Berwick Wildlife Group

Promoting wildlife within the Berwick area.

The contents on this page are :-... Sighting Record Card ............. Sightings ............. Nature Ramblings

Have you had any good wildlife sightings recently ? We value all wildlife sightings and would love to hear from you.
Would you like your observations to go in our Newsletter and to be entered on the local wildlife sightings page on this website?
To submit a wildlife record please enter the following information on the record card below.
To submit a nature observation/story/thought please email it to Fiona
Sighting Record Card

Your Name

The Date ?

Where were you?
Map Grid Ref, if known ?

back to the top of this Page
Photo of Eider ducks
What did you see?
Please enter number of; followed by what you saw. (Number of) and your sightings go here.

Comments.
e.g. Weather/Time of Day/State of the tide

Have you had any good wildlife sightings recently ? We value all wildlife sightings and would love to hear from you.
Would you like your observations to go in our Newsletter and to be entered on the local wildlife sightings page on this website?
**To submit a wildlife record please enter the following information on the record card below.**
**To submit a nature observation/story/thought please email it to** Fiona
Sighting Record Card
Your Name The Date ? Where were you? Map Grid Ref, if known ? back to the top of this Page	What did you see? Please enter number of; followed by what you saw. (Number of) and your sightings go here. Comments. e.g. Weather/Time of Day/State of the tide

