Berwick Wildlife /group

Berwick Wildlife Group

ature Ramblings

2010

• Holy Island sightings

Had a great day's birding on 10th Oct. We joined up with a group from lothian SOC.
Overall huge numbers of thrushes and chats - island was covered with redwing (many
hundreds possibly a few thousand) and robins (hundreds) especially also blackbirds (a few
hundred).
Also saw the following:
little egrets (4), yellow-browed warbler (1), chiff-chaff - a few, willow warbler - a few,
brambling - (10-12), lots of brent geese, goldcrests (numerous), siskin - a few, common
redstart - a few, wheatear (1), greenshank (1), pied flycatcher (a few), red throated divers
(2), peregrine, and kestrel, plus all the usual waders, gulls etc.
Maurice McN. 10th October 2010

• Dead, but still contributing to scientific understanding.

On 11th January we found a dead, ringed shag on Spittal Beach. The BTO has just let us
know that it had been ringed as a nestling on 20th June 2009 at Craigleith, Firth of Forth.
On Saturday we found a very decomposed, ringed swan again on Spittal beach but near the
estuary. Its ring was Icelandic, so we await the return with interest.
Ann and Frank, 12th April 2010

2009

• ....but Large Whites have their moment, too!

About 30 caterpillars of the large white had been feeding on rocket growing in a raised bed
about one metre from our single storey garage. On Monday 28th September all left the
rocket, crawled up the garage wall and settled under the eaves.
Ann and Frank, 28th September 2009.
I suppose if they are all from one batch of eggs, growing on the same (abundant) food
supply, and subject to the same weather conditions they will all grow and be ready to pupate
at the same time. Not much genetic variation, then? Fiona.

• Speckled Wood in Berwick - Hoorah!!

Ann and I decided on an afternoon walk along New Road to check on butterflies at New
Water Heugh. We passed under the trees at the steps from Castle Hills cottage and on to the
first inward bend round the corner, when a small butterfly flew out of the Ivy and down onto
the shore. I thought it was a Silver Y Moth but Ann saw where it landed and we were amazed
when it opened its wings to sun itself to show as a lovely clean Speckled Wood. We watched
it for a while as it flew up under the canopy settling on the Ivy for a time, before coming to
the shore again to nectar on sea-aster. This was 2.20p.m. We went our walk and and I
thought we would not see it on our return, as the sky was overcast. We had just passed the
Garden Gate of Castle Hills when it flew past us and around the plants under the Yew trees,
this was 4.30p.m. I'm sure it should be there the rest of the week, as we are due a warm
spell after tomorrow's rain.
Did anyone else see it? Do let us know. Or any others further north?
Malcolm, 7th September 2009.

• Rooftop Soap Opera.

Ongoing cliffhanger in a herring gull family on a roof. Three chicks but one a virtual midget,
and feisty or it would have died by now. I think there may be some alimentary problem as
I've seen it refuse food and walk away, but it sips from the gutter and I suspect finds small
stuff there that it can manage. Every morning I look to see if it's survived the night, and
every evening I see it smaller and smaller alongside its siblings. Who needs TV and wildlife
programmes?
Phil, 3rd July 2009.

• So that's why they do it...

In Zoological Notes made by A. Brotherston in 1874 I found the following gem: 'Old nests of
Swifts are usually occupied (by sparrows or starlings) when they arrive. Knowing that they
could not remove (them) by force, they frighten them out in the following manner. A number
of them fly together in Indian file, circling round and round, uttering their harsh discordant
screams every time they pass the entrance to the hole they wish to regain (...) until the
frightened inmate slips out, when the nest is immediately taken possession of by the swifts.'
Aha!
Phil, 11th May 2009.

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 1 Nature Ramblings

• True conservation on the farm.

An oystercatcher (we watch them from the kitchen window) was seen on her "nest" on a
ploughed field on 16th April. On 18th 3 eggs had been laid on the bare earth. On 20th the
farmer carefully lifted the eggs before he sowed grass seed. She returned to the nest. Both
male and female take turns in incubating the eggs.

The pair have returned to this nest for a few years now. Last year the first eggs were
unsuccessful - perhaps buzzards / crows got them. They successfully reared one chick with
the 2nd attempt.
Gill, 21st April 2009.

• The carnivorous Bee-fly.

On 13th April I saw a Bee-fly, Bombylius major. To quote from http://www.kendall-
bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm ."This is the largest and best known of the British species. The
body is stout and furry, so that the fly has a strong superficial resemblance to a bumblebee,
although the long, spindly legs are rather different from those of a bee. It has a long, rigid
proboscis held out in front of the head, which is used to probe for nectar while the fly hovers
at flowers (rather like a humming bird). Its hovering and darting flight, accompanied by a
high-pitched whine, is much more agile than that of a bee. The larval stages live as parasites
in the nests of solitary bees (e.g. Andrena, Halictus and Colletes species), where they eat the
food stores and larvae of their host."

There are excellent pictures on the internet, e.g.
http://www.cirrusimage.com/flies_bee_Bombylius_major.htm . "Our" Bee-fly was hovering
around grape hyacinths, sipping nectar through the long proboscis. If we have a Bee-fly,
presumably there are solitary bees around too. I thought I found species of Andrena
attending holes in the lawn last spring. The Bee-flies apparently emerge from their burrows
before the bees, so as to be ready to lay their eggs in the holes when the bees get busy.
Fiona, 17th Apil 2009.

• Tapee Spa.

