NORTHUMBERLAND HOLBURN MOSS
Peat bog, lakes, moorland and mixed woodland offer excellent birding
Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Holburn Moss reserve was previously used for peat extraction from medieval times, but is now an internationally designated wetland. We visited in February and got scores of Greylag Geese, flocks of Yellowhammer and Sky Larks, Merlin and Buzzard.
This is a working farm and forest, so please do stay on the designated paths at all times. It is dangerous to stray off the paths, as in some places the pools in the peat moss are very deep.
Part of the walk is across open moorland/grazing and you should be prepared for bad weather if you get caught in this section – a map and compass are also strongly advised.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
This part of the track is a corridor with high gorse hedges either side and is a good place for Yellowhammers, Robins, Wren, Chiffchaffs and other small birds. Red-legged Partridge can also be seen around here.
2 Looking south-eastwards from here, you can see the lake inside the Moss. Greylag Geese and Wigeon are visible in winter, plus other waterfowl. The woodland behind can hold Treecreeper, Crossbill and Goshawk.
3
There is a large lake on the east of the path that is worth scanning for Mute Swan, Tufted Duck and Teal. Linnet, Goldfinch and redpolls can be found in the undergrowth bordering the path.
4 Scanning the farmland to the west can bring Buzzard, Kestrel, Curlew, Lapwing and Pheasant. There is a pillbox nearby, which on our visit had a male Stonechat sitting on it.