Sightings
Date	Location	Grid Ref	Count	Sighting	Comment	Observer
2010	.	.	.	.	.	.
28/07/2010	Ord House	NT983510	9	Common Frog	1 adult, 8 froglets, in pond	C.H.
28/07/2010	Ord House	NT983510	1	Common Toad	In bank	C.H.
28/07/2010	Castle Terrace, Berwick	NT990537	1	Raven	Passing.	S.B.
28/07/2010	Tweed, by New Road	NT994532	1	Grey Seal	Dead.	S.B.
26/07/2010	Marshall Meadows	NT987562	10	Small Skipper	Patch in tetrad count	M.H.
26/07/2010	Needles Eye	NT992555	9	Whimbrel	09.30. Flying south	M.H.
26/07/2010	Needles Eye	NT992555	3	Grasshopper Warbler	09.30. Adult feeding 2 juveniles	M.H.
26/07/2010	Marshall Meadows	NT988561	2	Raven	Flying south	M.H.
26/07/2010	Marshall Meadows	NT988561	2	Large Skipper	Cliff path near Caravan Park	M.H.
25/07/2010	Whitehall House	NT875550	1	Humming-bird Hawkmoth	In garden	A.Y.
25/07/2010	Tillmouth Mill	NT88 43	1	Kingfisher	.	C.H.
25/07/2010	River Tweed, above Norham	NT8 4	11	Grey Heron	.	C.H.
25/07/2010	River Tweed, above Norham	NT8 4	4	Cormorant	.	C.H.
25/07/2010	River Tweed, above Norham	NT8 4	9	Mute Swan	Family with 7 cygnets	C.H.
23/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	4	Shelduck	Juveniles, still there (from 20/07/2010)	J.I.
23/07/2010	Yarrow Haugh	NT985528	3	Willow Warbler	Family. 19.15. Fair but breezy	J.I.
23/07/2010	Yarrow Haugh	NT985528	1	Whitethroat	19.15. Fair but breezy	J.I.
23/07/2010	Yarrow Haugh	NT985528	2	Sedge Warbler	19.15. Fair but breezy	J.I.
23/07/2010	Kentstone	NU04 41	x	Blue Sow Thistle	Cicerbita macrophylla. Introduced.	F.A.
22/07/2010	River Tweed	NT97 51	1	Little Egret	Seen from A1 Bridge. Record from County Bird Recorder	(M.H.)
22/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT987531	1	Greenshank	Low tide, fair	J.I.
21/07/2010	Middle Ord	NT971503	1	Barn Owl	18.45. Cool, dry	J.I.
21/07/2010	Middle Ord	NT971503	2	Buzzard	18.45. Cool, dry	J.I.
21/07/2010	Middle Ord	NT971503	2	Common Sandpiper	Juveniles. 18.45. Cool, dry	J.I.
20/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	4	Shelduck	Juveniles, landing on Slake. Ebb tide. 18.30	J.I.
19/07/2010	Tommy the Miller's	NT992535	1	Painted Lady	On butterfly transect	F.A.
18/07/2010	Dodd's Well	NU002542	5	Fragrant Orchid	Gymadenia conopsea. On limestone by steps	M.Hu.
16/07/2010	Spittal Bay	NU0051	2	Arctic Skua	09.00. Chasing Sandwich Terns	M.Hu.
16/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT987533	1	Scaup	Drake, feeding below Yarrow Point. 19.15. Fine	J.I.
15/07/2010	Castle Terrace, Berwick	NT991536	1	Weasel	Exploring flower bed. 12.15, mild, breezy	S.B.
14/07/2010	Goody Patchy	NT998519	2	Magpie Moth	On wild flower patch. 18.45. Fine	J.I.
12/07/2010	Mill Farm	NT985528	15	Small Tortoiseshell	Numerous - 15+. 18.10, warm	J.I.
12/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT986531	1	Greenshank	18.30, rising tide, warm	J.I.
11/07/2010	Castle Terrace, Berwick	NT991536	1	Hedgehog	21.30. Still after strong wind	S.B.
11/07/2010	Tennis courts, Bewick	NU003527	1	Cinnabar Moth	Caterpillar. 11.00, very windy	S.B.
10/07/2010	River Tweed, nr Norham	NT8 4	4	Peregrine	2 adults, 2 ready to fledge juveniles	C.H.
07/07/2010	Newburn on A698	NT933472	x	Blue Sow Thistle	Cicerbita macrophylla. Introduced, possibly with road grit.	M.Hu.
07/07/2010	Cocklawburn "Pit"	NU037476	2	Dark Green Fritillary	09.00	M.Hu.
07/07/2010	Cocklawburn "Pit"	NU037476	1	Small Skipper	09.00	M.Hu.
07/07/2010	Cocklawburn Pond	NU035475	7	Tufted Duck	09.00. Female and six ducklings	M.Hu.
07/07/2010	Yarrow Haugh	NT986529	1	Tawny Owl	18.30. Hunting through trees along the haugh. Warm, windy	J.I.
07/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT986530	3	Black-tailed Godwit	In breeding plumage. Feeding on mud	J.I.
05/07/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT986531	1	Black-tailed Godwit	19.30. In breeding plumage	J.I.
05/07/2010	Mag. Fields Golf Course	NU003534	1	Cinnabar Moth	10.15. Windy, fair	J.I.
03/07/2010	Cocklawburn	NU034481	6	Dark Green Fritillary	On butterfly transect	F.A.
02/07/2010	Mag. Fields Golf Course	NU004535	1	Long-eared Owl	On fencepost behind 18th tee. 08.20. Reported by Craig Wilson, identifier J.I.	J.I.
02/07/2010	Whiteadder banks	NT935543	20	Speckled Wood	Hawthorn Wood, nr Edrington	I.C.
02/07/2010	Whiteadder	NT935542	1	Osprey	In flight, hunting. Opposite Clarabad	I.C.
01/07/2010	Menzie Cleugh	NT827702	1	Blue-tailed Damselfly	Pair. Nr. Siccar Point. Mild, showry	S.B.
01/07/2010	Menzie Cleugh	NT827702	2	Raven	Pair. Nr. Siccar Point. Mild, showry	S.B.
01/07/2010	Tommy-the-Millers Field	NT993533	1	Peregrine	Mild, breezy	S.B.
30/06/2010	Foulden	NT927544	12	Small Skipper	On grassy slope at Newton Braes	I.C.
30/06/2010	Foulden	NT927544	1	Large Skipper	Female. On grassy slope at Newton Braes.	I.C.
30/06/2010	Foulden	NT925544	1	Banded Demoiselle	Female. On riverbank at Newton Braes.	I.C.
29/06/2010	Beal Station	NU059428	6	Speckled Wood	.	M.Hu.
28/06/2010	E.Ord Country Park	NT983510	1	Common Newt	At wildlife pond.	G.N.
28/06/2010	E.Ord Country Park	NT983510	1	Broad-bodied Chaser	At wildlife pond	G.N.
28/06/2010	Barteyshill Plantation	NU018434	1	Speckled Wood	.	M.Hu.
28/06/2010	Lickar Dean	NU018421	1	Speckled Wood	.	M.Hu.
28/06/2010	Berrington/Lickar	NU01 42	4	Tawny Owl	Adult and 3 owlets	M.Hu.
28/06/2010	Berrington Farm	NU008433	1	Spotted Flycatcher	.	M.Hu.
28/06/2010	West Ord	NT954518	1	Little Egret	Flew upstream, then settled on trees on N bank	J.I.
27/06/2010	Lamberton Moor	NT960567	1	Kestrel	12.00	J.I.
27/06/2010	Lamberton Moor	NT960567	2	Yellowhammer	12.00	J.I.
27/06/2010	Lamberton Moor	NT960567	2	Whitethroat	12.00	J.I.
27/06/2010	Lamberton Moor	NT960567	2	Linnet	12.00	J.I.
27/06/2010	Lamberton Moor	NT960567	10	Meadow Brown	Male and female. 12.00	J.I.
27/06/2010	Berwick Garden	NT997531	1	Bullfinch	Female. In small garden	J.P.
26/06/2010	Berwick Garden	NT991537	2	Bullfinch	Pair, all week, coming to water bowl	M.A.
26/06/2010	Cocklawburn	NU03 47	77	Common Blue	On butterfly transect. Male and female	M.Ha.
25/06/2010	Cheswick Pond	NU03 47	2	Snipe	18.15. Feeding in pond margins. Fine	J.I.
23/06/2010	Mill Farm	NT98 52	1	Ringlet	18.30. Fine but breezy	J.I.
20/06/2010	Berwick Pier	NU0152	2	Manx Shearwaters	09.00. Flying north	M.Hu.
19/06/2010	Foulden Burn	NT9254	15	Large Skipper	.	I.C.
18/06/2010	Tweedmouth	NT995522	2	Bullfinch	Pair, in garden all week, feeding on elm flowers	M.McN.
18/06/2010	Tweed Estuary	NT9952	1	Whooper Swan	With Mutes	M.Hu.
18/06/2010	Tweed Estuary	NT9952	358	Mute Swan	WEBS count	M.Hu.
17/06/2010	Cheswick Black Rocks	NU039477	2	Red-throated Diver	08.30	M.Hu.
17/06/2010	Coldgate Water	NT982252	1	Golden-ringed Dragonfly	Harthope Valley. Hunting over scrubby hillside	S.B.
17/06/2010	Brands Hill	NT968236	1	Adder	Harthope Valley. Juvenile (last year's newborn) on path	S.B.
16/06/2010	Castle Terrace	NT990537	2	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Family visiting garden frequently	S.B.
16/06/2010	E.Ord Country Park	NT98 50	1	Magpie Moth	Chrysalis, fallen from bush	G.N.
15/06/2010	Harthope Valley	NT952220	1	Cuckoo	Heard from Langleeford car park.	G.Y.
15/06/2010	Paxton House	NT9352	3	Large Skippers	.	I.C.
15/06/2010	Wooler	NT996283	1	Weasel	Ran across road on outskirts of town.	F.A.
07/06/2010	Holy Island Dunes	NU125 439	1	Wall Brown	Fine, warm.	M.Ha.
07/06/2010	Holy Island Dunes	NU12 43	3	Garden Tiger Moth	Caterpillars. Fine, warm.	M.Ha.
07/06/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU03 47	1	Painted Lady	Disturbed from11:47 08/06/2010 patch of Bloody Cranesbill. 09.30, cool, damp.	M.Hu.
03/06/2010	Brotherston's Hole	NU002547	2	Silver Y Moth	Migrants? Warm, sunny, still	S.B.
03/06/2010	Needle's Eye	NT992553	2	Wall Brown	Very active, ?territorial. Warm, sunny, still	S.B.
03/06/2010	Goody Patchy	NT999519	1	Roe Deer	22.00	M.McN.
03/06/2010	Cheswick Shiel	NU0446	25	Small Heath	Newly hatched	M.Hu.
03/06/2010	Goswick	NU0545	25	Small Heath	Newly hatched	M.Hu.
03/06/2010	Cheswick Beach	NU0347	4	Little Tern	Feeding along tideline	M.Hu.
03/06/2010	River Tweed	NT870430	1	Whooper Swan	Close to 2 Mute Swans	A&F.S.T.
02/06/2010	Tweed Estuary	NT95	156	Ringed Plover	09.00. Migrating flock feeding on falling tide	M.Hu.
02/06/2010	Berwick Pier	NU007525	23	Canada Goose	08.30. Flying south overhead	M.Hu.
01/06/2010	Berwick Garden	NT994537	1	Bullfinch	Male	P.J.
31/05/2010	Burnmouth	NT995611	1	Northern Brown Argus	Freshly emerged.	I.C.
31/05/2010	Burnmouth	NT995611	1	Common Blue	Freshly emerged male.	I.C.
31/05/2010	Carey Burn	NT962258	1	Cuckoo	Calling in the woods	E.T.
30/05/2010	Tweedmouth	NT9952	1	Roe Deer	In garden	X.X.
20/05/2010	Moss Wood	NT008388	1	Cuckoo	W. of Lowick. Calling, 15.30	E.T.
20/05/2010	Whitehall Hs Woods	NT875550	2	Whitethroat	Pair	A&A.Y.
18/05/2010	Coast nr. sea	NT9 6	2	Small Blue	Males. Early for this species	I.C.
18/05/2010	Catcairn Bushes	NT965596	1	Small Heath	Coastal Path N of Lamberton	I.C.
18/05/2010	Foulden	NT938555	1	Red Squirrel	Running across road. (Another person has reported this animal, 20/05/2010 - FA)	I.C.
18/05/2010	Melrose	NT548342	1	Robin	Juvenile	F.A.
18/05/2010	Shiellow Wood	NU051368	1	Cuckoo	Bird on Ravens Craggs. 08.00	E.T.
17/05/2010	Partanhall	NT957612	3	Small Copper	Near Burnmouth	I.C.
17/05/2010	Burnmouth Hill	NT956611	5	Wall Brown	On coastal path. Males seeking territory	I.C.
17/05/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU043466	5	Spring Vetch	Vicia lathyroides. On sandy hummocks in dunes.	F.A.
17/05/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU043466	10	Early Forget-me-not	Myosotis ramosissima. Several small plants on sandy hummocks in dunes.	E.T.
15/05/2010	N. Northumb	NT9 4	2	Barn Owl	Eggs in nest box. (Recorder has Schedule 1 licence)	M.McN.
15/05/2010	Tweedmouth garden	NT995523	2	House Sparrow	Fledged	M.McN.
15/05/2010	N. Northumb	NT8 3	5	Barn Owl	4 chicks plus adult female. (Recorder has Schedule 1 licence)	M.McN.
11/05/2010	St. Cuthbert's Cave	NU058351	1	Cuckoo	Fine, cool, still	S.B.
11/05/2010	Berwick Pier	NU00 52	2	Razorbill	On sea. 14.30	M.Hu.
11/05/2010	Berwick Pier	NU00 52	4	Whimbrel	Flying N. 14.30	M.Hu.
10/05/2010	Cocklawburn Pond	NU036475	1	Grasshopper Warbler	Male, singing. 09.30	M.Hu.
09/05/2010	Ale Water	NT937625	6	Speckled Wood	S. of Eyemouth	I.C.
09/05/2010	Coastwatch Station	NU006534	126	Sandwich Tern	Roosting on Bucket Rocks. 11.30	M.Hu.
08/05/2010	Cocklawburn	NU02 49	1	Osprey	Seen to catch fish and take to Saltpan Rocks to eat it	W.T.
07/05/2010	Sisterpath	NT755484	2	Swift	First of season. Sunny, cold, NE wind.	G.Y.
07/05/2010	West Ord	NT954518	94	Goosander	14.30. V. large feeding group, mostly immatures	M.Hu.
07/05/2010	East Ord	NT983514	68	Pink-footed Goose	7.30. A late skein flying N.	M.Hu.
06/05/2010	Sandstell Point	NU005521	1	Wheatear	Female	G.N.
06/05/2010	Bell Loaning	NT988508	4	Wheatear	.	E.T.
05/05/2010	Iceland	.	1	Whooper Swan	Found dead Spittal Pt. 09/04/2010, ringed Iceland 17/08/2003 as juvenile	A&F.S.T.
04/05/2010	Whiteadder	NT972518	2	Sand Martins	Feeding over river	E.T.
04/05/2010	Whiteadder	NT972518	2	House Martins	Feeding over river	E.T.
02/05/2010	East Ord	NT983514	1	Peregrine	Stooping at woodpigeons. 11.30	M.Hu.
02/05/2010	West Ord	NT954518	5	Swift	Over river. 09.30. Cold, overcast.	M.Hu.
02/05/2010	West Ord	NT954518	15	House Martin	Over river. 09.30. Cold, overcast.	M.Hu.
02/05/2010	West Ord	NT954518	150	Swallow	Over river. 09.30. Cold, overcast.	M.Hu.
02/05/2010	West Ord	NT954518	170	Sand Martin	Over river. 09.30. Cold, overcast.	M.Hu.
30/04/2010	Cheswick	NU046463	7	Early Forget-me-not	Just coming in to flower.	E.T.
