Enjoy this huge man-made site’s varied wildlife
This massive man-made project was originally started to give unemployed miners somewhere to work, with the dam and reservoir constructed to supply water to Teesside for steel making. Now the whole area is a big tourist attraction, with nature making the most of the lake and its surrounding woodland and other habitats.
WHERE TO WATCH 1
Sky Lark and great views over the area.
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Leaplish Waterside Park allows access to the edge of the water, so look out for Common Sandpiper, Pied Wagtail and numerous Swallows, House and Sand Martins. On warm days, check the skies for displaying raptors, with over 20 pairs of Goshawk breeding in the area and over 50 pairs of Buzzards.
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A circular walk/ bike track goes around the water but this Hawkhirst section is ideal for looking for Ospreys, with the first breeding birds rearing three young in 2009 and 2010. Now there are more than six pairs breeding in the area, with young birds returning and also setting up territories. 4
The Bakethin Nature Reserve, run by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, sits at the head of the water in its own little dammed area. A walk takes you down to a hide overlooking the water with chance of a range of birds from Mandarin to Osprey. Winter sees Goldeneye, Goosander and even the chance of Otters.
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Kielder Castle has an arboretum with potential Redstarts in spring found there, along with Spotted Flycatcher and Crossbills enjoying the many cones on the conifers. Kielderhead is a new project planting native species.
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Kielder Dark Skies observatory is a great place to look for raptors from, giving you views across the forest and uplands to the north.
TARGET BIRDS SPRING/SUMMER
● Osprey
● Hen Harrier
● Merlin
● Mandarin
● Willow Warbler
● Common Sandpiper
● Redstart
● Tree Pipit
● Wood Warbler
● Pied Flycatcher
AUTUMN/WINTER
● Raven
● Goshawk
● Crossbill
● Siskin
● Lesser Redpoll
● Buzzard
● Sparrowhawk
● Tawny Owl
● Barn Owl
● Brambling
An area of over 160 acres on the southern shore of the Humber Estuary in North Lincolnshire. It is a former set of clay pits holding several lagoons with many reedbeds, a large visitor centre (Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust) and shop, and six hides to enjoy, not forgetting great views of the Humber Estuary and the Humber Bridge.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
Always start at the visitor site, as it acts as another hide and you get great views over Pursuit Pit and reedbeds with birds like Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and the always amusing Coots. Once outside, listen for song and calls around the pit.
2
Stretch your legs on the Humber path with the chance of feeding and passing waders like Knot, Bartailed Godwit and Dunlin. Scan the Humber Bridge for sea passage with chance of auks and Kittiwakes. Look over the reedbeds for movement of warblers and tits.
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Scrapes can be found at the far end of the reserve, so here waders will be a great treat with classics like Avocet and Little Ringed Plover, with passage adding Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Ruff. Check through the gulls for a Mediterranean Gull or
Common Tern with passage marsh terns in summer.
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Walking back you are yet to see a Bittern. Listen out for that booming in spring or the evening ‘gull like calls’ of a bird heading for Europe. A set of grit trays offer the chance of a Bearded Tit coming in or another look for some diving ducks like Pochard, Goldeneye or a winter Smew.
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Even more reedbeds to walk past so listen out for the explosive sound of a Cetti’s Warbler or the pig-like call of a Water Rail. Check the ditches for the chance of a Water Vole or the alarm calls when a Marsh Harrier drifts around the reedbed.
TARGET BIRDS SPRING/SUMMER
● Reed Warbler
● Sedge Warbler
● Cetti’s Warbler
● Bearded Tit
● Long-tailed Tit
● Mute Swan
● Great Crested Grebe
● Little Grebe
● Shoveler
● Gadwall
● Garganey
AUTUMN/WINTER
● Pink-footed Goose
● Bittern
● Smew
● Goldeneye
● Marsh Harrier
● Sparrowhawk
● Jack Snipe
● Snipe
● Dunlin
● Redshank