A calm, sunny morning found me at Holy Island causeway as the tide began to recede. Many waders fed on the newly exposed mud, allowing the chance for some photography.
On to the island, and at Chare Ends the air was full of the sound of singing Skylarks as the settled weather encouraged some courtship activity among some 40-50 birds in the area.
The relatively mild winter has allowed larks to remain in good numbers in the county. Great to hear them again after six months of quiet.
A pair of Stonechats flitted ahead of me as I walked around to the north end of Straight Lonnen and 30 or so Linnets perched on bush tops.
A Merlin sat preening on a stone wall in the distance and 20 Roe deer grazed nearby. Back at the mudflats near Chare Ends, a large flock of Pale Bellied Brent Geese flew past, calling and perhaps 600-700 Knot rested out on the mud.
Lesser numbers of Bar Tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Curlew and Golden Plover fed here.
On down to Seahouses, where among the harbour Eiders was a female struggling with the fishing line entangled around her neck. No doubt , sadly a slow death awaits ! Finally down at East Chevington, and another chance to see the Pacific Diver on the North Pool, where several Scaup could be found too. At the burnmouth here, the obliging Twite flock remained, 65 birds today and a brief sighting of the wintering seven Shorelarks as the many dog-walkers kept them on the move.
A.S.Jack