About 18 months ago Rail-Link removed two sidings W. of main track and E. of Tapee Fen
(NT 994 537) and replaced them with 1 electrified track. New chippings were laid and this
area is sometimes now waterlogged and with standing puddles especially after rain. On 29th
March Herring Gulls were observed treating this area like a shingle patch, drinking from
puddles and settling in chippings to rest. On 4th April a number of Pied Wagtails discovered
the area, bathed in the puddles, drank, and foraged among surrounding stones. Tapee Spa is
inaugurated!
Phil, 5th April 2009.

• Jim (or Jemima) Crow - a sad tale.

We noticed the crow with an apparently broken right wing in our lower garden yesterday
afternoon. Remembering the local fox and a black cat that we think is living rough
somewhere nearby, I decided to let the crow take its chances; if it were still around this
morning I would take action. Well, this morning its mate was on look-out in laurel tree and
yes, there was the injured one in the corner of our parking lot. The whole neighbourhood
became involved in my attempt to catch it, for it hopped ahead of me down a big garden and
from there via every garden of that block to the first house. There it managed to get up onto
the boundary wall and from there, keeping always ahead of us (by then me plus three
neighbours) it hopped along the wall and round the lane and up onto the roof of an annexe.
At this point we pretended to lose interest (well, it was not so much pretend for me, since I
had no notion of going up on any roof!) and the crow found its way down into a backyard.
There I managed to corner it behind a tub of plants, threw a blanket over it, and bundled it
into a cardboard box supplied by one of my fellow crow hunters. After that it was into the car
and up to theSwan & Wildlife Refuge for the attention of David Rollo.

This morning at 6:15 the mate was back seeking the lost one. It looked under our car, called;
looked behind the planters in the corner where the injured one had sheltered; hopped onto
the fence by the vennel and looked down there, calling; then flew off low to the ground along
the lane as if it would seek further, perhaps in the yards...

Alas the injured other had been shot with an air rifle. Wing damaged beyond repair, said Mr
Rollo, so bird had been put to sleep. However, I've learned in subsequent conversation with
neighbours that another crow was found shot nerby (but in breast and thus instantly killed).
Two shot crows equals illegal firearms activity in area. All just pieces of a larger pattern as
yet unclear. I reported the dead bird to Rollo this morning so that he can add it to his notes,
though it made neither of us glad.
Phil, 2nd April 2009.

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 2 Nature Ramblings

2008

• Big Stoat Diary.

Sally and I want down to the hide at Fenham Flats which was lovely with the snow and bright
sunlight. Got the tide right for a change and had our best views of the Brent Geese we have
ever had, right in front of the hide and very close. There were all the usuals there but seem
to be in greater numbers than usual. We might have been influenced by the day!

When we came out of the hide I spotted a stoat disappearing into the bushes beside the road
then saw that there was a rabbit in the middle of the road. Thinking it was dead we went and
sat in the car to see if the stoat would return. To our amazement the rabbit lifted up it's head
and looked around, but made no attempt to move or run away. After a minute the stoat re-
appeared and after circling the rabbit attacked it biting on the back of it's neck, wrapping it's
body around the rabbit and shaking it violently. At this point the rabbit started to struggle,
bucking and rolling whilst the stoat hung on. Every now and again the stoat released it's hold
and looked around before resuming the attack. At these times the rabbit made no attempt to
flee but just lay there, only struggling when the stoat bit it again. This went on for about two
minutes before the rabbit was killed. Once the stoat was sure it was dead it released it's hold
and circled the rabbit about 5 metres away, all the while looking and scenting for danger.
Also possibly marking it's territory around the kill.

It was at this moment that a wildfowler returned to his car and disturbed the stoat again, at
which point we left.

I do not know if the length of time the stoat took to kill the rabbit was unusual. It was a large
buck rabbit and all others I have seen killed have been much quicker. What also surprised
me was the way the rabbit made no attempt to flee, possibly paralysed by fear, or perhaps
the stoat had injured it in it's first attack prior to our seeing it.

Who needs talks about big cats!!!
John, 23rd November 2008.

• The story continues...

The sparrowhawk is still around (or a different one has taken over the territory), and for the
last few days has been harrassing a juvenile green woodpecker which comes to feed at the
ant-hills on our lawn. We were excited to see the green woodpecker, so much so that when it
is near the house we creep around the windows bent double so as not to put it up. I do feel a
bit sorry for the ants, but there are so many and a few less ant-hills would make lawn
mowing easier. Of course we don't mind sparrowhawks taking woodpigeons, either. But we
have seen the sparrowhawk chase the woodpecker, which flees screetching in alarm, 3 times
in the last 3 days, and guess who we are rooting for?
Quite illogical. I never thought that encouraging wildlife in the garden could lead to such
ethical dilemmas.
Fiona, 13th September 2008.

• Better than the telly!

We had a great "wild garden experience" recently. We got up to find a headless woodpigeon
on the lawn (sorry, can't really feel for them, they eat my veg). We went to Newcastle for the
day (did you know kittiwakes nest on buildings beneath the bridge in the city centre, to
despair of City cleaning squad?). Came back to Berwick to find just a lot of feathers and 2
wings on the lawn - assume a sparrowhawk had finished its meal.
At washing-up time came "vultures" (rooks) and a "hyena" (cat). 3 magpies mobbed the cat,
dancing round it just out of reach, until it gave up on pigeon-wing remains. Cat then chased
rabbits (several of which had been in "screen-freeze" mode throughout all this), but
(unfortunately - they too eat veg.) with no success. Cat gave up altogether, but on exiting
garden came face to face with another. Original cat was outfaced by very large orange
animal fluffed up to twice normal size, and Cat 1 (a fierce climbing birder, usually chased out
of garden by us) was last seen exiting garden chased by Cat 2 (an over-fed and normally
bumbling beast). Just like the telly - only thing missing was voice-over from Simon King!
Since then, the smaller feathers are gradually being airlifted away by sparrows.
Fiona, 16th May 2008

• Something in the water?

