Berwick Wildlife Group

Weather

A month of average winter temperatures. There were 16 nights of frost, the coldest being both the 21st and 22nd which fell to 24C., or -4.5F. An average winter rainfall was recorded 64mm (2.5inches), most of that falling during the first week of the month. Although High pressure dominated mid-month, sunshine was at a premium with only 5 days bright and sunny all month. However we have recorded a mild start to the first half of the Winter period again, as we close 2007.

Bird Records

After last month's exciting sea-bird movements, December got back to normal winter bird activity. There was a surge in wader numbers at the start of the month and good number of Winter thrushes and Siskins were reported mid-month. The Winter Bird Survey found several good species in unexpected places, as is usual with these BTO surveys. More about this at the end of the Bird report. On December 1st 90 Greylag Geese were on Yarrow Slake and a Sparrow Hawk frequented the feeding finches around Mill Farm. 46 Goldeneye and 5 Goosander were at West Ord (2nd) while down at Cocklawburn, 2 Tufted Duck (3rd) were on the Pond (with a peak of 6 on the 19th) and on the sea were 36 Common Scoters. Long-tailed Duck - 1 female off Linkim Shore. Also 4 Purple Sandpiper on rocks at Yellow Craig, S of Coldingham. A concentration of waders on Little Beach (4th) included, 92 Ringed Plovers, 86 Sanderling, 290 Dunlin, 110 Turnstones with 4 Rock Pipits and a Grey Wagtail. In Meadow Haven there were 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Teal and a female Long-tailed Duck. Further up the coast at the Coastwatch station were 7 Bar-tailed Godwits 10 Grey Plover, 21 Purple Sandpiper, 26 Dunlin with 16 Great Black- backed Gulls. On the 7th a Little Auk - 1 (dead) on tideline at Killiedraught Bay, N of Eyemouth. A Greenshank flew over the Estuary (8th) and 160 Golden Plovers were at Cocklawburn. Around Mill Farm was a flock of c.180 mixed finches. 8 Twite fed on Scurveygrass seed, above Little Beach on the Golf Course (10th) and the WeBS count on the Estuary recorded: 3 Little Grebes, 26 Cormorants, 19 Grey Herons, 32 Mute Swans, 105 Goldeneye, 170 Lapwing, 157 Redshank and a large gathering of 1,050 Black headed Gulls. Cold weather on the 12th brought an increase in thrushes, with 70 Redwing and 3 Mistle Thrushes on Ord Estate. 70 Pink-footed Geese flew south over the town (15th) and 2 Common Snipe were on Yarrow Slake. The next day, a Gannet was flying around Meadow Haven and 7 Pintail flew north over Sharper’s Head where there were 7 Red-breasted Mergansers and 7 Purple Sandpiper. A male Bullfinch was in the grounds of the Middle School. On the 16th a Kingfisher was resting on a log on the south bank of the Tweed above the railway bridge, and on the 17th 6 Little Grebe were seen on the New Road side. 3 Long tailed Tits were on a bird feeder at Riverdene (18th) and a Buzzard was in conifers on Rotary Way, East Ord. Purple Sandpiper, 10 on rocks in Eyemouth Bay. 3 pairs of Stonechat along with a female Peregrine, a Long-tailed Duck and 6 Shag were at Cocklawburn, Glaucous Gull, 1 probably 2nd winter bird, on Eyemouth promenade wall and later on rocks with Black-headed Gulls. (19th). (21st) Purple Sandpiper, 7 on rocks in Eyemouth Bay. A lone Red-throated Diver on the Estuary (21st) was joined by three others the next day and are still there to date. Another Bullfinch was at East Ord House where a Woodcock was seen at dawn (22nd). Iceland Gull, 1 - the 1st winter bird seen on many dates in and around Eyemouth harbour, with last sighting on 22nd. 170 Redwings were feeding under the Whitebeams on Ord Industrial Estate (23rd) and 5 Pink footed Geese were on Yarrow Slake. 2 Siskins were eating niger seed in a Tweedmouth garden on the 24th. (25th) Pink-footed Geese, 45 flying S along coast over Eyemouth. Another large group of thrushes were in fields at the Loaning, East Ord on Christmas Day, including 220 Redwings, 40 Fieldfares and 26 Siskins in the Alders, and on the 27th 4 Fieldfares and a Redwing visited a Tweedmouth garden together with a female Blackcap. Seawatching has been poor, with a lone Kittiwake on Spittal Bay(27th), a bit unusual. (29th) Peregrine, 1 flew in from sea, circled low along Eyemouth promenade, then all round bay to cliffs; probably an immature bird. 3 Goldeneye, 35 Sanderling and 2 Rock Pipits were at Fishermans Cove (30th) with 16 Eider, 6 b>Red-breasted Mergansers and 7 Purple Sandpiper off Sharper’s Head. Further up the coast were 3 Song Thrushes, a Grey Heron and 2 Shag at Needle’s Eye. Another pair of Bullfinches were found at Five Arches Bridge. 24 Goldfinches were at a garden feeder in East Ord on the 31st. Elsewhere. 230 Fieldfares at Norham Castle (2nd) and 25 Whooper Swans and 62 Mute Swan in kale fields at Loanend. 8 Twite were at Cheswick (3rd) with a male Long-tailed Duck (8th), 9 Purple Sandpipers and 7 Turnstones (19th) on Black Rocks there. Winter Atlas work found Peregrine, Merlin, Stock Dove, Siskins and a Brambling at Goswick(18th) with 130 Skylarks, Stonechat, Twite, and Grey Partridge at Goswick dunes(20th). North of the River were Barn Owl, Jay and Bullfinch at Foulden (25th).

