At last a chance to “unblock” a Mega County rarity. Apart from a single observer sighting a couple of years ago, the last Northumberland twitchable Bridled Tern was missed by your’s truly, by one minute, at Hauxley 25 years ago! So when news broke ,last night of one lingering on Inner Farne,I was distraught when unable to get away from work. However, a sleepless night saw me en-route at 4. 30 a.m. to catch the 6a.m. boat. Around 70-80 guys were assembled at Seahouses harbour,some having driven from as far as London, Birmingham and Glasgow,such is the pull of this species. A sigh of relief ran around ,as news came that the Tern was showing well near the jetty on Inner Farne. Half an hour later ,we were all enjoying cracking views of this Tropical wanderer,as it flew with the Arctic Terns and landed on nearby rocks. What a bird! Of course,the Farnes were alive with thousands of seabirds ,but on this occasion they were relegated to also-rans.
Back on the mainland, a look at Monk’s House Pool revealed a sad sight, as a Common Tern hung dead on a barbed wire fence,caught by it’s foot!
Budle Bay held over 300 Shelduck, and a pair of Common Sandpipers. Sandwich Terns fished the inlets.
At Maidens Hall around 500 Swifts and 100 Sand Martins fed over the lake, a fine sight.
Down the coast to East Chevington,where some 400 -500 Terns loafed in the shallows. A mix of Sandwich, Common and Arctics. A female Marsh Harrier also seen. At Cresswell, 2 Avocets fed ,as did 2 Black tailed Godwits and a single Little Gull.
A.S.Jack