I was taking a cursory look over the Tweedmouth estuary yesterday afternoon (April 16th)
when I noticed a Canada Goose which began to swim after a Mute Swan. The chase
continued for minutes with the goose swimming very strongly after its quarry towards the
outer bay area. The swan kept going equally determined not to be caught! Got bored
watching this so settled on a male Mallard with a female Merganser close by. The Mallard
took off and landed on my side of the river and the Merganser followed! The Mallard went at
its female admirer and attempted to shoo it away. The Merganser stayed there! Was I seeing
things or is there something in the water?
Maurice, 17th April 2008

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 3 Nature Ramblings

• Bird Bonanza

On Saturday we saw a jay on the birdfeeder nuts on several occasions. Unfortunately he flew
off as soon as he was seen. I then went for a 30 minute walk down the country lane and saw
32 different species of birds. These included 20+ wigeon on a wet marshy area, a male &
female merganser on a small pond, 5 oystercatchers, a flock of c. 50 fieldfares with some
redwings, a small flock of yellowhammers, lapwings, skylarks singing as well as the “usual”
birds. The jay has continued to come to the garden just after sunrise. The 2 nuthatches and
woodpeckers are daily visitors. Blue tits have been inspecting the nest box. The wigeons are
still on the marsh.
Gill, 17th March 2008

• Kitchen sink drama

Saturday evening, chancing into our front room while waiting for dinner to cook (17:50), I
was astonished to see about 20 pied wagtails land precipitously in the big sycamore opposite
the house. They rose again almost instantly and vanished, so I rushed back to the kitchen to
watch the fen. (Tapee Fen, nr. North Road, Berwick, an important Pied Wagtail roost.)
Probably 100 wagtails were skittering every which way, but I couldn't be sure whether this
was their response to the fierce wind or to some other cause... The 'other cause' appeared at
17:55 in the arrow-shape of a merlin bent on a kill. It zipped determinedly hither and yon
amid dizzying groups of wagtails and caught one at 17:58 at the south end of the fen a little
above tree height. The merlin veered off east at a seemingly awkward angle, wings and tail
spread as, presumably, it adjusted its grip to the certain death of the wagtail. Then, flight
again steady and purposeful, it turned westward towards North Road and disappeared from
sight. The flocking wagtails began to descend to the fen almost immediately. They knew they
were safe. At least until sunrise.

But …….there's no such thing as security if you're a bird.
Sunday, dawn. A mere 24 wagtails rose from the fen at first light (06.37), so those many
that I'd seen go down last evening must have moved again despite dusk and wind. What did
it mean? The answer was in our own garden: a juvenile sparrowhawk in the branches of the
winter-flowering cherry. At 6:57 a second juvenile hawk appeared from our neighbours'
evergreens and joined the first in our cherry trees. The two hawks must have been nearby
last evening and appeared to have sheltered in evergreens from the frost. One made an
unsuccessful bid to catch a female blackbird, and spent some minutes on the ground below
the Cupressus hedge presumably hoping for voles or beetles. They flew away separately
shortly after 7:00, one east, one south. Some hours are action-packed!
I went down to breakfast but felt more in need of a good sleep!
Philomena, 8th/9th March, 2008

• A White-headed House Sparrow

This week there have been sightings of a partially white-headed House Sparrow around
Highflields. Thank you very much to those who have phoned in to report it. The bird has
apparently been in the area for some weeks, moving around garden feeding stations.
Although most commonly seen in members of the Thrush family, partial albinism has been
reported from almost all bird species (one American website states that 7% of all the reports
of albinism in birds in the US is attributed to House Sparrows).

Unless only a few feathers are affected, the birds are more obvious to predators, so often
don't survive long. Partial albinism (also called piebaldism) is sometimes caused by damage
to the feathers or illness, but is often genetic. When one of the cells in the embryo destined
to become skin and feathers divides mis-copying occurs in the genes, and the usual colouring
is not produced. For more information see http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/mao-jun-
01.asp
Fiona, 23rd January, 2008.

• Long-tailed tits are in town.

There have also been reports of groups of up to eight Long-tailed Tits around Berwick and
also in Tweedmouth. Do let us know if you see these delightful birds, unusual in the area.
We have recently put up a new fat feeder, in which the fat block is suspended in an oversized
cage with only small openings (an attempt to stop the Jackdaws scoffing the lot). It has (so
far) fazed the Jackdaws, and also one of the garden Robins which found the way in easily
enough but got in a complete panic when it came to finding the way out again. Blue-tits and
Great-tits have taken to the feeder well, and amazingly so have the Long-tailed Tits,
although when four or five Long-tailed Tits squash together into the feeder it can't be good
for their tail feathers.
Fiona, 23rd January, 2008.

