A trip out to the Farne Islands today to take a small party of Greek & Latvian visitors around. Turned out to be well timed as I thought I would stop at the flash at Bradford Kaims between Lucker & Bamburgh (NU159318). This is just north of the B1341 with safe parking just before Hoppen Kiln Farm on the verge. I had noticed this wetland filling up during winter visits to Bamburgh as it is en route from Purdy Lodge on the A1.
Not expecting much other than a Garganey maybe I was astonished to find a Pectoral Sandpiper in with the feeding Redshank ! A very clean bird with a stunning breast band and not too difficult an identification challenge even at long range. The flash looks very promising for spring waders with at least 30 Redshank dotted about plus Teal,Wigeon Lapwing etc. The Pec Sandpiper is the first for the UK this year and the earliest Northumberland record in Spring. Spring records have become increasingly regular in recent years.
As for the Farne’s everyone enjoyed themselves but it seemed decidedly odd to walk around Inner Farne with so few birds present. Although 1500 Guillemot offshore they were only in numbers on Staple Island. Also only 50 Puffin seen ! Most of these were in one raft near Inner Farne accompanied by a Long-tailed Duck ! Gannets were moving steadily north in small groups. Also the only terns seen were four Sandwich over Inner Farne. TRD
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Great find Tim, and remarkable that the county has a 2nd just a day later!