Went for a walk up the beach to the Harbour this pm, hoping for a Snow Bunting or something else that might get the heart racing a wee bit. Failed. A couple of very dark backed 'Herring' gulls (the darkest I have ever seen) were with BHGs near the south pier but a couple of half-wits (no, not me and the dog. She was at home!) put them up before I could have a better look. The legs were salmony-pink (on the gulls not the half-wits) from the distance I was at. Probably Herrings nonetheless. On the rocks at the north end of the small beach to the north of the south pier was a GBBG, Curlew, Oystercatcher and a Purple Sandpiper, which was nice.

Does anyone know why the Harbour is now akin to a prison? It would take Steve McQueen on his motorbike to get in. Are they now unloading gold bullion as opposed to fish!

Usual suspects in the Harbour itself, Eiders, Cormorants, BHG/HG/GBBG/CG, Kittiwakes and Pied Wagtails.

A dozen Sanderlings on the shoreline on the walk back.

Sab-otaged

Tried for the Sab Gull this pm.  May have got it but whilst taking Herself for a walk around WHIE, she decided to roll in several lots of fox sh*te!  So she needed a bath when we got home, I was late out and the bird was missed.  But I'm not bitter (much)!

Nice to get some fresh air.  And whilst passing the fish quay, there was a melee caused by a guy off a prawn boat throwing small fish overboard (pity he couldn't have done so when they were still alive) and the adults and juv Herring Gulls were competing for the easy scran.  But who gets the most fish, adult or juv?  There's only one way to find out - FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

Black Humour!

Spent a few hours yesterday afternoon ambling around Byth and Whitley Bay Cemeteries.  This isn't something I am completely comfortable with as I cannot rationalise the relatives' grief alongside my enjoyment and both happening in the same place.  Then there's the resting places of those all-too-soon departed.  'Still United Son' reads the floral tribute in the NW corner at Blyth, a newly created memorial to a lad called Paul who appears to have been very young when he passed on.  The photograph on the other flowers is very sobering to me as I have twin boys.

But the Black Redstart was a ray on sunshine the other day, and whilst yesterday's birds were mundane to say the least, there were two pieces of comic genius at WB Crem.

Firstly, given the nature of the business transacted there, to have a sign that said Fire Point made me snigger.  Better still was the wheelie bin 'parked' near the chapel itself which read 'No Hot Ashes'!

OK - You need a clue!

Above and to the right of the fence post!