Berwick Wildlife Group

Weather

The first few weeks of the month were dominated by a big area of High Pressure centred to the west of Britain. This gave us a period of dry, sometimes cloudy conditions influenced by winds from the north west. Rainfall was below average with 38mm (1.5 inches).

Bird Records

Migration got into full swing through the month, especially along the coast with good numbers of sea birds. The winds in the northerly direction meant that small passerines were scarce, unless you were willing to get up early in the morning to see them! At Cocklawburn (1st) we noted 8 Knot on the shore during the Group's Butterfly Walk, and a Knot and 7 Arctic Terns were at Little Beach. A Peregrine was noted here (2nd) with a Sanderling prey. In Spittal Bay were good numbers of Auks with c.50 Guillemots and c.30 Razorbills. Back at Cocklawburn (3rd) were a Whitethroat and 7 Teal. A Wheatear was on the Golf Course and a Pied Flycatcher was found at Elm Bank, Spittal and stayed into the next day. A sea-watch (4th), noted 1,200 Gannets, 6 Puffins and 16 Goosander all moving north at Meadow Haven. On Little Beach were 42 Ringed Plover, 16 Dunlin,10 Sanderling and 50 Oystercatchers. A late afternoon sea-watch noted 350 Fulmars, 2 Arctic Skuas, 60 Guillemots and 8 Razorbills,also heading north over Spittal Bay. Also on the 4th, a Greenshank was spotted at Yarrow Slake. A Little Egret was roosting with the Grey Herons on Yarrow Slake (5th), along with the Greenshank, the latter staying to the end of the month. A Grey Wagtail and 320 Common Gulls were at West Ord (6th) while at the coast there were 64 Curlews, 13 Knot and 114 Oystercatchers roosting on the rocks at the Coastwatch Station, with 37 Guillemots feeding in Fishermans Haven. On the 7th 30 Common Scoter were seen off Cocklawburn Beach. The 8th saw 2 Greenshank at West Ord, along with 2,300 Common Gulls, a significant increase. A summer plumaged Red-throated Diver was showing well at Berwick Old Bridge along with 14 Goosanders. At Cocklawburn the Goldfinch flock had risen to 110 birds by the 9th, with a female Sparrow Hawk ‘pestering’ them. The Turnstones on Little Beach numbered 74 on the 10th. 13 Shags were fishing in a group (12th) in Spittal Bay and 3 Red-throated Divers and 64 Common Scoters were on the sea at Cocklawburn. The monthly WeBS count on the Estuary (14th) found a Red-throated Diver, 16 Grey Herons, 132 Mute Swans, 36 Greylag, 22 Goosander, 28 Guillemot, 16 Razorbills, 364 Lapwing, 74 Curlew, 180 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 12 Arctic Terns, 8 Common Terns, and 20 Sandwich Terns. A good ‘white bait’ movement into the estuary on the rising tide attracting good numbers of sea birds. A Greenshank was at West Ord (15th) along with a Mallard and a late brood of ducklings. A skein of 40+ Pinkfeet flighting south has started our change to Autumn. 36 Shag and 18 Cormorants were roosting at Meadow Haven (16th), also a passing Manx Shearwater. 36 Pied Wagtails were feeding at the Tennis Courts (19th) and 80 Grey-lag and a Bar-tailed Godwit was at Yarrow Slake. A passage of 70 Swallows flying south at dawn (20th) was noted at East Ord. At Yarrow Slake on the 22nd there were 76 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 2 of mixed parentage and a Bar-tailed Godwit. A Ruff and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits were on Little Beach on the 25th with 14 Dunlins. The 27th brought 11 Bar-tailed Godwits to Little Beach and a Spotted Flycatcher was in a Tweedmouth garden. 16 Wigeon were at Yarrow Slake (29th). For several years at least, the reeds of Tapee Fen have been a temporary home to migrating Pied Wagtails. This autumn, substantial numbers were observed on 23rd September, and 300 arose from the reeds at dawn on the 27th. Numbers are likely to rise even further into October. It is good to know that this traditional passage roost is still being used by the birds. Elsewhere. 36 Pinkfoot Geese flying west at St. Abbs on the 13th with a Goldeneye on the Loch, while at Cheswick 76 Common Scoters were offshore. On the 16th a flock of 50 finches, mostly Greenfinches, were feeding at Cothill, SW of Duns, but were disturbed by a Sparrowhawk. At Cheswick (26th) were 3 Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua and 100+ Gannets, and a Snipe on the pond.

Mammal Records

A Pipistrelle Bat was flying in the midday sun (19th ), a good butterfly day, at East Ord. Our evening visit to Canty's Brig on 30th August revealed both Pipistrelles and Daubenton's Bats hunting over the Whiteadder.

