Sunday 24th May 2026: Craster to Dunstanburgh

We had a slow start to the day after lots of travelling and the grandchildren arriving very late in the evening. Luckily there was a family of Pied Wagtails to entertain us, with some newly fledged birds sat on the garden wall and parents regularly appearing to feed them.

Pied Wagtail family

In the afternoon we had a walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh. A Rock Pipit alighting on the gorse and a Wheatear perched on a rock were the highlights encountered along the way. At the gully beside the castle we found nesting Fulmars and were able to point out the stiff wings in flight to young Emilie. 

Wheatear

Fulmar

Below us the calls of Kittiwakes echoed from the narrow gully, but they were tucked into the ledge and we only managed fleeting views, which was disappointing. 

We had frequently scanned for Eider Duck at Craster harbour and all along our walk, and finally we managed to spot a male sunbathing on a ridge of rock just beyond the harbour. We normally come to Northumberland in June, when birds seem to be everywhere, so perhaps the females are still tucked away somewhere nesting.