Just back from what was essentially a family holiday at a little place called Low Hauxley near Amble. It was a lovely place with the beach of Druridge Bay only yards from the front door and Coquet Island visible from the upstairs window.

Doing any birding was always going to be a bit difficult but fortunately, by getting up at 6.00am everyday I managed to get a fair bit of birding done before the rest of the family woke up.

Druridge bay was a great place to be in the early morning. Loads of Eider to be seen just off the shore along with all the usual waders, etc. Every morning produced different species. The highlights of the trip were:

Bar Headed goose - found on my first day grazing in a field with a mixed flock of Pink feet and Greylag. Probably an escapee!!
Red Kite - 3 seen near York on the A1 and one also seen near Druridge NR.
Purple Sandpiper - Amble harbour
Long tailed duck - 45 seen off Stag rock, Bamburgh
Slavonian Grebe - Stag Rock, Bamburgh
Nordic Jackdaw - Warkworth

74 species seen over the week.

All in all a good week with some changable weather. I'd definately recommend this area to anyone wanting to go birding up here as there are loads of great sites and habitat all within short driving distance.