Birdwatching in the North Pennines

The North Pennines is a wonderful place for birdwatching, the unspoilt, stunning landscape providing natural habitats in which a diverse range of birdlife thrive.

Black Grouse

Found in different habitats at varying times of the year, including moorland and meadows, the black grouse is particularly associated with the pastures and allotments at the moorland edge. One of the most charismatic birds of the North Pennines, the ritualised display of the male Black Grouse during the spring mating season makes for a curious spectacle that shouldn't be missed.

Moorland

The high heather moorland and blanket bog of the high moors and summit plateux of the North Pennines are wild, windswept places for much of the year, where few birds can survive. The Red Grouse is a famous exception to this rule, surviving in even the harshest conditions. During spring and summer, they are joined by the rare and elusive Dunlin and Golden Plover, making an impressive sight during the breeding season. During the summer months, Britain's smallest bird of prey, the Merlin, can be seen flying fast and low over the heather. Like the Golden Plover, the breeding population of the merlins here are of European importance. Short-eared Owls hunt during the day in the same habitat and can often be seen perched atop a fence post or flying with distinctive slow beats of the wing.

Grassland

Nowhere else in England are the ground-nesting birds of the North Pennines grasslands found in such abundant numbers. The downward curving beak and bubbling song of England's largest wading bird, the Curlew, make it one of the North Pennines most distinctive species. Lapwings, redshank and snipe also breed in important numbers in fellside grassland, whilst skylarks, declining rapidly in numbers elsewhere in England, remain common in the North Pennines, along with the distinctive wheatear.

Hay Meadows

The North Pennines upland Hay Meadows are a famously impressive sight, ablaze with colour in early summer and home to Grey Partridge and noted for distinctive Yellow Wagtails. During the autumn and winter, the North Pennines habitats fall quieter, though the Fieldfare and Redwing arrive from Scandinavia and Northern Europe, injecting colour and life into the muted landscape.

Woodland

Whilst fragmented and comparatively small in area, the woodlands of the North Pennines support some notable species. Steep sided valleys and gorges harbour rivers and streams attracting migratory birds including the Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Wood Warbler, whose distinctive songs complement those of the resident species, making the woodlands appear to burst with life during spring. Even the smallest wooded areas contain an astounding variety of birds, from Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blue Tits and Coal Tits to Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Tawny Owl to name just a few.The Woodcock, a bulky wader with a very long bill, can also be found in the woodland here, whilst Buzzards and Sparrowhawks nest in the trees and are once again a common sight above the pastures and moorland of the North Pennines after a period of alarming decline.

Rivers & Streams

The rivers and streams of the North Pennines provide an important food supply for insectivorous birds including the Swift, Swallow and House Martin, together with the large, distinctive Oystercatcher, found nesting in large numbers beside upland rivers and reservoirs.The charismatic Dipper can be seen popping under water to forage for food, whilst Kingfishers, the beautifully graceful Goosander, striking Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron and Common Sandpiper can also be seen by rivers and streams.

Scrub, Scree & Crags

Winchat and Ring Ouzels can be found nesting amongst boulders, scree and crags, along with a number of other small birds. However, one of the most dramatic sights of the North Pennines is the breathtaking agility of a Peregrine Falcon in pursuit of prey.

Birdwatching in the North Pennines