Re-tern

With Mark missing out on the Bridled Tern in 2013, this weekend seemed good enough to right the wrong - so with a 12:15 departure we were off on the tourist trip round the Farnes, eventually landing on Inner Farne for the final hour.

Result in the form of said tern being present and viewable from the boat upon landing, then frustration as it flew off for 45 minutes. Its return timed nicely (?) with the arrival of our boat back to Seahouses mean't brief, not as close as I'd like views. And it was freezing!

Record shots...

The small biggie.

A quiet June for me -  predominanly lacking luck:

Great Reed Warbler - dipped on the flowing morning
Black-winged Pratincole - like many, arrived in the Bay to late.

Highlights? Few and far between - The Great White Egret at Hauxley was nice (along with the weird goose assemblage), local Bearded Tit, Spoonbills, Little Egrets, Barn Owls and Little Gulls all nice.

Strangely the "biggie" was a "little-y" - after the fluke trip to Manchester last month coinciding with the Elton Reservoir Little Bittern, this morning saw me on vigil at Gosforth Park, a few mere miles from home watching, albeit brief, another fine male Little Bittern flying access the lake.


No smell of roses at Byker, I failed to locate the rose-coloured starling mid morning... perhaps it will be re-located.