Waders, warblers and wildfowl, Teesdale Mercury

Waders, warblers and wildfowl

Feb 20, 2008

GONE are the days when feathered friend fanciers were sneered at for adventuring out into the wilds, armed with only a woolly hat, a pair of binoculars and a flask of weak lemon drink for company, writes Kaye Jemmeson.

Thanks to a culmination of several pro-birding factors, including celebrity endorsement from the likes of TV presenter Dermot O'Leary, actor, Mackenzie Crook, and the inimitable Bill Oddie, we can happily embrace our inner enthusiast and stare skyward with pride.

Ten years ago, I would never have envisaged that, nestled on my bookshelf, would be a flock of books on birds, featuring all manner of waders, warblers and wildfowl.

I would never have imagined that I would be asking for books on birds, binoculars and waterproofs for my birthday. But I do. And while I am still happy with sparkly clothes and gold stilettos, I am just as content with a night vision telescope or the latest Collins field guide.

During the last 10 years I have become very much a wildlife enthusiast - freak, some may say. I've always loved animals and birds but my interest was really re-ignited when I met my boyfriend, Sam and his family. Through their love of the countryside, mine was reborn - it's infectious.

My first real forays into the great outdoors were visits to the Lake District where the family have a caravan in the most beautiful woodland location. It's a real haven for birdlife and while I love walking while I am up there, I can happily sit for hours reading and watching out of the window, as there is so much to see.

I soon went from being an admirer of all things wild, to an active lover and enthusiast. And, while I always knew the four-legged furry friends would catch my eyes and captivate my heart, I didn't realise those feathered, two legged creatures would do exactly the same.

The second thing that sparked my interest in birds, and other glories of nature, was the aforementioned Bill Oddie.

I know, I know - he comes in for a fair amount of criticism for his ‘eccentric' presenting style, but I don't believe anyone has done quite so much in giving wildlife such a universal appeal. His obvious passion and his natural ability to talk to people like me about the importance of wildlife and just how much it can enhance your life, is, I believe, unrivalled. Sometimes wildlife programmes can make you feel excluded but, for me, Bill Oddie's never do. 

Some of the most inspiring bird watching moments I have seen have been with Mr Oddie. From sitting on a bankside for hours, covered head to foot in straw, to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher, to standing under a sky at dusk, full of the thousands of roosting starlings - his enthusiasm is captivating.

But, of course, watching it on television is not quite as good as getting to see all these amazing things first hand.

While it's great to go on trips to places like the Farne Islands and improve your coastal bird knowledge, it's good to have a regular patch to monitor weekly.

Regular spotting means you can monitor what species of birds you have visiting your patch. The more you watch, the more you will see the habits of different birds, what they eat, what times you see them and where they go to to nest.

You don't have to travel far in the dale to see some amazing birds and often, you don't even have to step foot out of the house.

Only the other week, when I was staying at Staindrop with ‘the family', five of us had our faces pressed up against the window happily watching a great spotted woodpecker share nut space with a family of sparrows, when, out of the blue, a sparrow hawk swooped into the throng in hope of brunch.

The sparrow hawk missed out, but what a piece of action. The sparrows made a huge commotion, then went silent for the next 15 minutes, but the woodpecker just waited on the periphery of the garden and made the most of the sparrow-free feeders.

A little further from the house, but only a 10-minute walk away, I have been lucky enough to spot so many different species of birds I never thought I'd get to see in such detail. And while I love to sit and watch the behaviour of a robin in the garden, it's good to get out to see birds in a really wild environment.

Last year, while walking in Teesdale, I was lucky enough to see not one, but two barn owls out hunting. We were out walking the dogs when I spotted something sitting on a fence post in the distance.

Then we all watched in amazement, for a good 20 minutes, a pair of barn owls hunting for prey.

My squeamish side took over, but the privilege of being able to watch these ghostly hunters flying in and out of the trees (almost) outweighed the prospect of a cute woodmouse becoming supper.

