Northumberland

Went up to Bamburgh on Sunday for the Black Scoter, lovely sunny day really bringing out the best of the superb Northumberland coast, the Black Scoter was with a large raft of Common Scoter and always remained distant (a lot closer than the Llanfairfechan bird though) even so it was quite easy to pick it out although there were one or two really bright Common Scoters for the unwary, there were also good numbers of Eider as to be expected plus two or three Long Tailed Ducks and an immature male Velvet Scoter and lots of Hirundines feeding over the nearby Golf Course plus two Buzzards over.

The beach looking to Stag Rocks

the distant Black

immature Velvet

got a bit closer to the Eiders

Bamburgh Castle

We drove back along the coastal route calling in at a couple of places although nothing of note was seen and arrived back at Teesside mid afternoon, we had a look from the new hide at Bottom Tank at Saltholme but a Little Egret was the only bird of note and that was right at the back then moved to Dormans Pool hoping for pics of Cetti's and Grasshopper Warblers, both species plus Reed Warbler and Whitethroat revealed their prescence but the only birds that posed were a pair of Stonechats.

looking from Amble Harbour

ready for take off