The first of two bike rides along the leafy lanes of south Northumberland ,saw me heading from Ponteland to Ingoe Moor,via Blackheddon, Wallridge and Kirkheaton and Stamforham. Eyes and especially ears open to detect the many birds along the way. Birdsong still going strong in what is the final month before many birds quieten down until next Spring. Always a time tinged with regret, for this is without doubt,one of my favourite aspects of birding.
Skylarks and Yellowhammers buck this trend, however and continue well into the summer. On this ride, the latter outnumbered the former 24 to 15 singing males. Sedge Warblers rattled their tunes from hedgerows and rape fields, with 7 heard and seen, and Whitethroats numbered well over double this total. Some seen feeding young.Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs both sang in good numbers,but no Redstarts sang this time, 3 males were seen though.
Four Reed Buntings noted and Tree Sparrows seemed to be present along hedges near many farms. Linnets and Chaffinches too,were encouragingly common and males sang ,usually from wires . Three Song Thrushes sang in woods and 2 pairs of Spotted Flycatchers seen.Family parties of Great and Long tailed Tits could be heard in hedges and woodland edge, of 2 each of Kestrel and Buzzard and a few Lapwings and Curlews completed a good ride list.
My next ride took me over Berwick Hill to Ogle ,Whalton ,Shilvington , Tranwell, Gubeon and Saltwick hill, and back to Berwick Hill. Again , Yellowhammer and Skylark were the most commonly heard species, followed by Chaffinch and Linniet-15 plus of all these heard. Young Swallows being fed on the wing and a dozen Sand Martins, Yellow and Grey Wagtail. A flock of 50 Lapwings and Sedge Warbler all noted at the river near Whalton. A Buzzard carried prey to it’s young in a tree nest and a female Kestrel seen. A Tree Pipit and Redstart noted at Tranwell,where Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs again heard in numbers. 2 families of Bullfinches and 3 of long tailed Tits , Great spotted Woodpecker,several Meadow Pipits and Spotted Flycatcher also seen.
All in all, these areas appear to have a healthy population of farmland and woodland edge birds ,which is very pleasing to see.
A S Jack
