Another try for the Black Guillemot off Stag Rocks, Bamburgh as it had been seen well yesterday. Typically I was unable to get up there yesterday when it was in view as I was covering my son in his computer shop ! And of course no sign today !
Anyway Stag Rocks still gave us plenty to see with 3 Slavonian Grebes, 12 Long-tailed Ducks, around 200 Common Scoter fairly distant, many Gannets, Kittiwakes and Fulmars on the move plus 25 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks. 14 Whooper Swans moved N past the Farne Islands. A stop at Budle Bay had little to show but further on at Harper’s Heugh lay by Janet found a Hooded Crow in the sheep field happily stomping about with the lambs and occasionally joining the mixed Pinkfeet / Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock. Also four Barnacle Geese were in with the Greylag flock. Further stops at Fenham le Moor and Beal proved quiet but the Swan flock at Fenham Mill had at least 37 Whoopers present though many birds hard to scope properly.
TR&J Dean