30/04/2010	Low Greens, Berwick	NT996534	6	Swift	Flying above. 18.30. Bright, lt. breeze.	D.C.
30/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	5	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	Queens. In garden on heathers.	G.Y.
27/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Red-tailed Bumblebee	Queen. In garden.	G.Y.
27/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	6	Brown Rat	Young. In garden.	G.Y.
27/04/2010	Duns Road	NT95 55	1	Jay	Heading south.	J.I.
27/04/2010	Canties Bridge	NT957 526	3	House Martins	First sighting of year. At nest site.	J.I.
26/04/2010	Whiteadder Mouth	NT97 51	2	Sedge Warbler	11.15. The first this year.	J.I.
26/04/2010	Whiteadder Mouth	NT97 51	2	Chiffchaff	11.15.	J.I.
26/04/2010	Whiteadder Mouth	NT97 51	3	Willow Warbler	11.15.	J.I.
25/04/2010	St Abbs Head	NT91 68	2	Chiffchaff	13.30.	J.I.
25/04/2010	St Abbs Head	NT91 68	9	Willow Warbler	13.30.	J.I.
25/04/2010	St Abbs Head	NT91 68	1	Blackcap	Male. 13.30.	J.I.
25/04/2010	Paxton	NT93 52	1	Swallow	Sitting on overhead wire on B6461.	W.S.
25/04/2010	Cheviot	NT852272	2	Heron	Flew low over the Halterburn.	G.Y.
25/04/2010	Cheviot	NT852272	2	Snipe	.	G.Y.
25/04/2010	Cheviot	NT852272	2	Curlew	.	G.Y.
25/04/2010	Cheviot	NT852272	2	Wheatear	Males.	G.Y.
24/04/2010	Tweedmouth garden	NT995523	1	Blackcap	Female, feeding on ivy berries.	M.McN.
24/04/2010	Tweedmouth garden	NT995523	1	Blackbird	First fledged baby of the year.	M.McN.
22/04/2010	Bell Loaning	NT983508	1	Grasshopper Warbler	Heard around here 22-28th.	E.T.
20/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Stoat	In garden.	G.Y.
24/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Whitethroat	First sighting of year.	G.Y.
23/04/2010	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU034480	1	Skylark	Singing.	M.McN.
23/04/2010	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU034480	2	Meadow Pipit	No stonechats (which would expect) seen.	M.McN.
23/04/2010	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU034480	100	Swallow	Steady trickle of migrating birds heading northwards, c.100 per hour.	M.McN.
23/04/2010	Tommy the Miller's Field	NT985535	20	Common Toad	20-30 small toad tadpoles in cattle-watering sink.	S.B.
20/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	6	Swallow	.	G.Y.
19/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Blackcap	Male.	G.Y.
19/04/2010	Tweed Estuary	NU002523	74	Kittiwake	In gull roost.	M.H.
18/04/2010	Dodd's Well	NU002542	9	Purple Sandpiper	.	M.H.
18/04/2010	Meadow Haven	NU006526	8	Sandwich Tern	Roosting at high tide line.	M.H.
17/04/2010	Lilburn	NU01 24	1	White Stork	In marshy roadside field. Escape?.	J.P.
17/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT853556	1	Small White	Between NT853556 and NT856575.	I.C.
17/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT853556	5	Green-veined White	Between NT853556 and NT856575.	I.C.
17/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT853556	1	Orange Tip	Male, just emerged.	I.C.
17/04/2010	Hyndhaugh Brae	NT856556	1	Willow Warbler	Singing, along with Chiffchaffs.	I.C.
16/04/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991536	2	Dark-edged Bee Fly	Bombylius major. Nectaring on grape hyacinths.	F.A.
16/04/2010	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU032482	2	Grey Wagtail	.	E.M.F.
16/04/2010	Cocklawburn Shore	NU036479	1	Shellduck	.	E.M.F.
16/04/2010	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU035479	1	Carder Bee	Bombus pascuorum. Queen.	E.M.F.
16/04/2010	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU033481	1	Carder Bee	Bombus pascuorum. Queen.	E.M.F.
16/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	2	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Male and female - first time female has visited.	G.Y.
16/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Willow Warbler	Singing. First of season.	G.Y.
16/04/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU038472	2	Cowslip	Many. Just coming into flower.	M.H.
14/04/2010	Mount Road	NT995520	1	Brambling	Female. Appeared twice in garden in evening.	F.S.
13/04/2010	Hyndhaugh Brae	NT856556	2	House Martins	Whiteadder bank, S of Chirnside. Flying quite high up	I.C.
13/04/2010	Eye Water	NT939629	1	Comma	.	I.C.
13/04/2010	Kentstone	NU039414	12	Buzzard	Circling overhead, briefly.	J.R.
12/04/2010	Spittal Beach	NU00 51	1	Mute Swan	Dead but ringed. See nature rambles below.	A&FST.
12/04/2010	Murton	NT96 48	1	Swallow	18.30. Fine.	J.I.
12/04/2010	Murton	NT96 48	3	Buzzard	18.30. Fine.	J.I.
11/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT863556	10	Small Tortoiseshell	Between NT863556 and NT852561.	I.C.
11/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT863556	12	Peacock Butterfly	Between NT863556 and NT852561.	I.C.
11/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT863556	7	Comma Butterfly	Between NT863556 and NT852561.	I.C.
11/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT854557	1	Blackcap	Female.	I.C.
10/04/2010	Tommy the Miller's Field	NT993535	1	Small White	On butterfly transect.	E.T.
10/04/2010	Ninewells	NT858556	12	Dark Edged Bee Fly	Bombylius major .	I.C.
10/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT879549	5	Comma Butterfly	Between NT879549 and NT852561.	I.C.
10/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT879549	13	Small Tortoiseshell	Between NT879549 and NT852561.	I.C.
10/04/2010	River Whiteadder	NT879549	17	Peacock Butterfly	Between NT879549 and NT852561.	I.C.
10/04/2010	Whitehall	NT875554	2	Raven	.	I.C.
10/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT862555	1	Blackcap	Male.	I.C.
10/04/2010	Mill Farm	NT989531	2	White Wagtails	On newly-ploughed field. 08.45.	J.I.
10/04/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT984516	2	Small Tortoiseshell	13.30. On flowers in garden.	M.Ha.
10/04/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT984516	1	Red Admiral	13.30. On flowers in garden. This is only the second time I have seen an RA this early. I guess they are hibernating under the roof tiles, something unrecorded c. 10 yrs. ago.	M.Ha.
10/04/2010	Ord Country Park	NT982515	1	Redwing	07.00. In sub-song in the dawn chorus.	M.Ha.
10/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Tortoiseshell Butterfly	First of the year. 14C. Calm.	G.Y.
09/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	4	Comma Butterfly	.	I.C.
09/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	3	Peacock Butterfly	.	I.C.
09/04/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	3	Small Tortoiseshell	.	I.C.
09/04/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Peacock Butterfly	First of the year.	G.Y.
09/04/2010	Tweed valley	NT9752	1	Common Crane	08.45. Flying up the Tweed valley with several large gulls.	M.Hu.
08/04/2010	Lickar Dean	NU018420	1	Peacock Butterfly	15.00.	J.R.
08/04/2010	Bowsden	NT997420	2	Swallows	Flying.	J.R.
08/04/2010	Berwick	NT997525	1	2-spot ladybird	Palace Street.	M.Ha.
07/04/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	3	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	On lungwort.	F.A.
07/04/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	2	Red-tailed Bumblebee	On lungwort.	F.A.
07/04/2010	St Abbs Head	NT91 69	2	Small Tortoiseshell	.	J.R.
07/04/2010	St Abbs Head	NT91 69	20	7-spot Ladybird	On gorse.	J.R.
05/04/2010	Berwick	NU002528	6	Black Spleenwort	Identity to be confirmed. On shady wall.	M.Ha.
05/04/2010	Berwick	NU002528	4	Wall Rue	On shady wall.	M.Ha.
05/04/2010	Berwick	NU002528	6	Maidenhair Spleenwort	On shady wall.	M.Ha.
05/04/2010	Berwick	NT998525	1	Peacock Butterfly	Palace Street. Blown in strong wind.	R.H.
04/04/2010	West Ord	NT951519	2	Sand Martin	18.00. Fair.	J.I.
04/04/2010	West Ord	NT951519	2	Yellowhammer	18.00. Fair.	J.I.
04/04/2010	West Ord	NT951519	2	Teal	18.00. Fair.	J.I.
04/04/2010	West Ord	NT951519	2	Whooper Swan	18.00. Fair.	J.I.
04/04/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	1	Pied Wagtail	Bird with yellow ring. 12.00. Fair.	J.I.& D.R.
04/04/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	2	Buzzard	12.00. Fair.	J.I.& D.R.
04/04/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	3	Wheatear	12.00. Fair.	J.I.& D.R.
04/04/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	4	Stonechat	12.00. Fair.	J.I.& D.R.
04/04/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	2	Buzzard	12.00. Fair.	J.I.& D.R.
04/04/2010	East Ord	NT983515	1	Swallow	09.00. Circling around trees of Country Park.	M.Hu.
03/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	On heathers. 8C, dull	G.Y.
02/04/2010	Cheswick Black Rocks	NU037476	12	Long-tailed Duck	Males displaying to 2 females.	M.Hu.
02/04/2010	Cocklawburn Pond area	NU036475	5	Goldcrest	Feeding among bushes, 09.45.	M.Hu.
02/03/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	2	Bullfinch	Pair, eating blackthorn buds	F.A.
02/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Curlew	Cold, sunny. Flying low over field	G.Y.
01/04/2010	Flagstaff Park	NT003528	1	Goldcrest	5.30	J.I.
01/04/2010	Little Beach	NT006529	2	Wheatear	15.00. Males	J.I.
01/04/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT98651	1	Osprey	11.20. Circled Yarrow Slake once then flew north over Castle Terrace.	M.Hu.
30/03/2010	Tweedhill	NT928513	30	Tree Sparrows	Around seed feeders	B&V.S.
30/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Brown Rat	Fleeing from rising water (heavy rain)	J.R.
29/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Jay	Feeding on lawn. Cold and wet	G.Y.
29/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Siskin	Male and female, on peanuts	G.Y.
29/03/2010	Borewell Wood	NT016494	1	Sweet Violet	Viola odorata var. alba, beginning to flower	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	West Ord	NT9551	22	Sand Martin	Feeding over river	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	West Ord	NT9551	2	Greylag Goose	11.00	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	West Ord	NT9551	2	Whooper Swan	11.00	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	2	Wheatear	Males. 09.15	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	1	Merlin	Female, 09.15	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	Cocklawburn, Saltpan Rocks	NU026491	2	Slavonian Grebe	10.30	M.Hu.
29/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Chiffchaff	Singing in wood, despite cold and drizzle	G.Y.
29/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Sparrowhawk	Female	J.R.
28/03/2010	Castle Drive, Berwick	NT992538	0	Common Frog	End of spawning in garden pond.	L.C.
28/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	Bombus terrestris, Queen	J.R.
28/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	2	Early Bumblebee	Bombus pratorum, Queens	J.R.
28/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Woodmouse	.	J.R.
28/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Stoat	Eating rabbit road kill	J.R.
28/03/2010	Weetwood Moor	NU027283	2	Red Squirrel	In adjacent trees feeding on fresh larch shoots	J.R.
27/03/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	1	Chiffchaff	Singing	I.C.
27/03/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	1	Tortoiseshell Butterfly	.	I.C.
27/03/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	1	Red-tailed Bumblebee	Bombus lapidarius . Queen, nectaring on butterbur	I.C.
27/03/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	1	Common Carder Bee	Bombus pascuorum . Queen, nectaring on butterbur	I.C.
