CRAVEN and PENDLE

2011

September 29, 2011

Thursday

** Spurn (East Yorkshire)

Not sure how many times we've been to this Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve but most of them have been in October. September, however, can be just as good especially for some of the species which tend to migrate slightly earlier than the main exodus. It's not really possible to write an itinerary for Spurn because we shall no doubt react to news of what good birds have been seen recently and move in that direction. Whether it's the classic triangle Blue Bell/Crown & Anchor/Canal Scrape, a walk down to Easington Lagoons or moving on down the peninsular to the point, we surely shall find plenty to interest us.

October 20, 2011

Thursday

* Saltholme and South Gare (Teesside)

This will be our third visit to Saltholme RSPB reserve, despite the fact that the reserve only opened in 2009. We found it a bit raw to start with but it is now bedding in nicely and turning up good birds. There are three hides and several viewing screens as well as being able to watch from the windows of the visitor centre and restaurant. At this time of year there should be plenty of birds migrating away as well as incoming winter visitors. We shall finish the day by moving to the south side of the River Tees to South Gare near Redcar where we could well see Shearwaters and Skuas passing by the end of the peninsular.

November 10, 2011

Thursday

* Hest Bank and Heysham Power Station (Lancashire)

With high tide at 11:06, we shall start with a sea watch at RSPB Hest Bank just a few miles north of the resort of Morecambe. We shall then move to the port of Heysham, just south of Morecambe, which has a nature reserve and bird observatory near the power station, run by Lancashire Wildlife Trust in conjunction with British Energy Estates. The varied habitat of wetlands and both acid and alkaline grassland can attract many birds. The warm water of the power station outflow often attracts gulls and terns.

December 10, 2011

Saturday

Nicholson's Flash and Nosterfield Quarry (North Yorkshire)

NB. This is the Saturday before our December indoor meeting. These two sites near Ripon are ideal for a short winter's day birdwatching. Nicholson's Flash near Ripon Racecourse has two hides overlooking the flash which at this time of year usually holds a good selection of wildfowl. The Nosterfield complex, including the nature reserve which has a large hide come visitor centre, is famous for its padded seats. The nearby Lingham Lake and Flask Lake are situated adjacent to Nosterfield Quarry where there is a car park and small visitor centre and toilet. The whole complex is good for geese and swans and the site has turned up an impressive list of rare and scarce birds.

2012

January 21, 2012

Saturday

**** Caerlaverock Nature Reserve (Dumfries & Galloway)

Because our 2011 scheduled trip to this Wildfowl & Wetland Trust reserve was ruined due to freezing fog, we have put it back on the menu for this year. There is, of course, always the chance of bad weather at this time of year but, as has been said many times before, Caerlaverock is the first site you would pencil in if looking for the best place to go in January. This reserve on the north side of the Solway has large flocks of Whooper Swans and some 30,000+ Barnacle Geese plus the possibility of other rarer wildfowl. There are also good numbers of Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer and other small birds and often several species of raptor. With its many hides and viewing screens, a visitor centre and restaurant, it provides winter birding at its best.

February 17-19, 2012

Friday-Sunday

**** Slimbridge Weekend (Gloucestershire)

Slimbridge is the headquarters of the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust and one of the oldest bird reserves in the country. With its recently rebuilt visitor centre, the Hanson Discovery centre, a cinema and restaurant together with amazing views over the river Severn from the Slone Observation Tower, there is much to interest the visitor. The site is famous for its wintering European White-fronted Geese and Bewick's Swans. It's somewhat further away than we usually travel for our annual week-end away but given that it is mostly motorway the journey time will not be any longer than a trip to Norfolk. We shall probably stop on the outward journey at the new RSPB reserve at Middleton Lakes, north east of Birmingham. On the way home we may visit RSPB Highnam Wood near Gloucester and, possibly, Sandwell Valley just north of Birmingham. Further details regarding accommodation etc. to follow.

March 17, 2012

Saturday

** Potteric Carr (South Yorkshire)

This large 600 acre reserve near Doncaster, managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in cooperation with British Rail and the Local Authorities has recently undergone a major facelift with the building of a new visitor centre and restaurant. It has also been considerably extended with the acquisition of the land now known as Huxter Well Marsh which includes a large circular hide. The Silver Birch woodlands along the old railway embankments have some Oak and Alder which at this time of year could still hold Siskin and Brambling as well as some early summer visitors. These woodlands are famous for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which can be quite vocal at this time of year. There are many hides overlooking the open water and there has been much planting of phragmites making it one of the best reserves in the north for wintering Bittern. We have seen Kingfisher on every one of our previous visits to this reserve.

April 14, 2012

Saturday

NB: 0700 hours start

Langdon Beck and Upper Teesdale (Co Durham)

Twice in the past we have visited an upland working farm near Langdon Beck called Herdship Farm. Unfortunately this farm has changed hands and the permissive circuit of paths is no longer available. We shall probably start with a search for Black Grouse, but hope to see all the classic upland species such as Ring Ouzel, Yellow Wagtail and several of the upland breeding waders including Golden Plover. We may walk a section of the river Tees from the Hanging Shaw car park at Forest-in-Teesdale back to Langdon Beck, before visiting the Durham Wildlife Trust visitor centre at Bowlees. Alternatively we may walk up to High Force waterfall from the public house of that name.

May 17, 2012

Thursday

Strid Wood, Bolton Abbey (North Yorkshire)

Being on our own doorstep this site needs no introduction. This is arguably the best birdwatching site in England at this time of year. All the summer breeding visitors will have arrived and we shall be looking especially for Wood Warbler, Spotted and Pied Flycatcher and Redstart as well as a whole host of other warblers and resident woodland species. Along the river we shall hope to see Dipper, Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail, plus a possibility of Goosander and the resident Mandarin Ducks. Despite having visited the wood many times we are always happy to go again. It never fails to impress.

June 21, 2012

Thursday

Langden Brook, Forest of Bowland (Lancashire)

This is effectively a repeat of the trip we did in June 2009. It is a walk of approx 8 km from the United Utilities water works complex on the Trough of Bowland road near Sykes Farm, north of Dunsop Bridge, along the Langden Brook to Langden Castle. The trees around the water works hold a good selection of small birds including Goldcrest and Siskin. Continuing on up the valley there is a diverse range of habitats from open heather moorland managed for Red Grouse, and rocky slopes with scattered small oak plantations. On our previous visit we saw a food pass by Hen Harriers as well as a wealth of other upland birds including Buzzard and Raven and there is always a good chance of Ring Ouzel and Cuckoo.

Sites belonging to

* RSPB
         ** Wildlife Trust
        *** National Trust
**** WWT      

Please bring membership card(s) if you have them.