Description
Not the most visually attractive of sites, Blyth South Harbour does however have birding interest. The large gull roost often attracts ledni galeb and polarni galeb in winter, while a 'scope view across the river to the (inaccessible) North Mole sees a good high tide roost of vranjek and morski prodnik. The river itself usually has a few gaga, and less regularly, srednji žagar and crna raca, while auks like lumna and rakovičar can be seen on the sea to the south. A line of sand dunes extends south from the harbour for about 4 km, and as the harbour end of the dunes is often the quietest stretch with fewer dog walkers, snežni strnad tend to gather at this end, as do the occasional uhati škrjanec and laponski ostroglež. The barrier of the North Mole prevents the South Harbour being a good seawatching site, but birds migrating higher overhead along the coast like kratkokljuna gos and labod pevec can be seen. Rarities have included a wintering rumenokljuni slapnik and a rjavovrati ponirek or two.
Details
Access
Busses 308 and 309 between Newcastle upon Tyne and Blyth run past the entrance, and there is a small car park (often busy with fishermen so space can be limited). The harbour road beyond the car park is closed to cars (except for local boat owners), but is open to cyclists and pedestrians. Walk along the dunes and back along the harbour road, or vice-versa; scan the harbour pontoons and staiths for gulls (and the occasional Walrus!).


