Performance Anxiety

That’s what one of our clients today suggested was the reason we didn’t see an otter. Just before we arrived at our favoured spot, no less than 20 ramblers were there…watching an otter. It must have suffered a bout of stage fright because it had disappeared by the time we arrived. The howling southwesterly gale didn’t help either; the surface of the pond was whipped up into waves that wouldn’t have looked out of place on Hawaii 5-0 (if you’re younger than me you’ll probably have to google that). A lone Goldeneye was engaging in some half-hearted display and a flock of Tufted Ducks were looking very agitated before all scattering – with the rough water we couldn’t see what had spooked them. Back down the coast and a flock of Lapwings, Dunlin and Golden Plover proved rather captivating when viewed through the ‘scope as did a Curlew. Now that’s a bird I see most days but ‘scope-filling views of one feeding are still fascinating. Returning to Church Point at Newbiggin, the wind had now reached the point where it was taking the new beach and depositing it in the car park. Who needs expensive scrubs and exfoliants when you’ve got nature to scour your face to the smoothness of an apple? We headed home with rosy cheeks…