I started yesterday with every intention of finishing my final species account for Birds in Northumbria 2007…but the great outdoors always has that magnetic pull, so I went to Druridge to assist Iain Robson for a few hours while he ran the Bird and Cetacean Watch as part of Bioblitz. The weather conditions weren’t exactly ‘ideal’ for sitting on top of the dunes so the hides were utilised instead. Despite the driving rain and strong winds we still managed to record some interesting species; Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Cuckoo, Brown Hare and excellent, prolonged, views of an impressive dog Otter. I was cold and wet by the time I returned home later in the evening but will probably go and join Iain again for a few hours this morning (my NTBC pelagic has fallen victim to the weather…).