At Castle Island this morning,17 Herons was a good count. A pair of Stonechats with 2 fledged young at Druridge.
A look at the estuary at Amble at low tide revealed a good number of feeding waders. Among the many Dunlin ,Redshanks and Curlews was a Greenshank, a moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper showing remnants of it’s breeding plumage with red underparts and a Whimbrel circling ,calling. Two female Stonechats were in the dunes at Warkworth.
At Widdrington, a Peregrine flew towards the coast and a Sparrowhawk,Buzzard and Kestrel also seen .
Foxton was quiet,so I headed inland,enjoying superb views of plenty of purple heather on the Alnwick moors and Simonsides. In Upper-Coquetdale several family parties of Whinchats were seen in the bracken . Looks like they have had an excellent breeding season. As do Wheatears ,with fledged birds quite obvious.At Hepple, a Kingfisher was disturbed near the bridge over the Coquet,calling as it flew. 3 more young Wheatears chased insects on the rocks near the river and a large flock of Swallows and House Martins gathered in a dead tree.
A.S.J.