JOHN MUIR CP
A great coastal site in Scotland named after a conservation pioneer
JOHN MUIR WAS born in nearby Dunbar, and made his name in the USA as an early advocate of the preservation of wilderness, helping create national parks and the environmental organisation, Sierra Club. This park is named after him, along with a 130-mile walking route that passes through it. The 1,740 acre site is made up of the River Tyne and its estuary, along with mudflats and saltmarsh, grassland and scrub. A rocky promontory of St Baldred’s Cradle (named after a Northumbrian hermit) lies at the mouth of the River Tyne. Waders are a major reason to go birding here, with a long-staying Semipalmated Sandpiper in 2010 putting the park on the map. Wintering waders include Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit, with passage waders including Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. Other rare waders have included Buff-breasted, White-rumped and Pectoral Sandpipers and Dotterel. Wigeon winter in the area along with Teal and Mallard, while offshore, Common Scoter flocks can contain Velvet Scoter and Longtailed Duck. Both Shelduck and Red-breasted Mergansers can be found along with Goldeneye in winter but the beaches sometimes are home to both Snow and Lapland Bunting, with a record 12 Shore Larks in 2010. Seafield Pond attracts several duck species, with Tufted, Pochard and even Garganey in summer possible. Hedderwick Plantation in the park offers you mixed woodland birds, from Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers to finches.