WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SPRING

 

ARRIVAL OF SUMMER VISITORS & BREEDING BIRDS:

 

The earliest migrant birds are: SAND MARTIN, SANDWICH TERN, CHIFFCHAFF and WHEATEAR.

 

Garden Birds:  Nest building is underway – watch for activity in the early morning.

 

Hirundines: the usual order: SAND MARTIN, followed by BARN SWALLOW and then HOUSE MARTIN.

 

Swifts: follow later – in May.

 

Moorland breeders – from overseas come RING OUZEL (our Club Logo) WHEATEAR, arrival along the coast from March onwards followed by dispersal to moorland breeding sites. WHINCHAT follow in April.

STONECHAT & MEADOW PIPIT move to moorland breeding sites.

CURLEW and SNIPE move to upland sites & display to create a territory and to attract their mate. 

 

 Waders: LAPWING and OYSTERCATCHER move inland to breeding territories on farmland and stony riverside habitat respectively.

 

Warblers: WILLOW WARBLER, WOOD WARBLER (scarce nowadays), GARDEN WARBLER, BLACKCAP, WHITETHROAT, LESSER WHITETHROAT, SEDGE WARBLER, GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. Listen for their song. Check suitable habitats.

 

Redstart: arrive where there is open deciduous wooded habitat.

 

Seabirds: FULMARS occupy ledges (check Bamburgh and Lindisfarne Castles), in addition to coastal cliffs ─ where KITTIWAKES will also be found. PUFFINS, GUILLEMOTS, RAZORBILLS, SHAGS & EIDER DUCKS will nest on the Farnes Islands, together with SANDWICH, ARCTIC and COMMON TERNS.  ARCTIC, COMMON & LITTLE TERNS breed on sandy beaches at the Long Nanny.

 

Please observe The Birdwatchers’ Code: Avoid going too close to breeding birds or disturbing their habitats – if a bird flies away or makes repeated alarm calls, you’re too close. If it leaves you won’t get a good view of it anyway.

 

Enjoy the Spring!                  Graham Bell.