Wooded river valleys and a wide variety of birds

2021-09-01 - JOHN MILES

Allen Banks is a National Trust property with several walks into the Allen Valley, and it has a wide mixture of tree species, including Beech, Holly, Sycamore, Ash, Horse and Sweet Chestnuts, Large-leaved Lime and Alder, intermingled with a few conifers such as Douglas Fir and Norway Spruce, and the varied bird species to match.

WHERE TO WATCH

1 Arriving off the A69, check the River Tyne for possible Ospreys fishing the river. With such a large Kielder breeding population now, these birds travel to the river and other nearby waters to feed, especially young non-breeding birds without a nest site. Check for Goosander and Otters as well.

2 Allen Banks has recently been hit by several large floods, the last being in 2017 when several bridges were washed away. This makes the choice of your walk slightly limited, but if you start by the car park, check for thrushes feeding on the Yew berries, and maybe even a Hawfinch.

3 The River Allen offers you a good chance of both Dipper and Grey Wagtail. The many mature trees around the wooded gorge are used by a wide number of species such as Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler and Blackcap. Nest boxes increase the number of tit species nesting here with plenty of Great, Blue and Coal Tits. Long-tailed Tit is also breeding here.

4 Briar Wood is a Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve with walkways up the often steep banks. Higher up, you find a mixed coppiced Oak woodland with a mixture of bird species adding species like Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. The specials in spring include Pied Flycatcher and Redstart. Some of these are using natural holes while nest boxes have been added. Wood Warbler is also found here.

5 A public footpath takes you out onto a minor road offering great views over the Tyne and Allen Valleys. In summer listen out for Curlew and Oystercatcher nesting in the area. You can now drop down to join the road to the car park, looking out for circling raptors like Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and even Goshawk in winter.

PRACTICAL INFO

POSTCODE: NE47 7BP

GRID REF: NY 798 640

MAPS: OS Explorer OL43, OS Landranger 87

PARKING: Mostly hard paths with various gradients

ACCESS: All hours, all year round

FACILITIES: You’ll need to travel to Haltwhistle or Haydon Bridge

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE Briar Wood is the most northerly location in the UK for Dormouse. Look for signs on Honeysuckle, where bark has been removed to form the nest.

TARGET BIRDS AUTUMN/WINTER

● Dipper

● Fieldfare

● Redwing

● Mistle Thrush

● Jay

● Buzzard

● Great Spotted Woodpecker

● Nuthatch

● Treecreeper

● Goldcrest

SPRING/SUMMER

● Pied Flycatcher

● Redstart

● Wood Warbler

● Willow Warbler

● Chiffchaff

● Garden Warbler

● Blackcap

● Spotted Flycatcher

● Tree Pipit

● Great Tit

An out and back walk along the tidal embankment in the northern end of Strangford Lough. The embankment was built to prevent the Lough flooding the irfield and Newtownards. To the east is Strangford Lough; to the west is Ards Airfield, then farmland. There is an area of saltmarsh about halfway along the walk. The walk is different depending on the tides and the seasons; the best combination is a low tide in autumn and winter, when waders and wildfowl are easily seen.

WHERE TO WATCH

1 There is a small car park at the Flood Gates. Start here at the observation platform and scan the river channel for Greenshank, Little Egret, Kingfisher and Pintail. The wider mudflats contain Shelduck, Brent Goose, and a variety of waders. Cross the river and walk along the embankment. The area to the right is rough ground and gorse and contains a range of common passerines including the attractive Linnet.

2 Scan the airfield for roosting waders. They use this area at high tide as the airfield is usually quiet. Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover and Blacktailed Godwit are possible.

3 The saltmarsh area is good for egrets, and ducks and geese will roost there at high tide. It can also give Linnet, Meadow Pipits, Sky Lark and Stonechat, either there or in the fields and hedgerows to the west. Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are a possibility due to the number of small birds and mammals.

4 As you approach the end of the walk check the fields and grass for roosting waders and small passerine flocks. Sky Larks winter here and breed in the airport.

PRACTICAL INFO

POSTCODE: BT23 8WZ

GRID REF: 501730

MAP OSNI Sheet: 15 Belfast

PARKING: There is a small car park and if this is full, there is easy parking in The Old Shore Road which is just opposite the car park

TERRAIN: Wide gravel path with a drop on both sides

ACCESSIBILITY: Open all year

FACILITIES: Shops, cafés and toilets in the centre of Newtownards

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE Arrive about two hours before high tide in Belfast, to give enough time to do the walk then wait at the Flood Gates – the incoming tide will push the waders up into the corner below you.

TARGET SPECIES ALL YEAR

● Sky Lark

● Stonechat

● Linnet

● Buzzard

● Little Egret

AUTUMN/WINTER

● Shelduck

● Brent Geese

● Lapwing

● Curlew

● Golden Plover