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	.	.	.	.	.	.
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.
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.
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.
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.
29/12/2009	Polwarth	NT746496	1	Barn Owl	11.30 a.m. Flew out of line of old trees.	G.Y.
29/12/2009	Polwarth	NT746496	50	Mallard	Flock flying overhead, circling above fields.	G.Y.
29/12/2009	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Mistle Thrush	Among blackbirds on lawn, feeding on apple.	F.A.
28/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Grey Squirrel	Under seed feeder in garden. Also on 29/12/09.	G.Y.
27/12/2009	Castle Terrace	NT991537	1	Fieldfare	Attracted by apples put out in garden. Snow lying, but raining.	F.A.
26/12/2009	Cocklawburn Pond	NU035475	2	Coot	Water half frozen.	M.Hu.
26/12/2009	Cocklawburn Pond	NU035475	16	Teal	Water half frozen.	M.Hu.
26/12/2009	Scremerston Station	NU0049	14	Common Partridge	Frozen conditions. 9.30 a.m.	M.Hu.
26/12/2009	Castle Terrace	NT991537	2	Blackcap	Male on fat feeder, chased female away. Cold, snow lying	M.A.
24/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Sparrowhawk	Attracted to birds at garden feeders.	G.Y.
24/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Goldfinch	Daily visitor to garden feeders.	G.Y.
24/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Coal Tit	Daily visitor to garden feeders.	G.Y.
24/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Nuthatch	Daily visitos to garden feeders.	G.Y.
24/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Daily visitor to garden feeders.	G.Y.
22/12/2009	Mill Farm	NT990530	50	Pink-footed Goose	Overhead, heading south.	J.I.
22/12/2009	Mill Farm	NT990530	2	Songthrush	Fine, dry.	J.I.
22/12/2009	Mill Farm	NT990530	5	Blackbird	Migrants. Fine, dry.	J.I.
22/12/2009	Mill Farm	NT990530	1	Pheasant	Cock. On stubble. Fine, dry.	J.I.
22/12/2009	Mill Farm	NT990530	40+	Skylark	On stubble. Fine, dry.	J.I.
22/12/2009	Cornwall Avenue	NT984516	1	Fieldfare.	10.00 a.m. Visiting garden for apple pieces.	M.Hu.
22/12/2009	New Road	NT988535	1	Grey Wagtail	On riverside below Castle Hills. Snow lying. Same bird as previous record?	M.A.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	1	Grey Wagtail	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	5	Turnstone	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	100+	Redshank	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	22	Mallard	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	5	Heron	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	8	Canada Goose	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
20/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT985529	140	Greylag Goose	Fine, dry, low tide.	J.I.
18/12/2009	Tweed Estuary	NT9952	142	Goldeneye	NT9952 + NU0052. Between A1 Bridge and Pier. 2.00pm. WeBS Count.	M.Hu.
18/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Brambling	By bird feeder with chaffinches. First this year; has visited daily for a week now.	G.Y.
17/12/2009	Borewell Farm	NU0149	1	Stoat	Semi-albino. Grey crown and spine, the rest creamy-white .	M.Hu.
08/12/2009	New Road	NT994534	18	Goldeneye	By Border Bridge. Mild, still, 14.40, lowish tide.	S.B.
06/12/2009	West Ord	NT9551	6	Canada Goose	9.00 a.m.	M.Hu.
05/12/2009	Union Bridge	NT995528	2	Fulmar	9.30 a.m. Early "prospecting" pair.	M.Hu.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	1	Short-eared Owl	Hunting along the dunes.	M.McN.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	1	Stonechat	.	M.McN.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	1	Red-throated Diver	Rising tide, higher than 3rd.	M.McN.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	100	Eider	Rising tide, higher than 3rd.	M.McN.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	150	Common Scoter	Rising tide, higher than 3rd.	M.McN.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	20	Oystercatcher	Rising tide, higher than 3rd.	M.McN.
04/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	50	Curlew	Rising tide, higher than 3rd.	M.McN.
