Bird Watcher’s Guide: Where are the best spots in Northumberland?

If you are an avid bird spotter, there are many great areas in Northumberland you can sit out and enjoy some great sights. We have even had some rare bird sightings in this county, like a female pintail which was spotted on Wader Lake this year. If you follow the NTCB on Twitter, you can keep up to date with lots of the latest sightings in the area.

When on holiday in Northumberland, you may want to head out to one of the following areas:

Bamburgh

This is idea base for bird watching. It is central to many holiday areas and so you don’t usually have to travel that far.

Berwick Harbour

You’ll be able to spot the famous Tweed herd of Mute Swans, and at low tide you’ll see various waders like the Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher. Many have also spotted the Great Northern and/or Red-throated, as well as the occasional auk.

Berwick Little Beach 

If you head to the north side of the north pier you will see up to 10 species of wader. This includes the Merganser as well as Red-throated Divers.

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve: Holy Island

What a great spot for bird watching. You may be lucky enough to see Pale-bellied Brent Geese. If you head to the 'Heugh', which overlooks the channel between the island and the peninsula of mainland at Guile Point, you will be able to see wintering Grebes and Divers. At the Straight Lonnen and the Crooked Lonnen you can spot migrant passerines and vagrants in the hawthorn bushes. You might also be able to see short-eared Owls, Merlin and Peregrine.

Budle Bay

This is highly recommended for bird watching, especially sea or coastal birds, as well as rarities. You’ll also be able to see gulls and ducks when the tide is out.

Tips

If you want to find out more about bird watching in the area, you can look online or check out the local bird watching book - "Birdwatching on the Northumberland coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coast" or "Where to Watch Bird in Northeast England" (Britton D. & Day J.).

Remember when visiting any of these areas, you should not disturb the bird or its natural habitat. It is always best to look from afar.

Some of the birds mentioned above are seasonal and really depend on the conditions at the time! If you see any rare sighting of bird, tweet into the bird club: @NTBirdClub to share your news with others. There will also be a lot of other bird enthusiasts on this site who can help you with identifying a bird if you are having trouble figuring out what it is. Try and take pictures if you can!