A moorland lake offering varied birding
Scaling Dam is owned by Northumberland Water, and allows a mixture of activities like fishing and sailing. The circular walk around the reservoir skirts the edge of the nature reserve and is bordered by a grouse moor on its south side and arable land to the north. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded here.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
Pull in to the sailing car park off the A171 and walk south, checking the wild flower meadow for butterflies or other insects, depending on the time of your visit.
2 walk around the reservoir. You can scan the water looking for ducks and geese like Greylags and Canadas, drawing in Pinkfeet and European Whitefronts, on migration. Whooper Swans can drop in, with rarer Bewick’s Swans. Look through the Tufted Ducks for Pochard and Goldeneye, while even shallower water may have Wigeon grazing the bank, with Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Pintail possible.
3
Willow Tit is a great bird to find as you start the trail around the shore. Feeders are sometimes full as you start, and keep an ear on the willow bushes for this rare species. This corner of the reservoir is ideal for a number of warblers in spring, along with Reed Bunting and redpoll.
4 and breeding waders like Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. Autumn may drop in Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint and even Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper have been found. Listen on the moorland for Red Grouse and check the raptors in winter for Hen Harrier and Rough-legged Buzzard.
5
The east end of the walk sees inlets where waders may be found, but keep checking the gulls and raptors flying over, with the chance of Osprey and Hobby in summer and Short-eared Owl in winter.
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