The last day of no artillery firing during the lambing season, saw me taking the chance to head up to the Otterburn Army Ranges, the wildest,most remote area of the county. Here the vast upland fells hold a good variety of bird species ,with some like Skylark and Meadow Pipit breeding in large numbers. As I travelled through the area at least 50 -60 of the former created a constant background of song with many more seen on or near the ground. Pipits were displaying in many areas too. Near Alwinton,another upland species was present in very good numbers with 9 singing Whinchats noted in only a single kilometre stretch of moorland ,with more seen in other areas. 2 Cuckoos called from streamside trees, one then mobbed by Pipits. A Buzzard ,Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were the only raptors noted. Along the river Common Sandpipers lived up to their name,with 7 seen in one valley. Dippers nest under the many river bridges here and several , including newly fledged youngsters were seen, along with Grey and Pied Wagtails.A single Ring Ousel sang from high in one rocky gully and a flock of Common Gulls moved through Coquetdale. Wheatears were noted in several places,as were Reed Buntings,with 11 males seen. This being a species which breeds throughout the county in a wide variety of areas. A single Spotted Flycatcher was heard,then seen, newly arrived from Africa. House Martins had also returned ,with Swallows and Sand Martins to the upland valleys , some nesting at the most remote farms . Along the Coquet, birds included several Gooseanders, Oystercatchers and Redshank, with a few Lapwings, Curlew and Snipe displaying , though in far smaller numbers than in the south west of the county. At Holystone, Tree Pipits were songflighting , with several noted among the many singing Willow Warblers. Here too were Redstart,Nuthatch and Treecreeper , Goldcrest, Siskin and Redpoll.
Returning via Caistron,which held Great crested and Little Grebes, Shelduck and Gooseander.Then over Simonside with Yellowhammers,Tree Pipit and more Skylarks,then another Cuckoo and Whinchat,Redstart and Red Grouse and a pair of Spotted Flycatchers to round off a superb day.
A.S.Jack