03/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	4	Purple Sandpiper	Rising tide.	M.McN.
03/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	6	Turnstone	Rising tide.	M.McN.
03/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	40	Common Scoter	Rising tide.	M.McN.
03/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	12	Oystercatcher	Rising tide.	M.McN.
03/12/2009	Cocklawburn Beach	NU0248	1	Grey Plover	Rising tide.	M.McN.
03/12/2009	Tweedmouth	NT992529	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Female, on fat ball feeder.	J.I.
02/12/2009	Borewell Farm	NU0149	180	Linnet	11.30 a.m. First last flock I've seen this winter.	M.Hu.
02/12/2009	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	1	Woodcock	10.00 a.m. Coastal migrant.	M.Hu.
01/12/2009	Haggerston Castle	NU0443	6	Brambling	11.00 a.m. Winter Atlas survey.	M.Hu.
01/12/2009	Haggerston Castle	NU0443	7	Siskin	11.00 a.m. Winter Atlas survey.	M.Hu.
01/12/2009	Haggerston Castle	NU0443	2	Nuthatch	Pair. 11.00 a.m. Winter Atlas survey.	M.Hu.
01/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT982525	4	Red-breasted Merganser	Dry, cool.	J.I.
01/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT982525	4	Red-breasted Merganser	Dry, cool.	J.I.
01/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT982525	2	Wigeon	Dry, cool.	J.I.
01/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT982525	27	Canada Goose	Dry, cool.	J.I.
01/12/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT982525	126	Greylag Goose	Dry, cool.	J.I.
01/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Visiting feeder daily.	G.Y.
01/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Nuthatch	Visiting feeder daily.	G.Y.
01/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	6	Whooper Swan	Flying low over garden east to west.	G.Y.
01/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Redwing	Eating hawthorn berries in garden.	G.Y.
01/12/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	2	Blackbirds	With black beaks - from Europe. Eating hawthorn berries in garden.	G.Y.
28/11/2009	Tweed Estuary	NT993533	2	Grey Seals	By Royal Border Bridge. Slapping the water - altercation?.	L.C.
27/11/2009	New Road	NT996530	4	Grey Wagtail	Near boathouse.	L.C.
27/11/2009	Wooplaw	NT506415	20	Brambling	Feeding at woodland edge.	F.A.
27/11/2009	Cocklawburn	NU032481	12	Turnstone	Roosting on rocks on beach. 11.45. Near high tide. Cold. Fine.	S.B.
27/11/2009	Cocklawburn	NU032481	4	Purple Sandpiper	Roosting on rocks on beach. 11.45. Near high tide. Cold. Fine.	S.B.
27/11/2009	Cocklawburn	NU032481	100	Golden Plover	In flooded farm field with lapwing and curlew.	S.B.
26/11/2009	Castle Terrace	NT991536	1	Buff-tailed bumblebee	Worker, collecting pollen from remaining knapweed flowers.	F.A.
25/11/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	20+	Redwing	First of the season.	G.Y.
22/11/2009	Dodd's Well	NU001543	22	Purple Sandpiper	9.30 a.m. Sunny with showers.	M.Hu.
22/11/2009	Dodd's Well	NU001543	7	Grey Plover	9.30 a.m. Sunny with showers.	M.Hu.
22/11/2009	Yarrow Point	NT986533	36	Goldeneye	In River Tweed.	L.C.
21/11/2009	Cheswick	NU031488	3	Grey Plover	On Middle Skerrs. 11.30. Fine, cold wind, flowing tide.	J.I.
21/11/2009	Cheswick	NU031488	2	Black-throated Diver	Offshore. 11.30. Fine, cold wind, flowing tide.	J.I.
21/11/2009	Tweedmouth Garden	NT991529	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	At nut feeder.	J.I.
21/11/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT986529	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	.	J.I.
20/11/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0248	62	Golden Plover	Dry but very windy.	M.Hu.
19/11/2009	Old Dryburn, Lowick	NU006413	1	Barn Owl	21.45.	J.R.
17/11/2009	Yarrow Point	NT983530	7	Canada Goose	Fine. 14.40.	J.I.
17/11/2009	Yarrow Point	NT983530	110	Greylag Goose	Fine. 14.40.	J.I.
17/11/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT981531	32	Goldeneye	Fine. 14.30.	J.I.
17/11/2009	Castle Terrace	NT994536	8	Whooper Swan	Flying E overhead. 15.00.	M.A.
15/11/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT986533	2	Goldeneye	Drakes, beneath Castle Hills. Fine, breezy, low tide.	J.I.
