Today was reserved for a morning on Lindisfarne – a Natural England Reserve – which is a massive area which many species depend upon for both breeding and, more importantly for overwintering. We investigated the island for a further visit as we could not spare enough time to see all that we wanted to see. On the way we stopped at the end of the causeway to see what was flying. We were rewarded with a male Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail andLinnets in the corn. However, upon leaving we stopped to look over Budle Bay at Warren Mill and watched the incoming tide bring the birds closer to us. There were almost fifty Swans, several Curlew and then twenty Redshankflew in.
We moved on to Seahouses discovered ‘The Olde Ship’ relaxed for a while and then we returned to our accommodation and walked just inland of the dunes to see what grassland birds were around. It was wonderful walking through uncut grasses and colourful flowers. I don’t know whether this will be cut but I suspect that the very wet weather has prevented it so far. However it was a joy to walk amongst it all and while we were doing this, two groups of Curlew flew over us numbering one hundred. Birding sources have already mentioned that some of the northern nesting birds have already arrived in their winter quarters. We wondered if that was the case with these birds. We saw Linnet flying, watched a perched Reed Bunting, an immature Northern Wheatear, and what we believed were Meadow Pipits – photographs have still to be viewed closely – and then we saw our first EnglishPartridge scurrying about in a paddock of horses. Sadly butterflies were almost absent and the two we saw we did not recognise – we will check up later. Summing the day up is easy. It was not as good as we had hoped but nevertheless we saw some birds. Basically it was birds and booze especially when I remember ‘The Ship Inn Pub & Brewery’ at Low Newton where they brew their own. You can look them up on www.shipinnnewton.co.uk We thoroughly recommend this location as it is perfect to sit in peace and quiet, watch the ocean and sip.