October

2 – Two Black Grouse seen just up the valley from Ingram. A rare sight, they were spotted by Mr and Mrs Moorhouse, newly arrived visitors to Shepherd’s Cottage. They took a walk in the early evening and saw the birds, black with prominent white fan-shaped tails, fly out of a wood and into the bracken.

A few years ago a stretch of deciduous and native woodland was planted on the hillside, north of the river, in the hope of attracting these birds, that were once a common sight, back to the valley.

3 – Very bad forecast for today so postponed walk to the top of Hedgehope and Cheviot, the two highest hills in Northumberland.

5 – Walking friends Keith and Ian saw four geese killed on the overhead power lines near Branton, lower down the valley. The birds were on their way in to the man-made lakes, which now lie between the river and the village: the legacy of gravel extraction. 

10 – Harvest Festival at St. Michael’s Church, and hardly an empty pew. The church was decorated with fruit and vegetables and lovely arrangements of flowers. The produce is taken, the following day, to the Cyrenian hostel in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Filled and hung the bird feeders, the first time for several weeks.

13 – Sold lambs at Wooler market. Some of our unwarranted blackface ewes also went away today.

15 – Tups into the sheep pens. Johnny and Ross put them into two groups: the Scottish Blackfaces and Cheviots (the hill tups) and the Texels and Blue Faced Leicesters (for in-bye). From now on they will be fed daily until they are put out with the ewes.

The notable sighting this week was of an otter on the Shank burn, a tributary of the Breamish. It was seen during the day, on the bank-side, feeding on a dead fish. Two reports of peregrine falcons: one being mobbed by crows, near the lakes at Branton, and the other pursuing a partridge in our Bull Field.

17 – Our end of season ride for the endurance club was cancelled because of insufficient entries. Just as well because it was a very wet, cold day.

Salmon and sea trout migrating up the river to spawn. The recent heavy rain has raised the water levels making it easier for them to negotiate the fish pass at the weir.

20 – Sold lambs at Wooler today. Out walking noticed the gorse, or “whins” as we call them, coming into flower. Some wild flowers are still flowering in sheltered spots. 

The woodpeckers have re-discovered the nuts and are again regular visitors.