27/03/2010	Ninewells Springs	NT863556	2	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	Bombus terrestris . Queens, nectaring on butterbur. 1 carrying many mites	I.C.
27/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	Bombus terrestris, Queen	J.R.
27/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	2	Early Bumblebee	Bombus pratorum, Queens	J.R.
26/03/2010	Fenwick Wood	NU073386	1	Weasel	Crossing Road	J.R.
26/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Grey Partridge	Pair	G.Y.
26/03/2010	Carham	NT804385	1	Barn Owl	19.20	J.I.
26/03/2010	Maxton	NT640310	1	Barn Owl	19.00	J.I.
25/03/2010	Castle Terrace garden	NT991537	1	Blackcap	Female, on feeders. Mild, still, misty.	S.B.
25/03/2010	Kyloe Cottage	NU044408	1	Stoat	In white winter coat	J.R.
25/03/2010	Detchant Woods	NU066368	1	Woodmouse	In squirrel feeder with hazel nuts	J.R.
24/03/2010	Cocklawburn	NU033480	6	Skylark	In groups on ground and singing	G.Y.
24/03/2010	Cocklawburn	NU036475	10	Common Toad	On track near pond. Several males competing for 2 females	G.Y.
24/03/2010	Hutton Mill Bridge	NT919514	1	Tawny Owl	13.00. Male, calling	J.I.
23/03/2010	E. Ord Country Park	NT983513	1	Common Frog	Spawn in pond	G.N.
23/03/2010	E. Ord Country Park	NT983513	1	Brambling	.	G.N.
23/03/2010	E. Ord Country Park	NT983513	1	Treecreeper	.	G.N.
23/03/2010	E. Ord Country Park	NT983513	2	Bullfinch	Pair	G.N.
23/03/2010	R. Tweed at Coldstream	NT844398	2	Goosander	Pair. Settled on river and started fishing	F.A.
23/03/2010	The Hirsel, Coldstream	NT8271340211	1	Tree Creeper	On oak tree trunk and ground	M.A.
23/03/2010	The Hirsel, Coldstream	NT8225140082	1	Chiffchaff	Singing in woodland. Fine, mild	F.A.
22/03/2010	East Ord	NT980521	5	Pink-footed Goose	On young wheat. 10,30. Fine	J.I.
21/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	50	Starling	With fieldfares.	G.Y.
21/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	100	Fieldfare	In beech trees and fields with starlings.	G.Y.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	2	Common Newt	In rain-filled tractor tracks beside road.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	2	Common Toad	Many, plus spawn in rainfall pools. Toads olive green with black spots.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	3	Dipper	One pair apparently nestbuilding under overhanging bank.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	2	Grey wagtail	By river.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	2	Goldcrest	Several, in oaks by river.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	2	Treecreeper	On old oak adjacent to river.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT948215	2	Peregrine	Pair,near ravine.	D.C.
21/03/2010	Langleeford	NT9421	2	Raven	Pair, flying overhead.	D.C.
20/03/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Buff-tailed bumblebee	Queen, flying past. Sunny day.	F.A.
19/03/2010	John Muir Country Park, Dunbar	NT652788	2	Common Toad	2 males, separate area of pond to frogs. 11.00, sunny, mild, windy.	S.B.
19/03/2010	John Muir Country Park, Dunbar	NT652788	30	Common Frog	15 to 20 pairs, in amplexus , croaking, marshy area near small bridge.	S.B.
19/03/2010	John Muir Country Park, Dunbar	NT652788	1	Red Admiral Butterfly	In woodland glade. 11.00, sunny, mild, windy.	S.B.
19/03/2010	John Muir Country Park, Dunbar	NT652788	1	Fox Moth Caterpillar	Full-grown, out from hibernation, on dune grassland. 11.00, sunny, mild, windy.	S.B.
19/03/2010	Castle Drive, Berwick	NT992538	10	Common Frog	Also frog spawn in pond.(In 2009 first frogspawn + 5 frogs seen 28th Feb.)	L.C.
18/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	1	Tree Creeper	.	A.Y.
18/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	2	Nuthatch	Pair.	A.Y.
18/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	1	Song Thrush	.	A.Y.
18/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	2	Mistle Thrush	Pair.	A.Y.
17/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT861554	2	Small Tortoiseshell	.	I.C.
17/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT853558	1	Peacock Butterfly	.	I.C.
15/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Common Toad	In garden, under soil.	G.Y.
15/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Tree Sparrow	Nesting in nest box in garden.	G.Y.
14/03/2010	Belford Station	NU1233	1	Barn Owl	Freshly dead at side of road.	M.McN.
14/03/2010	Kyloe Wood	NU0538	1	Crossbill	In tops of conifers.	M.McN.
14/03/2010	Kyloe Wood	NU0538	10	Siskin	In tops of conifers.	M.McN.
14/03/2010	Fenwick	NU0639	1	Tree Sparrow	On garden feeder.	M.McN.
13/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT863556	1	Song Thrush	.	I.C.
13/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT863556	1	Goldcrest	.	I.C.
13/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT863556	1	Long-tailed tit	.	I.C.
13/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT863556	1	Nuthatch	.	I.C.
13/03/2010	Whiteadder Bank	NT863556	1	Comma	First butterfly of the season.	I.C.
12/03/2010	Castle Drive, Berwick	NT992538	6	Common Frog	First of the spring.	L.C.
09/03/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	2	Carrion Crow	Low tide.	M.McN.
09/03/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	30	Curlew	Low tide.	M.McN.
09/03/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	60	Redshank	Low tide. Feeding.	M.McN.
09/03/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	2	Grey Heron	Low tide.	M.McN.
09/03/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	3	Dabchick	Low tide.	M.McN.
09/03/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	10	Goldeneye	Low tide.	M.McN.
07/03/2010	Castle Terrace	NT990538	1	Nuthatch	Male. Flew to another garden. 15.30. Mild	D.C.
06/03/2010	St Abbs Head	NT912692	100	Gannet	Flying north.	E.T.
06/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Buzzard	Soaring over field. Sunny.	G.Y.
06/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Song Thrush	Singing in top of ash tree. Sunny.	G.Y.
06/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Skylark	Singing high in sky. Sunny.	G.Y.
06/03/2010	Yarrow Point	NT986531	12	Snipe	.	J.I.
06/03/2010	Fawdon Dean	NU016435	2	Brown Hare	.	J.R.
05/03/2010	Old Bridge	NT997527	1	Goosander	Male.	M.McN.
04/03/2010	Cothill	NT762500	2	Oystercatcher	In field where they have nested for last few years.	G.Y.
04/03/2010	Cothill	NT762500	1	Skylark	Singing. Sunny, frosty.	G.Y.
04/03/2010	Pier end of Little Beach	NU006526	3	Linnets	15.00. Sunny, still. Feeding among tidal debris with Rock Pipits.	D.C.
04/03/2010	Pier end of Little Beach	NU006526	22	Rock Pipit	15.00. Sunny, still. Feeding among tidal debris.	D.C.
04/03/2010	Estuary by Pier Road	NU002526	82	Redshank	14.55. Sunny, still. Roosting on shingle beach just W of Ness Gate.	D.C.
04/03/2010	The Ditches, Berwick	NU003531	1	Weasel	Exploring the numerous bank vole holes.	F.A.
04/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	20	Redwing	20+.	A.Y.
04/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	1	Nuthatch	.	A.Y.
03/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	1	Tree Creeper	.	A.Y.
03/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	8	Long-tailed Tit	.	A.Y.
03/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Sparrowhawk	Adult female	J.R.
03/03/2010	Buckton Moor	NU074383	1	Stoat	In white winter coat	J.R.
02/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	20	Lapwing	Flying over field. Frosty. Sunny.	G.Y.
02/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Oystercatcher	Frosty. Sunny.	G.Y.
02/03/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	10	Yellowhammer	Frosty. Sunny.	G.Y.
02/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Female.	A.Y.
01/03/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	2	Songthrush	.	G.N.
01/03/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	1	Goldcrest	14.30. Fine and sunny.	G.N.
01/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	2	Songthrush	.	A.Y.
01/03/2010	Whitehall House Woods	NT875551	1	Fieldfare	.	A.Y.
01/03/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Weasel	.	J.R.
28/02/2010	Loanend	NT945507	4	Grey Partridge	Regular visitors.	A.T.
28/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	5	Brown Hare	In Field. Looking very frisky.	G.Y.
28/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	5	Long-tailed tit	At garden feeders. Returned after break in feeding.	G.Y.
27/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	1	Tawny Owl	Male. Heard most nights. Occasionally a female.	A.Y.
27/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	2	Nuthatch	.	A.Y.
27/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Brambling	At garden feeder.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	1	Buzzard	In field eating Brown Hare.	A.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	3	Roe deer	In field.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Brown Hare	In field.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Fox	.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	.	Brown rat	Droppings in garden.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	.	Mole hills	In garden.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Nuthatch	At feeders in garden.	G.Y.
25/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Goldfinch	At feeders in garden.	G.Y.
24/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	12	Long-tailed tit	.	A.Y.
22/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	1	Buzzard	.	A.Y.
22/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	1	Mistle Thrush	.	A.Y.
22/02/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	2	Yellowhammer	.	J.R.
22/02/2010	Holy Island Causeway	NU084429	1	Little Egret	.	J.R.
21/02/2010	Kentstone Cottage	NU039414	1	Brown Hare	.	J.R.
21/02/2010	Detchant Lodge	NU101364	6	Roe Deer	.	J.R.
21/02/2010	Budle Bay	NU146347	1	Merlin	.	J.R.
20/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	2	Bullfinch	Pair	A.Y.
20/02/2010	Tweedmouth West End	NT993531	1	Peregrine	16.00. Carrying pigeon up onto railway bridge.	D.R.
20/02/2010	Tweedmouth West End	NT993531	1	Grey Wagtail	16.00.	D.R.
20/02/2010	Tweedmouth West End	NT993531	2	Pochard	16.00. Drakes.	D.R.
19/02/2010	Ford Woodhouse	NT968361	2	Roe Deer	Two females.	J.R.
19/02/2010	Etal	NT927403	1	Common Shrew	Dead beside path.	J.R.
19/02/2010	Cocklawburn	NU030482	1	Buzzard	10.30. Sitting on roadside fence post.	M.Hu.
18/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	2	Jay	Pair.	A.Y.
17/02/2010	Kentstone Cottages	NU039414	1	Badger	.	J.R.
17/02/2010	Tweed Estuary	NT975518	1	Otter	15.30. Male. Fishing below Bypass Bridge.	M.Hu.
17/02/2010	Tweed Estuary	NT988534	25	Goldeneye	Two of males displaying. Mid-day. Fine, cold, low tide.	P.J.
17/02/2010	Castle Hills Woods	NT088535	10	Rook	Bringing in nesting material.	P.J.
16/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	2	Bullfinch	Pair.	A.Y.
15/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	2	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Pair.	A.Y.
15/02/2010	Whitehall House woods	NT874551	4	Goldfinch	.	A.Y.
14/02/2010	Cocklawburn	NU030482	15	Curlew	10.30. Feeding in pasture with oystercatchers. Ground wet and soft.	M.Ha.
14/02/2010	West Ord	NT954519	3	Greylag Goose	.	M.Hu.
14/02/2010	West Ord	NT954519	6	Canada Goose	.	M.Hu.
14/02/2010	West Ord	NT954519	2	Whooper Swan	.	M.Hu.
14/02/2010	Billylaw	NT980496	2	Grey Partridge.	09.30. Fine frosty morning.	M.Hu.
11/02/2010	East Ord	NT982515	2	Brambling	Male and female. Eating sunflower seeds. Dull and overcast.	G.N.
