Widdrington Tip, former landfill site flanked by a former industrial site, doesn't sound good but these areas can be some of the best in our countryside. Its no 'nature reserve' as we'd more comfortably expect but a small area where wildlife can thrive.
Superb habitat, Birch, Alder, reeds, small ponds and ditches. I tried to take some photographs to show the habitat.
We did catch up with the Redpoll flock, or part of it anyway, or actually, some Redpolls. Mostly Lesser Redpolls with at least a couple of Mealy Redpoll present, really nice birds to watch, very active, sometimes sat up in low bushes and sometimes disappearing to ground either feeding or drinking. We also saw Woodcock, Snipe and Long Tailed Tit flocks moving around the area.
Track of the day; fringing the good habitat on one side and our green and pleasant and lifeless habitat on the other |
Looking in from the Widdrington Village road |
Track in from the north end |
Spot the Peregrine, winner gets a slice of cake |
and a Mute.. |
The "lifeless" side in your photograph has had a hundred or so fieldfares and a big bunch of redwings on it several times lately...
ReplyDeleteExcellent.. short grass will attract those birds,sometimes in high numbers at this time of year, wish they'd been there when I was there.
DeleteNice post John. I like the wild Northumberland countryside but I'm drawn back to these former industrial sites because of the diverse habitat and it's occupants
ReplyDelete