Butterfly Records

(11th) Peacock, 1, flying over heather by plantation in sunshine on Coldingham Moor, NT 858686.

Mammal Records

Several sightings of Roe Deer with 2 at Mill Farm,Tweedmouth, 2 at Middle Ord , 3 near Castle Hills, 3 at Scremerston and 6 at Fisher’s Close Wood, Goswick. A Long-tailed Fieldmouse has been seen scavenging below bird feeders.

Request for squirrel sightings.

Grey squirrels are expanding their territory in our area, which is very bad news for the native red squirrel. Especially as in the last few weeks the first case of the squirrelpox virus has been confirmed at Wallington, Belsay and Fourstones. Grey’s are immune and are carriers of this disease which kills reds within 2 weeks. We need to find out where both species of squirrel are now living. If you see a red or a grey squirrel do please let us know – e-mail mail3@berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk or phone 01289 305189.

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.

THE TWEED ESTUARY SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION The Tweed Estuary has been awarded its international Special Area of Conservation status because it is "still largely natural and undisturbed" and "supports a wide range of habitats compared with other estuaries in north-east England". Plans for a new leisure marina in the Tweed estuary have been dropped after detailed investigations revealed that the cost of compensating for the environmental impact would be too great. We are delighted that the enormous importance of the Tweed Estuary for wildlife has been recognised. No other town in Northumberland or the Borders has such a beautiful, accessible wildlife site right at it’s core. Properly managed for appropriate river craft and promoted with trails, hides, guided walks and bird watching holidays, it could greatly increase Berwick's potential for tourism. For a full report see the Berwick Advertiser of 3rd January or the One North East website: http://www.onenortheast.co.uk/page/news/article.cfm?articleid=2772&paneldisplay=true .

BERWICK'S BRILLIANT WILDLIFE On 12th December we held a celebration and display of our surveys and sightings in 2007. It was a lovely convivial evening. We were delighted to welcome old friends who have supported the Group in so many ways throughout the year and also to see many new faces. Most of our surveys are designed not only to provide information on local wildlife but also to contribute to national surveys run by the British Trust for Ornithology, Butterfly Conservation, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Forest Enterprise, Marine Conservation Society and so on. The displays showed off the wealth of scientific information collected and collated by Group members, and John had put together a very impressive slideshow of members' photos. Thank you to all the contributors. It is really worthwhile collecting information on the distribution of local wildlife to help with future conservation – particularly as North Northumberland is not as well studied as more populous regions or holiday hotspots. We could do even better if more people helped with the surveys; beginners and experts are equally welcome. Times are sometimes planned in advance and advertised in the Reviews (see events list, below), but often can only be arranged when we know the likely size of the survey team and the weather forecast – so let us know if you are interested. Details are available at our indoor meetings, or just ask one of the Committee.

Photo of Participants at Berwick's Brilliant Wildlife by Fiona	Photo of Gannet by Colin Green
Photo of Chaffinch by Colin Green	Photo of Kyloe in the snow by John Rae

FORTHCOMING EVENTS, Winter/Spring 2008. Wednesday 9th January. Talk on "Trees, woods and people" by Ross Weddle. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. ***NEW ENTRY*** Sunday 27th January. A bird survey around Scremerston, the second winter visit to BWG's adopted tetrad for the BTO Atlas 2007-11. Meet opposite Scremerston Church at 10.00am. Wear warm clothes and sensible shoes and if possible bring binoculars. Beginners (and experts) welcome, about 2 hours very slow walk. 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. Further information ring 01289 330591. 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. ***NEW ENTRY*** Thursday June 5th. Secrets of Cocklawburn, from low tide mark to the dunes with Aisling Lanning, Marine Conservation Officer, 11.00am – 2.00 pm. Bring lunch, weatherproof clothes and wellies or sandshoes. Also to come in 2008: Butterfly walk; Bat walks; visit to Kyloe Woods with forester and red squirrel officer; talks on the Farne Islands and St Abbs (details on website) – and lots of surveys of butterflies, birds, bats, bees, beach litter, trees, squirrels, other insects etc. 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).