08/02/2010	East Ord Garden	NT981512	2	Bullfinch	Male and female. Daily visotors to garden until 11th Feb.	E.T.
06/02/2010	East Ord	NT981511	2	Raven	14.00. Bell Loaning. Pair, flying west, inland up the Tweed Valley, calling.	M.Hu.
06/02/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Fox	09.30. In "Empty Plot".	F.A.
05/02/2010	West Kyloe Church	NU053403	1	Stoat	Full winter white coat. Crossing road near church.	J.R.
05/02/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	4	Roe Deer	14.30. In "Empty Plot". Unconcerned by passing traffic.	F.A.
03/02/2010	Cheswick Bay	NU0447	120	Common Scoter	10.00 a.m. Quite a large flock for this time of year.	M.Hu.
03/02/2010	Cocklawburn Pond	NU036475	1	Stoat	09.15 a.m. In full ermine (white with black tip to tail) .	M.Hu.
02/02/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Bullfinch	Male. Eating blackthorn buds.	F.A.
01/02/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	1	7-spot ladybird	On steps between houses.	M.A.
01/02/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Grey Squirrel	Passing through garden.	G.Y.
26/01/2010	Coldstream	NT846402	1	Otter	21.45. Travelling east along main street, then crossing road heading for Police Station. Not large, maybe female.	S.B.
25/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	11-spot ladybird	"Swimming" in rain-water catcher. Rescued.	M.A.
24/01/2010	Berwick Pier	NU011524	1	Great Crested Grebe	11.45. On sea at end of Pier.	M.Hu.
24/01/2010	Rose Garden, Flagstaff Park	NU002530	2	Magpie	11.15 a.m. Nest building.	M.Hu.
24/01/2010	Berwick Walls	NU001532	1	Peregrine	Male. Hunting along Walls by the Barracks.	M.Hu.
24/01/2010	Fisherman's Haven	NU004538	1	Common Seal	Immature. 10.30. Ill? Not returning to sea on approach of dog walkers.	M.Hu.
19/01/2010	Cheswick	NU042471	1	Ray's Bream	Dead on shore.	S.B.
19/01/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Goldfinch	Perched on old sunflower eating seeds.	G.Y.
19/01/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	7	Long-tailed tit	At fat feeders in garden last 3 days. One with white head - European race.	G.Y.
19/01/2010	Castle Terrace garden	NT991537	1	Woodcock	14.00. Disturbed and flew into Tommy-the-Miller's Field.	M.A.
19/01/2010	Above Pier Road	NU004528	1	Grey Heron	Put up from trees and flew to floodwater pool, just by tennis courts. 15.00.	M.A.
18/01/2010	Dock Road	NT996524	2	Coot	First-winter birds. 14.00. Sunny but cool.	J.I.
17/01/2010	Dodd's Well	NU001542	8	Grey Plover	14.30.	M.Hu.
17/01/2010	Dodd's Well	NU001542	16	Purple Sandpiper	14.30.	M.Hu.
17/01/2010	Dodd's Well	NU001542	1	Great Crested Grebe	14.30.	M.Hu.
16/01/2010	Billylaw (Ord Moor)	NT982496	1	Merlin	Male. Huntng the hedgerows. 14.00.	M.Hu.
14/01/2010	Tweedmouth Garden	NT992529	8	Long-tailed Tit	10.00. Snow flurry.	J.I.
13/01/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Yellowhammer	Male. At bird feeders in garden.	G.Y.
13/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	2	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Male and female. Daily visitors.	G.N.
13/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	1	Nutchatch	Daily visitor.	G.N.
13/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	4	Brambling	At feeders.	G.N.
13/01/2010	Little Beach	NU006526	1	Sparrowhawk	Male. 14.00. Damp and cold.	J.I.
13/01/2010	Yarrow Haugh	NT985528	6	Bullfinch	In small party. Cold and damp. 11.15.	J.I.
11/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT990538	1	Fox	Possibly immature - seemed small. Crossing back garden. Melting snow.	S.B.
10/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	3	Mistle Thrush	Snow, thawing. Eating apples put out for them.	F.A.
10/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT992529	3	Brambling	In garden. 11.30, fresh, thawing.	J.I.
10/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT992529	1	Fieldfare	In garden. 11.30, fresh, thawing.	J.I.
10/01/2010	Tweed Street	NU004527	1	Woodcock	Snow, less cold after severe spell. Flushed from little park by Central Garage.	D.C.
10/01/2010	Coldstream Bridge	NT849400	1	Tawny Owl	Swooped in front of car to take prey from road surface.	J.I.
10/01/2010	Beal	NU045427	1	Barn Owl	.	J.I.
09/01/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	2	Twite	Snow, bitterly cold. Looking for food at base of wall in Pier Road with thrushes.	D.C.
09/01/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	6	Skylark	Snow, bitterly cold. Looking for food at base of wall in Pier Road with thrushes.	D.C.
09/01/2010	Berwick	NT999527	1	Redwing	In small urban yard. Snow, bitterly cold.	M.Ha.
09/01/2010	North Road	NT994537	1	Tree Sparrow	Able to figure out cage feeder, eating seed. Snow, bitterly cold.	J.P.
09/01/2010	North Road	NT994537	3	Brambling	Unable to figure out way into cage feeders, eating spilt seed. Snow, bitterly cold.	J.P.
08/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	6	Fieldfare	Deep snow, bitterly cold.	G.N.
08/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	2	Redwing	Deep snow, bitterly cold.	G.N.
08/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	1	Mistle Thrush	Deep snow, bitterly cold.	G.N.
08/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT995522	700+	Starling	Regular roost in ivy and conifers at Tweedmouth Church Yard and surrounding gardens.	M.McN.
08/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT995522	3	Goldfinch	Snow. Bitterly cold.	M.McN.
08/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT995522	1	Woodcock	Snow. Bitterly cold.	M.McN.
08/01/2010	New Road	NT988535	8	Redwing	14.30. Digging in small snow-free areas at base of wall, with blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wren,song thrush. Deep snow, bitterly cold.	F.A.
08/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	3	Brambling	At seed feeders, with finches. Deep snow, bitterly cold.	F.A.
08/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	2	Fieldfare	Attracted to apples. Deep snow, bitterly cold.	F.A.
08/01/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	1	Fieldfare	12.00. Bright sunshine, snow, bitterly cold (-7C). In tree in cottage garden.	D.C.
08/01/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	1	Sparrowhawk	12.00. Bright sunshine, snow, bitterly cold (-7C). Flew over road and between cottages.	D.C.
08/01/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	8	Redwing	12.00. Bright sunshine, snow, bitterly cold (-7C). Sheltering in base of shrub in garden.	D.C.
08/01/2010	Pier Road	NU004527	1	Woodcock	11.00. Bright sun, bitterly cold (-7C). Looking for food with blackbirds, song thrushes, pipits in snow melt at edge of road. Found dead of starvation and cold next day.	D.C.
07/01/2010	East Ord Country Park	NT982515	1	Woodcock	Assume same one as seen to fly to park by M.Hu. on 06/01/2010.	G.N.
07/01/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT984515	1	Mistle Thrush	15.00. At feeders. Arctic conditions.	M.Hu.
07/01/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT984515	3	Fieldfare	15.00. At feeders. Arctic conditions.	M.Hu.
07/01/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT984515	1	Blackcap	15.00. At feeders. Arctic conditions.	M.Hu.
07/01/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT984515	1	Raven	14.30. Flying south. Bright and sunny. Arctic conditions.	M.Hu.
06/01/2010	Tweedmouth garden	NT992529	10	Long-tailed tit	11.00. Working through shrubs and trees. Very cold, deep snow.	J.I.
06/01/2010	Yarrow Slake	NT985530	17	Pink-footed Goose	11.15. Flying off Yarrow Slake southward. Arctic conditions.	M.Hu.
06/01/2010	Little Beach	NU006527	2	Linnets	In mixed finch flock. Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Little Beach	NU006527	4	Bar-tailed Godwit	Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Little Beach	NU006527	3	Grey Plover	Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Little Beach	NU006527	40	Ringed Plover	Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Little Beach	NU006527	1	Woodcock	Flushed from grassy area between car park and beach. Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Quay Walls	NT997527	1	Fieldfare	In berried bush adjacent to Quayside car park. 11.30. Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Quay Walls	NT997527	6	Redwing	In berried bush adjacent to Quayside car park. 11.30. Snow, cold.	D.C.
06/01/2010	Foulden	NT917568	1	Tawny Owl	Snow, cold.	J.I.
06/01/2010	Foulden	NT917568	1	Barn Owl	Snow, cold.	J.I.
06/01/2010	North Road	NT994537	1	Bullfinch	Male. In mixed finch flock. Snow, cold.	P.J.
06/01/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT983515	1	Brambling	At feeder.	M.Hu.
06/01/2010	Cornwall Avenue	NT983515	1	Woodcock	11.30. Flew into trees of Caravan Park. Bright and crisp, 4" snow.	M.Hu.
06/01/2010	New Road	NT995534	2	Dabchick	Opposite Royal Border Bridge. Very cold, mid-tide.	S.B.
06/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Woodcock	Standing still in snow at dusk. Looked unwell.	F.A.
06/01/2010	New Road	NT989535	6	Redwing	Sorting through snow-free areas by river and trees.	F.A.
06/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Mistle Thrush	Eating apples with 15 blackbirds. Snow.	F.A.
06/01/2010	Mill Farm	NT986529	1	Barn Owl	Disturbed by flock of geese settling on Yarrow Slake. Snow, cold.	J.P.
05/01/2010	Berwick, by Walls	NU003528	5	Bullfinch	In small flock eating honesty seeds. Snow, cold.	J.P.
05/01/2010	West St., Berwick	NT998529	1	Grey Wagtail	In street in town. Forced from usual haunts. Snow, cold.	P.J.
05/01/2010	Berwick	NT997531	2	Redwing	Eating Pyracantha berries. Snow.	J.P.
05/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Fieldfare	Eating apples with blackbirds. Snow.	F.A.
04/01/2010	Horncliffe	NT929500	3	Fieldfare	Snowy morning. In front garden.	M.S.
04/01/2010	Horncliffe	NT929500	2	Redwing	Snowy morning. In front garden.	M.S.
04/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	4	Goldfinch	At seed feeder. Snow.	F.A.
04/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Blackcap	Male. Constantly at fat feeder. Snow.	F.A.
03/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT999515	2	Mistle Thrush	In garden. Snow	E.B.
03/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT999515	1	Song Thrush.	In garden. Snow.	E.B.
03/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT999515	5	Redwing	In garden. Snow.	E.B.
03/01/2010	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Redwing	In garden.	F.A.
03/01/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Bullfinch	In garden.	G.Y.
03/01/2010	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Grey Squirrel	Under seed feeder in garden. (Others in last few days)	G.Y.
03/01/2010	East Ord	NT984516	8	Fieldfare	Feeding on holly berries in garden.	M.Hu.
03/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT9952	140	Pink-footed Goose	10.30. Flying S overhead.	M.Hu.
03/01/2010	East Ord House	NT982514	2	Bullfinch	With mixed finch flock.	M.Hu.
03/01/2010	Tweedmouth	NT992529	1	Redwing	In garden. 10.30. Snowing.	J.I.
01/01/2010	East Ord	NT9850	520	Pink-footed Goose	08.30. Flying S in 2 skeins. V. Frosty and snow cover.	M.Hu.
2009	.	.	.	.	.	.
30/12/2009	West Ord	NT953519	24	Tufted Duck	10.00a.m. Light thaw,very icy. Largest flock of 'Tufties' I've seen on the Tweed.	M.Hu.
30/12/2009	Castle Terrace	NT991537	5	Redwing	Hunting under leaves on lawn edge.	F.A.
29/12/2009	Ord Road	NT986520	6	Redwing	Under Whitebeams along roadside.	M.Hu.