2007

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 4 Nature Ramblings

• Autumn birds with spring flowers

On 19th at Eyemouth 21 Canada geese flew south. At Linkim shore just north of Eyemouth
we watched c. 30 linnets bathing in the stream near the beach. On 22nd at Cothill 13
blackbirds were getting worms out of our lawn. They all had black beaks but I think they
were juveniles rather than the European species. There were also 2 male and 2 female
resident blackbirds so I think they were a migratory flock. We have daily visits of c.12
longtailed tits to the birch tree, and flocks of linnets, fieldfares and starlings flying over the
fields.
I noticed wild primrose flowers out beneath an old hawthorn bush in our garden. Has anyone
else noticed spring flowers out?
In September, after "the rains" a Bulbous Buttercup growing in our garden flowered profusely
(after a poor showing in it's normal flowering time of early June). Fiona.
Let us know of any other odd floral "behavior".
Gill,25th October, 2007.

• Update on House Martins

The house martins fledged and left Sisterpath on Oct. 9th and the swallows left on Oct. 11th.
On the 12th at Cothill there was a flock of c. 50 fieldfares and 20 yellowhammers . Both
flocks were seen again on the 13th.
Gill, 15th October, 2007

• And low temperature House Martins

At Sisterpath farm worker’s houses ( SW of Duns, NT 755 485) there were 2 nests with
young martins in them being fed by their parents. They usually nested there in mid summer
but not this year. A few swallows flew overhead.
Gill, 7th October, 2007

• Low temperature frogs

I was sitting by our pond this morning and noticed that there were several tadpoles
swimming about and they were only just starting to grow their hind legs. Since the
frogspawn was put down at the end of February that seems to be a very slow development. I
can only put it down to the cold spring and summer so far keeping the water temperature too
low for them to develop.
John, 23rd July 2007.

• Insect wars

Last week, when counting the butterflies in Tommy-the-Miller's field we stopped to examine
tiny holes in the sandy bank, and were lucky enough to see a small solitary wasp, striped
black and yellow, arrive carrying a bright green caterpillar. It dived head first into a hole
(where it presumably had already or was about to lay an egg, the caterpillar being the
provisions made by the mother wasp for the wasp grub). But, to our surprise it immediately
re-emerged, backwards, and still carrying the caterpillar, closely followed by a black ant,
carrying part of another caterpillar. The ant must have been stealing the wasp's last
caterpillar! The ant struggled up the bank dragging its burden and disappeared in the grass.
The wasp meanwhile went back into it's hole , emerged a little later without it's caterpillar
and flew off. Nature red in tooth and claw indeed. So, who's larvae will win this war? Not the
butterflies', anyhow.
Fiona, 10th July 2007.

• Birds at home?

As last year, we've been keeping the wire-fronted suet box on the house wall stuffed with
sheep's wool gathered from the countryside. And this spring as last it continues to be in great
demand from small familiar birds such as house sparrow, greenfinch, bluetit, great tit and
goldfinch. To our great delight the spotted flycatcher has been twice. First time it merely
'cased the joint'. Two days later it returned and plucked wool from the mesh.
Several sedge warblers have staked their territory in Tapee fen more or less in same
locations as last year, but they are less voluble it seems, as if they'd wasted no time in
getting down to the business of breeding.
Two herring gull chicks hatched today on the roof opposite. They look feisty little specimens
and their devoted sire has already fetched them four meals that looked like real gull food, not
discarded fastfood. A cold, grey, wintry sort of day to come into the world.
Philomena, 6th June 2007.

• How to have a beautiful lawn.

After a number of years struggling to keep the ants in our lawn "under control", we have
bowed to the inevitable, and have decided ant hills are a feature to be welcomed. The hills
are made by the Yellow Meadow Ant, Lasius flavus. Three are several years old and about 30
cm. high, the rest are youngsters just established. It seems that the Yellow Meadow Ant
make these hills only where the soil is moist, in dry areas making do with an entrance to the
nest beneath a stone. The underground passages of the nest can extend up to a metre below
ground, and there are up to 10,000 worker ants in a large colony.
These ants tend to forage for animal prey (slow-moving insects like caterpillars) at night, and
they also encourage aphids on the roots of grass and other plants in their passages, feeding
mainly on the honeydew from the aphids in the summer, and on the aphids themselves in
the winter. The ants in turn form food for birds, and today I saw a rook spreadeagled on the
largest anthill, presumably letting ants run through it's plumage, hoping they will secrete

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 5 Nature Ramblings

formic acid to deter parasites.
The largest hill is also a popular perch for birds looking for food in the lawn (such as robins
and thrushes) and for our resident cock pheasant (especially in wet weather when it keeps
his tail away from the wet grass). In Tommy-the-Miller's Field are many more venerable ant
hills, many with an attractive crown of Thyme which benefits from the lack of competition
from grass in the dryer conditions. I'll have to plant some on our hills.
Apparently rare mosses are also associated with ant hills, but I havn't been able to find out
about this, and caterpillars of Holly Blue butterflies may be "taken in" by the ants and looked
after (again, details seem scarce). If anyone has anything to add to this information, please
let me know.
Fiona, 4th June 2007.

• Kitchen window birding.

On a cold day, with strong N. wind and uniform low cloud cover, why not do your birding
from a warm kitchen? At 9.00 a.m. a female pheasant, melanistic variant, appeared - the
first we've ever seen here. The amber eye showed the more vividly in dark plumage; beak
and feet gunmetal grey. The total effect was rather closer to jackdaw than pheasant. An hour
later we saw our first long-tailed tit at the hanging block of suet inset with seed. Well worth
staying in for.
Philomena, 3rd April 2007.

