Birdwatching sites in Northumberland

From the rugged crags of the cheviots to the spectacular Farne Islands. Here we feature some of Northumberland's best birdwatching sites with what to see, map, sounds and video to aid your visit. We highly recommend the excellent Best Birdwatching Sites in North-East England by Brian Unwin

Bird books for Northumberland

Twitter Sightings

Site of Special Scientific Interest, has many miles of waymarked walks through ornamental and ancient woods. Pied flycatcher, redstart, grey wagtail...

The beautiful coastal village of Alnmouth lies on a equally beautiful estuary. Recent work by English nature has allowed the river to flood more areas, improving the habitat for both breeding and migrant birds....

Bakethin is a nature reserve at the head of Kielder water. Crossbill, siskin, red squirrel  Several raptors including goshawk and osprey in the breeding season can be seen....

An excellent reserve lying east of Newcastle Airport, Big waters boasts an impressive list of both breeding and migrant birds....

Bolam Lake Country Park is situated in the heart of the beautiful Northumberland countryside surrounded by historic landscapes and dramatic views......

Bothal pond is an area of fresh water caused by mining subsidence lying close to the A197 Ashington to Morpeth road. Rarities include great white egret.....

The tiny coastal village of Boulmer has a beautiful sheltered bay, which at low tide reveals a fine area of mud and rock pools. Excellent for waders which also assemble in the field (when flooded) behind the Fishing boat Inn...

Branton Lakes is situated in the Breamish Valley and was a former sand and gravel quarry operated by Cemex, the site consists of two lakes, reedbeds, shingle scrapes and artificial nesting platforms......

For ease of viewing, they don't come any better than Budle bay - a car park runs right along side. Then take a walk along Ross Links in winter, Sea duck, divers and Merlin.

Sir Edward's lake is over 30 acres and a fascinating location for wintering wildfowl although it does have interesting breeding species......

A Mile (1.6km) from the village of Hepple and 4 miles (6.4km) west of Rothbury is Caistron, a series of lakes lying next to the River Coquet, formed by the extraction of gravel, formerly taken from the river itself.

A beautiful Victorian reservoir situated next to the A68. Otter, red squirrel and roe deer are some of the mammals, but lucky visitors may encounter osprey and other birds of prey, there are even records for golden eagle....

The country's biggest breeding colony of the rare roseate tern is Coquet island's speciality. Landing on the island is prohibited but a boat trip from nearby Amble in the Spring or early summer is not to be missed.

A small brackish coastal pond that has produced some of Northumberland's rarest birds. Click here to find out more.

Excellent mixed woodland with breeding pied flycatcher and redstart in summer, and the chance of catching a glimpse of rarer Northumberland birds.....

A beautiful Victorian reservoir situated next to the A68. Otter, red squirrel and roe deer are some of the mammals, but lucky visitors may encounter osprey and other birds of prey, there are even records for golden eagle....

With its spectacular castle, Dunstanburgh has a wonderful if compact sea bird colony including kittiwake, puffin, razorbill and guillemot. Nearby Craster has produced some of the county's rarest birds.

Described as one of the most exciting places in Britain to watch, walk amongst and experience seabirds in their natural habitat, the Farne islands off the Northumberland coast are probably without equal.

Operated by Northumbrian Water, Fontburn supplies the towns and industries around Morpeth and Bedlington. There is a waymarked path along its southern shore where it meets a small reserve. Pied Flycatcher, redstart and other woodland birds in spring.

Harbottle crags and the 'Drake stone' lie above the upper Coquetdale village of Harbottle. Climbing through a stand of conifers (crossbill and redstart)...

A spectacular waterfall lies at the head of this beautiful upland valley. Dipper, grey wagtail and bird song add to an excellent birdwatching walk....

2Km south-west of the town of Wooler, Harthope and happy valley can be superb for birds of prey, with buzzard, peregrine and red kite all possible.....

Although a working forest and thick stands of conifers, Harwood can offer excellent birdwatching in the right areas, at the right time of the year....

In 1983 the Northumberland wildlife Trust took over the management and development of Hauxley. Paths and hides were constructed, reedbeds developed.....

A wonderful birdwatching walk which takes in some spectacular landscapes and vistas including parts of the St Cuthbert's way....

Holy island or Lindisfarne is a superb year round birding location but comes into its own in winter when its mudflats and coastal waters attract huge numbers of wildfowl, waders and sea duck.

Site of Britain's first Yellow-browed warbler (shot by Hancock), both the dene and nearby Holywell ponds has produced many a rarity over the years...

Fabulous scenery and birds of prey including Red Kite - now breeding in Northumberland. Northern kites have regular guided walks.....

