Have just finished leading the Naturetrek tour around Northumberland. Clients were exceptionally lucky to have six days with no rain , no wind & mostly sunny. Started on 5th after collecting people from Newcastle with visits to Cresswell Pond & Druridge Pools. Excellent views of the Great White Egret at Druridge plus breeding plumage Ruff. Monday was a wander around Holy Island followed by a look at Budle Bay, Bamburgh & Spindlestone woods. Quiet unsurprisingly. Tuesday had Long Nanny estuary & Low Newton with Coquet Island in afternoon. Boat trip was dead calm & managed to get quite close to the Roseate Terns. Wednesday was a whole day on Farne Islands. Very lucky to be able to land on Staple Island as first boat to do so in 11 days due to tide swell & low tides. Inner Farne was at its very best with Arctic Terns having just hatched and all the normal seabird species easily accessible.
The last whole day Thursday had a change away from coast with a visit to Harthope Valley, Ingram (cafe superb!), Branton GP & Rothbury. Beautiful sunny day & a real delight in Cheviots. No real surprises bird wise but a good range of upland species. Finally on return to Newcastle we visited all the Druridge Bay sites with 4 Manx Shearwaters off Snab Pt a welcome highlight. Then with best left to last the Bonaparte’s Gull performed admirably E of the A189 flyover on the Wansbeck estuary. Delighted clients returned home well pleased with all the main specialities seen except some of the harder upland birds. 119 species equaled last years total.
Tim Dean