• Pied Wagtail Roost

Wagtails are beginning to congregate in the evening at the Tapee Fen. Between one and two
hundred birds between 19:00 and 20:00. last (2nd April) evening. To judge from the
exuberance of 'dancing' they are delighted to be back and meeting up with their kind. Many
were perched for a time in the large sycamore near the rail tracks and many others on the
roof of the electricity sub-station at northern extremity of fen. This morning a male merlin
was concealed in trees at SW edge of fen, but did not show himself until after wagtails had
departed. My guess is that he'll return tonight.
Philomena, 3rd April 2007.

• Merlin attack!

A female merlin made an attack on our back-garden feeder station on 30th March. She did a
U-swoop else she was so fast I could not have identified her. Whether she took a small bird I
couldn't say: a handful scattered like sparks from a fire as she passed and a large fat wood
pigeon standing on the roof of the nearby garage stood looking bemused, his head going
right and left like that of a man who can't believe what just happened before his very eyes.
4.50pm. Tea time?
Philomena, 31st March 2007.

• Bullfinches.

In our front garden there are a number of blackthorn bushes either side of a thick holly bush.
For most of this month (March) two bullfinches, one male and one female, have been
frequent visitors to the blackthorn, feasting on the buds and diving into the holly when
alarmed. Last Friday they were joined by another male. Both gents were extremely smart,
their breasts and necks a glowing bright pink set off by black, white and grey elsewhere.
Madam continued to give more attention to the leaf-buds than to either suitor.
Sadly, on Saturday, we found one of the males lying dead beneath a window, his bill still
sticky with blackthorn buds. The other two continue to visit, but usually one at a time, so
perhaps it was the original male that was killed. He is now residing in the bottom drawer of
the freezer, awaiting transport to the National Museum of Scotland (who welcome specimens
in good condition for their skin collection and for display). Even so we feel so guilty,
especially as data from the British Trust for Ornithology suggest bullfinch numbers fell by
16% in Britain and Ireland in 2006 compared with 2005. We just hope the remaining pair
manage to raise a family and help reverse this trend.
Fiona, 20th March 2007.

• Spring has sprung!

We have 10 frogs in our pond all amorously courting 1 small plastic one we use to keep the
pond free of ice. The poor thing's out numbered and it's quite noisy with all the croaking.
John. 7th March 2007

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 6 Nature Ramblings

2006

• A raptor routed?

At the end of our garden by the hedge we have a bird feeding area, various feeders together
with a slightly raised stone bird bath on the ground. When I looked out this morning I
spotted our resident sparrow hawk perching on the side of the bird bath. (She regularly visits
us thinking that I feed the birds just to fatten them up for her). Anyway this morning there
she is on the bird bath, and just in front of her is the male pheasant, all fluffed out and
drawn up to his full height. For a while she fixes him with her fierce golden eyes whilst he
stares back nervously shifting from foot to foot. Then he charges and she with a disdainful
flip of her wings glides away and over the hedge, leaving him looking very proud and
strutting off to have a feed.
Another time we heard a terrific noise coming from the conservatory, only to find the same
sparrow hawk under the table looking very sheepish, whist I am sure, the house sparrows
were all outside sniggering to themselves.
John. 1st November 2006

• Brush-footed butterflies.

Forgive me if everyone out there knows this, but I was reading one of my recent BBC Wildlife
magazines. In answer to a reader's question, the entomologist replied:
"The peacock butterfly-- is one of a large group of species in the butterfly family ---, all of
which appear to have only 4 functional legs. This group also includes our comma,
tortoiseshells, admirals, fritillaries, browns, graylings, ringlets and heaths.
"In fact, they all have the full insect complement of six legs, but the front pair are not used
for walking. Instead they are reduced to short brush- or feather-like appendages hidden in
the dense, furry scales covering the butterfly's fore-body and are used for cleaning the
antennae. This earns them the name "brush-footed butterflies" in some textbooks".
News to me, but you folk may all know this.
Molly. 24th September 2006

• A Dramatic Rescue!

The other morning we noticed one of our resident sparrows, a juvenile male, in desperate
trouble hanging outside his nest hole from the eaves of the house by his leg. Squawking and
crying as he struggled and spun in the wind. You could just see him thinking "Oh Sh*t! What
do I do now?"
Sally's cry of "Do something!" galvanised us into action and was followed by a quick sprint
next door to borrow their ladder, and Lisa was scrambling up it almost before I got it up
against the wall. A gentle grab and a pull and she had him as she carefully clambered back
down again.
Nothing broken and no surgery was required thank goodness just some very careful freeing
of the twine tangled very tightly around his leg, and all the time he just sat there quietly
without a struggle at all. After a brief rest on the table he just shook himself, thought "Well
that's that then" and flew off to get some seed.

John. 14th Sept 2006.

• I've just found two weird weeds on Berwick Quayside. Well, one is a positive identification of

the clover described in my ramble of 6th July, growing by the Chandlery, now identified by an
expert as Alsike Clover, Trifolium hybridum, introduced from Europe and commonly
naturalised.
The other introduced plant is growing on the area of rubble where the electricity building and
lobster shed once stood. This one is Melilotus altissimus, Tall Melilot (although in this thin soil
it is not very tall). It's another plant of the pea family, with elongated racemes (long heads
rather than the round heads of the clover) of bright yellow flowers. It too is a native of

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 7 Nature Ramblings

mainland Europe.
Fiona. 13th September 2006.

