Long Nanny

Last week I went up to Beadnell via the bus and walked down to the Long Nanny just to see if it was feasible,Meadow Pipits and Skylarks seemed everywhere but no Stonechats, the site as expected was deserted the beach looked as though it had been ravished by the winter seas , the sand stack that I last saw Sand Martins investigating   has vanished and even the course of the burn has changed slightly . The Tern nesting area seems much lower than other years and I fear for the birds on the large Spring tides . only a few Gulls on the burn outlet but there was a large flock around a nearby pool in a field , about  12 or so Ringed Plover along the beach in with Sanderling . I walked to High Newton along the beach which is by far the easier and quicker route although I prefer the route along   the short grass path which is good for Butterflies but as I had to connect with the bus I chose the quicker route ,which saw me have time for a drink in the nearby Joiners Arms.

 Looking towards Beadnell in the distance

 The Burn as it snakes it 's way to the sea

 view from the warden's hut

 It will not be long before the air will be full of birds

 looking towards Newton to the south

 The Wardens Hut at the Long Nanny

 Coming back through Craster we are halted as they attempt to pull a fishing boat with a length of rope tied to the back of a van !!!

Craster harbour from the bus, it was here that a Med Gull took up residence for a year or two

 Passing Warkworth castle

 Amble Braid the weir covered by the tide

Amble and the Marina

Alnmouth

A visit to Alnmouth  parking near the bridge and walking along the river to the beach only produced  2 Shellduck some ever present Canada and Greylag  a few Curlews and a Hare, on the beach Common terns where fishing in the small pools left as the tide receded a group of Terns and Gulls where on the far shore with the Aln stopping anyone from walking either way the birds find refuge here about 40 Sandwhich Terns and 10 or so Common Terns, with an assortment of Herring and Great Black Backs  , ended up having picnic lunch looking onto the flats where the boats moor , another walk along the shore two check out 2 distant Little Egrets .

Called at Druridge Bay on the way back and had a look at the Lesser Butterfly Orchids , and some Common Twayblade

 This has to be the largest bit of Lego I have ever seen !!!

 Fantastic beach here at Alnmouth

 Looking across to the other side a rough track leads down to this side it is rough but worth a visit

 Looking back with the sea wall in the foreground

 Two Litttle egrets Aln Estuary

Common Terns feeding in the small pools

 Lesser Butterfly Orchid

 Common Spotted Orchid

 Common Twayblade