 2022: Six of us had a great time doing a couple of the walks from the Corsenside leaflet followed by supper at The Gun. We were lucky enough to spot a kingfisher, and saw plenty of common spotted orchids.
4th June 2022: What a treat! We enjoyed glorious weather with a light breeze making it perfect hiking conditions. George Dodds showed us the effects of their ‘regeneration programme’ over the last 20 years with copses of trees littering the hillsides and extensive areas of eg Bilberry, Greater Woodrush and Cotton Grass that had been absent due to over-grazing previously. This has produced a glorious patchwork of colours. I took on the job of taking notes while Kate was appointed photographer. George has an extensive knowledge of the birds and bees (not to mention the huge range of flowers) which he was keen to share, and in all I have 30 species on my lists. We probably all had our favourites but I was particularly pleased to hear the cuckoo and see a whitethroat at close quarters, as well as being introduced to Cowberry and Purple Cranesbill. A further highlight on our return leg was a twisting hillside chase between two male roe deer that went on for a good mile. I for one will be very keen to repeat this trip in future years. Dick Thompson
3rd May 2022: Five of us had a great walk at Alnmouth today. It was cold, and it only rained as we were driving there and driving back! In between it was nice and dry.
The walk can be divided into: Beach; Fields; Estuary.
Heading north along the beach we first noticed jackdaws and rooks with their fluffy trousers, and pied wagtails.
I had hoped to see yellow wagtails on the golf course but alas no. On the rocks we saw greater black backed gulls, oystercatchers and male and female eiders. A couple of herons flew past. We then turned inland for an elegant coffee stop at Alnmouth Foxton golf club and then crossed the road to a great view of the bend in the Coquet, where we saw our first shelduck, as well as greylag geese. Walking through the fields, we heard, but couldn’t see, sedge warblers and saw reed buntings. We had lunch at a picnic table at Lesbury. We then walked past a wetland, more sedge warblers, and over the Aln where we spotted shelduck, redshank, more eiders and a curlew. Plants included garlic mustard and Green Alkanet. It is an introduced plant from 1700’s and the name Alkanet is derived from the Arabic for Henna, and its roots produce a red dye.
Geology: we noted some rock formations that almost look man made. This is the Foxton limestone series on top of shale. Well, we were at Foxton!
The walk can be divided into: Beach; Fields; Estuary.
Heading north along the beach we first noticed jackdaws and rooks with their fluffy trousers, and pied wagtails.
I had hoped to see yellow wagtails on the golf course but alas no. On the rocks we saw greater black backed gulls, oystercatchers and male and female eiders. A couple of herons flew past. We then turned inland for an elegant coffee stop at Alnmouth Foxton golf club and then crossed the road to a great view of the bend in the Coquet, where we saw our first shelduck, as well as greylag geese. Walking through the fields, we heard, but couldn’t see, sedge warblers and saw reed buntings. We had lunch at a picnic table at Lesbury. We then walked past a wetland, more sedge warblers, and over the Aln where we spotted shelduck, redshank, more eiders and a curlew. Plants included garlic mustard and Green Alkanet. It is an introduced plant from 1700’s and the name Alkanet is derived from the Arabic for Henna, and its roots produce a red dye.
Geology: we noted some rock formations that almost look man made. This is the Foxton limestone series on top of shale. Well, we were at Foxton!
2nd April 2022: We had an excellent outing to Howick. The weather was kind to us and we saw sandstone and igneous rock (Dolerite) and the Howick fault. Saw Acre limestone fossils, whaleback folds, contact metamorphism bit sadly no stigmaria. Kittiwakes aplenty, scurvy grass and then 4 dolphins (who refused to pose for photos). Some of us then decamped to Howick Hall for tea. A grand day out. Thanks to Richard and Anna.
7th November 2021: The weather stayed fine, and seemed less windy than forecast. In the end, nine of us gathered at Blyth. In the estuary at low tide we saw: mallard, teal, gadwall, red-breasted mergansers, goosanders, curlew, oystercatcher, redshank, turnstone, knot, cormorant, herring and black headed gulls (later we saw greater black-backed gulls), and starlings. We then went to the quayside getting great closeups of male eider ducks. A couple of weeks ago there were guillemots and razorbills on the river but we didn’t see any today.
Gabi photographed some green crabs. They were enticed by sardines in order to entice lobsters. Their work done, they were put back in the Blyth Harbour.
We had a snack lunch at the Commissioner’s Quay pub/hotel then went for a blast of sunshine at Blyth beach, where we failed to see any snow buntings (too many people and dogs?). Sarah spotted a diver which, on hitting the books, I think was a red-throated diver in winter plumage, with a rather snooty upturned bill. Lovely view down towards Seaton Sluice and St Mary’s lighthouse. I think it was a grand day out, very sociable, with lots of swapped stories about wildlife. There may be more “pop up” trips in the winter if the weather stays fine. Thanks to all who came. Hazel
Gabi photographed some green crabs. They were enticed by sardines in order to entice lobsters. Their work done, they were put back in the Blyth Harbour.
We had a snack lunch at the Commissioner’s Quay pub/hotel then went for a blast of sunshine at Blyth beach, where we failed to see any snow buntings (too many people and dogs?). Sarah spotted a diver which, on hitting the books, I think was a red-throated diver in winter plumage, with a rather snooty upturned bill. Lovely view down towards Seaton Sluice and St Mary’s lighthouse. I think it was a grand day out, very sociable, with lots of swapped stories about wildlife. There may be more “pop up” trips in the winter if the weather stays fine. Thanks to all who came. Hazel
13th October 2021: Kelly Hollings gave an excellent talk on the reintroduction of water voles to the North Tyne. Whilst we are not included in the project, it would be very helpful to the project, and to us, if we managed to identify whether we have them. There is no point in looking now, as they will not be marking their territory, but we can look on the Wansbeck and its tributaries in spring / summer. We will make a plan to re-convene in the spring, and Kelly will arrange an informal training session for our members.
In the meantime, we can be looking out for mink.
In the meantime, we can be looking out for mink.