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Description
At Weetslade Country Park the old mine spoil heap, now landscaped and grassed over, offers a good lookout point for visible migration. The area is nesting habitat for kiuru and niittykirvinen, and feeding habitat for migrating kivitasku on the north and west sides, and pensaskerttu, pajulintu, keltasirkku and other scrubland birds on the Gorse- and Hawthorn-covered south and east sides. Elsewhere, the small bird feeding station attracts many birds including hömötiainen. Two pools and their surrounding wetland hold ruokokerttunen and rytikerttunen, and often one or two silkkihaikara, a recent colonist this far north. In winter, punakylkirastas and räkättirastas are common on the fields at the west end of the site. Raptors include regular hiirihaukka, varpushaukka, and tuulihaukka, and occasional passage isohaarahaukka and others.
Details
Access
National Cycle Route 10 (Reivers Way) crosses Weetslade Country Park, and is the best way to cover it. Bus services 43 and 45 from Newcastle upon Tyne are 5 minutes walk from the west end of the site, and there is a car park at the east end (plus limited on-street parking at the west end).
Note that most of the paths become very wet throughout the winter, and after heavy rain at any time of year, as the ground is heavily compacted and with poor drainage.
Terrain and Habitat
Wetland , Agriculture , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Plateau , Reedbeds , City/villageConditions
Flat , Hilly , Wet , No shadow , Open landscape , High water possible , SlipperyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Winter , Spring migration , Autumn migration , SpringRoute
Wide path , Unpaved roadDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
Foot , Bicycle , WheelchairBirdwatching hide / platform
YesExtra info
Please approach the feeding station slowly, to avoid spooking birds using it! The seats for the feeding station are usually wet, so a sit-mat is useful.