Northumberland 15th - 19th May

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We drove up early Monday morning to Newbiggin-by-the-sea where we stayed in a superb caravan at Church Point Holiday Park. We were so lucky to have suberb views from our veranda out across the north sea.

View from our caravan looking north

View looking south

There were a number of Starlings around our caravan grabbing worms to feed their young

Our second day started with a sunrise

Plenty of Kittiwakes going past heading north mainly in small groups and always distant

Green-veined White butterfly beside our caravan

Lots of Sandwich Terns going past along with Arctic and Common but rarely close enough for a decent image. The Sandwich Terns calls were the backing track to our holiday.

Wednesday started with probably the highlight of our week. From our caravan we watched a pod of at least 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins slowly heading north. At least two were regularly jumping out of the water....wonderful

Sadly they were quite a way out but at least I have some record shots.

Bambrough Castle

Black and white from the beach

On Bambrough beach

Having a paddle, not sure Coco and Chloe are enjoying it much!

It is another gloriously sunny and warm day and another stunning beach

While having lunch I noticed a small group of Eider in the bay at Craster

Also a Rock Pipit

and Pied Wagtail

L. Robson & Sons Ltd. is a fourth generation family business specialising in the traditional method of oak smoking kippers and salmon. Situated in Craster, a small fishing village on the Northumberland coast, the company still cures the fish in the original smokehouses which are over 130 years old.

Had one of the Jolly Fisherman's famous crab sandwich, wow did it taste good.  

The Jolly Fisherman is a world-famous seafood restaurant situated in the picturesque village of Craster, Northumberland.

Church of St Mary at Mundon

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St Mary's Church is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Mundon, Essex. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.

Entrance to this medieval church

Squelching marshes, open skies and cockleshell spits make up the Dengie Peninsula in Essex. On it, you’ll find St Mary’s church with its curious double-storied Tudor tower wrapped in a timber-framed skirt.

Inside restoration has begun by the charity friends of friendless churches

The church closed in 1970 and has been owned by the charity since 1975.

Wonderful medieval church with a timber-framed skirt, in a desolate landscape that inspired The War of the Worlds.

Behind the church are the 'Ghost Trees of Mundon

It could almost pass as a spaceship. And in fact, Mundon’s apocalyptic landscape peppered with petrified oaks inspired the Martian landing scene in H.G. Wells’s, The War of the Worlds.

Here, it feels like time has ended…

But St Mary’s is just an hour from central London.

Rainham Riverside

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Spent some time along the seawall at Rainham beside the nature reserve and over the landfill site. Managed to see or hear a few returning summer migrants including Sand Martin, Wheatear (2 males), Sedge Warbler 3, Whitethroat lots, Lesser Whitethroat one possibly two and a few Common Terns over the River Thames fishing. A variety of waders which included the usual but also six Bar-tailed Godwits some of which were in their stunning brick red summer plumage. Single Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. Also, a Common Seal had pulled itself out along the north bank so much closer than where they all normally lay up on the opposite side of the rive. But, my highlight was a brief but good view of a Weasel.

Avocet

3 of six Bar-tailed Godwits present 2 of which are in summer plumage

Common Seal

House Sparrow male

2 female and a drake Teal coming in to land

Weasel

Wheatear male

Whitethroat

Riverside Walk

 I had a walk from the visitor centre to up and over the landfill site and back to the centre. Wasn't a huge amount of note, a pair of Marsh Harriers and a single Raven which went was calling 'honking' as it past by. Red dead-nettle added a bit of colour to the foreshore and a speeding police boat was entertaining.

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Hyacinths gave a colourful welcome as you entered the visitor centre

Police boat speeding past

Good show of Red dead-nettles along the back of the foreshore

Skylarks singing and showing well on the landfill site

ARMADOR II (IMO: 8790259) is a Bunkering Tanker that was built in 1972 (51 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of United Kingdom.

Gorsebrook Park birds in flight

 Here are a few images (mainly gulls) that I have taken at Gorsebrook Park this year. If I have named any wrongly please let me know.

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Black-headed Gull in near full summer plumage 8th March

Black-headed Gull in winter plumage 8th January

2 Chiffchaffs that over wintered in the park maily staying close to the brook's vegetation

Common Gull adult 8th March

Common Gull adult 8th February

Common Gull they are not as common as their name suggests

Common Gull 8th February

Common Gull taking off 8th January

Black-headed Gull immature 8th March

immature possibly Herring Gull 2nd March

Little Egret 12th February

Little Egret 16th January

immature possibly Herring Gull 8th January

Red Kite flew over very high 9th January