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Weetslade Country Park

Northumberland  >  United Kingdom

A country park created over an old coal mine and spoil heap, with a reasonable selection of farmland and scrubland birds.

Added* by Nutcracker
Most recent update 20 листопада 2024

Description

At Weetslade Country Park the old mine spoil heap, now landscaped and grassed over, offers a good lookout point for visible migration. The area is nesting habitat for Жайворонок польовий and Щеврик лучний, and feeding habitat for migrating Кам’янка звичайна on the north and west sides, and Кропив’янка сіра, Вівчарик весняний, Вівсянка звичайна and other scrubland birds on the Gorse- and Hawthorn-covered south and east sides. Elsewhere, the small bird feeding station attracts many birds including Гаїчка-пухляк. Two pools and their surrounding wetland hold Очеретянка лучна and Очеретянка ставкова, and often one or two Мала біла чапля, a recent colonist this far north. In winter, Дрізд білобровий and Чикотень are common on the fields at the west end of the site. Raptors include regular Канюк звичайний, Яструб малий, and Боривітер звичайний, and occasional passage Шуліка рудий and others.

Details

Access

National Cycle Route 10 (Reivers Way) crosses Weetslade Country Park, and is the best way to cover it. Bus services 43 and 45 from Newcastle upon Tyne are 5 minutes walk from the west end of the site, and there is a car park at the east end (plus limited on-street parking at the west end).

Note that most of the paths become very wet throughout the winter, and after heavy rain at any time of year, as the ground is heavily compacted and with poor drainage.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Agriculture , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Plateau , Reedbeds , City/village

Conditions

Flat , Hilly , Wet , No shadow , Open landscape , High water possible , Slippery

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Winter , Spring migration , Autumn migration , Spring

Route

Wide path , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Wheelchair

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

Please approach the feeding station slowly, to avoid spooking birds using it! The seats for the feeding station are usually wet, so a sit-mat is useful.

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