Birds of the Solway

Wallsend Guest House

Luxury bed and breakfast accommodation at The Old Rectory, Bowness on Solway.

Birds of The Solway

The Solway is characterised by expansive skies and the call of passing birds.

The Estuary is one of the largest in Britain. It lies on a point where the migration route of birds from Arctic Canada, Greenland and Iceland meets another migration route from Northern Europe and Russia. These "flyways" tend to follow the coast and the Solway Estuary forms part of a critical chain of "stop-over" points for birds, where they may rest, feed, moult or even spend the whole winter. The intertidal areas of sand and mud are teeming with life. Shell fish, worms and crustaceans provide a rich food source for birds and fish.

The Saltmarshes were (and still are being) formed. When the level of sand and mud in the estuary reaches a high enough level it can be colonised by salt-tolerant (haophytic) plants. Once established, the plants roots bind the mud and other plants causing passing water to slow down and deposit even more sand and mud. The whole process continues until only the highest tide covers the marsh. Carefully monitored livestock grazing creates ideal conditions for Ducks, Geese and other wildfowl.

The Raised Mires or Peat Bogs occupy the centre of the Cardurnock Peninsula. They began forming 7,000 years ago and are now up to 10 metres deep. Peat is the accumulation of undecayed plant remains, mainly sphagnum mosses that grow in acid, waterlogged conditions. The peat is 80% water, over which grows a living skin of plants. Some parts of the mosses have begun to dry out as they have been drained in the past due to peat extraction. Scrub has begun to colonise these areas but this too provides valuable cover for birds and homes for insects.

Places to visit
Nature Reserves are highlighted on the map of the Cardurnock peninsula, an area known locally as "The Island".

R.S.P.B. Nature Reserve - Campfield Marsh - situated at the western edge of Bowness-on-Solway it stretches around the saltmarshes and moss areas of the Cardurnock peninsula. A major feeding area for huge flocks of Pink Footed and Barnacle Geese at the southern end of their winter migration. Recent flooding of inland fields behind the shoreline will soon help to increase the variety of habitat and visiting birds to be seen on the Solway. Oyster Catchers, Curlew, Bar Tailed Godwit and Dunlin are all to be seen between September and April. Red Shanks can be found in uncharacteristically large flocks around Port Carlisle dock. An escorted visit can be booked in advance through the R.S.P.B. office at North Plain Farm.

Finglandrigg Wood National Nature Reserve - An area of mixed woodland, open heath and grassland. Red Squirrels and Adder occur on the site along with birds such as the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodcock and Willow Tit. Open to the public at all times.

Drumburgh Raised Mire - Partridge & Redshank can all be seen on the moss whilst Frogs, Toads, Newts and Dragonflies share the ditches. A Cumbria Wildlife Trust leaflet is available

Bowness Common & Glasson Moss National nature Reserve - The largest area (over 90 hectares) and probably the best example of lowland raised mire in England. Many species of Sphagnum Moss are present together with Cranberry, Bog Asphodel and Heather. Bird life includes Red Grouse, Redpoll, Snipe as well as Curlew nesting sites. More information on protecting Solway Mosses on:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/managingreserves/casestudies/reserves/campfieldmarsh/

Nature Reserve - Only a few yards off the road. 18 acres of old flooded gravel pits are the home of a wide variety of flora and fauna which have been allowed to colonise the area since 1966: dragonflies, damsel flies, both smooth and crested newts, as well as a large number of frogs and toads