• Birds beside Wooler Water, Wooler, between 2 and 4pm in squares NT 990280 & 990 290: 1

Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 24 Goldfinches, 3+ Long-tailed Tits, 2 Dippers. Quite warm
and sunny, some clouds.
Green Sandpiper had black wings above and below and big white area on rump (a bit like a
house martin). As it flew up from a shallow gravelly area beside Wooler Water it did a triple
whistle. The wings were curved down in flight like a common sandpiper, it had a long bill and
zig zagged as it gained height. I just checked the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club
website and see that in August 2004 there were 6 green sandpipers at Caistron so it's not
particularly unusual up here despite distribution map in bird books.
Sue. 24th August 2006.

Want to see for yourself? Sue has very kindly agreed to lead a walk along Wooler Water next
April - Saturday April 14th. For details see Events Programme. Expect plenty of bird life,
although Green Sandpipers not guarenteed!

• Our House Sparrows had a bad day yesterday. Sally and I had walked up Yeavering Bell in

the morning and had a good sighting of a stoat hunting in the rocks of the forts defences. It
kept popping up in different places to look at us, very busy.
I was recovering in our conservatory when the resident tribe of sparrows erupted, a terrific
noise, and looking out they were all on top of the side hedge screaming down at another
stoat which was running up and down trying to get to them. You always knew exactly where
it was as they followed it along, watching it and telling it in no uncertain terms to go away,
which after attempting to climb the hedge to reach them it did. Peace descended again.
Later that afternoon it all went quiet in the garden and looking out there was the sparrow
hawk on top of the same hedge peering down into it at all the feathered meals inside, just
out of reach. The sparrows were all keeping quiet in case it noticed them. The swallows who
are nesting in our garden shed spotted her and uttering their shrill alarm calls repeatedly
dive bombed her until she flew off still being pursued by the swallows. to the relief of the
sparrows.
John. 23rd August 2006.

• On 11th August, during a walk near St Cuthbert's Cave, we saw several Wall Brown

butterflies flying and basking in a sunny glade (NU 064 344). There were about half-a-dozen,
males and females, basking in the sunshine on the bare ground of the path and providing a
good photo opportunity (see Fiona's photos on Members Photos page). The Wall is unusual in
this area, especially away from the coast, but it appears to be expanding its range
northwards in Europe, although it is declining in some inland counties of Britain. Males are
slightly differently marked from females. They have a line of scented scales forming an
oblique dark line across the upper surface of the forewing. The underwings are more subtley
marked, providing excellent camouflage.
The day before, Leslie and Molly reported a pair of Wall Browns in Tommy-the-Miller's Field.
Fiona. 20th August 2006.

• Yesterday our grey partridges came to visit us. We have only seen them occasionally since

they started sitting but around came one aunt and two proud parents showing off their nine
+ young to us. We were in the garden and they just ignored us. Adults tucking into the bird
seed with one on watch and young dashing about all over the lawn fighting and chasing each
other. Confused and think it is a lekking ground. No sign of the red-legged partridges yet but
they are usually sitting later than the greys. Last winter we had 17 grey and 13 red-legged in
the garden, cost us a fortune in feed, but worth every penny.
Sally and John. 11th August 2006.

• On Sunday Sally and I walked from Holburn to St Cuthbert's cave and back over Greensheen

Hill, and all the way the gorse bushes were snapping and crackling as their pods burst
releasing the seed. I can only suppose that a synchronised seed release aids the chances of
more surviving to germinate. We also found a toad sharing a small water trough with a
common lizard!
John. 31st July 2006.

• I saw a pair of Ringed Plovers on the sand at Spittal Point yesterday (30th July) evening at

about 8.30pm. The pair had at least one small chick running around with them, it was only
very small so it must have hatched on the Point! I looked down this morning at 7.00am to
make sure I wasn't seeing things, having a senior moment I think it's now called, but could
not see them, however there were four young lads walking around so they might have been
keeping their heads down. Has anyone else spotted them?
Mike. 31st July 2006.
Saw both parents and two chicks tonight at about 8.30pm. Chicks are now about one third
the size of the parents, so here's hoping they make it.
Mike. 6th August 2006.

• Pond Skaters and Thorn Apples. We have a multitude of pond skaters on our pond. I haven't

tried counting them. They vary in size and don't seem to attack each other. The pond is

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 8 Nature Ramblings

looking quite healthy with clear water though there is blanket weed which I keep removing
and leaving on the side so any creatures can get back in the pond.
In the garden a new vigorous plant appeared and I noticed several smaller ones. I've
identified it as the thorn apple which is a non native but not common. It is a pale mauve
colourand looks evil with tiny black spots on the leaves and purplish stems. As it is poisinous
and non native I decided to pull them all up. Has anyone else found them? It seems they
occur in hot dry Summers.
Sue. 27th July 2006.

• Female large white butterflies fluttering around our back yard. There were at least 2, as one

had stronger markings than the other. Eventually, at different times, each laid a clutch of
eggs underneath leaves of nasturtium plants in the same pot. Was the siting of the pot
significant? It was very warm and sunny with a slight breeze. We look forward to observing
their progress, being more interested in the butterflies than the nasturtiums.
Molly. 25th July 2006.
Two days later. Sadly we seem to have lost one set of eggs. I turned over what I thought
was the relevant leaf and found a cluster of wee black beetley things. We have our fingers
crossed for the others. We were hoping to watch them hatch and go on to chrysalis stage.
Molly. 27th July 2006.