15/11/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU0248	1	Stonechat	15.00hrs, low sun. On dune grasses.	N.S.
15/11/2009	East Ord	NT984516	1	Red Admiral	In garden. Probably roosting in cypress. Mid-day.	M.Hu.
13/11/2009	East Ord Green	NT980515	5	Long-tailed Tit	In party. 2.30 p.m.	M.Hu.
13/11/2009	East Ord	NT984516	1	Red Admiral	In garden. On 'Bowles' Wallflower. 11.30 a.m.	M.Hu.
13/11/2009	Cheswick Beach	NU037476	1	Snow Bunting	On shoreline. 10.30 a.m.	M.Hu.
13/11/2009	Yarrow Point	NT984531	150	Greylag Goose	Flying, then settling on mud. Rising tide. 8.00 a.m.	BWG.
13/11/2009	Castle Drive	NT992538	1	Fox	18.45.	M.A.
12/11/2009	Tommy the Millers Field	NT989535	1	Fox	8.30 - 9.00 a.m.	L.C.
10/11/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU032483	1	Short-eared Owl	Flying high over dune/grassland. 15.30, dry, still.	S.B.
08/11/2009	Castle Terrace	NT998538	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	In garden.	L.C.
08/11/2009	Castle Terrace	NT998538	2	Nuthatch	In garden.	L.C.
06/11/2009	Scremerston	NU0147	326	Pink-footed goose	Scremerson Town Farm, grazing beside A1. 9.00 a.m.	M.Hu.
06/11/2009	Castle Terrace	NT998538	1	Nuthatch	In garden.	L.C.
05/11/2009	Bonjedward	NT658237	1	Grey Squirrel	Ran across road.	L.C.
04/11/2009	East Ord	NT984516	1	Red Admiral	In garden.	M.Hu.
04/11/2009	Berrington	NU0043	1	Red Admiral	12.00 noon. Feeding on ivy blossom.	M.Hu.
04/11/2009	Berryburn House	NU0144	2	Jay	1.30 p.m.	M.Hu.
04/11/2009	Berrington Beck	NU0043	1	Dipper	Scarce in this part of Northumbs. Sunny, still.	M.Hu.
03/11/2009	Berwick Walls	NU001532	5	Two-spot ladybirds	1 on trunk of sycamore, 4 hibernating in crack in bark.	BWG
03/11/2009	Berwick Walls	NU001532	3	Whooper Swan	2.30 p.m. Flying overhead (S) and calling.	BWG
02/11/2009	Tweed Estuary	NT9853	8	Whooper Swan	3.00 p.m. Eventually flew off west.	M.H.
02/11/2009	Castle Terrace	NT998538	1	Nuthatch	In garden.	L.C.
31/10/2009	Berwick	NT992536	1	Peregrine	Over bank and garden. Mobbed by rooks.	F.A.
31/10/2009	East Ord	NT984516	4	Red Admiral	12.30 p.m. Feeding on Wallflower 'Bowles variety' and Buddleja weyeriana.	M.H.
31/10/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	1	Little Gull	With black-headed gulls. Sunny, 8.30 a.m.	J.I.
28/10/2009	Cot Hill	NT762499	4	Yellowhammer	.	G.Y.
28/10/2009	Cot Hill	NT762499	1	Red Admiral	In garden.	G.Y.
28/10/2009	Cheswick Dunes	NU0348	26	Twite	10.30 a.m.	M.H.
28/10/2009	Cot Hill	NT762499	1	7-spot ladybird	In garden.	G.Y.
26/10/2009	Cot Hill	NT762499	50+	Fieldfare	The first this autumn.	G.Y.
25/10/2009	Tweed Estuary	NU005527	1	Peregrine	Immature. Last bird seen on our guided walk!	M.H.
25/10/2009	Charterhall	NT74	1	Muntjac	Crossing road into woodland edge. 17.00.	M.A.
24/10/2009	Castle Terrace	NT991537	4	Roe Deer	In "empty plot". 9.00 a.m.	L.C.
23/10/2009	East Ord	NT981512	1	Green-veined White	In garden.	E.T.
20/10/2009	Berwick	NT991537	1	2-spot Ladybird	In garden.	F.A.
19/10/2009	Cot Hill	NT762499	1	Red Admiral	In garden.	G.Y.
18/10/2009	Berwick	NT9953	1	Red Admiral	Outside railway station, flying vigerously.	F.A.
18/10/2009	New Road	NT9953	1	10-spot Ladybird	On moss.	M.Ha.
18/10/2009	Chirnside	NT862556	3	Comma	By R. Whiteadder near Chirnside Mill. Very fresh - could these be autumn brood?	I.C.
18/10/2009	Chirnside	NT862556	30	Red Admiral	By R. Whiteadder near Chirnside Mill.	I.C.
18/10/2009	Chirnside	NT862556	1	Silver Y moth	By R. Whiteadder near Chirnside Mill.	I.C.
16/10/2009	East Ord	NT9851	1	Raven	Spiralling over village with Common Gulls.	M.H.
15/10/2009	Kyloe Wood	NU0338	1	7-spot Ladybird	In woodland.	J.R.
15/10/2009	Kentstone	NU039414	1	Sparrowhawk	In garden.	J.R.
14/10/2009	Holy Island	NU126435	1	Palmate Newt	3.00 p.m. Juvenile	A.B.
14/10/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	8	Wigeon	3.00 p.m.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	1	Goldeneye	3.00 p.m. Drake.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	2	Great Crested Grebe	3.00 p.m.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	18	Red-throated Diver	3.00 p.m. 14 in flock.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Tweed Estuary	NT9853	7	Brent Goose	Dark bellied race. Feeding with Mute Swans. 9.30.a.m.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Cornwall Avenue	NT984516	3	Painted Lady	On Budleja.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Cornwall Avenue	NT984516	5	Red Admiral	On Budleja.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Pier House	NU005528	2	Redwing	Quiet conditions.	M.H.
