Berwick Wildlife Group

Weather

The weather for the first month of the New Year was fairly average for mid-winter, although it was wet with 136.6mm (5.35 inches) of rain. There was no snow cover, but there were several frosts each week with a low of 24F (-4.4C) on the night of the 12th. Each day was different and there were highs of 50F (10C) on the 13th, 25th and 26th and of 52F (11C) on the 27th. Strong westerly gales occurred on the 9th and the 25th.

Bird Records

Large numbers of Siskins and Goldfinches on bird feeders seemed to be the only high spot this month. Two large Starling roosts at East Ord House and the Cupressus leylandii hedge in the Co-op car park, Tweedmouth, both of several thousand birds, brought good and bad comments. On Sandstell Point, Spittal were 24 Twite (2nd) with another 9 at Little Beach car park. 105 Goldfinches and 42 Twite were at Cocklawburn (4th), with 142 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers on the sea there. On the Tweed Estuary were 2 Shelducks, 2 Shags and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers. 168 Teal were crammed onto the pond at Middle Ord (6th), with a Whooper Swan, a Canada Goose and 22 Goldeneye at West Ord. 50+ Goldeneye, 2 Goosander and a female Long-tailed Duck were at Yarrow Slake and 140 Greylag Geese flew south with 2 Stonechats in the field there. On Meadow Haven were 2 Red-throated Divers, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers 24 Eiders, 10+ Purple Sandpipers, c.50 Sanderling, c.40 Ringed Plover and 30 Turnstone. A Fulmar was over Spittal Bay (7th), and 3 Snow Buntings were spotted in a Buddleja bush below the walls by Sandgate. On the 8th 3 Grey Plovers and a pair of Stonechats at were at Little Beach. A female Blackcap visited Hiveacres gardens (10th, also 17th,18th and 25th). A male was also seen early in the month in Castle Terrace gardens in Berwick. On the 9th 2 Twite were in Flagstaff Park. The WeBS estuary count (11th) found 2 Little Grebes, 17 Grey Herons, 37 Mute Swans,108 Goldeneye, 27 Oystercatchers, 326 Lapwings, a Grey Plover (scarce on Yarrow Slake), 38 Dunlin, 190 Redshank, 22 Turnstone plus 2 Fulmars on Union Bridge. Both a male Peregrine and a Sparrow Hawk were hunting over the town (12th) and 140 Linnets and 86 Common Scoter were at Cocklawburn the same day. A male Long-tailed Duck and 2 Goosanders were in the Estuary (13th) with a Buzzard over Middle Ord and c.19 Red-breasted Mergansers around Meadow Haven. On Little Beach on 14th were 66 Ringed Plover, 154 Sanderlings, 186 Dunlin, 4 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Grey Plovers and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. On the 18th,18+ Purple Sandpipers and 45+ Turnstone were on Little Beach; and a Common Snipe and a Little Grebe were at Yarrow Slake (19th). A pair of Long-tailed Ducks and 6 Stonechats were noted at Cocklawburn. A partially white-headed House Sparrow was reported from Highfields on the 20th, having been around for some days. A party of 5 Long-tailed tits regularly visited feeders in Castle Terrace around the same time, staying almost to the end of the month. A pair of Wigeon (20th) on Middle Ord pond, stayed until 25th. A Great spotted Woodpecker and 2 Stock Doves were at West Ord. A Peregrine was “shadowing” the East Ord Starling roost and a Lesser Redpoll was feeding by the road at the Industrial Estate there. On Meadow Haven were 16 Red-breasted Mergansers, 42 Goldeneye, 16 Shags and a Guillemot. 160 Pink footed Geese were flying north over Berwick (28th), with a further 34 next day. 7 Magpies were together at the East Ord roundabout and 5 at Springhill (30th). Elsewhere in the area. 120 Whooper Swans and 34 Mutes were at Loanend, Horncliffe (6th) with a flock of 220 Fieldfares. 5 Long-tailed Duck, 310 Common Scoter and 6 Red-breasted Merganser were at Cheswick Shiel (9th). On the 11th 60 Redshank were in Burnmouth Harbour and nearby, with a Purple Sandpiper also in the harbour. On the cliffs to the north a Peregrine was hunting. A pair of Bullfinch were at Ancroft (14th) and a Siskin in a garden at Eyemouth on the 18th and 22nd. 7 Grey Partridge were at Shoreswood (20th), with 72 Grey-lag Geese and 14 Mute Swans in a field at Norham West Mains. Many people took part in the Winter Birdwatch Survey and interesting reports included: 3 Long-tailed Tits (13th), 22 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins (26th) at a Riverdene garden while feeders in four gardens in Hiveacres attracted a peak of 55 Goldfinches (4th) and 48 Siskin (10th) and a male Sparrow Hawk. BTO Winter Atlas results this month found a Sparrow Hawk, 180 Carrion Crows, 210+ Black headed Gulls and c.1,800 Starlings near the Pig Farm, Halidon Hill; Kestrel, Dunlin, and Mistle Thrush at Cheswick Shiel; Long-tailed Tits, Bullfinch and Yellowhammer at East Ancroft; and Woodcock, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzard, Bullfinch and Magpie at Scremerston.

Butterflies Records

None reported on the wing, but a Peacock was discovered 2nd week of the month hibernating in a pile of logs in a Castle Terrace garden. So that's where they go…

Mammal Records.

An interesting report from John Ingles of a Roe Deer trying to cross the Tweed in spate at Chateau Pedro. It got swept downstream, eventually gaining its footing and making it ashore at Mill Farm. A Mink was seen amongst the harbour rocks at Eyemouth on the 15th. A Stoat in ermine was seen at Dowlaw, Coldingham (29th).

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. 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 same time and place Saturday 23rd February). Will definitely be cold, probably wet and windy, wrap up well and bring boots, binoculars and some lunch. Often a tough day, but detailed bird records for this Special Area of Conservation are extremely important. Wednesday 13th February. The Music of Birds. A talk with recordings 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. 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. Contact us. Phone 01289 330591, e-mail mail3@berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk or just come to an event (non-members very welcome).