John had sent me his English List and asked me to fill in some gaps so I had built an itinerary that would do just that. With the rain set in for the day we agreed that some of the target species that would need time on foot were best left to another day.

Luckily as ever Northumberland came to the rescue as there is just no shortage of birds to see whatever the weather. Just five minutes from his luxury accommodation high in the Coquet Valley I was able to add John’s first lifer of the day as we enjoyed super views of a Dipper sat millimetres above a swollen river.

Despite the rain the rich purple of one of Northumberland’s heather moors provided our next stop, a juvenile Whinchat sat out the rain high on the heather just yards from the car.

The coast brought no respite but the shelter of some of Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s various hide incarnations brought plenty of birds. A short seawatch produced lots of Gannet, Kittiwake and Sandwich Terns as well as a Great Skua albeit one a little blurred by the mist. The scrub between us and the hide erupted in activity as the rain eased and John added Tree Sparrow to his life list along with good views of some commoner passerines such as Chaffinch and Dunnock.

Further down the coast we spent time watching bathing terns and gulls, an ideal opportunity to discuss the subtle beauty of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Standing out amongst the Lapwing a single Common Snipe was well received.

Juvenile Spotted Redshanks

Our next two stops provided a plethora of passage waders with two juvenile Spotted Redshanks, a group of summer plumaged Knot arriving from the northwest, Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrels, 2 juvenile Ruff and some smart looking Golden Plover still hanging onto the remnants of summer.

Despite a cool breeze there was lots of activity to fill in the wait until dusk, a Song Thrush belted out its song for a full hour whilst several Tree Pipits, Willow Warblers, Wren and a Pied Wagtail came to inspect proceedings.

As silence fell some time after sunset a Woodcock called as it flew low overhead and a few seconds later, close by, a Nightjar began to churr. Some 30 seconds later it stopped and despite remaining on site for a further 30 minutes was never seen or heard again, though the cool breeze from the south may not have helped, keeping most of the moths that make up a good portion of their diet in more sheltered areas.

On a warmer night this site will be worth a further visit.

We had good views of both Common Buzzard and Brown Hare before we arrived in the stunning valley from which we were to start. I’d planned a circular route for the day taking in the valley floor as well as two narrow steep-sided valleys and a high plateau.

Within minutes we were watching a pair of Whinchats the first of about a dozen pairs we encountered over the day including several who were obviously feeding young. A male Redstart posed for us on an exposed branch, providing a great opportunity to view its stunning plumage. Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Green Woodpecker and Oystercatcher were amongst some of the other species encountered as we walked.

Heading off up the first of our narrow valleys I had just finished explaining to Ronan & Jimmy that I expected to find Ring Ouzels in this area and that we may inadvertently flush one from the path as they often fed along the stream when a female Ring Ouzel popped up to sit on the heather a few feet away before heading further up the valley noisily chacking.

A further pair were observed for a short period through the telescope providing superb views. Red Grouse was high on Ronan’s wish list and here we sat and watched a couple of individuals across the other side of the steep heather-clad slopes.

As we reached the flat plateau connecting our two valleys the threatened rain began and ensured we remained wet throughout the remainder of the day though it didn’t dampen spirits. Highlights of the second half of the walk were singing male Reed Bunting, Redpoll and a distant drumming Snipe. Three young Red Grouse flew from path-side Heather and a single juvenile Stonechat was the forerunner of a family party of five.

As we headed downhill along a narrow path through the steep scree past tumbling waterfalls another family party this time of the familiar Dunnock albeit in unfamiliar surroundings entertained us as they zipped across the rocks picking at the mossy overhangs.

A welcome hot cup of tea back at the car followed by a minor detour to ensure we added Dipper to the day list resulted in a bonus (for Ronan) of Red-legged Partridge as one fed nonchalantly alongside the single track.

With only a handful of records in English waters over the last hundred years this Arctic seal is an unusual and rare visitor. The only record from the North East coast in modern times was an individual at Hartlepool in 1999.

