ST ABB'S HEAD
Seawatching plus a good chance of interesting migrants
This is an excellent seawatching site, whether you're planning on making a day of it, or stopping off on the way between the birding glories of Northumberland and the Scottish Highlands (which is my usual excuse for calling in). It's not just seabirds, either – passerines can be very interesting, especially during migration periods, so check any birds that you don't recognise, very carefully.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
I usually start in the village, parking at the harbour and having a quick look around for scarcer gulls, then walk up the hill to the path onto St Abb's Head NNR.
2
Boat House Wood is worth checking. In autumn, Redwings and Fieldfares often stop off here, plus possible Ring Ouzel, and Yellow-browed Warbler, once a rarity, can be expected as the season goes on.
3
There's a walled garden that often proves attractive to passerine migrants, particularly the likes of Black Redstart.
4
In spring and summer, the reedbed plays host to Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting, and possible Reed Warbler, while nearby scrub could hold other warblers such as Whitethroat and Willow Warbler. In migration periods, check this area for the likes of Redstart and Pied Flycatcher.
5
In spring and early summer, the seabird nesting cliffs are the main attraction of the reserve. Guillemots and Razorbills predominate among the auks, with occasional Puffins, and look for plenty of Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Shags too, while Gannets are also often visible. Further out to sea expect more Gannets, gulls and terns (Common and Arctic), and sea-ducks, with Eider being the most likely of these, plus good numbers of Common Scoters, at times.
This section of the Northumberland coastline is well known to birders, because Boulmer is one of those places where pretty much anything can turn up! It is well watched by local birders, too, and the year list speaks for itself.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 Any walk along this coast is magical, and this one can provide you with some amazing migration at most times of the year. Using the Northumberland Coastal Path (www.northumberlandcoastpath.org) you have to remember to look both out to sea as well as scanning the fields inland.
2
Not far from the car park is Boulmer Haven, an area of sea enclosed by natural rocks. Check during high tide for auks, divers and sea ducks escaping rough seas, and at low tide for feeding waders. Listen for Rock Pipit and check the Pied Wagtails in case of a White Wagtail, especially in spring.
3
Walk south, checking the fields as you go for buntings, with Snow and Reed likely in winter, while Seaton Point is a good area to try sea watching, with some great records of movement like Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, plus geese and swans in spring and autumn, divers in winter and even migrants like Great Grey Shrike, Dusky and Yellow-browed Warblers dropping in in autumn – 2020 saw a Desert Wheatear in a ploughed field here.
4
Although this stretch of coast is rocky, look out for waders such as Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Redshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover feeding around the seaweed. Rarer waders such as White-rumped and Buff-breasted Sandpipers have turned up, and during an autumn movement of owls across the North Sea here I saw a Shorteared resting on the rocks, being stalked by a Grey Heron!
5
Terns are plentiful all along this coast, and with Coquet island just south of here you can pick up Roseate Tern as well as Arctic and Sandwich Terns. Passage has included Little and Sabine’s Gulls, Leach’s Petrel and Pomarine Skua. The fields may have Curlew, Whimbrel and Lapwing on passage, with Curlew also a winter visitor.