29th January: Birdwatching Event this Sunday

It's time for the last drop-in birdwatch at Fenham-Le-Moor hide for this season, before our fabulous wildfowl leave to spend the summer at their breeding grounds.

Join Reserve warden Laura at the hide at 12.30pm on Sunday 2nd February to discover Lindisfarne's amazing wildlife - more details are on our Events page.

Just some of the birds we may see:

Shelduck like to search the flats near the hide for food, meaning fantastic views of these colourful birds.

We may see a little egret if we are very lucky! These elegant birds are sometimes seen near the causeway and the edges of the flats.

The redshank, with its bright orange legs and bill, is always a delight to see and one of the more easily identified wading birds.

23rd January: Budle Bay clean up

The recent high tides and storms this winter have pushed lots of tidal debris high up the shores of the Reserve. Staff and volunteers have been hard at work collecting this litter and debris, with part of Budle Bay being the target for clearance this morning.

Before clearance of the debris

If you find items such as oil drums that still contain liquid, please don't open them - they could contain harmful substances and pollutants. Several old oil and chemical containers were found this morning - staff took them back to the Reserve base where they are collected by the authorities.

One of our volunteers looking very proud of our morning's work!

17th January: Porpoise sighting

Earlier this week, Reserve staff were carrying out a bird count at Goswick at the northern boundary of the NNR, with the added bonus of fantastic sightings of harbour porpoise!

Harbour porpoise are common to UK waters and are regularly seen around the coast of Northumberland in shallower water near the shore.

Footage of 2-3 porpoise surfacing

 Great views of the small, triangular-shaped dorsal fin, typical of porpoise

Thanks to Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) for providing help with identification!

16th January: Birds at the Window on Wild Lindisfarne

Now is the perfect time to visit the Window on Wild Lindisfarne: groups of Brent geese are now regularly using the fields next to the building, offering fantastic views of these winter visitors. While Lindisfarne NNR is internationally important for light-bellied Brent geese, we have also had increasing numbers of dark-bellied Brent using the site. While the light-bellied Brent travel from Svalbard every year to winter here, the dark-bellied Brent travel from northern Russia to feed on our rich mudflats.

A group of dark-bellied Brent geese feeding on a field near the WOWL

If you're lucky, you may spot groups of Brent flying between the fields and the harbour. Listen for their deep, gutteral call in flight and as they come in to land.

The Window on Wild Lindisfarne is the best place to see the birds up close - sometimes one of our Volunteer Guides will be at the building to greet you, ready to answer your questions and point out the array of birds seen on the flooded fields.

13th January: Birdwatching at Goswick

In the last few weeks, there have been excellent numbers of seaducks off the coast of Lindisfarne NNR near Goswick. Peak counts include 540 common scoter and 29 red-throated divers in mid-December. Great views of these birds may be seen from the dunes between Cheswick and Goswick.

Dunes and beach at Goswick, looking towards Holy Island on the horizon

Some other birds you may see here include eider, oystercatcher, shag, sanderling and recently small flocks of snow bunting.

Pair of eider - photo taken on Lindisfarne NNR

10th January: Events for the New Year

It's time to blast away the cobwebs at Lindisfarne NNR! It's back to work after New Year on the Reserve which means looking to the year ahead and planning events for the upcoming months.

Reserve team have organised some drop-in events for the next few months:

On February 2nd a drop-in birdwatch is being held at the Fenham-Le-Moor hide - join us for your last chance to see light-bellied Brent geese and wading birds from our two-storey hide.

On February 19th you can bring the kids to 'Build-A-Bird' at the Window on Wild Lindisfarne for half-term - create fun craft versions of the birds you can see outside the Window.

Make your own flapping lapwing...

...and sandy shelduck card!

Join us on March 16th  for our birdwatch at Budle Bay - this is a great chance to see any late leaving wintering birds, and maybe even spot some early spring migrants!

You can see full details on our dedicated Events page, keep checking back for new events being added. All of our events are free.

8th January: Cattle leave the NNR

It's time to say goodbye again to the NNR's herd of cattle until the Autumn, when they will be brought back to the Reserve to graze the rough vegetation once again. Many thanks to our helpers and volunteers who made sure the cattle were brought in safely.

Getting the corral ready to make it as easy as possible to help the cows into the trailer

They seem to know where they're going!

One group of cows successfully loaded into the trailer - only three more groups to go!

The cows have done an excellent job for another year, helping to ensure the dunes are in the best condition for this summer's plants, insects and breeding birds.

Staff and volunteers found it amazing to see the difference between when the cattle were brought onto the Reserve, in October, and now. They have done a fantastic job of grazing the long vegetation, as you can see by comparing these two photos.

October - the day the cows arrived

December - the same stretch of grassland

It's not just keeping the long grass in check that the cattle are good at, they also have an impact on the Pirri-pirri bur by trampling and chewing it.

This photo shows how the Pirri-pirri bur is reduced in vigour by being grazed and trampled by the cattle - it is dying back and turning brown.

2nd January: December Peak Bird Counts

Peak counts of selected species on Lindisfarne NNR during December:

Dark-bellied Brent goose: 180
Light-bellied Brent goose: 2100
Pink-footed goose: 2000
Whooper swan: 42
Wigeon: 2200
Common scoter: 160
Long-tailed duck: 16
Ringed plover: 100
Golden plover: 2800
Mallard: 300
Bar-tailed godwit: 1300
Redshank: 950