Northumberland marsh tit? (1 Viewer)

[Moadib]

Will be travelling through Northumberland this weekend on the way back to Scotland, and wondering if there was anywhere recommended to stop off for some birding. Neither my wife nor I have seen marsh tit, so that was one species we wondered if it would be possible to see, and anywhere especially recommended to try and see them? We've seen willow tit in southern Scotland, but it seems marsh tit don't get up to our neck of the woods

Any suggestions very welcome!

 

[Nutcracker]

Borough Woods, just west of Morpeth. Head west out of Morpeth on the B6343 Mitford Road; park in the small car park just west of the rugby club on the corner where the road bends sharp left over the bridge (grid ref NZ 189 862). Then walk along the riverside footpath; they can be anywhere in the next km or so of riverside woodland.

Edit: add GE printscreen

 

[Moadib]

Wow, thanks very much Nutcracker, that looks a great help. Hopefully can stop by there on the way past on Saturday.

Any other recommendations still very welcome (we're happy to stop and birdwatch many times!) but huge thanks to Nutcracker.

 

[david kelly]

You used to be able to see Marsh Tit in south-eastern Scotland, in the eighties they were found as far north as East Lothian but they have retreated southwards. Their stronghold was The Hirsel near Coldstream and if they are still hanging on in Scotland it would be there.

 

[Moadib]

Thanks David. I've been a few times to the Hirsel, but have never seen a marsh tit. I'll pay close attention next time I visit. I saw willow tit down at Ken-Dee Marshes, so they seem to be hanging on in Scotland, and indeed bearded tit at Loch of Kinnordy, but never marsh tit.

It has always intrigued me how among very similar species, a coal tit can prevail where a willow tit cannot, and willow tit where marsh tit cannot. Small things must make the difference.

 

[Nutcracker]

Will be travelling through Northumberland this weekend on the way back to Scotland,

Any joy?

 

[Moadib]

Any joy?

We did enjoy a nice walk, and we found a nice coffee shop nearby too. We walked for about an hour through the trails, and saw a lot of great and blue tits, gsw, willow warbler etc, but unfortunately no marsh tit showed up!

We really appreciated the recommendation though, and will definitely try stopping there again if we are passing the area.

 

[Nutcracker]

Good luck! August probably isn't the best time of year, unfortunately.