• There are a couple of unusual-looking clover plants growing in the paving around the

Chandlery, with pale pink flowers. (See "Fiona's Photos" in Members Photos section). They
are very vigerous, with leaves somewhat intermediate between the round-leaved White
Clover and the pointed-leaved Red Clover. So at first I thought they might be a hybrid
between Red and White Clovers, both of which grow here too. However there are two very
similar pink-flowered plants in different places, and they do look more like White Clover -
which, according to the books does come in pink sometimes, or even red.
It would be interesting to see if they set viable seed - but the chances are they will have
been zapped long before this to keep the paving "tidy". So go and see them soon!
Fiona. 6th July 2006.

• Sea watch, 24/5, 0845-1130hrs, Eyemouth (NT947648). A total of 29 Common Scoter

counted travelling north. Puffin numbers, 4 individual birds. 0950hrs. Single Osprey appeared
from the south east flying about 3 feet above the sea. The bird flew outside Hurker/Buss
Craig rocks and was last seen heading towards Coldingham Bay/St. Abbs. 1000hrs. Single
light phase Parasitic Skua wheeling north, breaking off to harass kittiwakes. Later a dark
phase bird steamed through, also heading north. A total of 8 Red Throated Diver, all in
winter/non-breeding plumage, was observed. A Sandwich Tern count came to 32, only those
travelling north were logged to prevent duplication.
Jim. 24th May 2006

• Sea watch from 0845 hrs to 1145hrs, Eyemouth (NT947 648). Hour count (0855-0955) of

Gannets travelling North only, totalled 1652. Black Throated Diver, summer plumage flying
north. Two Red Throated Diver, one summer plumage flying north, one winter plumage flying
south. Great Skua, flying north. Two Manx Shearwater, flying north. Two groups of Common
Scoter, (27 & 13) flying south. Sunny morning with cool, brisk off shore wind. Top of tide
approx 1130hrs.
Jim. 23rd May 2006.

• A second male pheasant has appeared in our garden. Young and bumptious he is, though the

old 'resident' bird has so far managed to evict him. Three times in two days the young bird
has appeared. We wait and watch. The young bird appears to have come over from Castle
Terrace braving the perils of wires over North Road. We also continue to see a female in
company of the old male and think her eggs may have been predated thus freeing her of
responsibility. The other two females have not been around for two weeks or more.
Phil, 17th May 2006

• We went up to see the Argaty red kites at the weekend. It was well worth the trip. We got

there at about midday and saw that they are fed at 3pm so we had some lunch in the camper
van and read our books for a bit before going up to the hide. Within minutes of sitting down
and opening up the hatches we saw our first kite and in the next couple of hours before
feeding time we had wonderful views of up to 4 birds circling and coming in quite close to
land on a perch near the hide. Some of them were quite noisy making whistling sounds which
sometimes sounded a bit like a shepherd whistling to his dogs.
At three a young man from the RSPB came up on a three wheeler with a bucket. He came in
and chatted about the project for a while which was interesting. He said the kites wait for a
sheep to give birth and then come in to take the after birth. He said they didn't give them
very much food as they didn't want to make the birds dependant. That was why they fed
them quite late in the day as well, so they had to fend for themselves. He said it was good to
view them in the Winter as many birds gather there and you could sometimes see 30 or 40
birds. But you'd need to wrap up warm. It was rather drafty in the hide as by then there
were about 12 people and they had all the hatches open. He said they only feed them a small
amount, about a quarter of a bucket full and that today it was a treat, pheasant's pluck. They
get the food from the local butcher and it is usually offal or bits and pieces they would throw
away.
The kites took their time coming down for the food and in fact we were getting a bit stiff and

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 9 Nature Ramblings

went back to the van to have a cup of tea. From there we had a good view as the birds got
bolder and wheeled about above our heads. At one point two kites were waving tallons at
each other then a buzzard came in close and one bird dropped a small ball of something
bloody, probably a pheasant heart or kidney. By then I think at least 6 kites were in the air.
Very impressive acrobatic fliers!
Sue, 13th May 2006

• Late afternoon and we were sitting in our conservatory having a cup of coffee with some

friends when we saw a stoat run across the lawn and into the shrubbery. A moment later a
young rabbit burst in full flight out onto the lawn hotly pursued by the stoat. A rolling bundle
of two furry bodies, which straightened out to see the stoat firmly biting the back of the
rabbit's neck, before it set off at a good pace effortlessly carrying the rabbit up to and under
the privet hedge. Within seconds it was back again hunting under the shrubs and was last
seen rapidly overhauling another young rabbit as they disappeared under the hedge.
It had not been a good day for the rabbits as earlier that morning Sally was watching one
feeding at the ground bird feeder when a pair of the resident group of grey partridges came
along to feed. The male partridge promptly ran rapidly across the lawn, drew himself up to
his full height and stared belligerently eye to eye with the rabbit, before giving him a peck on
the nose. Exit one rabbit very rapidly!
Sally and John, 12th May 2006

• From the bedroom window.

