At Killingworth Lake this morning, one of the nesting pairs of Great crested Grebes were still incubating their eggs and providing the best views anyone could hope for with this species. A Reed Warbler sang from the small line of reeds at the small lake over the road, and a few Common Terns fished the main lake.House Martins,Swallows and Swifts hawked for insects too.
Off up to my day’s destination , Kielder via Sweethope Lough and the fells of south-central Northumberland. As I have alluded to in the past, the erection of 18 massive wind turbines at Sweethope has for me, greatly detracted from the natural beauty and wildness of the fells here, nonetheless,to my relief they have not seemed to have adversly affected the many nesting Skylarks which remain in high numbers,although their songs are somewhat drowned out by the loud motors of the turbines and the wind noise they create, when , as now all 18 were in motion.No nesting Curlews or Lapwings remain though. I did not linger at what was always a great place to stop.
Perhaps 20 singing Skylarks were briefly noted ,then in more peaceful surroundings a little further west, a similar number could be enjoyed along with good numbers of Meadow Pipits, Curlew and a few displaying Snipe. 3 Common Buzzards in the air too. Dropping down towards Birtley, a family party of Redstarts were in panic as a Stoat attempted to catch a fledgeling,while Willow Warblers joined in the mobbing. Near Bellingham, a Cuckoo called and Sand Martins fed along the North Tyne. A Treecreeper seen and 2 more family groups of Redstarts.Many Pied Wagtails,a Grey Wagtail female, then on the river a pair of Mandarin Duck swam by, with 4 miles upstream, another drake. At Ridley Stokoe, where parking is no longer possible, a pair of Common Sandpipers and a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were noted. On up to Tower Knowe,where a brood of Wrens, one of which had fledged, looked down from the House Martin nest they had been reared in. I gently dissuaded a girl who had picked it up from taking the bird home! 6 Crossbills flew over and another pair of Buzzards circled to the north. Moving down to Sidwood, 2 Wood Warblers were well watched as they sang, and Bullfinch,Willow Warblers, Long tailed Tits and Blue Tits all had fledged young. Nuthatch and Treecreeper, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and Redstart, Tree Pipit and Skylark were all seen in the area.8 or 9 Song Thrushes also heard in this area. Back over the Wannies, and 2 more Cuckoos seen,bringing my running spring total of sightings of this species to 22 birds,very encouraging . More Curlews here,with a pair of Lapwings and many Meadow Pipits.
A.S.Jack