Nature Ramblings

2010

Dead, but still contributing to scientific understanding.
On 11th January we found a dead, ringed shag on Spittal Beach. The BTO has just let us know that it had been ringed as a nestling on 20th June 2009 at Craigleith, Firth of Forth.
On Saturday we found a very decomposed, ringed swan again on Spittal beach but near the estuary. Its ring was Icelandic, so
Ann and Frank, 12th April 2010

2009

....but Large Whites have their moment, too!
About 30 caterpillars of the large white had been feeding on rocket growing in a raised bed about one metre from our single storey garage. On Monday 28th September all left the rocket, crawled up the garage wall and settled under the eaves.
Ann and Frank, 28th September 2009.
I suppose if they are all from one batch of eggs, growing on the same (abundant) food supply, and subject to the same weather conditions they will all grow and be ready to pupate at the same time. Not much genetic variation, then? Fiona.

Speckled Wood in Berwick - Hoorah!!
Ann and I decided on an afternoon walk along New Road to check on butterflies at New Water Heugh. We passed under the trees at the steps from Castle Hills cottage and on to the first inward bend round the corner, when a small butterfly flew out of the Ivy and down onto the shore. I thought it was a Silver Y Moth but Ann saw where it landed and we were amazed when it opened its wings to sun itself to show as a lovely clean Speckled Wood. We watched it for a while as it flew up under the canopy settling on the Ivy for a time, before coming to the shore again to nectar on sea-aster. This was 2.20p.m. We went our walk and and I thought we would not see it on our return, as the sky was overcast. We had just passed the Garden Gate of Castle Hills when it flew past us and around the plants under the Yew trees, this was 4.30p.m. I'm sure it should be there the rest of the week, as we are due a warm spell after tomorrow's rain.
Did anyone else see it? Do let us know. Or any others further north?
Malcolm, 7th September 2009.

Rooftop Soap Opera.
Ongoing cliffhanger in a herring gull family on a roof. Three chicks but one a virtual midget, and feisty or it would have died by now. I think there may be some alimentary problem as I've seen it refuse food and walk away, but it sips from the gutter and I suspect finds small stuff there that it can manage. Every morning I look to see if it's survived the night, and every evening I see it smaller and smaller alongside its siblings. Who needs TV and wildlife programmes?
Phil, 3rd July 2009.

So that's why they do it...
In Zoological Notes made by A. Brotherston in 1874 I found the following gem: 'Old nests of Swifts are usually occupied (by sparrows or starlings) when they arrive. Knowing that they could not remove (them) by force, they frighten them out in the following manner. A number of them fly together in Indian file, circling round and round, uttering their harsh discordant screams every time they pass the entrance to the hole they wish to regain (...) until the frightened inmate slips out, when the nest is immediately taken possession of by the swifts.' Aha!
Phil, 11th May 2009.

True conservation on the farm.
An oystercatcher (we watch them from the kitchen window) was seen on her "nest" on a ploughed field on 16th April. On 18th 3 eggs had been laid on the bare earth. On 20th the farmer carefully lifted the eggs before he sowed grass seed. She returned to the nest. Both male and female take turns in incubating the eggs.

The pair have returned to this nest for a few years now. Last year the first eggs were unsuccessful - perhaps buzzards / crows got them. They successfully reared one chick with the 2nd attempt.
Gill, 21st April 2009.

The carnivorous Bee-fly.
On 13th April I saw a Bee-fly, Bombylius major. To quote from http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm ."This is the largest and best known of the British species. The body is stout and furry, so that the fly has a strong superficial resemblance to a bumblebee, although the long, spindly legs are rather different from those of a bee. It has a long, rigid proboscis held out in front of the head, which is used to probe for nectar while the fly hovers at flowers (rather like a humming bird). Its hovering and darting flight, accompanied by a high-pitched whine, is much more agile than that of a bee. The larval stages live as parasites in the nests of solitary bees (e.g. Andrena, Halictus and Colletes species), where they eat the food stores and larvae of their host."

There are excellent pictures on the internet, e.g. http://www.cirrusimage.com/flies_bee_Bombylius_major.htm . "Our" Bee-fly was hovering around grape hyacinths, sipping nectar through the long proboscis. If we have a Bee-fly, presumably there are solitary bees around too. I thought I found species of Andrena attending holes in the lawn last spring. The Bee-flies apparently emerge from their burrows before the bees, so as to be ready to lay their eggs in the holes when the bees get busy.
Fiona, 17th Apil 2009.

Tapee Spa.
About 18 months ago Rail-Link removed two sidings W. of main track and E. of Tapee Fen (NT 994 537) and replaced them with 1 electrified track. New chippings were laid and this area is sometimes now waterlogged and with standing puddles especially after rain. On 29th March Herring Gulls were observed treating this area like a shingle patch, drinking from puddles and settling in chippings to rest. On 4th April a number of Pied Wagtails discovered the area, bathed in the puddles, drank, and foraged among surrounding stones. Tapee Spa is inaugurated!
Phil, 5th April 2009.

Jim (or Jemima) Crow - a sad tale.
We noticed the crow with an apparently broken right wing in our lower garden yesterday afternoon. Remembering the local fox and a black cat that we think is living rough somewhere nearby, I decided to let the crow take its chances; if it were still around this morning I would take action. Well, this morning its mate was on look-out in laurel tree and yes, there was the injured one in the corner of our parking lot. The whole neighbourhood became involved in my attempt to catch it, for it hopped ahead of me down a big garden and from there via every garden of that block to the first house. There it managed to get up onto the boundary wall and from there, keeping always ahead of us (by then me plus three neighbours) it hopped along the wall and round the lane and up onto the roof of an annexe. At this point we pretended to lose interest (well, it was not so much pretend for me, since I had no notion of going up on any roof!) and the crow found its way down into a backyard. There I managed to corner it behind a tub of plants, threw a blanket over it, and bundled it into a cardboard box supplied by one of my fellow crow hunters. After that it was into the car and up to theSwan & Wildlife Refuge for the attention of David Rollo.

This morning at 6:15 the mate was back seeking the lost one. It looked under our car, called; looked behind the planters in the corner where the injured one had sheltered; hopped onto the fence by the vennel and looked down there, calling; then flew off low to the ground along the lane as if it would seek further, perhaps in the yards...

Alas the injured other had been shot with an air rifle. Wing damaged beyond repair, said Mr Rollo, so bird had been put to sleep. However, I've learned in subsequent conversation with neighbours that another crow was found shot nerby (but in breast and thus instantly killed). Two shot crows equals illegal firearms activity in area. All just pieces of a larger pattern as yet unclear. I reported the dead bird to Rollo this morning so that he can add it to his notes, though it made neither of us glad.
Phil, 2nd April 2009.

2008

Big Stoat Diary.
Sally and I want down to the hide at Fenham Flats which was lovely with the snow and bright sunlight. Got the tide right for a change and had our best views of the Brent Geese we have ever had, right in front of the hide and very close. There were all the usuals there but seem to be in greater numbers than usual. We might have been influenced by the day!

When we came out of the hide I spotted a stoat disappearing into the bushes beside the road then saw that there was a rabbit in the middle of the road. Thinking it was dead we went and sat in the car to see if the stoat would return. To our amazement the rabbit lifted up it's head and looked around, but made no attempt to move or run away. After a minute the stoat re-appeared and after circling the rabbit attacked it biting on the back of it's neck, wrapping it's body around the rabbit and shaking it violently. At this point the rabbit started to struggle, bucking and rolling whilst the stoat hung on. Every now and again the stoat released it's hold and looked around before resuming the attack. At these times the rabbit made no attempt to flee but just lay there, only struggling when the stoat bit it again. This went on for about two minutes before the rabbit was killed. Once the stoat was sure it was dead it released it's hold and circled the rabbit about 5 metres away, all the while looking and scenting for danger. Also possibly marking it's territory around the kill.

It was at this moment that a wildfowler returned to his car and disturbed the stoat again, at which point we left.

I do not know if the length of time the stoat took to kill the rabbit was unusual. It was a large buck rabbit and all others I have seen killed have been much quicker. What also surprised me was the way the rabbit made no attempt to flee, possibly paralysed by fear, or perhaps the stoat had injured it in it's first attack prior to our seeing it.

Who needs talks about big cats!!!
John, 23rd November 2008.

The story continues...
The sparrowhawk is still around (or a different one has taken over the territory), and for the last few days has been harrassing a juvenile green woodpecker which comes to feed at the ant-hills on our lawn. We were excited to see the green woodpecker, so much so that when it is near the house we creep around the windows bent double so as not to put it up. I do feel a bit sorry for the ants, but there are so many and a few less ant-hills would make lawn mowing easier. Of course we don't mind sparrowhawks taking woodpigeons, either. But we have seen the sparrowhawk chase the woodpecker, which flees screetching in alarm, 3 times in the last 3 days, and guess who we are rooting for?
Quite illogical. I never thought that encouraging wildlife in the garden could lead to such ethical dilemmas.
Fiona, 13th September 2008.

