Birdwatching

There are more than 300 species of birds to be seen in Northumberland, which makes Old Salt the perfect base, either for birdwatching or more serious birding.

From the eider ducks just a few minutes’ walk away in Seahouses harbour, to the seabirds and waders you will see on your coastal walks, and even the more elusive barn owls you may catch a glimpse of if you know where and when to look, the sheer variety is amazing. (And that’s without mentioning puffins!).

Every season brings something different. In winter, huge numbers of geese, ducks, and waders arrive here from the far north to take advantage of conditions they think of as nice and mild, while tens of thousands of seabirds make the Farne Islands their summer home. Autumn migrations yield lots more sightings, including occasional rarities finding a welcome landfall here after being blown off course as they cross the oceans.

And don’t overlook our lovely countryside away from the coast, as it’s home to lots of interesting birds who make their homes here year-round.

There are plenty websites to give you lots more information. Here’s just one:

www.northumberlandcoastaonb.org/birdwatching