Take Time To Marvel At Majestic Wildlife

Connecting with nature and its wondrous wildlife and birdlife is therapeutic for our health, bringing a wealth of rewards and an enormous wellbeing boost.

With almost 630 species of birdlife in the UK alone, the opportunities and magnificent backdrops to enjoy this leisurely pursuit are plentiful – whether it be the golden eagles in Scotland or ravens on the cliffs at Land’s End.

Our Time for Life Correspondent, Sharon Cain, and photographer, Steve Hare, have been exploring in Northumberland – an acclaimed bird watchers utopia.

Coastal and Countryside Habitats

I did a double take as a doe waded nimbly through the glistening water – her long, lithe legs and graceful demeanour making her journey to the opposite bank appear effortless.

The unexpected experience prompted a sense of excitement at the range of wildlife in Northumberland - England’s most northern and mystical county where great swathes of moorland and peat bog are magnets for birdlife.

Bird watchers, often referred to as ‘birders,’ are as abundant here as the four hundred plus species they spend their waking hours patiently hoping to spot.

They make their homes in diverse areas spanning the Cheviots, Kielder Water, where birds of prey including ospreys hang out in the spring, and along the 64 kilometre coastline - a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Haven of Tranquillity

One of the best spots for birdlife watching is the Low Hauxley Nature Reserve which is located next to Druridge Bay’s golden beaches and close to Amble’s picturesque harbour.

Open all year round, this oasis has been lovingly nurtured by its custodians, the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, who transformed it from an open mine cast into a wildlife haven in 1983.

The eco-friendly discovery centre, a building made of bale straw, is highly praised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for its use of local materials and for: “The way its restored and recreated habitats interconnect the landscape so visitors can have one of the best wildlife viewing experiences.”

The RIBA has awarded the reserve a hat trick of accolades including a North East Sustainability Award.

Free of charge (just a £2 parking fee) to visit, we received a warm welcome from the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Wildlife Trust Team. We were also greeted by the shrill, persistent call of one of my favourite birds, a cheeky oyster catcher.

A wildlife sightings board in reception is a great scene setter to ensconce visitors in the experience and share their own discoveries.

Abundance of Birdlife

A sense of calm pervades this sanctuary where a series of hides, including one overlooking the coastline, can be visited on a circular walk. The only sounds were the reeds rustling in the gentle autumn wind and the birdsong.

The 140 diverse bird species spotted annually at Hauxley include tree sparrows, Canadian geese, reed bunting, bull finches, coots, moorhens and curlews.

We were fortunate to also see a heron, egrets, Eurasian (common) chaffinch, European goldfinch, blue tits and great tits eagerly devouring from a feeder.

Hauxley’s residents also span a herd of deer, primarily does, red squirrels and stoats. Otters also put in an appearance during the winter.

Fabulous Flora and Fauna

Flowers are in abundance, especially in the summer months when viper’s bugloss, cranesbills and northern marsh orchids come into their own.

Geranium sanguineums, the vibrant county flowers of Northumberland, are also plentiful.

The flora and fauna attracts a large variety of butterflies such as the common blue and wall brown, not to mention dragonflies and damselflies, including the common hawker and the common darter.

Award Winning Views

The award-winning Lookout Café, renowned for its magnificent views over the reserve, is among Northumberland’s best pit stops.

A tasty menu includes the most divine home-made scones which are served piping hot first thing in the morning. All this can be enjoyed while relishing the views and browsing through informative print outs on categories of birds spanning farmland, shore and dune, reeds and pools - and sea birds.

Migration Season

The county’s reputation as a bird watching paradise continues throughout the autumn where visitors from bitterly cold climates such as Iceland, Greenland and Siberia include pint footed geese, teals and wigeons, known as ‘whistling ducks.’

Early autumn wading birds from the Arctic to Africa. can be seen in areas like Lindisfarne, Newton-by-the-Sea, and the Coquet estuary.

Other species, such as the gaggle of Canadian geese we saw sunbathing on the banks of the reserve, are staying put.

As lovers of the great outdoors, we never imagined bird watching could be so stimulating and relaxing.

When connecting so closely with nature while exploring the diversity of Northumberland’s wonderland, it is easy to understand how such a healthy and pleasurable activity could become a positive addiction.

For more information on the Low Hauxley Nature Reserve and Wildlife Discovery Centre, visit https://www.nwt.org.uk/

The reserve has six hides for wildlife spotting

The reserve hosts regular walking and wellbeing events including a Mysterious Migration Walk on Saturday, September 14 and a Mindfulness Day Retreat on Sunday, September 15. For more information, see Events | Northumberland Wildlife Trust (nwt.org.uk)