24th Jan: Sand dunes - a fragile habitat

Lindisfarne NNR contains 243 hectares of sand dunes on Holy Island. Dunes are formed when wind-blown sand starts to gather and builds up to create a mound. This is then stabilised by Marram grass, its long roots spreading into the sand. Then more plants colonise the dunes and eventually they become fixed features. The plants of the dunes include rare and unique species of importance, which support butterfly and moth species including the Dark Green Fritillary (pictured below). The young and forming dunes – embryo dunes – are particularly fragile and vulnerable to erosion.

There are a number of embryo dunes on the foreshore at Goswick, adjacent to the NNR. Sadly, these have recently been damaged by tyre tracks from motor bike scrambling. Scrambling also affects the older, more stabilised dunes by removing plant cover, which exposes sand that can then blow away. The dunes are also important breeding sites for Skylarks and Meadow Pipits that nest amongst the grass in spring.

Recent damage to the dunes at Goswick

Due to man’s influence on the landscape over time, many sand dunes have been destroyed in the United Kingdom. This is why it is so important that we protect our remaining dunes, part of our natural heritage, for future generations and one of the key reasons behind Lindisfarne’s legal designation as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

Off-road driving is not permitted anywhere on the Reserve under any circumstances and we have contacted the Police regarding this recent incident at Goswick. They are looking into the matter seriously and local residents are keeping watch on the area. If you see anything suspicious, please ring the Reserve office on 01289 381470.


We have been processing January's WeBS count data (see previous post) and have some high counts of note: 51 Red-throated Divers (the highest count at Lindisfarne since the 1990s), 67 Long-tailed Ducks and 41 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Male and female Red-breasted Mergansers (John Dunn)

22nd Jan: Coldness continues

Since our last post the snowy conditions at Lindisfarne have continued. We have been out and about on the Reserve monitoring birds and there has been a definite decrease of species on site. The numbers of Light-bellied Brent Geese present, for example, have decreased. In partnership with our friends in Denmark, we monitor the entire population of the East Atlantic race of Light-bellied Brent Geese, which is made up of around 7,000 birds.

Light-bellied Brent Geese at Lindisfarne (John Dunn)

It is extremely important not to disturb birds in this severe weather as it is vital that they conserve energy. Walking too close to the tidal areas where ducks, geese and waders feed causes them to take flight, which wastes their energy and causes stress, preventing them from feeding, which can be fatal. In these severe conditions feeding is important to give them the energy to stay warm and not lose weight. It is a struggle to feed when the land is covered in snow and the cold causes die-back of the Eelgrass that the ducks and geese feed on. Please be careful not to cause disturbance when walking on the Reserve and keep dogs on leads to prevent them from going too close to birds. It is also important not to approach birds for photographs. One of the main reasons why Lindisfarne has been designated a National Nature Reserve is to protect its birds, and in this weather their protection is vital.

Snow on the Causeway, Holy Island

An advantage to the frost is that it causes dieback of Pirri-Pirri (the invasive plant species mentioned in previous posts). When Pirri-Pirri gets frost damaged, it breaks apart more easily when livestock trample it, helping to reduce its abundance.

The sheep did a good job of targeting the invasive Michealmass Daisy as well as Pirri-Pirri, both of the island’s non-native species. Creeping Willow is a native species but can become a scrub issue if not controlled, and the sheep also did a good job at grazing it. Through enclosing them within an electric fence, they grazed intensively. The fence-line, enclosing about an acre, was moved around to target the most appropriate areas of the dunes. Because Michealmass Daisy is less widespread than Pirri Pirri, this method had a more significant impact. The below photograph, shows the difference the sheep made to the vegetation compared to the un-grazed on the left.

As well as being able to carefully target specific areas, electric fencing is portable and has minimal impact. The cattle require stronger fencing, but Natural England has chosen the least visually-impinging option possible. When taking the cattle off last week, we brought hurdles onto the island and then took them off – this takes time but is an alternative to a permanent corral, which would detract from the natural landscape of the dunes. We also try to keep signage to a minimum for the same reason.

With this season’s grazing complete, we look forward to May when the dunes are awash with flowering orchids. The blog will be updated with wildflower photos throughout the spring and summer so keep an eye out.

17th Jan: Cows go home

It seems the period of mild weather is over, with temperatures falling below freezing this week and a fall of snow on the east coast.

Looking more like winter on Holy Island

The snow fell thickest around Goswick

Thanks to the favourable conditions, the cattle have done a great job of trampling Pirri-Pirri and grazing the vegetation (which, in the absence of rabbits, is a valuable part of managing the site) and their work for this season is now done. They were taken off this morning as the weather looks set to worsen over the weekend and into next week. They are going back to John Barber's farm inland where they will calf in March.

The dunes on Holy Island

Rounding up the cattle

Local farmer John Barber with his cows

Three Stooges look on

The Barnacle Geese are still on the Reserve, 140 have been feeding amongst Greylag Geese in the fields near Budle Bay where there is less snow. Earlier in the week we conducted a Whooper Swan count, recording 42 on the Reserve. In the tidal areas there are good numbers of Shelduck, with over 1000 counted across the Reserve on Sunday's WeBS count (the Wetland Bird Survey conducted throughout the UK every month - more information on the BTO web-site). The hide at Fenham-Le-Moor is a good place to go to view them, where they stand out against the dark mud, their red bills and chestnut breast-belts catching the winter sun.

Female Shelduck (John Dunn)

7th Jan: Reserve news update

Like most of the UK, the end of December was very wet at Lindisfarne. As a result, there is an usually large amount of standing water on Holy Island. Conveniently, the standing water in the dunes provides natural drinking areas for the cattle. The very mild conditions have enabled the cattle to remain on Holy Island into the new year, in previous years they have been taken back to the mainland in December due to harsh conditions. They continue to graze the vegetation and will remain on the island until around the end of January if the mild conditions continue.

Peak bird counts from December included 21 Red-throated Divers, 3100 Light-bellied Brent Geese, 1350 Shelduck, 2500 Wigeon, 310 Pintail, 350 Common Scoters, 1100 Oystercatchers, 819 Lapwings, 2000 Bar-tailed Godwits, 450 Redshanks and 620 Curlews.

January is a great time for winter walks at Lindisfarne. The Reserve is a great place to come to watch birds and there are fantastic photography opportunities, please be mindful of the codes of conduct (see link). Please do not go too close to birds or seals to prevent disturbance, and stick to paths and existing desire lines to prevent impact to wildlife and their habitats. The hides on the Reserve are the best places to watch birds from, these are at The Lough and Fenham-le-Moor (see leaflet).

Mass flight of Wigeon (John Dunn)

Lapwing (John Dunn)

There is great variety to the work we do at Lindisfarne NNR. Before Christmas, Holy Island resident Alison Brigham rang the office to say she had found an injured Kestrel on her farm. The female Kestrel was dazed and had been attacked by a Sparrowhawk, it may have flown into the overhead power cables. We took it to the Berwick Swan Trust who brought it back to health. Over the years, the Berwick Swan Trust have been very helpful by taking in injured birds found on the Reserve. Jim from Berwick Swan Trust brought the Kestrel back to Lindisfarne on Friday and Alison then released it where she had first found it.

All wild birds are protected by law and it is illegal to kill, harm, exploit or hold a bird in captivity. The law aims to protect wild birds, but not to discourage the public from helping birds in need. However, when handling injured birds, great care should be taken that no harm is caused. Do not handle a wild bird unless it is essential to help it, and only do so if you are experienced and confident.