26th June: Northumberland

 Well, it has been a drizzly,  miserable start to to our first ever visit to Northumberland, with the kind of conditions that would not see me venturing out in Shoreham! However, different rules apply on holiday, where time is limited and there is much to see, so we started with a bang at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, a renowned seawatching site. 

In the murky conditions we were not hopeful, but while waiting for Tim I saw some interesting looking ducks, just too distant to identify - possibly male Eiders or Shelduck, showing quite a lot of white. By the time we were able to get back and look with the scopes there was of course no sign of the birds. However, a small group of Manx Shearwaters, with distinctive long narrow wings, alternating flashes of dark back then white underparts as they ‘sheared’ low over the water were a brilliant compensation and a new tick for the year. Some fast flying auks with rapid wing beats sped across in a line, almost certainly Guillemots. A single Swallow was hawking across the headland and a couple of Goldfinches alighted briefly on the grass, but visibility was very poor and the wind shaking our scopes making viewing difficult. 

A message from Sue indicated she was nearby, so we continued on to Cresswell Pond, pausing en route for a tasty brunch at the Drift cafe (and for Tim a supply of tempting cakes to take back to the apartment for consumption over the next few days). A Linnet and Stonechat showed themselves on the scrubby vegetation opposite the cafe.

Cresswell Pond was not huge, but easily viewed from a path close to the roadside and car park. We quickly picked up some waders, including Avocet, Oystercatcher and Dunlin, whilst Sand Martins and Swifts swerved low over the water. A Skylark put in an appearance on a muddy scrape adjacent to the pond and a single Common Tern rested on a mudbank.

There was no desire to be hanging about in these conditions, so on we went to Druridge Pools, about 2 miles further along the coast, where there were some hides to provide shelter, although the poor light continued to frustrate us. A couple of Spoonbill were swishing the water and a good variety of ducks included Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal. On the wader front, Lapwing, Snipe and a Spotted Redshank in impressive summer plumage were the highlights here.

We drove along the coastal route, pausing to buy provisions before arriving at our apartment late afternoon. The views from the window are wonderful, looking out across Budle Bay, and as the tide we receded we noted family groups of Eiders, then Shelduck, Heron, Little Egret, Redshank and Curlew. We are excited to observe the bay in better light tomorrow...

Eiders from our apartment window