Last friday found me once again, exploring the upland Northumberland valleys, taking advantage of a warm, sunny day I headed for Ingram, where the riverside shingle revealed a variety of nesting waders,many now with young. Common Sandpipers,eight pairs seen in total, had small young or were sitting on eggs. Three pairs of Oystercatchers had young in attendance of varying ages, closely following the adults and being fed. Redhanks too had nests,as did a pair of Ringed Plover. Overhead three displaying Snipe and a single Curlew were noted. The riverside bushes and trees held many common species, such as Linnet,Whitethroat,Greenfinch,Willow Warbler,Chiffchaff and Goldfinch. Five singing Yellowhammers and nine-ten Reed Buntings were seen. Several Redpolls calling in flight. A Dipper flew by,as did one of three Grey Wagtails. Pied Wagtails were common,many feeding young in wall nest holes. Song Thrushes do very well here,with 12 singing during the day and four pairs feeding fledged young. Higher up the valley, two pairs of Spotted Flycatchers seen,then into Whinchat territory,where the birds were quietly going about nest-building, less seen therefore than on my previous visit. Eight males noted this time,with less time spent singing. A Cuckoo called but remained unseen and Kestrel and Buzzard overhead. Meadow Pipits were very common here, but only three Skylarks singing. Two Small Heath butterflies were the first I had seen this year.
On now south to Simonside,where another Cuckoo called from the edge of a pine wood. Red Grouse were much in evidence here on the fells and Skylarks numbered 25+. Meadow Pipits were even more numerous, many feeding young in nests. A Wheatear nest I had found earlier had been abandoned,with no sign of the pair. Perhaps predation the likely cause. A pair of Whinchats scolded me as I walked too near their nesting area,then overhead three Buzzards soared past,calling. Kestrel seen here too. A nearby wood held two pairs of Spotted Flycatchers and a pair of Great spotted Woodpeckers feeding noisey,large young in their nest.Willow Warblers sang commonly in the area.
A.S.Jack
