Thinking of Gateshead doesn’t immediately invoke images of awe inspiring
natural places or breath-taking wildlife encounters. The area’s raw and often
tarnishing industrial heritage was cemented in the mind with the installation
of the now (in)famous Angel of the North, encapsulating what many folk
envisage when Gateshead is mentioned. However, seek and you shall find vast
areas of rolling countryside (over half of Gateshead's countryside!), teeming
with wildlife just waiting to be discovered. One such wildlife haven is Burdon
Moor, my local patch.
Roughly 4km directly west of the Angel of the North, Burdon Moor is one
of the highest points in the area, showcasing panoramic views of both the
Gateshead and Co. Durham countryside. Originally lowland heathland, this rare
habitat was lost to agricultural “improvements” and opencast mining around 100
years ago. In an attempt to restore this location to its once glorious past,
Gateshead Council instigated the ‘Bringing Back Burdon Moor Project’ to regenerate
heather where it once grew. While the restoration of the site is proving to be
a slow process, this doesn’t seem to be negatively affecting the many wild
creature which call this site home and have readily adapted to a site
still exhibiting signs of its industrial legacy.
Discovering this site purely by accident, I was immediately captivated
by its 'diamond in the rough' qualities. Here, in the heart of an
agricultural landscape - and while a little marred by past industrial workings
- was a wildlife Mecca and a jewel in the crown of Gateshead for bird
lovers. So enamoured with Burdon Moor, I paid a second visit that day,
this time on an evening, to investigate potential nocturnal activity.
While I would have been happy to just watch passerines singing their evening
melodies before heading off to roost, I also encountered Brown Hares and Roe
Deer contently grazing the site. However, what captivated my attention
that night and cemented a great fondness for the site was the ‘squeaky-gate’ emanating
from a tree a few paces ahead of me. I lifted my trusty binoculars and
there, illuminating through the dusk, was the glowing orange eyes of 4 young
Long-eared Owls. I could not believe it - my first real visit to the site
and I encounter such enigmatic creatures. Magic!
From birds to dragonflies to lizards, Burdon Moor is a tantalising
experience for any keen naturalist and offers truly wonderful wildlife
encounters with often very little effort. If you’re lucky, the
distinctive ‘wet-my-lips’ call of a Quail can be heard during summer and
influxes of Short-eared Owls dazzle and perform over the cold and barren winter
months.
It was a natural evolution that I would choose this
site for my Patchwork Challenge location, and while uni and work commitments
restricted my time there over the summer period, I was pleasantly surprised
with my species list so far. Being a high point in the area, Burdon Moor
is often used as a stopping point for birds, so species such as Wheatear,
Whinchat, and Stonechat can be easily picked up before they move on to their
breeding grounds. You have to be a bit luckier to catch Cuckoo or Ring Ouzel
but put the time in and you’ll be rewarded! The site offers an array of
common species and I’m ever hopeful that one day it’ll treat the local birders
to a Shrike. There’s also a scrawny, dead tree on site that is begging
for a Red-footed Falcon to be perched atop its gnarly branches. One can
dream! For now I’ll look forward to the splendid spectacle of Golden Plover
that will begin to amass over the winter. My PWC site
also takes in a small section of the woodland and burn surrounding the Causey
Arch. This allows me to mop up a few
other common birds like Dipper and Tawny Owl.
I’ve got four species of owl on my PWC list, however, I’m still sadly
lacking Barn Owl for the area.
With the summer survey season winding down at work,
I fully intend to hit the patch with enthusiasm and spend many a relaxing day
enjoying the site for all that it offers. I’m not sure I’ll improve on my
current total of 92 species with 102 points scored, but the time spent outdoors
with be worth it nonetheless, and you never know what bird will drop in next!
- Sacha Elliot (Burdon Moor & Causey Arch)
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