Better than the telly!
We had a great "wild garden experience" recently. We got up to find a headless woodpigeon on the lawn (sorry, can't really feel for them, they eat my veg). We went to Newcastle for the day (did you know kittiwakes nest on buildings beneath the bridge in the city centre, to despair of City cleaning squad?). Came back to Berwick to find just a lot of feathers and 2 wings on the lawn - assume a sparrowhawk had finished its meal.
At washing-up time came "vultures" (rooks) and a "hyena" (cat). 3 magpies mobbed the cat, dancing round it just out of reach, until it gave up on pigeon-wing remains. Cat then chased rabbits (several of which had been in "screen-freeze" mode throughout all this), but (unfortunately - they too eat veg.) with no success. Cat gave up altogether, but on exiting garden came face to face with another. Original cat was outfaced by very large orange animal fluffed up to twice normal size, and Cat 1 (a fierce climbing birder, usually chased out of garden by us) was last seen exiting garden chased by Cat 2 (an over-fed and normally bumbling beast). Just like the telly - only thing missing was voice-over from Simon King!
Since then, the smaller feathers are gradually being airlifted away by sparrows.
Fiona, 16th May 2008

Something in the water?
I was taking a cursory look over the Tweedmouth estuary yesterday afternoon (April 16th) when I noticed a Canada Goose which began to swim after a Mute Swan. The chase continued for minutes with the goose swimming very strongly after its quarry towards the outer bay area. The swan kept going equally determined not to be caught! Got bored watching this so settled on a male Mallard with a female Merganser close by. The Mallard took off and landed on my side of the river and the Merganser followed! The Mallard went at its female admirer and attempted to shoo it away. The Merganser stayed there! Was I seeing things or is there something in the water?
Maurice, 17th April 2008

Bird Bonanza
On Saturday we saw a jay on the birdfeeder nuts on several occasions. Unfortunately he flew off as soon as he was seen. I then went for a 30 minute walk down the country lane and saw 32 different species of birds. These included 20+ wigeon on a wet marshy area, a male & female merganser on a small pond, 5 oystercatchers, a flock of c. 50 fieldfares with some redwings, a small flock of yellowhammers, lapwings, skylarks singing as well as the �usual� birds. The jay has continued to come to the garden just after sunrise. The 2 nuthatches and woodpeckers are daily visitors. Blue tits have been inspecting the nest box. The wigeons are still on the marsh.
Gill, 17th March 2008

Kitchen sink drama
Saturday evening, chancing into our front room while waiting for dinner to cook (17:50), I was astonished to see about 20 pied wagtails land precipitously in the big sycamore opposite the house. They rose again almost instantly and vanished, so I rushed back to the kitchen to watch the fen. (Tapee Fen, nr. North Road, Berwick, an important Pied Wagtail roost.) Probably 100 wagtails were skittering every which way, but I couldn't be sure whether this was their response to the fierce wind or to some other cause... The 'other cause' appeared at 17:55 in the arrow-shape of a merlin bent on a kill. It zipped determinedly hither and yon amid dizzying groups of wagtails and caught one at 17:58 at the south end of the fen a little above tree height. The merlin veered off east at a seemingly awkward angle, wings and tail spread as, presumably, it adjusted its grip to the certain death of the wagtail. Then, flight again steady and purposeful, it turned westward towards North Road and disappeared from sight. The flocking wagtails began to descend to the fen almost immediately. They knew they were safe. At least until sunrise.

But ��.there's no such thing as security if you're a bird.
Sunday, dawn. A mere 24 wagtails rose from the fen at first light (06.37), so those many that I'd seen go down last evening must have moved again despite dusk and wind. What did it mean? The answer was in our own garden: a juvenile sparrowhawk in the branches of the winter-flowering cherry. At 6:57 a second juvenile hawk appeared from our neighbours' evergreens and joined the first in our cherry trees. The two hawks must have been nearby last evening and appeared to have sheltered in evergreens from the frost. One made an unsuccessful bid to catch a female blackbird, and spent some minutes on the ground below the Cupressus hedge presumably hoping for voles or beetles. They flew away separately shortly after 7:00, one east, one south. Some hours are action-packed!
I went down to breakfast but felt more in need of a good sleep!
Philomena, 8th/9th March, 2008

A White-headed House Sparrow
This week there have been sightings of a partially white-headed House Sparrow around Highflields. Thank you very much to those who have phoned in to report it. The bird has apparently been in the area for some weeks, moving around garden feeding stations. Although most commonly seen in members of the Thrush family, partial albinism has been reported from almost all bird species (one American website states that 7% of all the reports of albinism in birds in the US is attributed to House Sparrows).

Unless only a few feathers are affected, the birds are more obvious to predators, so often don't survive long. Partial albinism (also called piebaldism) is sometimes caused by damage to the feathers or illness, but is often genetic. When one of the cells in the embryo destined to become skin and feathers divides mis-copying occurs in the genes, and the usual colouring is not produced. For more information see http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/mao-jun-01.asp
Fiona, 23rd January, 2008.

Long-tailed tits are in town.
There have also been reports of groups of up to eight Long-tailed Tits around Berwick and also in Tweedmouth. Do let us know if you see these delightful birds, unusual in the area.
We have recently put up a new fat feeder, in which the fat block is suspended in an oversized cage with only small openings (an attempt to stop the Jackdaws scoffing the lot). It has (so far) fazed the Jackdaws, and also one of the garden Robins which found the way in easily enough but got in a complete panic when it came to finding the way out again. Blue-tits and Great-tits have taken to the feeder well, and amazingly so have the Long-tailed Tits, although when four or five Long-tailed Tits squash together into the feeder it can't be good for their tail feathers.
Fiona, 23rd January, 2008.