Places are still available for Water, Wildlife & Walking on 27th May and with Little Tern and Arctic Tern numbers building up in Beadnell Bay, the first chicks hatching on our seabird cliffs and now the chance of a really rare mammal it promises to be a packed trip.

A superb morning with early drizzle giving way to some much needed sunshine, The Cheviots are such a fantastic location that even on a day when the birds don’t perform you can’t help but enjoy the backdrop.

Yesterday was an altogether different day on a Woodland Walk, though there was some common ground in some of the birds found. My main target for this walk was Pied Flycatcher and I was pleased that several were seen including a couple of singing males. Never easy to photograph in the canopy. The female below posed rather better.

With a supporting cast of Tawny Owl, Redstart, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Nuthatch everyone returned home happy. A young Roe Deer watched closely from a high vantage was an added bonus.

Our next day in the Cheviots is Sunday 5th June and places are still available for a full day’s guided walk; probably the last chance to hear some of the Cheviot specialities in song and see Ring Ouzels before they mysteriously ‘disappear’ for the summer.

The ‘Water’ phase of the tour on board Serenity’s twin-hulled catamaran surprisingly delivered some great views of mammals and birds alike despite the fret. A Grey Seal loafed a few metres from the boat before we broke the harbour mouth. A steady stream of Guillemots, Shags and Gannets appeared from the gloom before disappearing again into the white void.

With our skipper manoeuvring us to within 5m of Gull Crag on a flat calm sea our group managed superb views of Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Fulmars on the ledges.

A few minutes later we squeezed through the narrow entrance to Craster harbour and the group passed it’s next challenge disembarking by ladder. A Rock Pipit was quickly noted by on of the group low on the harbour wall and Turnstones and Oystercatchers fed across the harbour.

Despite the fog we could hear many singing birds on the first part of our route through some great small bird habitat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Wren, Dunnock, Great Tit were all picked out by ear and then by sight.

As we approached Dunstanburgh Castle, first one then a further three Wheatears entertained on the beach, showing off their ‘white arses’ to aptly demonstrate the name derivation. Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal and a single drake Wigeon showed well on the flooded meadows as well as an unlikely Black Swan.

The next stretch of links was fairly quiet with the odd Skylark for company, though about halfway we heard a brief snatch of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, then another further along the hedge and a third a few hundred yards further by a small Phragmites bed where a Sedge Warbler sang but wasn’t seen.

After a splendid male Stonechat we stopped to admire male Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting side by side and were delighted when a pair of Yellow Wagtails dropped in as well offering excellent views.

Newton Pool was quiet, Little Grebe and a non-singing but visible Sedge Warbler the pick of the sightings here. Whilst warmer the mist continued to linger, not deterring the Bank Holiday tourists but adding a slightly eerie ‘close encounters’ kind of look to the beach activities as we ate lunch.

Another Wheatear and a Common Snipe were around Stringer Scrapes north of the pool. The long walk to the Long Nanny produced little but as we approached the burn a Grey Heron fed in the shallows and then a Greenshank was picked out, quickly followed by 3 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin.

We stopped again at Beadnell Harbour where the House Sparrows put on an x-rated show over the lobster pots as we caught up with some refreshments.

We opted to stay on the beach between Beadnell and Annstead and walked to the constant calls of nearby Sandwich Terns without seeing one! Another Wheatear sat out on Annstead Golf Course before a last look at the Kittiwakes on Annstead Point and the short hop back to Seahouses.

The sea fret may be back tomorrow but we certainly won’t ‘fret’ about it after a fantastic day with some great birds.

Showing exceptionally well on a glass calm sea, perfect for viewing, the assembled Common Scoters, Common Eiders and the single Long-tailed Duck the Black Scoter was a superb bird worthy of a good hour long viewing session. A walk further north followed by a day out on Serenity II to Inner Farne provided a hint of some of the great birds we can expect to see next week on our first Water, Wildlife & Walking tour.

Sand Martins, Swallows and the odd House Martin are beginning to appear; seabirds are present in numbers and the raucous calls of the Sandwich Terns can occasionally be heard.

