Berwick Wildlife Group

Weather

The mild, calm conditions of September continued throughout October, with many days of sunshine or high thin cloud and variable light winds. The only exception to this was the 9th, a day of rain, (10mm – 0.4ins). Total rainfall for the month was 30mm (1.25ins). Fog on the 10th cleared by mid-day. There was slight frost on the 18th and 24th. The month has added to an unseasonal year so far, with the Autumn lacking the expected gales. Now we wait to see what November brings!

Bird Records

With the quiet weather conditions migration was rather sporadic, the exception being days with large movements of Geese. In Spittal Bay (2nd) were 6 Red-throated Divers, some still in summer plumage, with 18 Guillemots. Down the coast a Cocklawburn (3rd) were 3 Red-throated Divers, 12 Shags, 18 Razorbill (family groups) with a large flock of 68 Ringed Plover on the shore. At the Pond were 3 Common Snipe. A Wheatear was on the Golf Course (5th) and on the same day 13 Razorbills at the Lifeboat Station. The Group's October Birdwatch (6th) found 3 Redwings in Flagstaff Park and a further ten at the Middle School grounds with a good movements of migrant Blackbirds. Star birds of the walk were a fine female Peregrine and a dashing Merlin, both off the Coastwatch tower. Later in the day a Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Sea House, with 3 skeins of Barnacle Geese flying south, a total of 125 birds. There was a male Peregrine also here with a Redshank kill. At Cocklawburn, 134 Common Scoter with 146 Lapwings were in the fields. 7 Grey Plovers were on Little Beach (7th) rising to 11 birds by 21st, also here were 10 Bar-tailed Godwits. More migration on the 8th saw an Osprey over East Ord with 500 Barnacle Geese flying off the sea westwards and 625 Pinkfoot Geese moving south. The Estuary WeBS count (9th) found, 31 Grey Herons, 84 Mute Swans, 4 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 7 Guillemots, 22 Razorbills, 1,072 Lapwings and 332 Redshanks. The high tide at Little Beach (10th) found 8 Dunlin, 2,000+ Black headed Gulls and two young Pheasants! A Little Auk was found swimming around the Old Berwick Bridge. Another Wheatear was on the Golf Course (13th). A pair of Stonechats were at Mill Farm with a Great spotted Woodpecker in the trees. 2 Goldcrests were at Riverdene with 3 House Martins still present at a nest at the Royal Border Viaduct. On 14th, 4 Grey Plovers were at Little Beach. 10 Redwing and 5 Fieldfares were at East Ord (20th) with a Hawfinch feeding on fallen haws with winter thrushes in a Castle Terrace garden. This is a rare bird in Northumberland and may have been a Scandinavian migrant. 2 Sandwich Terns and 3 Arctic Terns were at Cocklawburn (21st). The same day a Black-throated Diver and 32 Shags were in Meadow Haven. A Buzzard was over the cliffs at Marshall Meadows (23rd). On the river, 14 Goldeneye and 4 Goosanders were at New Water Haugh and 72 Greylag, a Woodcock and 16 Common Snipe at Yarrow Slake. Over Berwick (28th) was an adult Peregrine with an immature ‘terrorising’ the local feral pigeons. On Little Beach were 8 Purple Sandpipers, 65 Turnstones and 9 Wigeon. Elsewhere in the area. A Little Gull was spotted N. of Eyemouth on 1st. On Holy Island, 2nd, were hunting Hen Harrier and Peregrine, plus 20 Twite on wires of Straight Loaning. At Sisterpath, SW of Duns, 2 House Martin nests still had young on the 7th. At Cot Hill nr. Duns (7th) were c.60 Chaffinches, 20 Long-tailed Tits and 8 Yellowhammers. 20 Barnacle Geese were seen on the 8th at Eyemouth. On the 9th at Cothill 12 Redwings, 2 Song Thrushes, 4 Dunnocks, 3 Goldfinches and 6 Yellowhammers. A Hooded Crow was with Carrion Crows N. of Eyemouth on the 15th. On the 22nd at Cheswick were 2 Black-throated Divers, 7 Red-throated Divers, 86 Common Scoter and a drake Long-tailed Duck. At Norham East Mains (25th) were 25 Greylag Geese and c.300 Wood Pigeons. A Raven was sighted at Blakie Heugh south of Eyemouth on the 28th.

Butterflies Records

A late Meadow Brown was seen in the dunes of Holy Island on the 2nd. Good numbers of Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells were around until late into the month. A few Large and Small Whites appeared until mid-month and several Commas were around during the last week. It's interesting to note there are no records of Humming-bird Hawk Moth so far this year.

Mammal Records.

A dog Otter was seen regularly for the first ten days of the month, feeding around Calot Shad. However, it was feared the same animal was found near the Royal Border Viaduct severely injured. A local ‘vet’ could not save it. Another female has since been seen in the river around the three bridges. Weasels were sighted at Sea House and Scremerston mid-month. A group of 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Eyemouth on the 1st, and 4 off Cocklawburn on the 7th. Save our Squirrels Group. Two members attended a conference at Morpeth in October, called to bring landowners, councils and wildlife organisations together to help the beleaguered red squirrel in Northumberland. The Berwick SOS Group will soon be continuing the survey of Kyloe, Shilow and Detchant Woods and have also been asked to start surveying buffer zones around the woods for sightings and evidence of reds and (especially) greys. We need more volunteers to share the work. If you would like to help, either on the odd occasion or regularly, contact Elizabeth on 01289 305189 or elizabethbamford@aol.com .

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 14th November. Cyril Guthrie of Wooler will demonstrate and talk about the making of his superb wildlife films. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. ***New Announcement.*** Sunday 25th November, Bird Atlas 2007-11, national survey for BTO. BWG has volunteered for 18 local tetrads. Initial meeting arranged to learn the technique while surveying tetrad NU 04 E. Meet at 1.00pm in centre of Scremerston (by Police Station and Church, NU 007 493). ***New Announcement.*** Thursday 6th December. Beach Litter Survey (for Marine Conservation). Meet at 10.00 a.m. at Lowry Shelter, Little Beach, Berwick (NU 007 527). Wear strong footwear and warm clothes and bring tough gloves. Wednesday 12th December. Berwick is Brilliant for Wildlife – Display and discussion of highlights from our many surveys in 2007. Do come along and swap information on our local fauna and flora. Seasonal refreshments provided. Berwick United Reformed Church, Main Street, Spittal, 7.30pm. Our events programme running up to May 2008 was printed in the last (September) Newsletter – if you did not get a copy (or need another), let us know. It is also posted on our website. Events Programme Contact us. Phone 01289 330591, e-mail mail3@berwickwildlifegroup.org.uk or just come to an event (non-members very welcome).