It had been a whole five weeks absence from the field, for various reasons, was just not able to head away. This unforeseen hiatus had intensified my appetite for heading out and seeing something new.
The returning black scoter to the shores of the northwest had proved reliable in recent days. It's a long way to travel but Premier Inns are reliable, provide quality and convenience so a stop off en route was the sensible way forward.
A couple of hours drive had me on the outskirts of Pontefract before a sharp getaway the following morning.
On arrival, the weather was absolutely glorious, the icy roads toward Bamburgh Castle made things interesting as did the patchy dense fog for most of the journey, but thankfully, the coast was clear, the sun was out and the winds light, fully appreciating that I'd picked a good day to be here.
A short walk up to the clubhouse to start the scan. There were plenty of wildfowl on the sea, distant rafts of common scoter were going to make this challenging.
Thankfully it didn't take long to track the nearctic scoter down. It helped that the majority of scoter congregated within the linear rafts were predominantly females or 1st winter birds making identifying adult males a lot easier. With a few birders now in attendance, the adult black scoter was pinned down, distantly with the yellow/orange bill base illuminating in the tempered winter light.
The tide was slowly advancing pulling in the groups of scoter, still distant on the calm sea but allowing much clearer and prolonged scope views.
There was plenty more interest on the sea. Around 10 long-tailed duck were present as were red-breasted merganser, red-throated diver, guillemot, and razorbill.
Large numbers of purple sandpiper scurried along in the foreshore numbering at least 200, by far the largest flock I've ever encountered.
It was the stillness of the day, perfect weather conditions and scenery that made the trip totally worthwhile.
The walk along the beach at Budle Bay was just so stunning. Arriving at the estuary, a glaucous gull languidly rested along a sand bund in the still conditions. A number of waders and gulls were present here including sanderling and around 15 ringed plover.
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