14/10/2009	Pier House	NU005528	1	Chiff-chaff	Quiet conditions.	M.H.
12/10/2009	Berwick	NT999527	1	Red Admiral.	In Palace Street.	M.Ha.
11/10/2009	Pier House	NU005528	1	Chiff-chaff	At N end of tree line.	M.H.
11/10/2009	Pier House	NU005528	1	Yellow-browed Warbler	Favours small hawthorn at N end of tree line.	M.H.
10/10/2009	New Water Haugh	NT978525	3	Barnacle Goose	Feeding on bank. Fine.	J.I.
08/10/2009	Foulden New Mains	NT915564	9	Greylag Goose	On pond. Warm and sunny.	J.I.
08/10/2009	Hutton Mill Bridge	NT921547	1	Buzzard	3.30 p.m.	J.I.
08/10/2009	Hutton Mill Bridge	NT921547	5	Goosander	3.30 p.m.	J.I.
08/10/2009	Hutton Mill Bridge	NT921547	3	Red Admiral	On Scots Pine. 3.30 p.m. Warm and sunny.	J.I.
08/10/2009	New Water Haugh	NT9752	3	Barnacle Goose	3.30 p.m. Grazing, with waders and gulls.	M.H.
07/10/2009	Beal	NU0742	3	Whooper Swan	In field. p.m. Bright and sunny.	M.Ha.
05/10/2009	New Road	NT9953	2	Small White	p.m.	M.H.
05/10/2009	New Road	NT9953	1	Comma	p.m.	M.H.
05/10/2009	New Road	NT9953	1	Tortoiseshell	p.m.	M.H.
05/10/2009	New Road	NT9953	7	Red Admiral	p.m.	M.H.
05/10/2009	New Road	NT996530	1	Water Shrew	Dead at side of path by boathouse. 2.30 p.m.	M.H.
05/10/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0348	380	Pink-footed Goose	Flying south, in several skeins. 9.30 a.m.	M.H.
05/10/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0348	6	Whooper Swan	Flying north! 9.30 a.m.	M.H.
03/10/2009	Berwick	NT999529	1	Red Admiral	Flying past, St Aidan's church passageway.	M.Ha.
01/10/2009	Carr Rock	NU000521	12	Gannet	12 immature Gannets feeding in the Tweed Estuary in the stretch of water between Spittal Point and the Tweed Dock entrance. Best view was from Carr Rock - only metres away from diving birds. High tide, 16.00.	D.C.
30/09/2009	Hutton	NT890536	1	Red Admiral	Flying past.	M.A.
26/09/2009	New Mills	NT953530	2	Grey Heron	By Whiteadder.	A&F.S.T.
26/09/2009	New Mills	NT953530	6	Common Buzzard	Overhead.	A&F.S.T.
26/09/2009	Tapee Fen	NT995537	711	Pied Wagtails	Roosting in fen.	P.J.
25/09/2009	Sisterpath	NT755485	100+	Lapwings	Feeding on the potato fields. Also on 14/09/09	G.Y.
24/09/2009	Borewell Farm	NU012496	1	Weasel	14.30. Running across road.	F.A.
24/09/2009	Cocklawburn	NU031480	1	Stoat	10.00 a.m. Chasing Rabbit.	J.R.
24/09/2009	Cocklawburn	NU031480	4	Wheatear	10.00 a.m.	E.T.
24/09/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0348	5	Bottle-nosed Dolphin	10.00 a.m. Feeding and swimming south.	E.T.
24/09/2009	Little Beach	NU006527	1	Black Redstart	Female. 9.00 a.m. On beach with female Wheatear.	M.H.
23/09/2009	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	1	Merlin	Female. 10.00 a.m.	M.H.
23/09/2009	Berwick	NT9953	120	Pink-footed Goose	2.15 p.m. Flying overhead	M.H.
23/09/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0248	210	Pink-footed Goose	9.00 a.m. Flying overhead.	M.H.
22/09/2009	Goody Patch	NT997519	1	Redwing	9.30 am. Second bird that day.	M.H.
22/09/2009	East Ord	NT975516	1	Redwing	8.00 am. East Ord car park.	M.H.
20/09/2009	Ford Moss	NT965375	1	Stonechat	Warm. 11.00 - 14.00.	J.I.
20/09/2009	Ford Moss	NT965375	3	Red Admiral	Warm. 11.00 - 14.00.	J.I.
20/09/2009	Ford Moss	NT965375	5	Buzzard	Warm. 11.00 - 14.00.	J.I.
20/09/2009	Norham	NT8946	1	Osprey	11.00 am. Flying along route of the River Tweed, viewed clearly for about 3 minutes	A.P.
19/09/2009	Little Beach	NU006527	12	Knot	2.00pm.	M.H.
19/09/2009	Little Beach	NU006527	2	Curlew Sandpiper	2.00pm.	M.H.
18/09/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	2	Common Snipe	1.00pm.	M.H.
18/09/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	16	Dunlin	1.00pm.	M.H.
18/09/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	1	Greenshank	1.00pm.	M.H.
17/09/2009	Sisterpath	NT755485	50+	House Martin	Only a few around subsequently.	G.Y.
17/09/2009	Cheswick	NU031485	2	Knot	On rocks with dunlin and turnstone. Warm, sunny, tide receeding, 14.30.	J.I.
