Coquet, FBI and a county tick

Common Seal on river Coquet at Beal bank, Warkworth

Mediterranean Gull, Little shore, Amble

More pics of the Seal

Yesterday I was along the coast and a walk around Amble harbour followed by lunch in one of the cosiest pubs in Northumberland which boasts probably the best views along the North sea coast; the fishing boat inn (FBI) at Boulmer. Along the road which runs adjacent to the river Coquet between Amble and Warkworth I noticed a dozen or so photographers taking pics of a basking seal sitting on a log in the middle of the river. I pulled up and walked along to take some photos when I was pleasantly surprised to see it was a Common Seal which used to be scarce in our waters and I believe this is the first one I have actually seen in the county. It was a bit of a raptor morning with a beautiful 'blue' adult male Merlin sitting on top of a hedge near Ulgham and a Buzzard gliding over the river Lyne on the other side of the village. Driving back from Boulmer near Seaton point a Peregrine was sitting on a fence post.