This month we were entertained by club member Kevin Redgrave who works for the National Trust on the local coast.
He began with a view from Newton to Dunstanburgh showing how the relatively soft shales have been eroded to leave fingers of whinsto
ne poking into the sea. Turnstones and purple sandpipers, whose breeding grounds are on the high tundra, feed amongst the seaweed. Sand pipers have a habit of running up and down as the waves bubble up the beach and hiss back in retreat.
Kevin went on to describe other areas along the coast and how each attracts different forms of wildlife. The outcrop of rock on which stands Dunsanburgh Castle hosts a large breeding colony of kittiwakes. These birds only come to land in the breeding season.
The nutrient levels in the hay meadow at Newton point have been steadily reducing over the past 20 years which has led to increasing amounts of red clover and yellow rattle. The dune system is constantly changing: cranesbill, burnet rose and the lovely pyramidal orchid thrive here.
The main part of the talk featured Newton pond. Previously an artificial shooting pond, it was acquired by the National Trust in 1972.
The numbers of black headed gulls increased dramatically into the 1980s and pollution from guano became intense. It was considered necessary to reduce the numbers by sterilising the eggs. Predators also took their toll and these birds have not been back since 2004. More recently a similar problem has occurred with greylag geese and measures have been taken to reduce their numbers. People are requested to keep outside the perimeter fence which is erected during the summer.
Wardens patrol the area for three and a half months, 24 hours a days, seven days a week. The star of the site is the ringed plover which can even "outgrump" the grumpy arctic turn. The area is best known, however, for its little tern colony. Unfortunately the best feeding is close to the sea and they thus tend to nest too close to the sea for comfort. In storms nests can be washed away. To prevent this wardens sometimes move eggs to a warm place of safety and replace them when the weather calms down. The sitting birds are happy to return.
There was much more of interest during the evening and Kevin was given a vote of thanks and warmly applauded.
