A change of scene for a few days with two nights stay in the small coastal town of Amble. The harbour has been the home of a Caspian Gull which has returned for a number of years. I saw this gull as a first winter, on a previous trip a few years ago. Now looking like an adult Caspian, I soon found it perched on its favourite lamp post on the quayside. Before arriving at Amble on the first day, we walked the beach at Newbiggin where there was a nice variety of passage waders on the beach. Sanderlings were changing to Winter plumage. Here, a Bar-tailed Godwit but Black-tailed Godwits were also seen. Flocks of Curlews were moving with the incoming tide, finding new resting places on the rocks. A lone female Eider in Amble harbour, many more were out at sea. This is the beach at Longhoughton where an Iceland Gull was seen the previous day. I checked the gulls among the rocks but didn't locate it. Another interesting beach to walk though, with occasional grey herons and common waders. We took a boat trip around the Farne Islands, not landing having done that before and in any case, most of the birds have left and moved out to sea. We saw a few remaining Puffins in flight past the boat. Guillemots were attaining their Winter plumage and only a handful of those were seen, these near the boat. Most of the remaining birds were Kittiwakes, with plenty of juveniles either still on the nest or taking to the air. Many Cormorants reside on the islands. Getting really close to them illustrates how much they appear to have prehistoric characteristics. It was disappointing in that the Arctic Tern colony failed entirely this year. This was due to the National Trust not being able to manage the breeding area during the Covid pandemic. A trip to the Farne Islands would not be complete without a quick look at the Atlantic Grey Seals, always obliging and beautiful mammals. Relax!
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