St Mary’s Island and Wetland

St Mary’s Island and Wetland

An interesting variety of habitats in quite a small area makes this a great place for a walk. There is obviously the sea watching, but shore birds, wetland birds, farmland and meadows are all within a short distance.

If you cross the causeway to the island BEWARE TIDE TIMES it is dangerous to cross outside safe crossing times – these are posted by the start of the causeway. Always take a note of the tide times and allow enough time for your return walk from the island.

What birds can be seen here?

Looking out to sea, there will be sea ducks and divers, Fulmars, and in the autumn passing Skues Auks and Gannets.

The shoreline is fantastic for waders – Oystercatcher, Knot, Turnstone, Purple Sandpipers, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwits and huge flocks of Golden Plover. On the rocks you will usually see Rock Pipits and even the occasional Water Pipit.

In the Wetland area (a Local Nature Reserve) there is circular walk all around with several viewing screens. Various ducks and snipe are usually present. good numbers of passerines are also present such as Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Skylarks and even Yellow-browed Warblers

The surrounding farmland is good for seeing Grey Partride, Short-eared Owls, and flocks of Curlew, Golden Plover and Lapwings.

The path leading up to Old Hartley through meadow land can also yield some rare birds – recently there have been Lapland Buntings and Barred Warblers.

What other wildlife could be spotted?

Grey Seals can be seen hauled out on St Mary’s Island and Dolphins can often be seen out at sea. The path through the meadows north to Old Hartley is very good for butterflies and moths during the summer months,

How to get there

The Postcode is NE26 4RS. There are two pay-and-display car parks near the nature reserve, or a large free car park (Ocean View car park) about half a mile south towards Whitley Bay

Nearest Toilets

In the car park next to the lighthouse causeway