For those who love nothing more than to sit quietly and watch birds Northumbria offers some magical places to sit and twitch!
On the Northumbrian coastline you are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to pull in with views over the sea with one such place near Bamburgh called Budle Bay. Here you can pull up close to the bay with your coffee and binoculars and sit watching the sea birds over the mudflats. Budle Bay is an AONB which is home to a wide variety of sea birds including Oyster catchers, Gulls, Curlews and Sandpipers.The broad expanse of wetland stretches as far as the eye can see and offers views towards Lindisfarne and Holy Island. The bay forms part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and is also listed as being a place of national importance for its coastal geomorphology.
Heading South done the A! from Alnwick you will find the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre which is set between Amble and Druridge Bay Country Park. This is describes as one of the best wildlife watching spots on the North East Coastline and offers wonderful views across the length of Druridge Bay. There is no entry fee but donations towards keeping the site and its facilities open and are welcomed. Unlike Budle Bay, the Wildlife Discovery centre offers the visitor bird hides , picnic area and baby changing facilities as well as a shop and cafe. The centre is also wheelchair friendly and the site accessible for those with limited mobility. Staff are available to offer helpful hints and tips on navigating the nature reserve and get the most from your visit. There is an accessible !km route to 2 hides and good solid paths leading to all hides round the reserve.With any luck each visitor should be able to experience the birds and animals that call this place home or are just passing through on their way to pastures new.
Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics and enjoy the surroundings patiently. More information can be found at
www.nwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/hauxley
For Twitchers looking for inland birds then head towards to county side and Cheviot hills or Coquet Valley for glimpses of birds pf prey such as kestrels, buzzards, ospreys and owls. With such an abundance of open county side within the Northumbrian National Parks there are many wonderful places to sit and watch birds out hunting for food.
Waders such as Herons can also be seen along the River Aln and The River Coquet so you are spoilt for choice when heading out.
All you need now is a little luck and masses of patience!
