Northumberland is, according to the Daily Telegraph, 'a birdwatcher's paradise'. With such varied landscapes ranging from coastal areas and moorland to woodlands and sprawling mudflats, the county truly does have every habitat a birdwatcher could wish for.
Renowned the world over for its rare breeds and colonies of breeding birds, the Northumberland coast plays host to a number of nature reserves and locations of scientific interest.
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The summer breeding season sees the area come to life with the frantic commotion of a whole host of birds including terns, puffins and guillemots.
The autumn season sees the coast become centre stage to songbirds such as warblers, and wading birds including the ringed plover. Winter sees the arrival of waterfowl and waders of great international significance, and the gathering of the long-tailed duck on Bamburgh beach does not disappoint.
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Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands become important coastal nesting sites and provide spectacular observations for the bird watcher throughout the year, such as the knot, grey plover and bar-tailed godwit.
Kielder Water and Forest Park provides a secluded and tranquil setting for birds to thrive within the forest. Notable birds to be found here are siskins, treecreepers and nuthatches.
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The Kielder Birds of Prey Centre at Leaplish Waterside Park brings these rarely sighted magnificent birds together in a collection which is the north of England’s finest.
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Inland bird watching is at its best in the dramatic landscapes of the North Pennines where rare breeds flourish amongst the diverse and rich habitation. The curlew, with its distinctive song is at home here and one of the world’s most endangered birds.
The grasslands provide habitat for the largest flocks of snipe and lapwing whilst the heather moorlands help sustain the region’s birds of prey which include the peregrine falcon and merlin.
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With landscapes to support such a variety and cross section of rare and fascinating birds, Northumberland’s status as a birdwatcher's paradise is well earned.
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