17/09/2009	Cheswick	NU031485	3	Great Crested Grebe	Offshore. Warm, sunny, tide receeding, 14.30.	J.I.
16/09/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	1	Painted Lady	On Sedum in garden	G.Y.
16/09/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	11	Buff-tailed Bumblebee	On Sedum in garden	G.Y.
16/09/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0347	1	Merlin	Male. 9.00am. Hunting after young swallows.	M.H.
15/09/2009	St Abbs Reserve	NT913677	1	Wall Butterfly	Single specimen near farm cottages. 11.20 am. This is the furthest north tetrad for this species during the current Butterfly Conservation Millenium survey.	M.H.
14/09/2009	Berwick PIer	NU0052	2	Velvet Scoter	Flying South. 8.45 am..	M.H.
14/09/2009	Berwick PIer	NU0052	16	Brent Goose	Flying South. 8.45 am..	M.H.
12/09/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	6	Teal	Warm and sunny.	J.I.
12/09/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	3	Wigeon	Warm and sunny.	J.I.
12/09/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT983528	1	Greenshank	Warm and sunny.	J.I.
11/09/2009	Cheswick	NU055462	1	Ray's Bream	Brama brama. Dead on shore. 20-30cm. Normally found off the Atlantic coast of Spain, Portugal and NW Africa, it turns up occasionally in British waters, but is not a climate change species, it has done so for many years. See http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Bramabrama.htm	S.B.
11/09/2009	Cheswick	NU055462	1	Arctic Skua	Harrassing herring gulls. 16.00. Cool, fine weather.	S.B.
10/09/2009	Cot Hill	NT762500	100+	Swallow	On wires and low down on the stubble catching insects. Also there on 11th.	G.Y.
07/09/2009	New Road	NT989535	1	Speckled Wood	On ivy and nectaring on sea aster. There still at 4.30. See "nature rambles" below.	M.H.
07/09/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0248	1	Osprey	10.20a.m. Adult with injured left leg hanging down in flight.	M.H.
06/09/2009	Meadow Haven	NU0152	3	Black-throated Diver	8.30.a.m. Watched on high tide, before they flew off south.2.20 p.m.	M.H.
04/09/2009	Spittal Cliff	NU0150	1	Great Spotted Woodpecker	2.15p.m. Flying along coastal path! Could be a Scandinavian migrant.	M.H.
04/09/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	2	Bottle-nosed Dolphin	3.00p.m. Moving north, feeding along outer edge of 'spate water' from Tweed.	M.H.
04/09/2009	Berwick Pier	NU0052	24	Pintail	Flying north. 3.30p.m. Overcast but very clear conditions.	M.H.
04/09/2009	Berwick Pier	NU0052	2	Velvet Scoter	Flying north. 2.30p.m. Overcast but very clear conditions.	M.H.
03/09/2009	Tapee Fen	NT995537	10	Starling	Starlings are now gathering between 7pm and 8pm nightly on the 'communications mast' erected 18 months ago W of rail tracks and N of Tapee Fen. They appear to disperse westward to roost, none into fen.	P.J.
03/09/2009	Tapee Fen	NT995537	10	Pied Wagtail	Wagtails are beginning to congregate again at the fen, a sign of impending migration.	P.J.
01/09/2009	Castle Terrace	NT992534	1	Hedgehog	Sub-adult size, rather sluggish, though no obvious injury. 22.45. Mild, dry night.	S.B.
30/08/2009	Kyloe Quarry	NU0408440560	1	Speckled Wood	11.00 am.	F.A.
30/08/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	1	Pink-footed Goose	.	M.H.
30/08/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	3	Canada Goose	.	M.H.
30/08/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	220	Greylag Goose	.	M.H.
30/08/2009	New Water Haugh	NT9752	1	Greenshank	.	M.H.
28/08/2009	Yarrow Slake	NT984529	1	Ruff	9.00am.	M.H.
24/08/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT983528	4	Black-tailed Godwit	Four juveniles. Fine, 14.30, low tide.	J.I.
24/08/2009	Paxton	NT935520	1	Migrant Hawker Dragonfly	3pm. Flying around riverside near the hide.	M.H.
22/08/2009	Scremerston	NU0149	1	Small Tortoiseshell	Butterfly count, Scremerston Tetrad:NU04E. Afternoon. Warm, milky sunshine, light wind.	M.H.
22/08/2009	Scremerston	NU0149	1	Red Admiral	Butterfly count, Scremerston Tetrad:NU04E. Afternoon. Warm, milky sunshine, light wind.	M.H.
22/08/2009	Scremerston	NU0149	24	Peacock	Butterfly count, Scremerston Tetrad:NU04E. Afternoon. Warm, milky sunshine, light wind.	M.H.
