Our annual walking trip this year was along Hadrian's Wall in April. The weather was kind to us and I had forgotten just how lovely Northumberland is. I kept a diary of nature related events, posted below:
Day 1 11April
Not much to report from the first afternoon's walking from a few miles outside Newcastle (Wylam) to our first stop, around 8 miles, Though we did pass a nature reserve at a lake with a hide, there was no time to stop (:-(. By the time we finished our walk we were ready for a drink and our B&B.
Not much to report from the first afternoon's walking from a few miles outside Newcastle (Wylam) to our first stop, around 8 miles, Though we did pass a nature reserve at a lake with a hide, there was no time to stop (:-(. By the time we finished our walk we were ready for a drink and our B&B.
Day 2 12April
Just completed 2nd day of walk here Brilliant day. Started off with a sighting of a sparrowhawk being chased by long tailed tits. (This sounds unlikely doesn't it? but am pretty sure that it was long tailed tits after it...) Then saw
kestrels and buzzards and later heard and saw curlews. Pheasants, rabbits, lapwing (just one!) very good time at Chesters fort and v good pub (for location) at lunchtime, with views over the Tyne, and buzzards calling. We stopped for the night at Simonburn, off the path, at a tea room/post office.
Day 3
The third day took the walk to wilder country, following the wall, visible much of the time, over the crags near and beyond Whin Sill. Jackdaws nested all along the crags and I wondered whether there might be peregrines, but we didn't see any. Fellow walkers saw dunlin. Meadow pipits were around but did not see any other upland birds, though did look out for golden plover and merlin too. Later I googled to see whether peregrines are seen here and the North East Wildlife Trust reports: The Whin Sill ‘corridor’ is important for upland and farmland birds including Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe and Golden Plover and raptors like the Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Also further North are very important seabird colonies of the Farne Islands. The walking on this section was quite demanding though, so there was little time to look. Stayed in a very wonderful B&B 5 star, great views to the Lakes, and in the evening walked to an organic farm cafe
kestrels and buzzards and later heard and saw curlews. Pheasants, rabbits, lapwing (just one!) very good time at Chesters fort and v good pub (for location) at lunchtime, with views over the Tyne, and buzzards calling. We stopped for the night at Simonburn, off the path, at a tea room/post office.
Day 3
The third day took the walk to wilder country, following the wall, visible much of the time, over the crags near and beyond Whin Sill. Jackdaws nested all along the crags and I wondered whether there might be peregrines, but we didn't see any. Fellow walkers saw dunlin. Meadow pipits were around but did not see any other upland birds, though did look out for golden plover and merlin too. Later I googled to see whether peregrines are seen here and the North East Wildlife Trust reports: The Whin Sill ‘corridor’ is important for upland and farmland birds including Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe and Golden Plover and raptors like the Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Also further North are very important seabird colonies of the Farne Islands. The walking on this section was quite demanding though, so there was little time to look. Stayed in a very wonderful B&B 5 star, great views to the Lakes, and in the evening walked to an organic farm cafe
for dinner. Looked for but saw no signs of owls on the way.
Day 4 14 April
Took a path down to the river and to the fort ( ?) then gentle walking in lush countryside with the hills of Cumbria and Scotland in the distance. Saw our first swallow near the abbey then another at the farm near Walton. More lapwings (though not many). The best wildlife today was a pair of nuthatches which were flying in and out of an old roof in a delapidated building and in and out of a tree nearby though - so it looked as though they were nesting. The walking here was gentle and the sun shone again.
Day 5 last day
Day 4 14 April
Took a path down to the river and to the fort ( ?) then gentle walking in lush countryside with the hills of Cumbria and Scotland in the distance. Saw our first swallow near the abbey then another at the farm near Walton. More lapwings (though not many). The best wildlife today was a pair of nuthatches which were flying in and out of an old roof in a delapidated building and in and out of a tree nearby though - so it looked as though they were nesting. The walking here was gentle and the sun shone again.
Day 5 last day
Now in fairly flat farmland doing our last stretch to Carlisle. Saw oystercatchers today.
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