Our Seal Safari today was the prize for the winner of a recent Go Wansbeck competition. So, I turned up at 9am and collected a just 10-year old, a nearly 10-year old and two adults from Newbiggin by the Sea. The sea was too rough for our planned boat trip to go ahead so we headed to a spot on dry land where we could watch a group of Grey Seals as they lazed around on a sandbank. That’s what we thought they would be doing anyway…however, at this time of year, the seals can get a bit tetchy and they were much keener on fighting rather than resting. Our picnic lunch was enjoyed by all, at a site where we could see the causeway across to Holy Island and the girls were both keen to see if anybody would attempt to cross the causeway while the tide was in…and it very nearly happened, with one driver racing towards the oncoming tide before executing a sharp u-turn and heading rapidly back towards the safety of the island. The weather was glorious again and the excellent visibility meant that the ‘scope views of Grey Plover, Turnstone and both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits were stunning. Purple Sandpiper, Pale-bellied Brent Goose (and distant views of the cottage where the Autumnwatch cameramen are staying!) were greatly appreciated but the highlights were remarkable binocular-filling views of both Common Buzzard and Peregrine. I’ve blogged previously about the importance of engaging people with raptors (as well as all of our other wildlife) and it was incredibly enjoyable for me personally to experience the astonishment in the voices, of the girls in particular, as they watched these magnificent birds perched and then flying.
Back into Wansbeck and a search for Red Squirrels, an iconic inhabitant of Northumberland. And there, on the exact tree that I predicted, was a Red Squirrel. It must have believed we couldn’t see it as it stayed frozen on the trunk of the tree, allowing Alanya and Molly to approach to within a few feet. I’m not sure how I would describe the emotional response that the experience generated for these two young girls, but sharing in it was a privilege.