STEEL RIGG
Varied birdwatching from historic Hadrian’s Wall
Steel Rigg is one of those sites along Hadrian’s Wall you just don’t want to miss. Many just stare from the car park, but the adventurous set out to walk a circular route taking in the crag, the lough and the moorland/pasture around the area, which is owned by the National Trust and contains the wall, Mile Castles and even early farming practices. With Crag Lough a draw for wildfowl you may come up with something good. It may not have the list of birds found at Grindon Lough, but then it is not as watched as that site. To start with, the Beech in the car park can draw Chaffinches and Brambling when there is a ‘mast’ fall, along with a mixture of tits and pigeons. The crag itself has several breeding birds such as Jackdaw, Stock Dove, Kestrel and even Peregrine on some years, with Ravens always looking around. The lough has breeding Mute Swan, Mallard, Little Grebe, Water Rail, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers, Reed Bunting, Coot and Moorhen. Winter may see Whooper Swans, Goldeneye and even a Smew has been seen. The moorland/pasture has breeding waders such as Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew and Snipe. Woodcock use the scrub along the wall. Open areas have Wheatear, Sky Lark and Meadow Pipits. Pied Wagtails love the wall for its insects, with passing Grey Wagtail around the farm buildings in winter, especially where the cattle are housed. Being so close to the big Kielder Forest complex, birds of prey hunt over the area, with both Buzzards and Goshawks along with wintering Hen Harrier. Crag Lough is one of four large water areas in the vicinity, so don’t be surprised to see Osprey fishing, with at least three pairs now found around Kielder.