Having been in Northumberland so recently and it being an area we love, we had a real sense of anticipation when we set off on our journey northwards. Meeting up with good mates John and Karen is always fun, the meal tasks are shared and the food is without exception really tasty. A mutual love of fine wines does not go amiss in this season when the days are short either...the biggest advantage? Four pairs of eyes to spot the plentiful wildlife in this quiet and beautiful area!
Our first day of spotting was Friday after we all arrived safely the previous afternoon and evening, weather forecasts had been studied and analysed. The day would, without question, be wet, very wet at times.
This is where previous experience in an area can be vital, there is not much fun to be had in wandering around getting steadily wetter all day.
Hauxley Nature Reserve is a splendid place, plenty of hides and no great distance between them either, ideal for a day when dry spells looked very unlikely.
We had not been settled in our first hide long when exclamations of "Otter!" almost simultaneously from Karen and Josie drew all our eyes as we watched this young otter through the rain.
Spotting wildlife was difficult as the rain got heavier...we did find a snipe a little distantly..
A little grebe came close to the hide...
And a curlew flew in...
A duck provided some identification difficulties but a good friend confirmed this as a common scoter.
Changing hides when the intensity of the rain lessened allowed us to not get too wet as we visited all the hides on the reserve. Bird feeders often attract brown rats which feed on the spillage or even gnaw their way into the feeders with their great agility and strong teeth. These seemed to be eating the rain soaked seeds which had fallen into the puddles...
Maybe not everyones or even anyones favourite but they are part of the world of nature and in a wild setting not without a certain charm.
Almost without warning the rain cleared and we walked the short distance to the beach...
The sun was beginning to set out to the west...
I watched a kestrel hunting in the dim light, I saw it drop on prey and fly away. Hurrying ahead a treasured sighting awaited as we all gathered together again.
In the soft evening light the kestrel was enjoying its supper...
A splendid day...
Saturday's planned visit was to Holy Island and we started out on the shoreline...oystercatchers are fairly reliable sightings...
Lovely little turnstones fluttered and wandered in amongst the rocks and seaweed.
and a lovely male eider came in close...
Black tailed godwits were in evidence...
...and an odd golden plover...
A curlew took off...
Later we took a walk around the lonnens (lanes) occasionally rare birds turn up here but we managed only a reed bunting...
The four pairs of eyes came in handy again as while some of us were watching a distant buzzard through binoculars Karen spotted roe deer feeding at the end of a field...
Another good day and a grand evening to follow it too, I think!
Sunday was departure day but the forecast was good and we drove the short distance to Druridge Bay to enjoy another wander before the journey home.
The sight over the surf was spectacular and gorgeous...
Delightful sanderlings flew, landed and did their comical marching on the shoreline...
They feed on small insects and creatures which can be found as the tide ebbs.
Leaving the shore we walked on a track back to the cars, a wren did a lovely levitation trick...
And glowered as if demanding a round of applause!
A group of small birds landed which Karen, John and I were examining to find...
A reed bunting...and to follow a chaffinch...
Josie had been scanning some distant trees and a telescope view confirmed her suggestion of a barn owl, brilliant work and another confirmation of the benefit of multiple pairs of eyes. The photograph is not great but it was taken at an estimated 400 metres+...
We all watched it preen for quite a long time before the time for some lunch called...
One last shot and just a shame this stonechat was slightly into the sun...
The world of wildlife continues to delight us, the challenges it provides are welcome if sometimes difficult.
Time spent with good friends is always treasured and each and every one of us contributed and enjoyed a brilliant few days for the third year in a row. Thanks to all, I take the photographs but so much more goes into the trip.
Many thanks to all who read, if you do feel like adding a comment don't forget that they come to me first for moderating...
