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One good tern deserves another.. Coquet Island immediately firing back at The Farnes Bridled Tern with a splendid adult Sooty Tern. Barely minutes after my first juv Caspian Gull of the year on the local pond. August is such a dull month..

Dunwich Heath on 🔥, incredibly sad that we’re continuing to do too little too late. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Massive wildfire near UK nuclear plant as hundreds evacuated and 999 crews swarmHundreds of holidaymakers have been evacuated overnight from a caravan site in the path of the flames as people living nearby are warned to keep windows and doors closedwww.mirror.co.uk

Inland for a change of scene today, four Crossbills, Spotted Flycatcher and Redpoll in a 4km loop in Harwood. Further W a surprise four Ospreys in the air over a quarry site and a distant perched Goshawk nearby (prob juvenile). Crossed paths with a Giant Wood Wasp!

A brisk westerly didn’t exactly inspire but a juvenile Redstart along the Wansbeck nr the coast was a starting pistol for autumn passerines. Early PM I moved N to check out a ‘Curlew Sandpiper’ but only found a Knot. All not lost as an adult Hobby sped through N. Ended with a Roseate Tern on rocks.

I lived through the joy and the heartache, so much collective joy and watched a city lift itself off its arse and believe in itself. Wherever he is I hope he’s walking along singing a song in a Keegan Wonderland. He will always be one of us.

Another v quiet early sea-watch produced just a single Arctic Skua and a handful of Manx north. A call from the other Alan alerted me to a Black Redstart along the coast. A late morning recce was successful with distant views as it sat up along the fence-line. Two Graylings nearby were nice.

First Bonxie of the year (for me) this AM, so scarce now post-HPAI. Elsewhere little of note, returning Goldeneye on the local pond, ad Knot at Druridge and a smattering of Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sand at Cresswell. The year slowly drifts on.

Had a spare few hours today so have stuck a pin in the map in S Northumberland’s prime Black Kite breeding habitat for some vantage viewing to search for the county’s rarest breeding raptor 😉.

The Birds of Israel by Hadoram Shirihai Excellent condition. Written by Israel's foremost field ornithologist and authority on Israel's birds. Over 500 species described. 679 pages plus 96 colour plates 1996 Hardback 1st edition £65inc UK P&P (money to Andy McLevy Memorial Fund) DM for sale.

Farnes day with @naturetrek.bsky.social

Damp day with @naturetrek.bsky.social on Holy Island, though spirits were lifted with Osprey and Peregrine from the causeway as we crossed and good views of the summering Black Guillemot offshore plus Rock Pipits feeding young, Little Tern, Gannets and some interesting mammal encounters.

Nice gentle start to a week with @naturetrek.bsky.social up here in Northumberland. Thunder & Lightning late afternoon but still turned out rosy!

Looking forward to a deep dive into the newly published ‘Birds of Budle Bay’ by @budlebirder.bsky.social in the coming days. Detailed patch accounts are always full of interest and expect this to be a great example.

Early morning wader survey out west, thoughts just turning to breakfast when AP wrecked my plans with Newbiggin’s first Dotterel this century.

An upland wader survey made a welcome change from Breeding Bird Surveys yesterday. The lunch stop venue on the way home offered some smart Yank Aythya views and a Coronation Chicken seeded bap followed by Turkish Delight. #livingthedream

Nursery Web Spider enjoying the Spring sunshine on an old weathered length of wood in garden earlier.

Go Samba!

At 60 times around the sun I did something new today. My 25 year old fence partially collapsed with a tree-fall during Arwin and went further some time later. After having some tree work done last week I retained the brash and began to lay a dead hedge. Needs doing in stages to keep dog in so 1/3.