December

Here are some of the things you can expect to see in December in Northumberland National Park ...Fieldfare

Holly is one of the few native tree and shrub species that keep their leaves all year round. They can be found all over the National Park sometimes in hedges, but also in semi-natural woodlands and as individual trees or bushes.

Whooper SwanThis is a dioecious species, meaning that male and female flowers are on separate bushes, and therefore you only get berries on some of the plants. These berries are important food at this time of year for birds such as thrushes. Another native evergreen shrub that can be found in the park is Juniper. Probably once much more widespread, it is now confined to a few locations in the Cheviots and around Simonside. The berries are used to flavour gin, good for a festive tipple!

Robin

The Christmas card favourite the robin can be seen all over the National Park at this time of year, but usually not many at higher altitudes. They mostly eat insects and other invertebrates by foraging on the ground. Think of them when there is a heavy snow fall and put out meal worms and suet in the garden.

There are not many pear trees in the National Park but two types of partridge can be seen – the grey and red-legged. Grey partridges are native to Britain and have been declining in recent years. They are usually seen on the edges of the National Park at lower altitudes where there are hedges and field margins. Through the winter, coveys (or family groups) can be seen, look out for them around stubble and ploughed fields. They look grey or buff from a distance but closer up males have orange faces and a dark horseshoe shape on the breast.

More brightly coloured are the red-legged partridges. They were introduced as a game bird in the early twentieth century, including in Northumberland. They are continually introduced by shooting estates and the numbers fall over the winter as generally the climate is not suitable for them but a few can seen around, often unwilling to fly away as you approach but rather running in front. They have lots of barring on their flanks and pale faces that look as if they have been painted.

Check out the swans-a-swimming by visiting one of the Roman Wall loughs where whooper and mute swans can be found. You may also be lucky enough to see some geese (Greylag, white-fronted and barnacle) but they won’t be laying!

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