An early morning vigil at Stag Rocks failed to produce the recent Black Guillemot though there was much to occupy time. Eight Slavonian Grebes close in between Stag Rocks and the Castle and at least as many Long-tailed Ducks including some splendid males. 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew north as did 2 Canada Geese. Movement of the morning though was Skylark with 94 moving north/north west over 2 hours. The fields just behind held 244 Herring Gulls.

The wintering Greenshank remains in Budle Bay and Shelduck were prominent with 124 present. A Kingfisher was on the burn (pers comm). A single adult Lesser Black-backed Gull bathed amongst the Herring Gulls.

Further north a large flock of mixed buntings predominantly Yellowhammer (c.150) and Tree Sparrow (22+) with a few Reed Buntings were in wild bird cover adjacent to the disused railway line just south of Loanend at NT949500.

Alan Tilmouth