Probably the best site in Northumberland for raptors. Breeding goshawk, Osprey, common buzzard, peregrine as well as crossbill and other superb birds....

A restored opencast site, the reserve consists of two ponds, the larger one of which is a subsidence pond fringed by emergent vegetation such as reedmace...

Beautiful deciduous woodland straddling the Letah burn. Nest boxes are provided for pied flycatcher. Red squirrel are also here

Spectacular mainland arctic and little tern colony. Managed by the National trust. The nanny burn enters the north sea a mile south of Beadnell...

Low Newton

Lying behind the dunes, this freshwater pool is owned and managed by The National Trust and is perfectly placed to receive migrant waders and wildfowl...

Probably one of the best sea-watching locations on the Northumberland coast and a genuine rarity hotspot...

Mixed woodland with information centre, café and picnic areas. Common woodland birds. The banks of the River Blyth are also an important habitat for wildlife, such as kingfisher, dipper and otters.

A low-lying area of farmland with extensive areas of wet and semi-wet grassland, ditches, woodland and hedges with regular great short-eared owl and grey shrike....

Roman wall loughs

Broomlee, Grindon, Greenlee and Crag Lough are almost the only examples in Northumberland that have been formed by the action of glaciers scouring holes out from the underlying land surface. Wintering wildfowl and the stunning Hadrian's wall makes this a superb birding location...

A series of walks with stunning views of Northumberland. Breeding golden plover, ring ouzel and raptors add to the special mix of this site.....

Probably the most reliable location to see and hear nightjar in Northumberland between June and July......

One of the best places in Northumberland for regular winter sea duck, grebes, divers and Purple sandpiper.

Scotch Gill & Borough Woods

Lying close to Morpeth, Scotch Gill and Borough woods are two of the largest remaining areas of natural or semi-natural woodland in Northumberland.....

Forestry commission coniferous woodland with usual species associated with this type of habitat. However buzzard can usually be seen and the upland crags can offer one or two surprises.....

Splendid National trust property and grounds. Woodpeckers, dipper and good numbers of red squirrel make this an excellent day out.....

A rich and varied habitat including riverside woodland, dunes with good seawatching and Warkworth old harbour with its reedbed, saltmarsh and brackish lagoons.....

Whittle Dene reservoirs

Excellent site for winter wildfowl including 'sawbills' such as Smew, diving ducks and grebes. Breeding great-crested grebe and yellow wagtail .Easy parking using the car as a convenient hide....

Whitelee Moor is one of Britain's most important upland nature reserves. It's a site of European conservation importance due to its active blanket bog and heather heaths. Merlin, red grouse..

Owned by the Church Commissioners for England, Boldon Flats are managed as a nature reserve by South Tyneside council

A unique and wonderful small wetland habitat created by Gateshead council. Situated about half a mile along the A694 towards Rowlands Gill from the Thornley Woodlands Centre. The willows around this reserve are worth exploring ...

Gibside is an estate in the Derwent Valley, between Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear and Burnopfield, previously owned by the Bowes-Lyon family. It is now a National Trust property a great place to see red kite...

Marsden Old Quarry LNR is a disused magnesian limestone quarry with extensive semi-natural grassland and scrub.....

Durham wildlife trust reserve with easy access. Deep ponds attract wildfowl and the surrounding scrub and grassland attracts owls....

In the nineteenth century this site had been a series of wetland pastures, but this changed when twentieth century mining......

One of a number of excellent seawatching sites, with a newly created wetland for passage waders. Always something of interest.....

Excellent woodland situated in the Derwent Valley Tyne & wear with Interpretative centre, café and toilets. The feeding station hide is a great place to practice bird photography..

Although Priors park is private, this small area of woodland and scrub can be easily viewed and has produced many rare birds. There is also plenty of seabird interest....

The Hall grounds are a former pleasure park now open to the public. There are woodland walks and wildflower slopes, but the natural watercourse remains one of the best places to see kingfisher.

5 mile coastal area between South Shields and Sunderland. Small wooded areas, parks and scrub attract many migrants and there are also excellent regular seabird movements....

Descriptions and b/w photographs of the 50 commonest birds of Northumberland and the Borders. A visitors guide.
Paperback; Colour & b/w photos 50pp Published 1997

Details over 10 years of the birds in the Blyth area of north east England. Includes important papers on Purple Sandpiper studies (radio tagging etc), waders, gulls and land birds. Colour and b/w photographs. 161pp. 2000

Publisher : Frank Graham; Second Edition (1 May 1973)

• Language : English
• Paperback : 32 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0902833790
• ISBN-13 : 978-0902833791

Publisher : Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club (1 Sept. 1993)

• Language : English
• Paperback : 104 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0952203901
• ISBN-13 : 978-0952203902