The bird men of Gosforth

The Birdmen of Gosforth February 24th

Four gadgies are on holiday, two have family visitors and one is recovering from an operation and would like a short easy walk to aid his recovery and start his road back to fitness. To aid recovery four of us still free and at home are having a gentle wander round the reserve in Gosforth Park that is run by the Natural History Society of Northumbria. The reserve is open to members but visitors can enter for a £5 fee, reclaimed if you join. We are members. Membership cards are checked at the entrance which has a Welcome Hut and a classroom, and a toilet, available for hire and popular with groups of children.

Thge reserve is on the Killingworth Road, opposite the gigantic Greggs pasty factory. (A189)

 Top: Classroom. Bottom:Welcome hut. (and bike racks)

Immediately behind the Welcome Hut is the first bird hide.  Through the narrow windows we watched nuthatches and tree creepers running down and up trees. A variety of tits feasting on the variety of seeds in a variety of feeders, blackbirds digging under the leaves on the ground, a woodpecker and a charm of goldfinches tackling the teazels.

View from the first hide.

having watched for a while we followed the footpath on the edge of the reserve. In a field beside it there was a trio of deer, taking it easy.

              A distant view of deer. I only have a compact camera.

An earth closet, better than nipping into the bushes.

Further along the path we turned right, walked the boards to a second hide with an upstairs and a down stairs and a view over the lake.

Platform on the lake to encourage terns perhaps. Plenty of grey lags and Canadas on the water plus swans, coots, teal, mallards, little grebes and at least one heron. We searched the reeds in vain for a booming bittern. Not spotted but seen on a previous occasion.

Moving on again we came to a third hide that was being renovated. The men working on a new section of board walk said we could go in. Another two storied affair with a different view of the lake.

Continuing on our journey we walked to the north side of the lake, next to the Newcastle Race Course and spent some time looking at the water through the windows of a shelter, not a hide. The warden on the gate had told us of another hide close to this but it was obviously well hidden, we failed to find the path that led to it and walked back to the reserve entrance.

                bench for visitors to rest or enjoy their lunch

                                   Bug hotel by the benches.

Nobody was recording distance but probably less than three miles in total.

After the walk we went to  the Job Bulman, a Wetherspoons just off Gosforth High Street. It used to be a post office. Abbott of course and coffee for the driver.

                      Back to walking next week!