Lots of pictures this month of landscapes and wildlife from our two weeks “up north”. Plenty of History and wildlife and stunning scenery .
Our base in Northumberland was a cottage in Warkworth. A few steps from the door was this lovely walk alongside the river Coquet with castle views. Just around the corner was a good pub,which also carried a doggy menu as well as human menu! We were not far from our old neighbours who had moved here a few years ago to be near family. So lots of time spent catching up with family news. Perfect!
The river is popular with paddle boarders, and the walks are a favourite with dog walkers. Warkworth is famous for its castle, and has a beach sweeping round to Alnwick. The river Coquet flows down to a harbour through Amble, and out to sea.
Everyday a Grey Heron could be seen fishing up and down the river ond using the old fallen tree trunk as his own lookout stage.
Warkworth. bridge is a medieval bridge which was built in the last quarter of the 14th century (it is suggested that the actual date of construction was 1379 and until relatively recently (1960's) the bridge carried the main A1068 road through the village. The bridge is now pedestrians only.
A pair of Red Breasted Mergansers leisurely swam up and down the river every day. We watched them regularly.
Warkworth Bridge Tower is a rare example of a late 14th century stone gatehouse, built to fortify the bridge. Warkworth castle can be seen in the background.
Warkworth Castle was founded in the 12th century and became the home of the Percy family – one of the most powerful dynasties of late medieval England. We spent a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon exploring the castle ruins. So much history in one village.
From the Castle tower. The River Coquet flowing down to Amble and Coquet Island in the distance.
Eva dog looking to see what was the other side of the wall, it was another nice river walk. Children and dogs have to walk along walls, they can’t help it, sometime in the past the instructon “walk along this wall” got embedded in their brains and has passed down through the generations.
An early morning start to explore the coast. Bamburgh beach was shrouded in the morning mist and we werent the only ones out and about. Voted the best walking and beach in the country, and dog friendly too. Smiley faces all round.
The mist soon cleared and showed the real Last Kingdom of Bebbanburg,the magnificent Bamburgh Castle in all its glory. (Bernard Cornwell fans will know) It is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country and has stood guard above the spectacular Northumberland coastline for over 1,400 years. Spanning nine acres of land on its rocky plateau, it makes a stunning back drop to an already breathtaking coast line.
Red Linnets like the gorse bushes that grow at the foot of the castle walls.
Our aim was to carry on to Holy Island. Well, the world and his wife has found Northumberland. We blame Robson Green and the Hairy Bikers. The queue of cars to get on to the island started on the approach road before we had even reached the causeway. As we had already visited the island several times before, and Mr Dobson does not like sitting in traffic, we decided to turn around and leave them to it. Next stop, Seahouses for Lunch.
We took a stroll down to the Seahouses beach and were welcomed by a group of Eider Ducks. They were such characters, walking up the beach and along the slip way talking in their suprised way that they have. It sounded like they were saying ”OOh, someone new” We had read the signs though, “Please do not Feed the Eider Ducks”, so no treats today.
A relaxed female Eider on the beach, not bothering about us or the dog (who was on the lead by the way) or other families with dogs. She has seen it all before.
A little bit of a kerfuffle when two males had their eyes on the same female. Happens all the time.
She gave them both a telling off and told them to grow up. You can see who’s boss.
She has had the last word and picked him. He looks a bit surprised.
Another day another castle. Dunstanburgh Castle, again we arrived early, by lunchtime the car park was full. The castle was built by Earl Thomas of Lancaster between 1313 and 1322, taking advantage of the site's natural defences and the existing earthworks of an Iron Age fort. It was also thought to be built to be bigger and better than Bamburgh Castle, showing off the Earls immense wealth.
About 1.3 mile walk to the castle but so worth it when you get there. The views from the castle walls were fabulous. The weather helped, we also managed to get a bit sunburnt.
Thrift growing along the old castle walls.
A little micro eco system of its own going on inside the grounds of the castle . A Green Viened White enjoying the warm sunshine sheltered from the sea breeze.
A Wall Brown Butterfly on an old wall…….
A Silver-Y day flying moth on the daisies. Swallows were flying around your head as you walked, trying to catch the insects disturbed by the feet of the visitors, and Meadow Pipits were flying back and forth from the safety fencing. Kittiwakes were nesting just outside the castle on the cliffs. Nature reclaims where she can.
Swallows are a bit fast so a back view of one is all you’re going to get.
Meadow Pipit with food.
We decided against a Farne Island visit this time and went for a trip out to Coquet island as they have the incredibly rare Roseate Terns nesting. Because of the sensitivity of the site visitors are not permitted to land, but the boat will take you in as close as tide and weather conditions allow. A shout out now to Dave Gray’s Puffin Cruises of Amble, www.puffincruises.co.uk. Very knowledgable and obliging. Searching out the wildlife on the sea, and pointing out the birds on the island. We can’t praise them enough. It was a little choppy out there but they still managed to steer the boat close to shore.
Puffins everywhere, never seen so many Puffins. Hopefully there are starting to make a recovery after the Avian Flu epidemic that claimed the lives of thousands of sea birds the last couple of years. Note the out numbered Guillimot on the left.
Coquet Island is a vibrant seabird reserve that's home to the UK’s only breeding Roseate Terns. It's also an important site for nesting Puffins and Common, Sandwich and Arctic terns. Our birds of the week,our first ever sighting of two Roseate Terns, the ones with the black beaks. The birds with the red beaks are Arctic Terns. Thank you so much Dave Grays Puffin Cruises for pointing these out.
Roseate Terns are pale grey on their backs and their tail feathers extend past the tips of their folded wings. They have a black cap and orange-red legs. The roseate tern's bills turn entirely black during the breeding season. It is has a pale blush pink breast which gives it its name, and is one of britains rarist sea birds. Thanks to Puffin Cruises we managed two trips out to see these birds and could easily have gone back out the next day if time and tide had been on our side.
Not an easy task photographing birds from a boat in a bit of a swell, but we managed.
Caught this Sandwich Tern having a mid flight shake after a dive. How can they twist their heads round so far.
Grey Seal having a nap, couldn’t care less about the boat.
Inqusitive Grey Seal Pup, about 6 months old, mid moult.
Eider Duck
Weird weather. We were just sitting in the bird hide at Hauxley nature reserve and we watched the sea fret move in and within ten minutes the reserve was shrouded in mist and we could not see to the other side of the lagoon. It varied from thin to thick but it was quite obvious this was here to stay for the rest of the afternoon. We couldn’t make out what this little gull was that floated in front of us. It turns out, that is exactly what it was, a Juvenile Little Gull. Its the smallest species of gull in the world. Adults have a black head similar to the Black Headed Gull. Another first time spot for us.
Whitethroat
Our last day in Northumberland and the sun was out again. After a walk around the reserve and a cup of tea and yummy scones we spent a pleasant hour just sitting and watching the birds visiting the feeders. A lovely sheltered sunny spot, and loving the signpost feeder holder.
Bullfinch
A juvenile Dunnock kept us guessing its identity for a while.
Tree Sparrow
We would have been disappointed if a Robin had not appeared. So our week in Northumberland has come to an end. Just time for a meal with our friends before packing up and heading off down the coast road to Yorkshire.