Berwick Wildlife Group

Weather

The Meteorological Office has stated that last month was the best February for sunshine since records began. Our area has had at least 12 days of sunshine with temperatures being variable. Frost was recorded on 11 nights, the coldest being the night of the 18th (-4.5°C, 24°F). Strong winds from the west were a feature on the 1st, 26th and 29th. On the 26th the winds peaked mid-afternoon, bringing damage in some areas. Rainfall has been well below the average of 2.25 inches, with only 1 inch (13.5mm.) all month.

Bird Records

The large numbers of Siskins and Goldfinches around bird feeding stations slowly dropped in number over the month, with a notable increase in Blackbirds visiting gardens. Many birds have come into song, particularly Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. On the coast a record number of Long-tailed Ducks were offshore all month, several groups displaying and giving their haunting calls. Strong north-west winds on the 22nd saw an early return of some of our seabirds. 110 Goldeneye were at Yarrow Slake (2nd). A Red-breasted Merganser was on Cocklawburn pond (3rd) and 24 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings were at Middle Ord (4th). 36 Goldfinches and 10 Siskins (5th) at the garden feeders in Hiveacres fell to 15 and 4 respectively on the 28th. A group of 600+ mixed finches were in fields at Mill Farm all month. The WeBS estuary count on the 8th recorded: 2 Little Grebes, 15 Grey Herons, 22 Mute Swans, 40 Grey-lag Geese, a Canada Goose, 2 Shelduck, 102 Mallard, a drake Tufted Duck, 246 Goldeneye, a drake Long-tailed Duck, 420 Lapwing and 590 Redshank. Offshore at Cocklawburn (10th), in misty conditions were 26 displaying and calling Long-tailed Ducks with 3 Red-throated Divers, 8 Common Scoters, and on the shore 60 Twite. 44 Pink footed Geese flew north and 2 Stonechats were seen at Spittal cliffs. A drake Velvet Scoter and 3 Guillemot were feeding in Spittal Bay (11th), with 1,300 Black headed Gulls coming to roost here late afternoon in the calm conditions. 6 Long tailed Tits were in a small flock at Flagstaff Park (14th) – and a few have been appearing intermittently all month in Castle Terrace. 18 Long-tailed Ducks were still at Cheswick (15th) with 10 Snow Buntings flying along the shore there. 5 Little Grebes were at Yarrow Slake (16th), at high tide. Stormy conditions on the 22nd saw 22 Gannets flying north with 10 Fulmars in 30 minutes sea watching mid-afternoon. 6 Wigeon and 44 Teal were at Middle Ord pond (24th). Seen at Little Beach (25th) were: 16 Ringed Plovers, 12 Dunlin, 54 Sanderlings, 5 Purple Sandpipers, 72 Turnstones and 8 Rock Pipits. Offshore were 22 Red-breasted Merganser and 33 Eiders on Meadow Haven. A Swedish ringed Black headed Gull was noted at Carr Rock in a roost of 40+ birds. 8 Wigeon were at Middle Ord pond (28th). Elsewhere in the area. 100 Fieldfares were on farmland around Cothill, Duns on the 3rd. On the 4th 60 Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 10 Purple Sandpiper, 25 Turnstone, 15 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Redshank and 5 Dunlin were on the shore between Bamburgh and Seahouses, while there were a pair of Goldeneye in Seahouses Harbour, 4 Long-tailed Duck and a Red-throated Diver off St Aidan's Dunes, 40 Common Scoter off Monks House (N of Seahouses) and a Great Northern Diver close inshore off Greenhill Rocks. The same day a Merlin was seen, flying off the sea (from the Farnes?) just south of Bamburgh Castle. On the 5th 2 Nuthatches were on feeders at Cothill. 1,280 Pink-footed Geese were grazing on Windmill Hill, Goswick (6th). A Crossbill and 15+ Siskins were at Monynut Forest, near Cranshaws (10th), with a Merlin seen at Preston. On the 11th 8 Tufted Duck, a pair of Wigeon and 2 pairs of Little Grebes were on Learmouth lake, near Cornhill , and 6 Skylark including 1 in full song south of Eyemouth. 22 Twite and 10 Grey Partridge were on Goswick dunes (12th) with a raft of 140 Common Scoters offshore. 5 Long-tailed Ducks, 64 Common Scoters and 2 Shelducks were at Cheswick (15th) with 12 Purple Sandpipers,16 Ringed Plovers and 10 Turnstones at the Black Rocks, Cheswick. A female Merlin was at Shoreswood (24th), with 26 Yellowhammers 8 Reed Buntings and 55 Goldfinches feeding on the roadside verge at Mount Carmel, Norham. 17 Mute Swans and 21 Whooper Swans were feeding in a kale field at Cheswick House (25th), 18 Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-throated Diver were offshore at Cheswick and 28 Greylag Geese and 40 Teal were at Foulden pond. BTO Winter Atlas results this month found: 30 Yellowhammers and 6 Skylarks at Low Cocklaw; 8 Grey Partridge, 7 Stock Doves and 9 Reed Buntings at Kentstone near Beal; a Stonechat and 12 Tree Sparrows at Goswick; and a Grey Heron, 160 Golden Plover, 12 Sanderling, 112 Curlews and 6 Stonechats at Goswick dunes.

Butterflies Records

No reports from Berwick, but a Peacock was seen in Roughside Wood, Abbey St Bathans on the 10th, another on the 11th on the Border Ridge at Black Halls (480m.) and a Small Tortoiseshell at Killingworth, Tyne and Wear again on the 11th.

Other Insects.

A honey bee was discovered collecting pollen from snowdrops at Kentstone near Beal on the 11th.

Mammal Records.

On the 12th a Harbour Porpoise was seen off Ross Bank Sands.

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.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS. Wednesday 12th March. David Rollo, OBE, will talk about his experiences as a Wildlife Vet. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. Thursday March 13th. Litter Survey at Little Beach, Berwick for Marine Conservation Society. Meet at 10.00 am in the car park at Little Beach (Berwick, near Pier). Bring warm waterproof clothes, strong footwear and tough gardening gloves. Tuesday 1st April. Butterfly surveys (Cocklawburn and Tommy the Miller's) begin! Saturday 5th April. A spring walk in the Plantation, Berwick. Meet at top of Askew's Walk (NT 981 537), old Paxton road, at 10.30 am. Park at roadside. Path through wood often very muddy, wellies or boots advised. Members and non-members are welcome at all these events. There may be a small charge. For more information look at our website Events Programme , e-mail mail3@berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk or phone 01289 330591.