I shared Budle bay as my local patch with another keen birder - Chris Knox. This is an article of his that was originally published in "Birds in Northumbria", the 2002 annual report on the birds of Northumberland issued by the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club.

BUDLE BAY

By Chris Knox

Through the base of a family caravan overlooking the area, I have watched birds at Budle Bay on a regular basis since 1982. During my school years this became almost obsessional, most weekends between March and late October, and weeks at Easter, Whit, six weeks in the summer and, October half term, I would escape Tyneside and head up to northeast Northumberland with the intent of watching birds in this beautiful area. Apart from the odd rarity elsewhere in the county, during the 1980s I served my ‘birding apprenticeship’ in the Budle-Bamburgh-Hoppen Kiln area, indeed as I scanned my notebooks it became apparent I rarely birdwatched anywhere else! Visits are a little more selective these days, with age has come increased responsibilities, but at least two weekends per month and several weeks per year, I manage to get my priorities right and visit the area, and can’t wait till the next visit!

Budle Bay represents the southern section of the 8650 acre Lindisfarne NNR, currently managed by English Nature as a Ramsar site and famous in the county’s ornithological history for its many and varied bird life. The Bay is an estuarine habitat, approximately one and a half miles long, by one mile wide, the receding tide revealing extensive mud and sand flats, these being fed by two small burns - in the south west corner the Waren Burn, and in the north west corner, Ross Low. Protected as a no shooting sanctuary, the Bay is a safe haven for wintering wildfowl, the digging of bait is prohibited which eases disturbance to feeding waders at low tide and attempts have been made to restrict the use of water sports, once confined to the summer months, but now increasingly, a year round phenomenon.

Research of the county’s ornithological literature puts the Bay’s species list at about 225, and of the 204 personally observed, a great majority have been ‘self found’ making it a good area to explore and find your own birds.

The turn of the year begins with large numbers of Wigeon Anus penelope, (1000+) scattered across the western section of the Bay, often confiding, they allow the opportunity to scan for American Wigeon Anas americana. The last being a brief bird in November 1998 and before that March 1968, surely more must occur, how many females go amiss each year is anybody’s guess! With the Wigeon come good numbers of Shelduck Tadorna tadorna (300+), Teal Anas crecca (500+) and several hundred Mallard Anas platyrhnchos. Pintail Anas acuta for some reason is much scarcer in the Bay, and in the last decade there has been a tendency for small numbers of Gadwall Anas strepera and Shoveler Anas clypeata to winter.

Common Shelduck, July 2006

Geese (sp.) Anser and Branta are less visible during the winter, often leaving and returning to the Bay under darkness, however all regular species can occur, including the county’s only modern record of Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus, 2 adults spending January/February 1978, in the area. One of my favorite activities during the winter months is to bed down in the dunes at Budle Point NU 166362 and scan the flotilla of seaduck at high tide. With a ‘quiet sea’ first-rate views can be obtained of all three ‘regular’ Divers (sp.) Gaviidae, Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus, and Red necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena among loose rafts of Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis (50+) and Common Scoter Melanitta nigra (200+). During the winter months when the Bay is full of birds it is always keeping lookout for attendant raptors, one-two Peregrine Falco peregrinus, and Merlin Falco columbarius are regular, and reflecting its proliferation within the county the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, is now seen all year round. Conversely Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus is now uncommon, the occasional bird seen during hard weather.

The exhilarating walk to Budle point gives the opportunity to search for Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis, a handful of which prefers to feed in this area. My patience is running thin on locating my first Shore Lark Eremophilia alpestris for Budle Bay, and Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus is best located during the autumn. Winter finch flocks occur on the set a side at Budle Farm and most encouraging of late has been the wintering of up to 100 Tree Sparrows Passer montanus, a couple of pairs which stay to breed in the area. Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra, of which I used to regularly locate here up until the mid 1980s, sadly no longer occurs at all.

March remains a month of ‘winter’ birds, this month is an excellent time to see Red-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe performing their courtship displays off Budle Point, late in the month as passage progresses up to ten of each can occur and often approaching summer plumage they make impressive viewing. By the last week of March, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis, Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe and Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita have usually been recorded. The last few days of the month and the first half of April see some notable coasting, dominated by Skylark Alauda arvensis, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba and Siskin Carduelis spinus (peaked at 115 per hour), and this has proved the peak period for passage Hooded Crow Corvus cornix. By the third week of April, when the bulk of summer migrants have started to arrive, diurnal movements are now dominated by hirundines, and late in the month there is a small passage of Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, otherwise a scarce bird at Budle.