22/08/2009	Scremerston	NU0149	49	Painted Lady	Butterfly count, Scremerston Tetrad:NU04E. Afternoon. Warm, milky sunshine, light wind.	M.H.
20/08/2009	West Ord	NT9551	1	Kingfisher	9.00a.m., seen flying towards estuary. River in spate, often seen in these conditions. Light warm southerly wind, thin high cloud.	M.H.
19/08/2009	East Ord House	NT982515	1	Nuthatch	Calling loudly from tree canopy. 8.30 a.m.	M.H.
18/08/2009	Cheswick Beach	NU032485	1	Black-tailed Godwit	.	J.I.
18/08/2009	Cheswick Beach	NU032485	1	Whimbrel	.	J.I.
18/08/2009	Cheswick Beach	NU032485	2	Purple Sandpiper	Early.	J.I.
18/08/2009	Cheswick Beach	NU032485	2	Knot	In summer plumage.	J.I.
18/08/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	1	Whimbrel	Flying south.	M.H.
18/08/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	1	Arctic Skua	Dark phase. Harrying terns.	M.H.
18/08/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0051	2	Arctic Tern	High cloud, calm, v. light south wind.	M.H.
14/08/2009	Little Beach	NU006527	c.140	Ringed Plover	Being harassed by a peregrine in hunting mode. Light rain, 10.30.	J.I.
14/08/2009	Little Beach	NU006527	c.60	Dunlin	Being harassed by a peregrine in hunting mode. Light rain, 10.30.	J.I.
13/08/2009	Tommy the Millers	NT993535	1	Water Shrew	Trapped in Longworth. Not near water.	J.R.
13/08/2009	Tommy the Millers	NT993535	1	Common Shrew	Trapped in Longworth.	J.R.
13/08/2009	Tommy the Millers	NT993535	1	Field Vole	Trapped in Longworth.	J.R.
13/08/2009	Tommy the Millers	NT993535	8	Bank Vole	Trapped in Longworth.	J.R.
12/08/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0348	10	Black-tailed Godwit	10.00a.m. Disturbed off shore by dog walker. Birds flew south.	M.H.
12/08/2009	Calot Shad	NU002524	172	Goosander	Birds in one tight moulting flock. 7.30a.m. Bright and sunny, no wind.	M.H.
12/08/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0348	3	Wall Butterfly	One of several sightings around Berwick this past week.	M.H.
11/08/2009	Tommy the Millers	NT993535	1	Woodmouse	Trapped in Longworth.	J.R.
11/08/2009	Berwick	NT95		Swifts	Most birds left early today.	M.H.
10/08/2009	Holburn Moss	NU0536	22	Snipe	20.00 - 22.30. Mild.	J.I.
10/08/2009	Holburn Moss	NU0536	1+	Nightjar	20.00 - 22.30. Mild.	J.I.
10/08/2009	Holburn Moss	NU0536	1	Ruff	20.00 - 22.30. Mild.	J.I.
09/08/2009	Cheswick	NU035475	1	Whitethroat	Juvenile. Also the young of stonechats, linnets, reed buntings, pied wagtails & meadow pipits. Noon, fine.	J.I.
09/08/2009	Cheswick	NU035475	1	Wheatear	Juvenile. Noon, fine.	J.I.
08/08/2009	Yarrow Haugh	NT984527	1	Grey Squirrel	9.00am. Heading towards sewage plant. A new sighting for this area as far as I am aware.	J.I.
07/08/2009	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	1	Merlin	Hunting low over dunes. 9.00a.m. Cloudy, very light SW wind.	M.H.
06/08/2009	East Ord	NT984515	2	Whimbrel	Two birds flying south over my house (Cornwall Avenue) calling loudly. 4.30p.m. No wind, high cloud.	M.H.
05/08/2009	Oxford	NU013467	1	Quail	Calling in a barley field near the Cat Inn. 9.30a.m. Weather bright & sunny, light southerly wind.	M.H.
03/08/2009	Needles Eye	NT995550	1	Long-eared Owl	Trying to catch young house sparrows. 11.00 a.m., still and clear.	M.H.
03/08/2009	Needles Eye	NT991558	2	Small Skipper	10.00 a.m.	M.H.
03/08/2009	Needles Eye	NT991558	1	Wall Butterfly	10.00 a.m.	M.H.
02/08/2009	E. Ord	NT980513	1	Wall butterfly	In garden.	E.T.
02/08/2009	E. Ord	NT980513	20	Long-tailed Tit	On trees in garden.	E.T.
02/08/2009	E. Ord	NT980513	1	Bullfinch	On windowsill.	E.T.
02/08/2009	E. Ord	NT984515	1	Comma	Cornwall Avenue. On Buddleja with other butterflies. 12.30pm	M.H.
02/08/2009	Tweed Estuary	NU003526	1	Greenshank	Single bird with Redshank by Pier Road. 11.30 am.	M.H.
02/08/2009	West Ord	NT055520	1	Little Egret	Single bird feeding on Tweed in mud behind the Island. 9.30 am.	M.H.
31/07/2009	Cheswick Shiel	NU0446	12	Small Tortoiseshell	Feeding mainly on ragwort flowers.	M.H.
31/07/2009	Cheswick Shiel	NU0446	18	Painted Lady	Feeding mainly on ragwort flowers.	M.H.
31/07/2009	Cheswick Shiel	NU0446	120	Meadow Brown	Feeding mainly on ragwort flowers.	M.H.
