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Every cloud…; Otter Safari 30/09/2015
The unpredictability of wildlife is part of the attraction. You never know what you’ll see, whether the species you’re searching for will put in an appearance or something completely unexpected will show up. I’d collected Judith and Robin from their holiday cottage in Embleton and we were in and around Druridge Bay for the afternoon. …
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Eight year itch; Otter Safari 18/07/2015
It’s always a pleasure when clients who haven’t met before get on so well with each other. Of course they always have a shared interest in wildlife, and other shared interests feature regularly (camping, walking and cycling in particular), and long quests in search of an elusive species soon become a talking point… I arrived…
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Is this June?; Otter Safari 18/06/15
Arriving at Warkworth to collect Hugh and Sue, and Lou, it struck me that there was a bit of a chill in the wind… Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Great Crested Grebes radiated elegance, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal and Tufted Duck were either dabbling quietly or engaging in half-hearted courtship, Swallows chirped at us from their…
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Batty; Cheviot valleys/Druridge Bay Bespoke Tour 08/06/2015
Looking back through previous blog posts I was reminded that we’ve done a few days combining the best of the hills and the best of the coast, and I headed towards Old Bewick to collect Helen for an afternoon and evening exploring the Cheviot Valleys and Druridge Bay. As a Common Buzzard soared over the…
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Showstopper; Otter Safari 04/06/2015
Every so often, there’ll be an experience during a trip with clients that is simply jaw-dropping… I arrived at Church Point in summary weather and set off with six clients to explore Druridge Bay and south east Northumberland in search of Otters. Avocets with eggs and chicks were delicately, elegantly beautiful, a Whimbrel flew around,…
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Battling the breeze; Otter Safari 02/06/2015
Tuesday saw Pete and Jan taking their 7th trip with NEWT, and as I got out of the car in Embleton to collect them it was ever so slightly breezy… When every bit of water you look at is whipped up into a froth by the wind, with dainty Little Gulls hanging in the wind…
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Dodging the showers; Otter mini-Safari 27/05/2015
A weather forecast that ‘promises’ heavy rain for the entire duration of an evening with clients isn’t what we would hope for, but you can’t always trust the forecast… As I arrived at Church Point, followed soon after by Lesley and Andrew, the rain was falling steadily and the sky looked ever so slightly ominous. …
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New Year, quality wildlife; Otter Safari 22/01/2015
During quiet periods of the year, we keep going out and checking excellent wildlife sites all around Northumberland. Although we can never predict exactly what we’ll see, and where, those days out on our own are the basis of successful days out with clients… I arrived at Church Point to collect Gordon and Michelle and…
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Mini-beasting; Bespoke Otter Safari 02/09/2014
It’s remarkable how often a theme seems to develop during a trip; flocks, migration, raptors, birds with similar names – all have happened over the last few years. I drove up to the Breamish Valley to collect Donna and Andy and we headed towards the coast and Druridge Bay with the plan of spending the…
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Angel of Death; Bespoke Coastal Safari 26/08/2014
I’ll never tire of watching wildlife. Whether it’s the birds around the feeding station in our garden, whales and dolphins far from land, grouse on the high moors or hoverflies around wildflowers, I’m fascinated by it all. There are some species though that are so ethereal and attention-grabbing that I’ve often seen clients literally transfixed…