On the Farnes many of the seabirds are settling down and we had a huge number of Harbour Porpoise sightings today courtesy of the flat clam conditions.

Despite not trying we also managed three raptor species Peregrine, Merlin and Common Buzzard, added the over-wintering Greenshank in Budle Bay onto the list and had some great views of migrant Wheatear and Willow Warblers around the Inner Farne ‘garden’.

We still have a few places left for April 22nd (Good Friday) so if you fancy a short 12km stroll and some great birds as, well as a boat trip and the pleasure of being amongst the first group to sail into Craster Harbour why not get in touch.

Take Sunday evening as an example, I headed to look at two sites for owl activity; I’ve had a couple of species of owl at at least one of these sites previously but I wanted to see if there were birds flying towards dusk.

Site 1 produced no owls but I was a little surprised to find a Merlin perched up on a fencepost along the road that bisects the site. I also watched as half a dozen Meadow Pipits dropped from high into long grass to roost for the night.

Site 2 again produced no owls but two Hares ambled lazily across a field as I stood behind the adjacent hedge and the first Bats of the year appeared in numbers feeding above the mixed hedge. Two Grey Herons jousted like miniature dragons silhouettes in the encroaching darkness, harsh calls splitting the night.

I went home scratching my head, no owls so no progress as to whether these locations are useful as ‘evening end destinations’ for owls but some great wildlife all the same.

I suggested that we go and look for one of Northumberland’s ‘speciality’ birds yesterday, Black Grouse at a few sites in their stronghold in the south west of the county. I figured this was probably the least likely species to turn up on Nick’s home patch at Thetford!

March can produce some interesting weather and yesterday was no exception, after a foray along a moorland track that produced lots of Red Grouse and a flyover flock of 20 calling Golden Plovers we returned to the car just ahead of a heavy hail downpour that lasted a good twenty minutes and once past hung heavy over nearby hills in the afternoon sun.

We took the opportunity to drive slowly in the improved weather through a narrow valley, peppered with dry stone walls, short green turfed paddocks and grassy sheepwalk. Within 100m Nick shouted as low down the slope to his left he spotted three superb males. We backed up and quickly noted three more, all male, in the grassy gully running away from us.

Whilst we were far too late in the day to catch any ‘lekking’; the fabulous displays by groups of males at this time of year, using the car as a hide we were able to watch this group for several minutes at close range without disturbing them. A half day tour to catch up with and perhaps photograph these enigmatic birds can be arranged for £30 per person and with spring migrants rapidly moving north the same area should also hold Ring Ouzels and Wheatears in the coming weeks.

I could hear the ringing whistles of Teal from the small wetland behind the Tin Church as I passed. A Sparrowhawk dived into the nearby gorse further along the lane. Curlews and a small flock of Pink-footed Geese strolled in the fields behind Football Hole and a Skylark heralded the coming Spring in the dunes behind Beadnell Bay.

The saltmarsh inland of the footbridge over the Long Nanny Burn was awash with dipping Common Gulls eager and keen no doubt to reach further inland. Over 700 roosted on the wide expansive sands that will host a huge tern colony in few short weeks.

Beadnell Harbour beckoned in the distance, a welcome breather in sight.

From Beadnell the beaches curve north to Annstead Point, broken by the long strands of rock stretching out like fingers into the sea. It’s in these areas most of the birds are concentrated, roosting Curlews in impressive numbers, Oystercatchers, Turnstones and in the sandy stretches Ringed Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits.

At the very north end of Annstead Links before the rock rises up again and juts out to sea prompting a short climb to the nearby golf course, a small group of one of Northumberland’s special wintering birds the Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Confiding they allowed me to watch and photograph them at a reasonable range, always alert but happy to stay put. A nice end to this particular scouting mission as Seahouses Harbour is just a short cliff-top walk away.

I’m looking forward to the first proper walk, by the third week in April many of our summer visitors will have arrived and we should have terns offshore and many more small birds to enliven the day. I’m also looking forward to meeting the first group of people to take part in this special experience, will you be amongst them?