Butterflies Records

Local bred species are slowly increasing with numbers of Peacocks, Red Admiral and a few Painted Ladies appearing. A Berwick garden showed 2 Red Admirals, a Painted Lady, a Small White and a Peacock on the 11th, while an East Ord garden recorded 16 Red Admirals, 4 Painted Ladies, 2 Peacocks a Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma on the 19th. On the 22nd 2 Meadow Browns were on the Snook at Holy Island, a very late date for this summer butterfly, and on the 29th a stray Red Admiral was seen at 352m in the Cheviots.

Bumblebee Records

Have you been taking part in the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust's Garden Beewatch this year? BWG has sent in some records collected on Group outings, and so have several individual members. BBCT has thanked us for these, and hope we will take part again next year when the survey will be run again. We would also like to see any local bee records for our own interest, so if you have been collecting records do send them direct to BBCT and please also send us a copy. On the 29th a drone of the uncommon Blaeberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) was seen on Yeavering Bell. The mining bees discovered at Ford Moss last month were almost certainly Colletes succinctus (there is no English name). They have distinctive bands of pale dense hairs on the abdomen, and feed mainly on heather flowers. (More info. on Group News page on website, http://www.berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk/News.html ).

With many thanks to the contributors of these records. To submit a wildlife record please either - phone Malcolm on 01289 309046 or use the record form on our website Sightings , or e-mail Fiona . Sightings here cover the core of our "Wildlife Group" area – from the Scottish Border to Scremerston on the East side of the A1. Records on the website cover a wider area (including Eyemouth and Wooler) – we just don't have room for them all here. So send in your records by your chosen method.

SURVEYS

The summer's work on estuary and coastal birds, bats, bees, butterflies, squirrels, town trees and beach litter has produced lots of information. I'd especially like to thank all the surveyors for their dedication and hard work in collecting the data, made particularly difficult this year by the uncertain weather. We aim to have all the results sorted out and written up by 12th December, for our celebration and display evening "Berwick is Brilliant for Wildlife" (see below), which will include consideration of projects for 2008. We will continue most of this year's surveys and also plan to do some work for the new BTO Atlas and the Wider Countryside Survey of Insects. Can you think of any other species groups or problem areas that need a closer look locally? Would you like to help with some of the existing surveys, alone or with a group (beginners or experts equally welcome)? Come along to the meeting on 12th December and discuss your ideas, or just get in touch with one of the Committee. Contact us. Look at our website www.berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk , phone 01289 330591, e-mail mail3@berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk or just come to an event (non-members very welcome).

FORTHCOMING EVENTS. 2007 Saturday 6th October. Autumn Birdwatch, Berwick. A walk led by Malcolm Hutcheson and John Inglis, a chance to see some unusual migrants. Beginners welcome. Meet at car park at the end of the road above Little Beach at 10.00 am. Dress for standing around – can be cold! Wednesday 14th November. Cyril Guthrie of Wooler will demonstrate and talk about the making of his superb wildlife films, some of which have been shown on the BBC. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. Wednesday 12th December. Berwick is Brilliant for Wildlife – Display and discussion of wildlife highlights from 2007. Do come along and let us know what you found this year. Seasonal refreshments will be provided. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. 2008 Wednesday 9th January. Talk "Trees, woods and people" by Ross Weddle. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. February. Estuary Bird Survey. BWG's regular mid-winter "count" to monitor changes in water-bird populations on the estuary and coast. Meet at the Tweedmouth side of the Old Bridge, 11.00 am on Saturday 9th February (if weather appalling 11.00am Saturday 23rd February). Will definitely be cold, possibly wet and windy, wrap up well and bring some lunch. Wednesday 13th February. The Music of Birds. Demonstration and talk by Geoff Sample, wildlife sound recorder. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. Wednesday 12th March. David Rollo, OBE, will talk about his experiences as a wildlife vet. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. Saturday 5th April. A spring walk in the Plantation, Berwick with Ross Weddle. Meet at top of Askew's Walk (NT 981 537), old Paxton road, at 10.30 am. Wednesday May 7th. AGM, followed by a talk on his Canadian Wildlife Adventure by John Rae. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. Wednesday May 14th. A walk in the Hartshope Valley, with Gillian Thompson, ecologist with Northumberland National Park. Curlews should be calling. Meet at Carey Burn Bridge, about 3 miles S of Wooler on road between Earle (S of Wooler) and Langlee Ford, NT 976 250, 11.00. Finish about 3.00pm. Bring packed lunch, weatherproof clothes and strong footwear. Want to know more? We'd love to see you at the surveys and events above – the more help and support we have the better. Or maybe you are the sort of person who prefers to go out by yourself and watch fauna and flora in peace and quiet? Either way, why not send us some of your records or photos, or take part in a bee or butterfly survey in your own garden or favourite patch (we have record sheets). Berwick is Brilliant for Wildlife – lets keep it that way. The more we know about the local plants and animals, the better the chance we have of effective protection and conservation. Contact us. Phone 01289 330591, e-mail mail3@berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk or just come to an event (non-members very welcome).