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Nature Ramblings
2010 Dead, but still contributing to scientific understanding. On 11th January we found a dead, ringed shag on Spittal Beach. The BTO has just let us know that it had been ringed as a nestling on 20th June 2009 at Craigleith, Firth of Forth. On Saturday we found a very decomposed, ringed swan again on Spittal beach but near the estuary. Its ring was Icelandic, so Ann and Frank, 12th April 2010 2009 ....but Large Whites have their moment, too! About 30 caterpillars of the large white had been feeding on rocket growing in a raised bed about one metre from our single storey garage. On Monday 28th September all left the rocket, crawled up the garage wall and settled under the eaves. Ann and Frank, 28th September 2009. I suppose if they are all from one batch of eggs, growing on the same (abundant) food supply, and subject to the same weather conditions they will all grow and be ready to pupate at the same time. Not much genetic variation, then? Fiona. Speckled Wood in Berwick - Hoorah!! Ann and I decided on an afternoon walk along New Road to check on butterflies at New Water Heugh. We passed under the trees at the steps from Castle Hills cottage and on to the first inward bend round the corner, when a small butterfly flew out of the Ivy and down onto the shore. I thought it was a Silver Y Moth but Ann saw where it landed and we were amazed when it opened its wings to sun itself to show as a lovely clean Speckled Wood. We watched it for a while as it flew up under the canopy settling on the Ivy for a time, before coming to the shore again to nectar on sea-aster. This was 2.20p.m. We went our walk and and I thought we would not see it on our return, as the sky was overcast. We had just passed the Garden Gate of Castle Hills when it flew past us and around the plants under the Yew trees, this was 4.30p.m. I'm sure it should be there the rest of the week, as we are due a warm spell after tomorrow's rain. Did anyone else see it? Do let us know. Or any others further north? Malcolm, 7th September 2009. Rooftop Soap Opera. Ongoing cliffhanger in a herring gull family on a roof. Three chicks but one a virtual midget, and feisty or it would have died by now. I think there may be some alimentary problem as I've seen it refuse food and walk away, but it sips from the gutter and I suspect finds small stuff there that it can manage. Every morning I look to see if it's survived the night, and every evening I see it smaller and smaller alongside its siblings. Who needs TV and wildlife programmes? Phil, 3rd July 2009. So that's why they do it... In Zoological Notes made by A. Brotherston in 1874 I found the following gem: 'Old nests of Swifts are usually occupied (by sparrows or starlings) when they arrive. Knowing that they could not remove (them) by force, they frighten them out in the following manner. A number of them fly together in Indian file, circling round and round, uttering their harsh discordant screams every time they pass the entrance to the hole they wish to regain (...) until the frightened inmate slips out, when the nest is immediately taken possession of by the swifts.' Aha! Phil, 11th May 2009. True conservation on the farm. An oystercatcher (we watch them from the kitchen window) was seen on her "nest" on a ploughed field on 16th April. On 18th 3 eggs had been laid on the bare earth. On 20th the farmer carefully lifted the eggs before he sowed grass seed. She returned to the nest. Both male and female take turns in incubating the eggs. The pair have returned to this nest for a few years now. Last year the first eggs were unsuccessful - perhaps buzzards / crows got them. They successfully reared one chick with the 2nd attempt. Gill, 21st April 2009. The carnivorous Bee-fly. On 13th April I saw a Bee-fly, Bombylius major. To quote from http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm ."This is the largest and best known of the British species. The body is stout and furry, so that the fly has a strong superficial resemblance to a bumblebee, although the long, spindly legs are rather different from those of a bee. It has a long, rigid proboscis held out in front of the head, which is used to probe for nectar while the fly hovers at flowers (rather like a humming bird). Its hovering and darting flight, accompanied by a high-pitched whine, is much more agile than that of a bee. The larval stages live as parasites in the nests of solitary bees (e.g. Andrena, Halictus and Colletes species), where they eat the food stores and larvae of their host." There are excellent pictures on the internet, e.g. http://www.cirrusimage.com/flies_bee_Bombylius_major.htm . "Our" Bee-fly was hovering around grape hyacinths, sipping nectar through the long proboscis. If we have a Bee-fly, presumably there are solitary bees around too. I thought I found species of Andrena attending holes in the lawn last spring. The Bee-flies apparently emerge from their burrows before the bees, so as to be ready to lay their eggs in the holes when the bees get busy. Fiona, 17th Apil 2009. Tapee Spa. About 18 months ago Rail-Link removed two sidings W. of main track and E. of Tapee Fen (NT 994 537) and replaced them with 1 electrified track. New chippings were laid and this area is sometimes now waterlogged and with standing puddles especially after rain. On 29th March Herring Gulls were observed treating this area like a shingle patch, drinking from puddles and settling in chippings to rest. On 4th April a number of Pied Wagtails discovered the area, bathed in the puddles, drank, and foraged among surrounding stones. Tapee Spa is inaugurated! Phil, 5th April 2009. Jim (or Jemima) Crow - a sad tale. We noticed the crow with an apparently broken right wing in our lower garden yesterday afternoon. Remembering the local fox and a black cat that we think is living rough somewhere nearby, I decided to let the crow take its chances; if it were still around this morning I would take action. Well, this morning its mate was on look-out in laurel tree and yes, there was the injured one in the corner of our parking lot. The whole neighbourhood became involved in my attempt to catch it, for it hopped ahead of me down a big garden and from there via every garden of that block to the first house. There it managed to get up onto the boundary wall and from there, keeping always ahead of us (by then me plus three neighbours) it hopped along the wall and round the lane and up onto the roof of an annexe. At this point we pretended to lose interest (well, it was not so much pretend for me, since I had no notion of going up on any roof!) and the crow found its way down into a backyard. There I managed to corner it behind a tub of plants, threw a blanket over it, and bundled it into a cardboard box supplied by one of my fellow crow hunters. After that it was into the car and up to theSwan & Wildlife Refuge for the attention of David Rollo. This morning at 6:15 the mate was back seeking the lost one. It looked under our car, called; looked behind the planters in the corner where the injured one had sheltered; hopped onto the fence by the vennel and looked down there, calling; then flew off low to the ground along the lane as if it would seek further, perhaps in the yards... Alas the injured other had been shot with an air rifle. Wing damaged beyond repair, said Mr Rollo, so bird had been put to sleep. However, I've learned in subsequent conversation with neighbours that another crow was found shot nerby (but in breast and thus instantly killed). Two shot crows equals illegal firearms activity in area. All just pieces of a larger pattern as yet unclear. I reported the dead bird to Rollo this morning so that he can add it to his notes, though it made neither of us glad. Phil, 2nd April 2009. 2008 Big Stoat Diary. Sally and I want down to the hide at Fenham Flats which was lovely with the snow and bright sunlight. Got the tide right for a change and had our best views of the Brent Geese we have ever had, right in front of the hide and very close. There were all the usuals there but seem to be in greater numbers than usual. We might have been influenced by the day! When we came out of the hide I spotted a stoat disappearing into the bushes beside the road then saw that there was a rabbit in the middle of the road. Thinking it was dead we went and sat in the car to see if the stoat would return. To our amazement the rabbit lifted up it's head and looked around, but made no attempt to move or run away. After a minute the stoat re-appeared and after circling the rabbit attacked it biting on the back of it's neck, wrapping it's body around the rabbit and shaking it violently. At this point the rabbit started to struggle, bucking and rolling whilst the stoat hung on. Every now and again the stoat released it's hold and looked around before resuming the attack. At these times the rabbit made no attempt to flee but just lay there, only struggling when the stoat bit it again. This went on for about two minutes before the rabbit was killed. Once the stoat was sure it was dead it released it's hold and circled the rabbit about 5 metres away, all the while looking and scenting for danger. Also possibly marking it's territory around the kill. It was at this moment that a wildfowler returned to his car and disturbed the stoat again, at which point we left. I do not know if the length of time the stoat took to kill the rabbit was unusual. It was a large buck rabbit and all others I have seen killed have been much quicker. What also surprised me was the way the rabbit made no attempt to flee, possibly paralysed by fear, or perhaps the stoat had injured it in it's first attack prior to our seeing it. Who needs talks about big cats!!! John, 23rd November 2008. The story continues... The sparrowhawk is still around (or a different one has taken over the territory), and for the last few days has been harrassing a juvenile green woodpecker which comes to feed at the ant-hills on our lawn. We were excited to see the green woodpecker, so much so that when it is near the house we creep around the windows bent double so as not to put it up. I do feel a bit sorry for the ants, but there are so many and a few less ant-hills would make lawn mowing easier. Of course we don't mind sparrowhawks taking woodpigeons, either. But we have seen the sparrowhawk chase the woodpecker, which flees screetching in alarm, 3 times in the last 3 days, and guess who we are rooting for? Quite illogical. I never thought that encouraging wildlife in the garden could lead to such ethical dilemmas. Fiona, 13th September 2008. Better than the telly! We had a great "wild garden experience" recently. We got up to find a headless woodpigeon on the lawn (sorry, can't really feel for them, they eat my veg). We went to Newcastle for the day (did you know kittiwakes nest on buildings beneath the bridge in the city centre, to despair of City cleaning squad?). Came back to Berwick to find just a lot of feathers and 2 wings on the lawn - assume a sparrowhawk had finished its meal. At washing-up time came "vultures" (rooks) and a "hyena" (cat). 3 magpies mobbed the cat, dancing round it just out of reach, until it gave up on pigeon-wing remains. Cat then chased rabbits (several of which had been in "screen-freeze" mode throughout all this), but (unfortunately - they too eat veg.) with no success. Cat gave up altogether, but on exiting garden came face to face with another. Original cat was outfaced by very large orange animal fluffed up to twice normal size, and Cat 1 (a fierce climbing birder, usually chased out of garden by us) was last seen exiting garden chased by Cat 2 (an over-fed and normally bumbling beast). Just like the telly - only thing missing was voice-over from Simon King! Since then, the smaller feathers are gradually being airlifted away by sparrows. Fiona, 16th May 2008 Something in the water? I was taking a cursory look over the Tweedmouth estuary yesterday afternoon (April 16th) when I noticed a Canada Goose which began to swim after a Mute Swan. The chase continued for minutes with the goose swimming very strongly after its quarry towards the outer bay area. The swan kept going equally determined not to be caught! Got bored watching this so settled on a male Mallard with a female Merganser close by. The Mallard took off and landed on my side of the river and the Merganser followed! The Mallard went at its female admirer and attempted to shoo it away. The Merganser stayed there! Was I seeing things or is there something in the water? Maurice, 17th April 2008 Bird Bonanza On Saturday we saw a jay on the birdfeeder nuts on several occasions. Unfortunately he flew off as soon as he was seen. I then went for a 30 minute walk down the country lane and saw 32 different species of birds. These included 20+ wigeon on a wet marshy area, a male & female merganser on a small pond, 5 oystercatchers, a flock of c. 50 fieldfares with some redwings, a small flock of yellowhammers, lapwings, skylarks singing as well as the �usual� birds. The jay has continued to come to the garden just after sunrise. The 2 nuthatches and woodpeckers are daily visitors. Blue tits have been inspecting the nest box. The wigeons are still on the marsh. Gill, 17th March 2008 Kitchen sink drama Saturday evening, chancing into our front room while waiting for dinner to cook (17:50), I was astonished to see about 20 pied wagtails land precipitously in the big sycamore opposite the house. They rose again almost instantly and vanished, so I rushed back to the kitchen to watch the fen. (Tapee Fen, nr. North Road, Berwick, an important Pied Wagtail roost.) Probably 100 wagtails were skittering every which way, but I couldn't be sure whether this was their response to the fierce wind or to some other cause... The 'other cause' appeared at 17:55 in the arrow-shape of a merlin bent on a kill. It zipped determinedly hither and yon amid dizzying groups of wagtails and caught one at 17:58 at the south end of the fen a little above tree height. The merlin veered off east at a seemingly awkward angle, wings and tail spread as, presumably, it adjusted its grip to the certain death of the wagtail. Then, flight again steady and purposeful, it turned westward towards North Road and disappeared from sight. The flocking wagtails began to descend to the fen almost immediately. They knew they were safe. At least until sunrise. But ��.there's no such thing as security if you're a bird. Sunday, dawn. A mere 24 wagtails rose from the fen at first light (06.37), so those many that I'd seen go down last evening must have moved again despite dusk and wind. What did it mean? The answer was in our own garden: a juvenile sparrowhawk in the branches of the winter-flowering cherry. At 6:57 a second juvenile hawk appeared from our neighbours' evergreens and joined the first in our cherry trees. The two hawks must have been nearby last evening and appeared to have sheltered in evergreens from the frost. One made an unsuccessful bid to catch a female blackbird, and spent some minutes on the ground below the Cupressus hedge presumably hoping for voles or beetles. They flew away separately shortly after 7:00, one east, one south. Some hours are action-packed! I went down to breakfast but felt more in need of a good sleep! Philomena, 8th/9th March, 2008 A White-headed House Sparrow This week there have been sightings of a partially white-headed House Sparrow around Highflields. Thank you very much to those who have phoned in to report it. The bird has apparently been in the area for some weeks, moving around garden feeding stations. Although most commonly seen in members of the Thrush family, partial albinism has been reported from almost all bird species (one American website states that 7% of all the reports of albinism in birds in the US is attributed to House Sparrows). Unless only a few feathers are affected, the birds are more obvious to predators, so often don't survive long. Partial albinism (also called piebaldism) is sometimes caused by damage to the feathers or illness, but is often genetic. When one of the cells in the embryo destined to become skin and feathers divides mis-copying occurs in the genes, and the usual colouring is not produced. For more information see http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/mao-jun-01.asp Fiona, 23rd January, 2008. Long-tailed tits are in town. There have also been reports of groups of up to eight Long-tailed Tits around Berwick and also in Tweedmouth. Do let us know if you see these delightful birds, unusual in the area. We have recently put up a new fat feeder, in which the fat block is suspended in an oversized cage with only small openings (an attempt to stop the Jackdaws scoffing the lot). It has (so far) fazed the Jackdaws, and also one of the garden Robins which found the way in easily enough but got in a complete panic when it came to finding the way out again. Blue-tits and Great-tits have taken to the feeder well, and amazingly so have the Long-tailed Tits, although when four or five Long-tailed Tits squash together into the feeder it can't be good for their tail feathers. Fiona, 23rd January, 2008. back to the top of this Page

Female Goldeneye by John R For problems with this site please contact - John

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