During early May, which usually sees up to three Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca in the surrounding Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and the fledging of the local Stonechats Saxicola torquata, attention once more turns to waders when species such as Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Whimbrel Numenius phaepus, Greenshank Tringa nebularia and Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola can be searched for amongst the increasing numbers out on the flats. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta has occurred on several occasions, with a group of three in 1985. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, most in splendid summer plumage, peak mid month, with regular counts in excess of 200 birds. They are joined on there way north by 250+ tundrae race Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica seem to pass through earlier and few are left by mid month. May can be a good month for Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, although most records have come from August the count of three on 12th-13th May 1984 remains a record. Osprey Pandion haliaetus has also been noted moving north past Budle Point at this time. Scarcities in May have included, a couple of Bluethroats Luscinia svecica svecica, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur (a former breeding bird), and on 8th May 1986 a party of three White Stork Ciconia ciconia, which having arrived the previous day were last noted soaring high to the south east.

June can be a month of surprising variety at Budle Bay, with the ‘dregs’ of the northern Waders early in the month, and the first returning adult Greenshank, and Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, during the last few days. Canada Geese Branta canadensis move through on their way to moulting grounds, and there is always a chance of out of season wildfowl. Budle Bay is not noted for its breeding birds, of the waders, a pair or two of Ringed Plover attempt to nest on both the south and north shores, the latter due to there isolation seem to have better success. The Fox Vulpes vulpes seen out on the mudflats chasing Eider Somateria mollissima crèches one June morning, and the Stoat Mustela erminea, chasing waders out on the beach, must have some bearing on the plover’s success. June evenings are a good time to monitor the local Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia population with 2-3 most years. Checking the local woodland, reveals most of the common birds, Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, has now all but disappeared, yet there is the chance of picking up a wandering Green Woodpecker Picus viridus, or Willow Tit Parus montanus from nearby breeding grounds at Spindlestone.

Black-headed Gull, Northumberland Julyt 2006.	Common Greenshank, Northumberland August 2004. Photo: C.Knox

July sees the rapid build up of all the regular waders, the first ten days or so bringing the first flush of adult Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling Calidris alba and Knot Calidris canutus. The latter species seems to disappear after late August, arriving again en masse in mid winter following their moult on the Waddenzee. Whimbrels are omnipresent in small numbers from the first week, although the flock of 120 high over the bay on 31st July 1986 remains unbeaten. The last week sees the first moulting adult Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus and there are usually several summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea before the onset of juveniles from mid August. The Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes in July 1981 occurred before my regular visits to the Bay. A build up of Terns (sp.) Sterninae at the sand spit at Budle Point late in the month, usually contains all the British breeding species. The sight and sound of up to 2,000 Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea hawking around the Bay at dusk, with the reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler in the background, is certainly a memory worth banking for long winter evenings. July has also proved a good month for connecting with irruptive species, in 1985 some 30+ Siskins per day were moving over the point, with similar numbers of Crossbill Loxia curvirostra in 1997, and in an influx year several Quail Coturnix coturnix, are usually audible in the area.

Wader variety is best during August, and it is this month more than any other that I make the regular trek to the north shore wader roost, where it is possible to connect with 15+ species in a day; 20 species on 16th August 1997 remains my personal best. On clear fine evenings with a full moon, small groups of waders can be heard after dark, heading in a mainly SW direction. Redshank Tringa totanus, Dunlin Calidris alpina and Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus are regular, but I have heard Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Wood Sandpiper at this time of the year. All four ‘regular’ skuas have occurred in this month, and during an influx year such as 1985 up to 30 Arctic Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus, were to be seen roaming the Bay in loose groups creating havoc among the tern roost. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia is increasingly regular in late summer/early autumn, with a juvenile staying over a week in 1998; and in 2001 an adult and juvenile Little Egret Egretta garzetta occurred. The best place to look for both these species is in the northwestern corner feeding on Ross Low, which can be scoped quite well from the south shore at Kiln Point - NU 124144. Despite much searching, the month has proved rather disappointing for passerine migrants, the second half of the month seeing the occasional Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca and Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros, however, in 1986 a Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria spent three days in the area.