31/07/2009	Cheswick Shiel	NU0446	15	Small Copper	Feeding mainly on ragwort flowers.	M.H.
29/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0347	3	Wheatear	8.30a.m. Must have bred locally.	M.H.
29/07/2009	Cheswick Black Rocks	NU037476	22	Ringed Plover	9.00a.m. Good clear conditions.	M.H.
29/07/2009	Cheswick Black Rocks	NU037476	5	Black-tailed Godwit	9.00a.m. Good clear conditions.	M.H.
28/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	1	Ragworm	Nereis pelagica. Mid-shore under rock.	F.A.
27/07/2009	Berwick	NT999529	54	Swift	9.00am. Flying in a noisy flock over the town hall. Possibly pre-disperal.	M.H.
27/07/2009	Little Beach	NU007527	48	Oystercatcher	8.30am. Weather thin high cloud, calm.	M.H.
27/07/2009	Little Beach	NU007527	2	Turnstone	8.30am. Weather thin high cloud, calm.	M.H.
27/07/2009	Little Beach	NU007527	36	Dunlin	8.30am. Weather thin high cloud, calm.	M.H.
26/07/2009	Pier Field	NU004528	1	Yellow Wagtail	A juvenile feeding with pied wagtails. 18.30, fair, mild.	J.I.
26/07/2009	Berwick	NT991537	4	Peregrine	11.30 a.m. Circling over house. At least one immature calling.	F.A.
26/07/2009	West Ord	NT9551	140	Common Gull	9.00 am. Weather overcast, light S wind. Post-breeding birds.	M.H.
25/07/2009	Halidon Hill	NT9654	1	Cuckoo	Immature. 3.30p.m. Weather sunny spells, fresh SW wind. Bird being chased by young swallows.	M.H.
23/07/2009	Murton	NT9548	2	Hobby	Presumably a pair.	E.T.& M.H.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	1	Long-clawed Squat Lobster	Munida rugosa. Sometimes known as Rugose Squat Lobster.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	1	Bootlace Worm	Lineus longissimus. A metre or so emerging from under rock - declined to be pulled out and measured in entirety.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	100+	Sea hare	Aplysia punctata. Abundant middle and lower shore, as are orange strings of eggs.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	2	Sponge	Myxilla fimbricata. 2 colonies seen under rocks at extreme lower shore.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	10+	Star Ascidian	Botryllus schlosseri. Plentiful under rocks in damp areas of shore.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	10+	Breadcrumb sponge	Halichondria panicea. Abundant, upper and lower shore.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	5	Purse sponge	Grantia compressa. Lower shore.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	10+	Dead Mens Fingers	Alcyonium digitatum . A colonial "soft coral", related to sea anemones. Extreme lower shore (spring tide).	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	3	Bloody Henry Starfish	Henricia sanguinolenta. Lower shore (spring tide).	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	5	Common Sea-urchin	Echinus esculentus. Lower shore (spring tide).	J.P.
23/07/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	2	Squat Lobster	Galathea squamifera.	J.P.
23/07/2009	Monks House Pool	NU2033	4	Yellow Wagtails	Family party at edge of pool.	M. McN.
23/07/2009	Monynut Forest	NT686668	2	Ringlets	12.30 pm. Warm, breezy but sunny.	J.I.
23/07/2009	Monynut Forest	NT686668	1	Small Tortoiseshell	12.30 pm. Warm, breezy but sunny.	J.I.
23/07/2009	Monynut Forest	NT686668	2	Crossbills	Male and female. 12.30 pm. Warm, breezy but sunny.	J.I.
22/07/2009	Tweedmouth	NT9952	44	Goosander	Great views as they hauled out as tide rose.	M. McN.
22/07/2009	Tweedmouth	NT9952	30	Sandwich Tern	.	M. McN.
20/07/2009	Cheswick Beach	NU0446	28	Sanderling	9.30 a.m. Weather bright and sunny. First of the returning post-breeding waders.	M.H.
19/07/2009	Hirsel, Coldstream	NT8240	1	Quail	Heard calling. `12.30 pm. Warm but showry.	J.I.
14/07/2009	Berwick	NT9953	3	Buzzards	Midday. Circling over the town and moving off to the north.	M.A.
11/07/2009	Coastwatch Station	NU005534	1	Peregrine	10.30 a.m. Cloudy, sunny spells. Seen to stoop and take a Carrion Crow off the Golf course!	M.H.
11/07/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU036477	14	Meadow Brown	Warm, sunny, light breeze.	M.H. E.M.F. M.W.
11/07/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU036477	13	Ringlet	Warm, sunny, light breeze.	M.H. E.M.F. M.W.