One thing Teesdale lacks is a specified wetland area and let's face it - we do have enough wetland around in the dale. There are, of course, places that have been flooded due to downpours but there is no real designated site.

However, if one local businessman gets his way, there could be a wetland sanctuary perfect for the amateur or even the more professional spotter.

Paul Barkes, owner of Thorpe Farm, has already started his wetland wonderland by flooding eight acres of his land near Greta Bridge.

Already attracting a host of birds, including plovers, swans, lapwings and several species of duck, Paul hopes to turn the land into something bigger and better for the benefit of the both the wildlife and the community.

Paul has started the transformation of the fields that his family have owned since the 1930s, with help from a Defra scheme.

At present, although the wetland can be seen from Thorpe Farm's community woodland area, the views are restricted and not ideal for meaningful bird watching. Plans are afoot, however, to bring the public as close as possible to the lake by adding hides to provide, what else, a bird's eye view.

Paul says of the conservation venture: "We're taking the area back to its natural state. People are wanting more wildlife havens and having this area here would add to the attractions that Teesdale has.

"We only really have Raby Castle, which is wonderful, and Hamsterley Forest, which is really in Weardale, but we've lost important places like The Otter Trust, the Lido and Meet The Middleton's." 

Paul's long-term plan to get public access to the wetland area at Thorpe Farm is in the hands of the planners, but he hopes that they will see the importance of the area.

Plans for places like the wetland area at Thorpe Farm are really important in an area like Teesdale. Not only do they provide a sanctuary for birds, like the 1,000 plus lapwings which have already settled quite nicely, but they also help people learn about wildlife and appreciate their importance in our lives. And we're hugely passionate about wildlife and the countryside in this area of the country, so why not enhance what is already there?

Paul Barkes, owner of Thorpe Farm

In the decade I have been actively interested in wildlife, I have seen an increase in the number of bird species that can be viewed regularly.

The numbers of buzzards especially has risen during recent years and gone are the days when you used to have to watch patiently for them in more rural areas, like the Lake District, and even then sightings were few and far between. You can often see them near most wooded areas and even by motorways, just perched on a fence post.

One character which has made a much-awaited return to the skies of Teesdale is the red kite. Released in Gateshead, these beautiful birds, with a distinctive fork tail, found their way to the dale in 2006. 

A pair successfully bred in the area last year and a young male, Icarus, was born. The new family can be seen around the Langleydale area, near Eggleston, and the rarity of the birds makes even the briefest glimpse worth a wait.

Although I haven't been to either place, I'm told that both Hannah's Meadow, in Baldersdale, and Moor House, in Upper Teesdale, are great walks, with great views, and great bird life - so those will be on my destination list.

I'm certainly not a twitcher who would travel miles to document a sighting and don't profess to be an expert by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm not part of a club and don't do slide shows - not really my thing. What I get out of watching birdlife is pretty simple but really important.  

I recently bought a journal to make a note of the birds I see - something I would never have done years ago. And when I read it back it brings back memories of when I saw the golden eagle in Mull or the day-old kittiwakes on the Farnes. Even writing down what you see in the garden can be amazing, once you count up all the species I guarantee you'll be pretty amazed.

It's a bit like doing a project at school but having the beauty of enjoying it because there's no teacher breathing down your neck.

When I started getting into wildlife and bird watching I felt a bit alienated from the crowd I socialised with. They were all still going out every weekend and suffering with hangovers on a Sunday while I spent my weekends in the Lakes or out in the woods around Teesdale.

It did feel a bit weird at first, and I struggled with my new-found ‘nerdism,' but now a weekend isn't complete if I don't get out into the countryside and being able to distinguish a bird from its call, or being able to attract a woodpecker, is amazing.

I love my binoculars, my anorak and my field guide, I even travel with spares just in case.

And if being a birdwatcher means I'm a geek, then pass me my Thermos and my notepad, because I'm embracing it with pride.

First published in Dale Life, February 2008