September’s bird life is varied, but by the third week the first of the winter’s Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus have arrived, (earliest being the 14th) wader passage reduces and winter wildfowl are back in situ. The first half of the month usually sees peak numbers of Curlew Sandpiper, and good numbers can occur, as in 1999 when a county record of 65 was established, however, given the sheer size of the Bay, this count was probably only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of numbers present. Little Stint Calidris minuta occurs here in smaller numbers with a peak count of nine in 1995. The E winds that bring good numbers of the above also produce Black Tern Chilidonias niger and Little Gull Larus minutus, with up to a handful occurring in most years. Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla numbers can reach several thousand in late August-early September prompting hope of my first Bay Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini amongst them. Terns are increasingly replaced by large numbers of Gulls (sp.) Laridae, as September progresses. The Common Gull Larus canus roost can reach 10,000+, and watching gulls ‘following the plough’ at this time has produced three personal records of Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, and recent years has seen one to two Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans among the Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus graellsii. Seawatching is better carried out at sites other than Budle Bay; however, during September 2002 unprecedented numbers of seabirds were observed off Budle Point, taking advantage of exceptional feeding. The many 100s of Auks (sp.) Alcidae, Gannets Morus bassanus and gulls included up to 170 Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus and my first Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus for the area. Passerines should not be neglected, as this is the peak month for Lapland Bunting, with one to three favouring the Golf Course anytime from mid month. The large fall of migrants during early September 1995 which saw 40 each of Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Whinchat Saxicola rubetra in the area, surely saw some goodies overlooked, and during 2002, a Red backed Shrike Lanius collurio was present for three days.

October sees the peak number and greatest variety of Geese in the Bay, Pink-footed Goose, have undergone a change of status since the mid 1990s and now reaching up to 4,000+, they have replaced the Greylag Goose Anser anser as the commonest autumn goose. With the Pink-foot come up to 500 Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis moving through to their wintering grounds on the Solway, and most years it is possible to pick out several White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons among the hordes. Late September/early October has also seen records of both Snow Goose Anser caerulescens and Ross’s Goose Anser rossii the latter the first county record. Mid month usually sees the first big Thrush (sp.) Turdidae arrivals, and on a good day many thousands arrive. The 23rd October 1985 saw Redwings Turdus iliacus arriving at a record 1,200+ per hour, many pausing briefly on the golf course before heading off inland and on such days it is not unusual to flush a handful of Woodcock Scolopax rusticola from the dunes. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus is best observed in October, several is usual, although in late October 1990, six were counted in the area; the odd bird stays the winter to hunt the golf course and dune area. Long-eared Owl Asio otus remains scarce with only a handful of personal records. Passerine rarities remain surprisingly few in October, this is probably down to sparse coverage more than anything else and further exploration of the limited cover at Budle Point would no doubt add to the two records of Yellow browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus.

By November, variety gives way once more to numbers, Knot can number 800+ by late month and good numbers of Shelduck become visible on the mud flats. This is often the best month to observe Great Northern Diver Gavia immer offshore, with up to three most years, and in the aftermath of N winds, Little Auks Alle alle, can often be observed feeding in the relatively sheltered sea off Budle Point. Passerine immigration can impress and on 5th November 1983 this included counts of Skylark and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs at 500 per hour, along with many Brambling Fringilla montifringilla and Siskin. On 4th November 1984, whilst sheltering from a howling NE gale, I had four Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea and 10 Goldcrest Regulus regulus feeding within four feet of me, a touching experience… almost!

Ending the Budle birding year, December sees most birds settled in their winter niche thus allowing an assessment of wintering numbers, however, there is always the possibility of the unexpected. In 2001 the county’s latest ever Sandwich Tern was found sitting on the Point with Common Gulls, and the county’s first Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti nearby in 1997 proves what further exploration may yield. Warmer winters of late have increased wader variety on the Bay, as species more associated with southern estuaries have tolerated an east coast winter. Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Ruff Philomachus pugnax and Avocet have all occurred during recent years and with global warming hopefully this will become commonplace.

I hope this account has encouraged further exploration of Budle Bay and its birdlife. In my personal opinion, Budle is still relatively under watched with most birders, for ease of access, preferring to observe from the white railings at Waren Mill, yet this is only one part of a large and rewarding area. For the record, my own target birds include an ‘American peep’ (long overdue) I feel that they must occur and are going amiss; Red-breasted Goose Branta rufficolis, which has occurred on the Solway with Barnacle Geese that would have probably passed through the Bay; and my dream Budle bird, Caspian Tern Sterna caspia standing proud in the roost one late-summer evening.

18551 visits to this side since September 17, 2005.
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