Trip reports

Coach Trip to the Northumberland Coast

Sunday, 19 October 2008

Our first stop was Hauxley Nature Reserve where, among other sightings, a small group of snipe provided interest, (what is the collective noun for a group of snipe?) as did the sight of 'nature at work' - a rabbit under attack from a weasel - with the inevitable consequences.
We then moved on for a brief stop at Amble Harbour. This proved more productive, with eider, curlew, golden plover, lapwing etc., not to mention the harbour market in full swing.
Our next, and main stop was at Druridge Bay Country Park, with its visitors' centre and freshwater lake. To the south were the lakes/reed beds of East Chevington where there were goldfinch and stonechat, whilst a small group spotted a little bunting, no less! The dunes provided opportunity for some sea watching.
Our final stop of the day was at Druridge Pools - rather quiet after a week of westerly winds, though there was more to see from the dunes.

All things considered, it was something of a surprise to see our final tally for the day:

Lapwing, greater black backs, eider, heron, curlew, golden plover, blue tit, redshank, stonechat, kestrel, snipe, magpie, mute swan, tufted duck, sanderling, goldfinch, little grebe, cormorant, oystercatcher, barnacle goose, greylag, coal tit, willow tit, merganser, robin, crossbill, moorhen, common gull, dunlin, ringed plover, possible red-throated and black-throated divers, tree sparrow, guillemot, scaup. Scoter, linnet, little bunting, goldcrest, canada goose, muscovy duck, meadow pipit, mallard, gadwall, goldeneye, turnstone, wigeon, pink-footed goose, grey wagtail, sparrowhawk, black-headed gull, herring gull, long-tailed tit, great tit, crow, pheasant, woodpigeon, collared dove, jackdaw, blackbird, rook, wren, song thrush, grey plover, teal, dunnock.
It just goes to show.