Between showers, a family group of 4 wood pigeons balanced atop the beech hedge and
feasting one and all on hawthorn buds that are just opening.
Have to report also that great tits and blue tits have cleared out the sheeps' wool from the
box on the wall despite my having refilled it twice since I first reported greenfinches taking
wool on 2nd April. Goldfinches and coal tit have taken their share.
Phil 26th April 06

• Windspeed ranging from 0 to 4mph, north westerly, sixty% sun and a temperature of 18oC -

we were in business! The butterfly survey could begin.
A cream coloured weasel with a white belly ran up the path at the start of Transect 1. We
stood transfixed. It disappeared under an old weather beaten pallet, only to reappear
seconds later to inspect us. Seconds after it ran along the top of the wall, heading towards
us, a final inspection and it was off hurtling over the wall into the park at the top of Tommy
the Miller's Field. Now we could begin the survey.
By the time we reached the end of Transect 1, two small tortoiseshells had been recorded -
flying very fast. As we rounded the shoulder towards the end of Transect 2, three deer
melted away in front of us.
A really strong wind was gusting in Transect 3, resulting in only one small tortoiseshell being
recorded. But at the end of Transect 4 we paused and admired a basking peacock, as it fed
greedily on a large dandelion flower. "A kaleidoscope of colour", Molly remarked.
So we basked too, on a seat, in the sunshine and sheltered from the breeze.
We were soon rewarded, watching two pairs of peacock butterflies in a mating flight. They
reached up to almost 20 feet into the air. Then they parted and floated downwards to the
ground like autumn leaves.
We were amazed and began consulting our reference books. It was then that Sue found an
interesting fact which others might like to use: small tortoiseshell butterflies are seen each
month from April to September except in May, whilst the peacock butterfly is seen each
month except for in June. So keep a look out. We saw no butterflies in Transect 5, it was too
windy by the time we finished.
Strange, as a child I disliked butterflies, I hated the noise their wings made when trapped in
a house, their wings clattering against a window pane.
But a childhood fear has changed into a senior fascination. Elizabeth 24th April 06

• Neighbours called in panic after finding a dead sparrowhawk under a holly tree on their

sitting out area. Told them unless they find three wild birds dead together in one place, they
need not panic. I retrieved the bird in a plastic bag and binned it. (BTO guidelines) It was a
young bird I'd watched hunting unsuccessfully in autumn. Think it probably died of starvation
and hypothermia and had fallen out of the tree as result of general movement of Spring birds
and weather. I hope its sibling fared better; I'd enjoyed watching the two hunting in tandem
over Tapee Fen. Phil 23rd April 06

• Sally and I were up at Holborn Moss and saw 100+ common gulls, 2 pairs of widgeon, 2 pairs

of tufties, a greylag and a ruddy duck. John R 17th April 06

• Looking out of my kitchen window in Berwick 1 female greenfinch plucking sheeps wool from

a wire-fronted box filled with same. Wool gathered on Holy Island last summer, placed in box
(sold for holding suet blocks)On house wall. Untouched until three days ago, the box is now
almost empty. Will the chicks be specially blessed? Phil 2/4/06

• Sally and I had an excellent sighting of a short eared owl hunting beside the small pond

behind Cheswick dunes at 10.15 yesterday morning, the 25th March. It spent ages just
hopping from fencepost to fencepost looking for voles. Nice to see as the last one I know of
in that area was shot, hope this one stays and is not just passing through. John R 25/03/06

• About 35 lapwings by the East Ord road down to town. They were very vocal, which was why

I noticed them. Elizabeth 24/03/06

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 10 Nature Ramblings

• Had a lovely view of a fox in the field beside the house yesterday. Very close. A big dog fox

who was sitting watching and waiting for any mice to come to him. Kept moving a short
distance before trying again. He was there for ages but did not catch anything. John R
10.03.06

• I walked up to the Common at Wooler and saw lots of birds in the larch and alder trees:

siskins, goldfinches, long tailed tits, wrens, and also a goldcrest quite close which I watched
for about 5 minutes. The crest was shining bright in the sunshine. Sue M 03/03/06

• On a quiet Sunday morning in Berwick 3 roe deer, including one young buck with budding

horns, appeared in the garden. They were browsing on shrubs, particularly the yew, which I
hope is not poisonous to them. Even more remarkable was the way they left the garden, in a
leisurely fashion but straight through our extremely large, dense hawthorn hedge. They must
have very thick coats at this time of year so the thorns perhaps do not reach their skin, but I
would never have believed it possible. Later inspection showed a trail of deer slots up to the
hedge, but very little sign of anything (far less a large animal) having pushed through. Fiona.
22/02/06

• Paxton Hall, hides by River Tweed. We had a lovely view of two otters fishing in the river and

managed to get quite close, sneaking up whilst the were diving. We also had a good view of
4 goosanders. John R 21/02/06

• Two Mistle thrushes in the beech tree today. My husband says they are also called Storm

Cock, 'cos they herald bad or stormy weather. 09/02/06 Elizabeth

• Had siskins on feeders in garden this morning. 3 males and one female. When you see them

next to great tits and chaffinches they look quite small. Very bright in the morning sun. Best
wishes, Sue 08/02/06

• On a grey day in February, running behind the snow drops a wood mouse is collecting nest

material. Large ivy leaves dwarfing the mouse are dragged into a hole at the bottom of the
wall. Within seconds out again, the mouse carefully cuts small sections of dead flower stem
and runs for the nest hole. After ten minutes the mouse rests, totally still as two starlings are
ground feeding nearby. After a wash and groom, it starts the frantic collecting again. Two
and a half hours later the nest material gathering stops and it is all quiet under the
sandstone wall. I think it heard the weather forecast for the next week! Also we had two
beautiful Mistle Thrushes in the beech tree today. Splendid. 05/02/06 Elizabeth

• A good day for spotting garden birds in a cold snap – Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree

Creeper and male bullfinch (female seen next day). 02/02/06 Fiona.

• A lovely view of the Avocet at Budle Bay, it was paddling about in a little pool just in front of

us for ages doing what Avocets do best, bathed in bright sunshine. Brilliant. John R,
31/01/06

• Singing blackbird Sue M 06/01/06

• Mistle Thrush Elizabeth 01.01.06

Berwick Wildlife Group Page 11 Nature Ramblings