11/07/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU036477	22	Common Blue Butterfly	Warm, sunny, light breeze.	M.H. E.M.F. M.W.
11/07/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU036477	4	Soldier Beetle	Rhagomycha fluva. Warm, sunny, light breeze.	M.H. E.M.F. M.W.
11/07/2009	Cocklawburn Dunes	NU036477	4	Common Blue Damselfly	Enallagma cyathigerum. Warm, sunny, light breeze.	M.H. E.M.F. M.W.
10/07/2009	Tweed Estuary	NT9952	205	Goosander	WeBS Count. Possibly due to rough coastal conditions. Strong NW wind and a high sea.	M.H.
10/07/2009	Tweed Estuary	NT9952	632	Mute Swan	WeBS Count. Highest July count for the past 10 years.	M.H.
08/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU032481	2	Bank Vole	Trapped in Longworth.	J.R.
08/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU032481	4	Common Shrew	Trapped in Longworth.	J.R.
08/07/2009	Windmill Hill, Goswick	NU039458	1	Quail	10.40a.m. Overcast, light NW wind. Bird calling in a field of barley.	M.H.
07/07/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0151	12	Guillemot	Feeding in bay. Overcast, fresh NW wind.	M.H.
07/07/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0151	8	Razorbill	Feeding in bay. Overcast, fresh NW wind.	M.H.
07/07/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0151	3	Puffin	Feeding in bay. Overcast, fresh NW wind.	M.H.
07/07/2009	Spittal Bay	NU0151	3	Manx Shearwater	Flying north. Overcast, fresh NW wind.	M.H.
04/07/2009	Berwick garden	NT993539	1	Magpie Moth	7.15 a.m.	C.R.
04/07/2009	Cheviot Burn	NT884195	13	Small Heath	At 483m. Calm, sunny, warm.	F.A.
03/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU0348	1	Dark Green Fritillary	Hazy sunshine. 10.30 a.m.	M.H.
03/07/2009	Cheswick Dunes	NU0347	1	Dark Green Fritillary	Hazy sunshine. 10.00 a.m.	M.H.
03/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU035478	1	Quail	9.30 a.m. Heard and seen flying a short distance along dune edge. Bright, thin high cloud, light NE breeze.	M.H.
02/07/2009	Blawearie	NU062392	2	Speckled Wood	On verge by woodland.	E.B.
02/07/2009	Needles Eye	NT995554	1	Kestrel	Also kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills .	J.I.
02/07/2009	Needles Eye	NT995554	4	Puffin	Two pairs feeding chicks.	J.I.
01/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU036477	1	Grasshopper Warbler	"Singing" in dune hollow where one heard last year.	F.A.
01/07/2009	Cocklawburn	NU035478	9	Painted ladies	Accompanied by Common Blues, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, 6-Spot Burnets.	F.A.
01/07/2009	Needles Eye	NT992555	1	Hen Harrier	With dead rabbit.	D.J.
29/06/2009	Cot Hill	NT59498	1	Red Admiral	First seen locally.	G.Y.
28/06/2009	Ednam	NT752379	1	Red Admiral	Flying past	M.A.
27/06/2009	Berwick Pier	NU006526	10+	Sea Fern-grass	Catapodium marinum. Plants in clumps in cracks along main part of pier. This grass is rare in the vice-county!	F.A.
27/06/2009	Quay Walls	NT998526	10+	Fern Grass	Catapodium rigidum. Plants in cracks on top of wall along Quay Walls.	F.A.
27/06/2009	Berwick Pier	NU006526	10+	Fern Grass	Catapodium rigidum. Plants in cracks on top of wall along pier and on base of pier.	F.A.
25/06/2009	North Road	NT995537	2+	Swift	Nesting. Much activity recently - eggs hatched?	P.J.
25/06/2009	Tapee Fen	NT995537	1	Sedge Warbler	Heard daily. Apparently nesting in Tapee Fen.	P.J.
25/06/2009	Tapee Fen	NT995537	2	Reed Bunting	Seen in same spot on 23rd. Apparently nesting in Tapee Fen.	P.J.
25/06/2009	Holy Island	NU124438	50+	Dog Whelk	Nucella lapilus. Abundant, plus eggs.	J.P.

Nature Ramblings

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

Nature Ramblings
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

©Berwick Wildlife Group. This page was last updated on 5th March 2010.

Berwick Wildlife Group

What's
New

Home

Events
Programme

Group
News

Group
Surveys

Members
Photos

Group
Archive

Links

SoS Home

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

Sighting Record Card

back to the top of this Page

Sightings

Date

Location

Grid Ref

Count

Sighting

Comment

Observer

back to the top of this Page

Nature Ramblings

2009

2008

back to the top of this Page